Research suggests that women with PCOS are more likely to have healthy full term babies when mitochondrial function is supported. Mitochondria are the energy-producing engines in our cells. Fertility scientists are making headlines with new technologies that try to imitate ovarian cell energy production by surgically manipulating mitochondria. Don’t wait for expensive surgical inventions! Food and medicine plants give us everything we need for healthy life.
Some of the most potent foods you can eat and drink to rev up your mitochondria, and maximize your fertility are well known to you! Thin-skinned, deeply colored fruits of all kinds, like grapes, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, pomegranate, plums and olives/olive oil; Broccoli and broccoli sprouts and related cabbage-family veggies; yams and sweet potatoes. Green tea, red wine, plus cherry, grape and pomegranite juice are especially rich in anti-oxidant support.
What all these foods have in common is chemistry that turns on over 200 genes involved in protecting our cells from inflammation, rebuilding damaged proteins and eliminating poisons from your system. All you have to do is make a meal, which you were going to do anyway, right? Two cups of bright colored veggies daily, 2-3 servings of fruit. If you are not eating this way yet, give yourself a chance to be amazed at the results!
You have heard of “anti-oxidants”. These are elements that are required for the processes our bodies use to balance the effects of oxidation. Oxidation is a normal, necessary process that can get out of hand and cause problems for our cells. Oxidative excess results from factors we have choice about, like what we eat and drink, lack of exercise, smoking and medications, and some things we can’t control, including environmental pollution, trauma and injury.
Excess oxidation is part of disease process. Normal oxidation is part of normal human physiology, and it tends to increase as we age. Inflammation is one result of excess oxidation. Inflammation is known to contribute to cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and obesity and it is associated with aspects of infertility. Studies suggest that high-androgen women respond to environmental insult with a significantly bigger inflammatory response. Our bodies fight back harder, if you will, and this is part of our genetic inheritance. High-androgen women were better equipped to survive in ancient times because of this snappy immune system response. In modern times, with so many sources of this kind of insult, our excellent response becomes part of an over-response to insults. The cost of our genetic gift of self-defense can become a vicious cycle of insult and reaction that causes us harm.
There is nothing you can buy in a bottle that is as powerfully effective as eating a whole fresh, organically produced diet and having daily exercise. Whenever possible, I ask my clients to treat themselves with real food and regular exercise for 3 months, before we try any powders, pills or potions from bottles. Those that are willing to always enjoy remarkable improvement in daily life; they usually find it hard it remember how poorly they felt before making these changes. All have saved significant amounts of money and are richer also in self confidence and a sense of empowerment. Adding richly colorful whole, fresh food to your family’s diet is one of the most loving ways to provide for everyone’s well-being- and it taste so good!
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