Preparing Your Body For Babies
- Authors: Christopher and Dana VanDeCar (Owners and Founders of Optimally Organic)
How to Cleanse & Supplement Properly to Increase Your Chances of a Successful Pregnancy
We believe that you should strive for optimal healthiness at all times. However, when it comes to conceiving and having children, the process by which we nurture a life within our bodies for approximately nine months, the urgency of maintaining healthfulness become heightened. If you are planning to conceive, it makes sense to want to know everything you can do towards creating a body that is in the best condition possible to create and support life.
Whether you are planning to conceive, or are currently trying, it is vital to understand what you are up against. While people are still having babies all over the world, the sad fact is that those numbers are dropping.
To put it more bluntly: Birth rates are plummeting all over the world, including throughout North America.
Understanding The Causes Of Infertility
Children of Men (1) portrays a world in which the birth rate has dropped to zero. Humanity is dying out as a result of this. Both the book (by P.D. James) and film paint a bleak picture of the planet, with the story being set just a couple of decades into the future. The film came out roughly ten years ago, and very little has changed for the better, in terms of our relationship to the environment. Things are getting worse, and we are beginning to see consequences arise in a variety of different ways. One such consequence has impacted birth rates to the point of turning Children of Men into less of a science fiction story, and more of an all-too-real depiction of the current state of things.
We aren’t quite at a zero global birth rate point yet, but it seems more and more likely to scientists and others that sooner, rather than later, we will eventually reach that grim point. By then, there will be very little that we can do.
If you find yourself struggling to conceive, keep in mind that you aren’t the only one. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than five million people are struggling with infertility. Even in a country as populated as the United States, five million is hardly a number to sneeze at. Worse yet, there are similar high numbers in countries such as Canada, England, Japan, China, and many others. In fact, China is currently home to the lowest fertility rates in the entire world. This is not a problem that will improve on its own.
To start with, keep this in mind: When it comes to having children, it isn’t just a matter of taking care of your body while you are pregnant. You have to pay just as much attention to the state and condition of your body during your efforts to conceive.
Our Environment Is Changing Our Bodies For The Worse
A recent study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has revealed a number of possibilities that strike some as deeply upsetting (2). For this study, researchers examined 6500 Taiwanese men. The results created an unfortunate connection between air quality and sperm quality. While the study did not offer concrete reasons as to how air quality influences something like sperm quality, there are a number of thoughts that can be attached to this study.
Obesity, stress, anxiety, and smoking have all been cited as reasons for poor egg quality in women. At least some of those things are caused by the junk we’re taking/putting into our bodies. A 2013 study from Environmental Health Perspectives indicated that constant exposure to pesticides, pollutants, other chemicals, and industrial compounds can impact fertility in women by 29 percent (3). A study from Washington University in 2015 linked early menopause to fifteen common chemicals.
The voluntary or involuntary consumption of chemicals throughout our daily life is having a dramatic impact on not only a woman’s egg quality, but it is also changing the time in which a woman begins menstruation.
Our modern lifestyle now includes taking in herbicides, GMOs, EMF radiation, plastics and toxins, fluoride (found in our water supply and toothpaste), chlorine in the water, and much, much more.
Remember: 2.4-million pounds of carbon dioxide are added to the air every single second of every single day!
Why Are Less Women Getting Pregnant?
Also, while we have been focusing this discussion on sperm counts, understand that these environmental factors aren’t just hurting men. They are causing serious problems for women, as well. Girls in their 20s are now experiencing erratic menstrual cycles in increasingly large numbers. Many are experiencing symptoms like hair loss. Many of these problems point to an extreme iron deficiency. Both personal and environmental factors are creating a horrific new normal, in which menopause is now being experienced by women at younger ages than ever before. It is almost common now for women to begin menopause as early as their mid-30s.
Does Plastic Cause Infertility?
This is rapidly becoming one of the hottest topics in the larger subject of infertility, although it has been something discussed by health experts and others for a number of years. Don’t be surprised, when you start to hear more about it from various sources.
No one actually eats plastic. At the same time, in a manner of speaking, we are still consuming plastic. There are many who believe that we are doing this when we drink water from plastic bottles, or eat food from plastic containers. While the studies into plastics and hair loss, or plastics and infertility, are still ongoing, the current information we have on this is troubling indeed.
We are talking about a specific material that is used in an overwhelming percentage (more than 90) of the plastic products that are released to market. The specific chemical used is known as bisphenol A, which many people refer to simply as BPA. A lot of different food and drink packages, in addition to numerous plastic products, utilize this chemical. The problem is that this chemical has been linked to a deeply disconcerting range of health issues. One such example involves a common hormonal issue known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, which features an abundance of androgens being secreted. Testosterone is the big androgen being secreted, but there are others, and many of those can be converted into testosterone. In addition to promoting masculine characteristics, an excessive promotion of these androgens can make it difficult for the liver to detoxify BPAs effectively. This creates problems such as thinning hair, baldness, obesity, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and infertility.
Red Pine Needle Oil from Optimally Organic can be a powerful tool for cleansing the toxins created by plastics from the body. While keeping foreign invaders away from the body, it can also boost your immune system. Just keep in mind that you should only use this supplement prior to trying to get pregnant. Red Pine Needle Oil should not be used while trying to conceive!
In general, you should make it a point to avoid foods, beverages, and other products that are shipped and stored in plastic containers. This is something that is particularly important with the supplements you purchase. This is why Optimally Organic does not ship any supplements in plastic containers. In addition to avoiding BPAs, glass is ultimately the best way to ensure the integrity of things like fulvic acid.
The 4 Steps For A Natural Pregnancy
There are safe, natural ways to enhance your body for conception. At the same time, there are also measures you can take to maintain good health for both yourself and your child through the pregnancy and beyond.
We’ve broken everything down into four simple, long-term steps for a natural pregnancy:
- Cleanse: Toxins and heavy metals are plaguing your health, even if you feel relatively fine. Your body is certainly not optimized for pregnancy with these things in your system. A cleanse is definitely in order.
- Increase body fat: There are safe things you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant. One such thing includes increasing your body fat, which can increase your pregnancy odds.
- Diet: Making bold changes to your diet can definitely help you to conceive. By the same token, a good diet can also help to ensure excellent health for yourself and your baby. This includes forgoing sugary drinks and caffeine. Water is your best friend.
- Supplements: Beyond flushing out your system with a comprehensive cleanse, there are supplements that can be of immense benefit at different stages of your pregnancy, and even in the months after you have given birth. Of course, that should be discussed with your doctor first.
#1: Cleanse
We’re going to cover that in greater detail shortly. For now, let’s talk about starting your body with a clean slate. Eliminating the toxic load is going to begin with a cleanse.
So let’s begin with a complete cleanse, utilizing Optimally Organic’s Total Wellness Protocol.
The great thing about the TWP is that it doesn’t target specific areas of the body for cleansing. If we want a clean slate, then we need to cleanse everything all at once. Otherwise, we’re just shifting toxins and other undesirables around the body, and not really accomplishing anything. This cleanse is not only full-body, but it doesn’t use pills, herbs or juices. Think of it as the first phase in the Total Wellness Protocol. When this cleanse has finished, your body will be free of the heavy metals and destructive properties that have been building up in your body over the years.
Once you have completed your cleanse, and when you are ready to try and get pregnant, stop taking Red Pine Needle Oil (in any form) and Acai Berry Powder.
When phase 1 has been completed, you will be ready for phase 2. This second part involves taking steps to ensure that your body is getting the 90+ nutrients that are required for daily strength, energy, and general wellbeing. Believe it or not, while it is true that you are making some dramatic changes, the changes in of themselves are not all that difficult to actually implement. You will complete the first phase in 120 days, and then you will begin phase 2. Once your body has been fully cleansed, you will likely feel better than you have in years. This can give you added confidence and enthusiasm to conceive.
Furthermore, you are also increasing your ability to lose weight, while also enhancing your energy and stamina--In addition to your ability to maintain essential focus throughout your day. You will also be able to decrease things like headaches, stomach aches, fatigue, and exhaustion. Keep in mind that those are problems that are supposed to increase in frequency and severity during pregnancy. Your immune and digestive systems are going to be stronger at this point than during any other period in your life.
It gets better. Even after you become pregnant, the Total Wellness Protocol is going to have you feeling better than you have in years. Not only are you creating the best possible vessel in which to nurture a human life, but you are also negating a lot of the physical and emotional challenges that follow pregnancy for much of that 9 month period.
Just remember that this cleanse should be done 1 month or more before trying to conceive. This cleanse SHOULD NOT be attempted if you are currently trying!
#2: Increasing Your Body Fat % Can Help You Get Pregnant
Body fat plays a far more important role in fertility than we give it credit for. Also known as adipocytes, body fat cells work at producing estrogen. When we talk about a key female reproductive messenger, we have to include estrogen in the discussion. The body relies on estrogen for a lot, including the healthy formation of bones, wholesome gene expressions, good cholesterol levels, and a healthful menstrual cycle. Women who lack proper amounts of body fat can experience such problems as irregularities with their menstrual cycles, ovulation, and, not surprisingly, issues with fertility.
At the same time, remember that obese women can have too much estrogen. This can create problems with fertility, as well. So when we talk about increasing your body fat, we are of course referring to a level that is still healthy.
There are a few easy ways to increase your body fat percentage. Veggies, greens, and eggs are all simple things that you can add to your diet. Avocados, walnuts, almonds, salmon, nut and seed butters, and Coconut Oil are all great ways to increase your intake of healthy fats.
This is just one aspect to creating a body that is ready for babies. Diet is something we will cover in greater detail later. Just remember for the time being that changing your diet for pregnancy will mean more than just the inclusion of healthy fats.
For now, we’re going to eliminate the toxins, heavy metals, and other undesirables that have building up in your system.
#3: Adding Supplements To Your Natural Pregnancy
This is actually the second part of the Total Wellness Protocol, but we can touch on it here for a moment. If nothing else, we just want to drive home the importance of things like fulvic acid, if you are just beginning to learn about the Total Wellness Protocol.
Water-extracted Fuvic Ionic Minerals™ products from Optimally Organic include are a great foundation. While it is important to make sure you see phase 1 through to completion, prior to beginning phase 2, you will also want to note the consistencies between the phases. Fulvic Ionic Minerals is a key part of your success, in terms of not only cleansing your body, but in terms of maintaining a physical and emotional state that one would consider to be optimal. Fulvic Ioninc Minerals helps us to achieve such a state, regardless of whether we are pregnant, are trying to get pregnant, or are not planning to conceive at all. This is because water-extracted Fulvic Ionic Minerals™, among other things, breaks down the heavy metals that appear in our systems (5). It is also a powerful way to get 77 trace minerals on a daily basis.
How Diet Helps With A Natural Pregnancy
Utilizing both phases of Optimally Organic’s Total Wellness Protocol, you are creating a body that is ready for conception, and for maintaining the pregnancy. To be sure, you should also make some serious changes to your diet, in addition to taking supplements, increasing your percentage of body fat, and removing the toxins and heavy metals from your body.
We’ve already covered diet a little bit. Fat-based fats, veggies, greens, eggs, avocados, and salmon are all examples we’ve mentioned before. If you eat meats, avoid red meats, or at least stick to occasional lean meats. Legumes and sweet potatoes are also great examples of foods you should add to your diet. Berries and pumpkin seeds can make for nice snacks, as well.
Conclusion: Simple Natural Pregnancy Tips
Here are a few more helpful tips for a natural pregnancy that you can keep in mind:
- Maintain a positive state of mind. This is going to be much easier when it is used in conjunction with the TWP.
- Avoid cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals. Stick to natural household products.
- Make an effort with switching over to natural skin/hair products.
- Consider yoga. There are some excellent yoga poses for pregnant women, including “legs up on the wall”, “butterfly”, and “double pigeon.” In addition to yoga, make it a point to learn about exercises and exercise regimens for pregnant women, or for women who are planning to conceive.
- Limit sugar and caffeine consumption. To be honest, you should be largely cutting these things out from your daily life anyway.
Most of the tips above can be applied to pregnant women. However, when it comes to things like eating fresh, whole foods, or practicing yoga, we are talking about things that can benefit just about anyone. So if you want to support some of the above with your pregnant partner, certainly feel free!
REFERENCES:
- All images associated with Children of Men are copyright Universal Pictures
- Source: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3306091
- Source: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20918587,00.html#household-chemicals--0
- Enhance and transport nutrients – Christman, R.F., & Gjessing, E.T. (1983). Aquatic and terrestrial humic materials. The Butterworth Grove, Kent, England: Ann Arbor Science.
- Modify damage by toxic compounds – Christman, R.F., & Gjessing, E.T. (1983). Aquatic and terrestrial humic materials. The Butterworth Grove, Kent, England: Ann Arbor Science. Also: Prakash, A. (1971). Terrigenous organic matter and coastal phytoplankton fertility. In J.D. Costlow (Ed.), Fertility of the sea, 2, 351-368. (Proceedings of an International Symposium on Fertility of the Sea, Sao Paulo, Brazil, London, and New York: Gordon and Breach Science.)