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Tick Tock! Let's Turn Back the Clock

12 Nutrition Rules for Increased Fertility

By CJ Johnson

One day at a time, slowly but surely, the old biological clock ticks away. Each year that passes it may become more difficult to conceive. However, it is possible to slow down the progress of aging and bolster fertility by making a few simple but powerful changes in diet and exercise.

Marilyn Shannon, author of Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition (Couple to Couple League Intl., 2001), has a vast knowledge of nutrition and its mighty impact on fertility. And, as a mother of nine, who last conceived when she was 47, she is an expert on what it takes to improves chances of conception.

Adding flax oil to your diet is a simple way to give fertility a boost and improve overall health at the same time. Shannon explains that every hormone has to hit a receptor in a cell in a precise way in order to work properly. Flaxseed oil helps this process run smoothly, because it makes the membranes on receptor cells more flexible and easier for the hormones to bind with. "The cells in the uterus and ovaries have a high percentage of membrane to volume," Shannon says. "This binding amounts to improved fertility and better healing in the uterus. There are virtually no parts of the reproductive organs that flax is not helpful for."

The benefits of this powerful oil are many. "Flax oil is the richest source of omega fatty acids and is the easiest and most concentrated source of essential fats," Shannon says. Because the average person does not enjoy the flavor of flaxseed oil, she recommends that women who are trying to conceive take five capsules a day. Flax is also a very safe supplement, and unlike vitamin supplements, there is no risk of overdose.

Trans fats interfere with cell functions for every cell in the body, reproductive cells included, so it is vital to eliminate them from your diet and replace them with healthier oils. "Practically speaking, that means in your own home it is best to use canola oil or olive oil for cooking," Shannon says. "Switching to these oils is important because they provide good fats that are otherwise really hard to get in the American diet."

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