This post is for those of you who have read Parts 1, 2 and 3 in the Ancestral Fertility Diet Series. If you have not read these yet, please be sure to do so. Click below to access each previous section.
Maybe you’re eating all of the most nutrient dense foods, you’re avoid sugar and seed oils, but you still aren’t pregnant. Here’s what to try after an ancestral fertility diet. Because I promise you, improving your fertility is about a lifestyle change, not just a diet change. Read on to find out the 3 major lifestyle changes that will help improve your fertility and overall health.
Lifestyle Change #1: Remove all Toxins
What do you think of when I say toxins? You might have an idea about some of these, but there are many ‘secret’ toxins that are present in our modern day life. Listed below are the major toxins that we should all try to limit our exposure to in order to improve fertility.
- Plastics
- Chemicals
- Pesticides
- Heavy Metals
Now you might be thinking to yourself, I’m not exposed to these everyday! This section isn’t for me. But let me ask you one thing, do you use household cleaners, skincare products, nonorganic foods, seafood, tap water, plastic food storage, etc? If you do, then you are exposed to these toxins. But don’t panic yet, there are simple swaps that you can make to limit exposure. And they don’t have to break the bank. However, it is important to remember, we aren’t striving for perfection here. Some of these are entirely unavoidable, and that is ok. We do not need to stress right now.
Plastics:
The solution is simple; quit buying plastic water bottles, switch over to glass or stainless steel reusable ones like these here. In addition, NEVER microwave or heat up plastic, ever. This causes the plastic to leach into your food in high doses. Switch over to glass tupperware and other kitchen storage. Any food stored in a container is better off stored in something else. For example, I use these reusable silicone freezer ziplock bags for much of my food storage. They’re easy to clean and are a more cost effective solution to plastic.
Chemicals:
Swap out your household cleaning products with cleaner versions. I use the EWG website here to help determine if a certain product is lower in toxins. This website is a great tool and it also works for skincare products as well. For example, the shampoo and conditioner I use have been EWG verified, meaning they do not contain ANY reproductive risks. Click here to check out the brand. Make sure to swap out all skincare products including shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, deodorant, perfume and lotions. My favorite makeup company is Toups and Co., they offer incredibly safe products that work beautifully.
Pesticides:
Be sure to only buy organic produce. Farmers are not allowed to spray pesticides when growing organic produce. However, this does not mean the produce is not sprayed after it is picked. So if you can, buy local and in season. Better yet, grow a garden if you can! Frozen organic produce is another good option, as it is usually picked in season and then frozen, therefore there is no need for further spraying.
Heavy Metals:
Seafood and tap water are two of the highest sources of heavy metals. Certain seafoods are higher in heavy metals. I find it is best to stick to wild caught fish and smaller fish. It is the larger fish that have the highest concentration of heavy metals. But if you love tuna, like myself, Safe Catch is a great brand that tests the metal levels in each fish. Tap water is often delivered through heavily corroded pipes. A simple solution is to buy a water filter like this one here. Lastly, it is said that grounding (or earthing) can help your body detox heavy metals. This is when you stand outside in the dirt or grass in your bare feet. It can’t hurt to try.
Lifestyle Change #2: Move your Body
Walk, walk and walk some more. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors used to walk 6-8 miles a day. This is around 16,000-18,000 steps a day. Today, we are lucky if we hit 5,000 steps a day. Our bodies are designed to move every single day because they have evolved to exercise. Studies have shown that if we do not hit at least 10,000 steps a day, we are drastically increasing our chances of heart disease, diabetes, chronic illness and obesity. So I think it’s safe to say we could add infertility to this list.
In addition to walking, I find its helpful to set up a weekly workout regime. For me personally, I try to strength train 3 times a week, do cardio 3 times a week (this includes long walks and hikes) and do yoga whenever I feel like it. It is important to do both strength training and cardio. Our bodies have also evolved to lift heavy objects, especially mens bodies. A strong body is a healthy body, and a healthy body is a fertile body.
Lifestyle Change #3: Eliminate Stress
There is most definitely a mental aspect to fertility. And stress plays a very important role both physically and mentally. If you are at a place in your life where you are feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, that needs to be addressed prior to having children. Your infertility is merely your body’s way of telling you it is not ready. Seek external help if needed to address the root cause of your stress. For me personally when I was TTC, I had just received a big promotion at work for a job that I hated. This caused me daily stress and anxiety. Once I quit my job, I got pregnant 2 weeks later. Do not underestimate the power of the mind.
In addition, physical stress on the body is important. Be sure you are getting adequate sleep in order to mitigate stress. This should look like 8-9 hours a night for women and 7-9 hours for men. If you are having trouble sleeping, try eliminating blue light at night. Check out these blue light blocking glasses here if you can not eliminate the screen time. Your sleep is your time to heal your mind and body after a long days work. Always prioritize sleep.
Conclusion
Thank you so much for reading the fourth and final part to the Ancestral Fertility Diet Series. As always, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions. Or message me over on Instagram @rawmilkandrecipes. You are in control of your future. Believe that you can get pregnant above all else. I wish you all the best of luck on your journeys. And if you do get pregnant following an ancestral fertility diet, please please leave a comment below! I would love to build a community of encouragement and hope. Take care!
For more posts like this, or to access the first 3 parts of the ancestral fertility diet series, click below.
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