Are Carrots a “Fertility Food”?

Our old friend the carrot, that helps us see in the dark!

Another versatile root veg which can be added to anything & cooked in so many ways – and they are a great source of nutrition for your fertility diet!

Key nutrients of Carrot are:

Carotenes a precursor of vitamin A which we need for healthy skin, mucus membranes, our immune system and good eye health.

Vitamin B9: Vitamin B9 is also known as Folate or folacin. Mistakenly many people take Folic Acid, which is a synthetic version of Folate that is not recommended due to possible toxicity.

Folate  is essential for human growth and development as it encourages normal nerve and brain function. It’s involved in the creation of DNA as well as building of proteins, and many other important functions including the healthy development of your baby’s spinal cord.

During pregnancy folate also supports the growth of the placenta and helps to prevent several types of birth defects, especially those of the brain and spine. Folate is an important nutrient for general and fertility health.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid helps to repair and regenerate tissues, help with the absorption of iron, prevent scurvy, and decrease total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides.

Research shows that vitamin C protects against free radicals due to its antioxidant nature. It also helps neutralize the effects of nitrites (a group of commonly used preservatives), which many people come into contact with daily through processed foods.

For fertility health vitamin C is important in the process of absorption, and also for its ability to support the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Supplement forms of vitamin C are usually inferior compared to natural sources and my advice is to obtain this nutrient from your diet daily through fresh vegetables and fruit.

Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron, and also affects the way calcium is metabolised and stored in your body.

Vitamin K: By assisting the transportation of calcium throughout the body, Vitamin K may also be helpful for bone health. It may reduce bone loss, and decrease the risk of bone fractures and it may also help to prevent calcification of arteries and other soft tissue.

Vitamin K can be particularly useful if you suffer from heavy and/or painful periods as it can help slow down the blood flow and reduce cramping.

Potassium: Potassium is an electrolyte which counteracts the effects of sodium, helping to maintain consistent blood pressure levels – another important element for pregnancy. Many processes in the body rely on a small electric current to function, and electrolytes provide this current.

Manganese: Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral which aids in the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood-clotting factors, and sex hormones. It is a powerful antioxidant which neutralises the damaging particles of free radicals. It plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.

CHINESE FERTILITY MEDICINE USE IT TO:

• Treat Qi Stagnation
• Treat Qi Deficiency
• Treat Blood Deficiency

QI STAGNATION

Qi (pronounced chee) is the Chinese Fertility Medicine word used to describe energy, life force, or vitality inside and outside the body.

Qi must always flow efficiently through the body to properly support the thousands of functions required of the organs and systems every day.

If the flow of Qi slows down it is regarded as being a Qi Stagnation pattern.

This typically results in a variety of symptoms that can lead to stress, mood changes, hormonal imbalance, and other functional symptoms reflecting a lack of circulation in the body.

All of these have the ability to affect your fertility health as the regulation and ‘switching’ of hormones, fluids, energy, blood require a smooth and constant flow of energy to work properly.

Click here to read more about Qi Stagnation

QI DEFICIENCY

Qi is the word used in Chinese Fertility Medicine to describe energy, life force, or vitality inside and outside the body.

Qi is the non-physical aspect of your body that makes all of your organs and systems work.

This means that it’s vital for the function of all aspects of your fertility, and pregnancy health too. When your Qi is deficient your body struggles to function efficiently, and this can lead to a variety of fertility issues.

When Qi becomes more severely deficient you will likely present with hormone imbalance, typically with reduced Progesterone, Testosterone and/or FSH levels. In some cases the FSH can rise and present itself as being elevated, due to the ovaries or testes being underactive and sluggish (tired).

Click here to read more about Qi Deficiency

BLOOD DEFICIENCY

Blood deficiency is a Chinese Fertility Medicine term used to describe an imbalance in the quality of the blood.

The blood is responsible for circulating nutrients throughout the body to all of your cells, including egg and sperm cells.

When it is deficient the blood can’t properly nourish the body and certain aspects of health get out of balance.

This can impact egg and sperm health as the deficient blood is unable to transport necessary nutrients to the eggs and sperm – causing a depletion in their quality, quantity, and activity.

If the Blood deficiency reaches a deeper level of imbalance you will see physiological changes in the blood, such as reduced iron, haemoglobin, ferritin, B-vitamins and other nutrients. You may also see changes in the volume and quantity of the blood cells and it’s clotting ability or nature.

Click here to read more about Blood Deficiency

Extra notes: Carrots can be eaten at all stages of the cycle and can will over time help build Qi (energy), whilst improving Blood quality and the nutrient density of the blood.

They are helpful to eat regularly from ovulation to your period to keep these hormonal changes transitioning smoothly.

Good blood quality is associated with the ability to properly ‘ripen’ follicles, build a good endometrium, and create nutritious rich blood to nurture the growth of your baby once implantation occurs. To optimise the blood nourishing quality of carrots they are particularly good to eat during the follicular phase of your cycle.

Season: Summer

Cautions: Carrots should be eaten cooked as they are difficult to digest and are known to weaken the digestive energy when eaten raw.

Disclaimer: https://naturalfertilityexpert.com/disclaimer/

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