At Red Earth, we know that fertility extends beyond just about physical health. Creating a healthy family is all about nourishing the body, mind, and spirit. The foods we consume play a crucial role in a new mother’s hormone balance, and reproductive health as your body for prepares for a strong pregnancy, and a successful labor and delivery. Drawing the deeply from principles of our teachers in Asian Medicine, we explore how diet and how we eat can be your powerful ally in this transformative journey. We recommend the book Awakening Fertility by Heng Ou, and consulting with the experts at Red Earth to help you prepare for and sustain your healthy pregnancy.
The Power of Whole Foods
Eating nourishing, whole foods is essential for maintaining a healthy reproductive system. In all traditional cultures, food is medicine. Asian Medicine has a very effective way of identifying the right foods to support the body in a woman’s fertility and the deepest levels. In particular, three core systems of the body drive female reproduction, so foods that support these three systems are an excellent dietary place to start. Look for foods that support the kidney, spleen/pancreas, and liver systems to enhance your fertility.
Kidney Health and Fertility
The kidney system is the foundation of vitality, and responsible for the length and quality of a person’s life. They govern reproductive health and are essential for hormonal balance. To nourish the kidneys, focus on foods like black beans, walnuts, sesame seeds, and bone broth. These foods provide vital nutrients and help tonify kidney energy, which is essential for conception.
Spleen/Pancreas and Digestive Health
Strong spleen/pancreas system function generates the energy needed to generate the essential building blocks for life – both for Mom and baby – and proper elimination of waste products need to keep us healthy.. Since good digestion is the foundation of overall health, consuming foods warm, and cooked make them fully digestible . So, focus on traditionally prepared foods and dishes such as soups, stews, and porridges. Whole grains like quinoa, rice, and oats, along with root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots, are excellent choices for stabilizing the spleen/pancreas system.
Liver/Gall Bladder System Health for Hormonal Balance
The Liver/Gall Bladder system is responsible for the smooth flow of blood fluids and blood, throughout the body. A sluggish Liver/Gall Bladder System leads to hormonal imbalances, making it harder to conceive. Support this system with foods that support fluid and blood circulation with green leafy vegetables, such as, arugula, mustard greens and kale, as well as blood building foods like beets, and artichokes.
Focusing on Warming and Nourishing Foods
A core principle of Asian Medicine is the importance of generating and preserving the body’s warmth in fertility preparation. Cold and raw foods and drinks are hard on the digestive system and may deplete energy reserves, making it harder for your body to conceive. Instead, focus on warming foods, such as soups and stews, and avoid cold beverages and raw foods like salads, especially during the summer months.
Incorporating Herbal and Spice Support
Culinary herbs and spices are a key component of both Asian Medicine and Awakening Fertility for balancing reproductive health. Foods cooked with gingers, cardamum, nutmeg and other warming spices are excellent for nourishing the uterine lining and supporting hormonal balance. If more support is needed, our herbalist can properly diagnose and prescribe Asian Medicine herbal formulas using Chinese herbs like Dong Quai to help you strengthen and regulate your menstrual cycles and optimize your fertility.
Lifestyle Integration
Under most circumstances, fertility is a natural by-product of a woman’s general health. At Red Earth, we know that when a woman’s body is able to heal, fertility follows. Eating a Whole Food, Slow Food, diet based on the wisdom of traditional food practices is the foundation. Our acupuncture and herb lineages are powerful tools to help you prepare to start your family, support your healthy pregnancy, have an easy successful delivery and post-partum recovery. fertility, pregnancy, delivery, postpartum recovery, and nursing are natural processes and under most circumstances, and not a medical condition and a reflection of your overall health. By making sound food and lifestyle choices, you are supporting your body and your future.
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