“While green tea offers a number of documented health benefits, it also may support your chances of conceiving! …Green tea contains antioxidants - and these antioxidant properties may support fertility health by mitigating and repairing the “oxidative damage” that occurs as a result of toxins in our food, water, and environment, aging, and bodily stress. A recent study found that drinking 1/2 cup or more of green tea daily doubled the odds of conceiving per discrete menstrual cycle!” Tea for Fertility -Early-pregnancy-tests.com

While green tea has been studied for its numerous health benefits, there’s at least one area of interest that needs more attention.

Can drinking green tea really enhance fertility?
Now that’s the one-hundred-thousand dollar question! There’s a lot of conflicting opinions and research results pertaining to that subject. We’ll try to be fair and present both sides of the issue.

Any tea made from the Camellia sinensis bush contains caffeine. On the bright side of the teapot, green tea has only one-sixth to one-tenth of the amount of caffeine that a similar amount of regular coffee contains.

For those of us who are trying to watch our caffeine intake, that’s a good deal. If you need a caffeine fix though, green tea isn’t going to give you what you’re looking for. Better start looking for the nearest Starbucks.

How can drinking green tea increase fertility?
A study done by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, California revealed that the chances of conceiving doubled for woman who daily drank more than one- half cup of green tea containing caffeine (American Journal of Public Health, 1998). Because this wasn’t the case for the other tested caffeinated beverages, caffeine wasn’t deemed the causing agent. Some credit was given to the possibility that the polyphenols and hypoxanthine, compounds found in tea, resulted in a greater number of viable embryos, and increased maturation and fertilizability of oocytes.

Another conclusion of this study was that the healthy lifestyle of many green tea drinkers, such as regular exercise and decreased smoking and fat intake, might also play a role in the enhanced fertility levels of the test subjects.

“There are three main varieties of tea — green, black, and oolong. Green, black, and oolong tea are all derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between the teas is in their processing. Green tea is prepared from unfermented leaves, the leaves of oolong tea are partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. The more the leaves are fermented, the lower the polyphenol content and the higher the caffeine content. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and is reputed to contain the highest concentration of polyphenols, chemicals that act as powerful antioxidants.” Green Tea & Fertility Babyhopes.com

How can drinking green tea decrease fertility?
Tannic acids, an element found in green tea, have been shown to cause fertility problems and greater chances at miscarrying.

While not an “initial” fertility situation, rumor has it that EGCG, the main disease-fighting antioxidant known as catechins in green tea that have been found to impede the growth of tumors, might also effect the blood vessel growth of a developing embryo. Another post-fertility issue related to an excessive intake of green tea involves the increased rate of birth defects.

Past studies have concluded that coffee consumption increases the risk of miscarriages and that caffeine intake enhances the negative effects of alcohol intake on fertility. While not directly related to green tea, caffeine is the potential cause of such problems.

Should I or shouldn’t I drink green tea for fertility issues?
The best advice that we can give you is something you’ve heard before. Check with your doctor first. Do your homework. Then and only then can you make a truly educated and well-informed decision about a very delicate issue. Whatever you decide, we wish you the best of luck in your quest for that new addition to your family. Cheers…

“When you are trying to have a baby, starting out with a healthy body is important. Developing the habits of good nutrition, a very limited intake of alcohol and caffeine, avoiding cigarette smoke and maintaining an active lifestyle are recommended steps to take to prepare your body for pregnancy. Drinking green tea with your meals is one non-invasive way to help improve your fertility.” How to Take Green Tea to Improve Fertility EHow.com

Purchase the Primula Flowering Tea Set with 40-Ounce Pot with Glass Lid
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Vaughn Balchunas is a writer and publisher of health, and self-growth articles. For more information about tea and health go to: http://www.tea-guide.com/

“Red Clover is a very common plant with bright pink blossoms and is renowned for its fertility-enhancing properties. The leaves and blossoms are rich in B vitamins, calcium and protein and also helps to detoxify the blood.” Womenfitness.net

by Kristen Hart
A delicate blossom on a hardy, nourishing plant could be the natural fertility booster that you are looking for. Red clover is known as a hardy plants that enriches the fertility of the soil its planted in. Natural wisdom has proven that it gives a tonic and enhancing effect to human fertility as well.

A tonic is something taken regularly to enrich health. Red clover blossoms are a tonic herb. Taken regularly they provide superior nourishment to the reproductive system. Susan S. Weed, author of the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year calls red clover blossoms “the single most useful herb for establishing fertility.”

Red clover is widely useful as a “purifying” herb. It helps to rid the body of mucous and aids the body in efficient waste elimination. It’s also a blood booster and has long been used as a gentle cough remedy for children.

It truly shines as a fertility boosting herb because of its nourishing properties. It has large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Most trace minerals are found in red clover blossoms. Calcium and magnesium are abundant and very available - so much so that Susan Weed states it is “exceedingly absorbable.”

“Modern scientific tests have shown that red clover contains isoflavones, plant-based chemicals that produce estrogen-like effects in the body. Isoflavones have shown potential in the treatment of a number of conditions associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, cardiovascular health, and osteoporosis. However, as researchers have become aware of the side effects of taking estrogen, there is also some concern about the safety of isoflavones.” University of Maryland Medical Center

These minerals are useful for supporting the blood and bones, as well as the reproductive system. A gentle red clover tonic makes all these nutrients available to the uterus and other reproductive organs. They also help to relax the reproductive system and allow it to work at maximum efficiency.

Red clover also has an alkalinizing effect on the whole body, which creates a more sperm-friendly environment within your body. Combined with peppermint to make a tasty brew that also stimulates the sex drive it is a perfect drink to prepare for conception.

Enjoy a glass or two of red clover blossom infusion every day for several months. The high protein content will help your body prepare to build your little one. Abundant vitamins and minerals will enhance your health and your reproductive system. And you’ll be secure knowing that you are gently making your body ready to conceive your bouncing baby.

“It may be that the isoflavones in red clover have an estrogenic effect when consumed as a staple part of the diet. We still have much to learn about isoflavones, but it seems logical that they may prove useful in conditions associated with very low estrogen levels (menopause, chronic miscarriage, some cases of infertility) and should be avoided in cases of estrogen excess (uterine fibroids, endometriosis, breast cancer). Red clover has been a traditional folk therapy for infertility and chronic miscarriage, both of which can be due to insufficient estrogen.” Howstuffworks.com

Buy Organic Red Clover Tea or Red Clover Capsules

About the Author
Kristen Hart is the owner of http://www.getting-pregnant.com, a website devoted to empowering couples to enhance their fertility naturally. Visit the site to subscribe to an entire article series on natural fertility. Also visit Kristen’s review of Susan Weed’s Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year.

FertilityBlend For Women
A variety of nutritional deficiencies can impair human fertility so many couples who are trying to conceive often wonder if a simple multivitamin will suffice to boost their odds, or if there is a specific benefit from supplements designed to enhance fertility. FertilityBlend has two formulations, one for women and one for men and they are quite different.

FertilityBlend for women has eleven ingredients on the label. The primary ingredient that can improve fertility is Vitex or Chasteberry. Chasteberry is an exceptionally useful herb for women who experience any sort of ovulatory dysfunction such as amenorrhea, excessive menstrual bleeding, painful or irregular bleeding, PMS symptoms, fibroids or endometriosis. It can help to regulate your hormones and menstrual cycle but must be taken for at least 6-18 months depending on the severity of your condition.

L-arginine, another primary component of Fertility Blend for women, is an amino acid that stimulates the reproductive organs by improving circulation to these areas and helps to maintain a healthy uterine lining. Some studies have shown both improved IVF and natural conception rates with L-arginine use.

The other ingredients in the women’s version of FertilityBlend, are green tea, Vitamin E, selenium, folic acid, B6 and B12 and the minerals iron, zinc and magnesium. All of these are in fact crucial to reproductive health but you can find them in virtually any multi-vitamin.

This is an excellent fertility supplement for women who are suffering from cycle and ovulation problems. In fact, every woman who is trying to conceive and has irregular, painful or absent periods should run out and buy some of this immediately and don’t stop taking it until you give up or become pregnant. For cases of unexplained infertility or simply taking a long time to conceive, FertilityBlend may help but you probably will not see the same wonderful results as someone who suffers from an ovulatory disorder and you can probably stick with an excellent multivitamin that contains the same essential ingredients in FertilityBlend minus the Vitex/Chasteberry.

FertilityBlend for Men
FertilityBlend for Men is a totally different formulation than the women’s. The two unique ingredients are Dong Quai, which has been shown to increase sperm quality and l-carnitine is essential for normal sperm function.

Researchers have found that L-carnitine is found in much greater amounts in sperm tissues than other cells. Preliminary studies suggest that L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine may be able to stimulate sperm motility in certain situations. The role of L-carnitine on sperm maturation and sperm quality however, is still unclear.

Several clinical studies have evaluated the effect of L-carnitine on men with a low sperm count, a reduction/loss in sperm movement, or men with both conditions. These studies have evaluated only small numbers of men who took oral carnitine supplements for varying lengths of time. Some patients enrolled in these studies experienced increased sperm counts and/or increased sperm motility, however it is still too early to determine the benefit of L-carnitine supplementation. Fertilnet.comThe other ingredients in FertilityBlend for men are Vitamin C, E, B6, B12, Folate, Zinc, Selenium and Green Tea. Most of these are excellent sperm enhancers. For example, Vitamin E increases motility and helps the sperm penetrate the egg while Vitamin C increases count and prevents the sperm from clumping. Selenium and Zinc are great for motility, sperm production and a healthy male reproductive system.

There are other useful herbs for male fertility that are not included in FertilityBlend such as Maca and COQ10 but overall this is a great choice for all men who are currently trying to conceive. This blend would be an excellent part of preconception planning and a man should start taking it 3-6 months before conception efforts start. This blend is imperative for men who suffer from low sperm count or motility. This may give you the extra boost you need to achieve your pregnancy.

Buy FertilityBlend for women (also comes in 3 month size)
Buy FertilityBlend for Men (also comes in 3 month size)

“Chasteberry is derived from the dried, ripened fruit of Vitex agnuscastus. It contains the two iridoid glycosides, agnuside and aucubin, as well as flavonoids, essential oils, and progestins. The berries exert a progesterogenic effect on women and an antiandrogenic effect on men.” FightingInfertility.com

Chasteberry has historically been used to regulate the female estrogen/progesterone balance. Chasteberry can help regulate your menstrual cycle because it stimulates your pituitary gland to release more luteinizing hormone which increases the progesterone released by your ovaries.

If you suffer from amenorrhea, excessive menstrual bleeding, painful or irregular bleeding, PMS symptoms, fibroids or endometriosis, you may benefit from regular use of a Chasteberry supplement. Like most herbal remedies, patience is key because herbal remedies take time. It should be taken for at least six months for infertility and fibroids and eighteen months for endometriosis and amenorrhea.

Men generally do not take Chasteberry because of the antiandrogenic effects and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or on hormone replacement therapies need to speak with their doctor, naturopath or herbalist before taking Chasteberry, because it alters your hormonal balance. Naturally those warnings do not apply to woman trying to conceive, but you should probably stop taking it once you become pregnant.

Purchase: Chasteberry
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