Boost Fertility

Boost Your Fertility With Green Tea

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“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/

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