Pulling Down the Moon

PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS

June 10, 2017

In our quest to eat healthier to promote fertility, we often think strictly about the food that we put into your body, but sometimes we forget about the importance of the digestive process and the beneficial bacteria that live our gut. These beneficial bacteria help support our immune system, help ward off infection from disease-causing bacteria, and help support good digestion and elimination.



Probiotic supplements have been studied for their ability to prevent yeast infections and bacteria vaginosis, both of which are associated with poor IVF outcome. Probiotics also support good digestion and may help prevent constipation and diarrhea and can be a useful too for managing IBS and other digestive issues. It’s not only important what we eat, but also what we digest and absorb. If digestion is sub-optimal, we may not be absorbing all the nutrients from our food. In addition, did you know that your gut bacteria can even make nutrients that your body needs like vitamin B12, biotin, and vitamin K?


In addition, early research points to probiotic supplementation as a way to improve blood sugar regulation to prevent or better manage gestational diabetes. Additional research suggests that gut bacteria may affect neurotransmitter production and thus mood. I suspect we will only learn more about the role of probiotics in health and fertility as time goes on.


In addition to probiotic supplements, including fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented pickles, and other fermented vegetables is a great way to get more probiotics in. Kefir and yogurt also contain probiotics, if you eat dairy products.


In addition to taking a probiotic supplement and eating foods that contain probiotics, it’s also important to eat foods that feed the beneficial bacteria you already have your body. These fibers, which feed your beneficial bacteria, are called prebiotics. Examples of prebiotics include:


  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Whole grains
  • Avocado
  • Peas
  • Legumes
  • Potato Skins
  • Green bananas
  • Jicama
  • Dandelion greens
  • Endive
  • Berries


The saying goes, “you are what you eat,” but a better saying might be “you are what you digest and absorb.” Including a probiotic supplement, probiotic foods, and prebiotics daily can be a great way to optimize digestion and absorption, and positively impact fertility.

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Tips for Spring Restoration

February 18, 2025
Spring arrives next month, and with it, more cold days (perhaps even snow)! But March also brings the promise of new life. We love this time of year. The ground starts to smell fresh and ripe. Small green buds begin to swell from the earth reaching up, up, up. Birds chatter in the trees. The sun stays in the sky a little longer each day. After a long, cold winter of hibernation, spring restores nature’s beauty. Spring inspires us to restore ourselves, too and these self-care techniques will lead you to restoration of mind, body and spirit. Hydrate. Drink a glass or two of water first thing in the morning. Keeping yourself hydrated helps boost your mood, improves brain power and protects you against disease. Make a gratitude list. Spending just a few minutes a day writing down what you are grateful for can dramatically shift your day. The more gratitude you have, the more open to abundance you become. Breathe. Set aside a few minutes each day to practice breathing. There are so many benefits! Among them, diaphragmatic breathing alleviates stress, reduces pain, strengthens internal muscles and moves blood to organs and tissues. If you’re not sure how to get started, try our Breathe & Restore Workshop or schedule an Soothe the Senses: Calm the Nervous System Fertility Enhancing Massage™ to receive some hands-on breath work coaching. Stretch. Five to 10 minutes of stretching in the morning increases energy levels, enhances circulation, reduces injury and centers your mind. Even better is a regular yoga practice. Get started by downloading the Fully Fertile App today to give you a jump start! Our next Signature Yoga for Fertility Series begins on Monday, February 24th to reduce anxiety and stress by 20% or more in just six weeks. Eliminate something from your diet that isn’t serving you. I nstead of overhauling your entire diet, start by taking out one food that doesn’t nourish your body. Replace it with a different item that supports your desire for restoration. Learn even more by working with scheduling a nutrition consult ! We look forward to seeing you virtually or in-person at one of our centers to help you get started. Many wishes for a beautiful spring!
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