Fats & Fertility Series: Introduction
What our teachers didn’t tell us in 7th grade sex ed:
This first blog series will talk about preconception health and things you can do in the time BEFORE conception. Why? To understand this, let's do a review on the process of egg development. Something that definitely wasn’t covered in 7th grade sex ed. Or at least not mine.
Here’s the abbreviated version:
Each ovary contains follicles, which are sac-like structures.
Each sac (follicle) contains one immature egg (oocyte) along with follicular fluid and a whole lot of helper cells.
Every menstrual cycle, the follicles grow and compete for a chance at ovulation. In the end, only one follicle will become dominant and eventually undergo ovulation.
All of this requires a balanced, symphony of hormones in order for this beautiful, monthly show to debut.
Each dominant follicle that eventually ovulates every month needs roughly 100 days to mature from their most immature state to reach ovulation. 100 days! (1) That’s roughly 3 months where your nutrition can set the stage for the health of your eggs. The eggs that one day may become your baby. See where I am going with this? The point is, preconception is a time to boost your nutrient reserves as a mamma and optimize egg health. Both of which support healthy fertility, healthy pregnancy, and healthy baby and mamma. It’s a very important time that doesn’t get enough recognition in my opinion.
What will this blog series focus on? “Fats and Fertility!”
This series will focus specifically on fats because many of us grew up fearing fats. I want to unravel and re-teach what we were previously taught because not all fats are created equal. When you do become pregnant, the need for fat soluble vitamins and other nutrients found in high fat foods increases. (2)
So jump start understanding the nuances with this often feared macronutrient, because it can be beneficial for preconception health all the way to postpartum recovery. Wherever you are on your pregnancy journey, this information will be relevant.
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1. Briden L, Prior JC. Period Repair Manual : Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods. Greenpeak Publishing; 2018.
2. Nichols L. Real Food for Pregnancy : The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition. Lily Nichols; 2018.
**Medical/Health Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or cure, by a doctor or other qualified health professional. Please always consult with your doctor or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding your specific medical conditions or treatment plans. **