The time while you are preparing for conception is one of the most important times to create a healthy body in preparation for pregnancy. It is also the best time to do a fertility cleanse. Fertility cleansing is a way to support the body in preparation for conception by cleansing the uterus and liver. A fertility cleanse encourages the liver to cleanse the body of toxins and excess hormones. It also supports the uterus to cleanse itself of old stagnant blood and increases circulation to the uterus while tonifying the uterine tissues.

Why Fertility Cleanse? The time while you are preparing for conception is one of the most important times to create a healthy body in preparation for pregnancy.

Over the years the body can accumulate toxins in the body from chemicals in the air, earth, water and from substances we put into our bodies. Many of these toxins get stored in the fat tissues of the body and can be released quicker through cleansing. Some of these toxins may be left from:

·         Birth control
·         Cigarette Smoke
·         Pesticides
·         Excess hormones
·         Poor diet
·         Alcohol, etc

Ideally we would like our bodies to be as healthy as possible during pregnancy, through cleansing we are able to support the body in its natural ability to rid itself of these substances.

While cleansing is beneficial, not just any cleanse is going to be beneficial for fertility. A fertility cleanse is specific to the reproductive system and assists the body in eliminating the additional burden of substances not good for fertility.

A fertility cleanse focuses on three major areas that can help the body to prepare for conception.

Liver Health
The liver helps to filter toxins from the body including excess hormones. If there is an over abundance of estrogen it is the livers job to remove it from the system. Sometimes, due to poor diet, lifestyle or general health, the liver may need some stimulation and support to get rid of these substances.

Uterine Health 
Uterine health is very important for reproductive health. Every cycle the uterus is supposed to release the lining that was built that month for the embryo to implant. In some cases the uterus is not completely cleansed every cycle, so old stagnant blood remains. As you can imagine, this is not the best environment to house a new embryo.

Through using specific cleansing and uterine herbs you can help support your uterine health, increase circulation and help tonify the uterine muscles, all helping to promote a healthy uterine environment.

Increasing circulation to the uterus
In order for the uterus to function at its best, it requires proper circulation. With proper circulation the communication loop between the uterus and ovaries with the endocrine system is able to function smoothly. This is necessary for proper hormonal balance and all of the functions dependent on it such as ovulation, menstruation, and hormone production.

For more information about fertility cleansing contact Dr. Lesley!

http://natural-fertility-info.com/prepare-for-conception

So last month we talked about the benefits of detox and how simple it can be to start.  Cleaning up the diet is essential to any detox program as well as incorporating certain foods to aid in the detoxification process.  Here are some of the top foods to help you detox:

Green leafy vegetables: Kale, spinach, watercress, arugula, chard are all full of chlorophyll which not only aids the liver in detoxification but also helps the body eliminate harmful toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Whether they are eaten raw, thrown into a broth or added to juices, leafy greens are important for detox.

Citrus: Lemon, limes, oranges are extremely high in vitamin C, which helps flush heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and aluminum out of the body.  They also help to stimulate digestive processes.  To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water.

Beets: Beets are extremely effective for liver detoxification. They help digestion and stimulate both the kidneys and lymphatic system.

Fresh fruit: Full of vitamin C, fibre, nutritious fluids, and an endless supply of antioxidants, fruits are an important part of any detox program. Apples are great for detoxifying the bloodstream and supporting the lymphatic system. Pectin, a type of plant fibre found in apples, is especially helpful in maintaining healthy digestion. It helps prevent the absorption of toxic heavy metals, such as aluminum, mercury, and cadmium, in the intestinal tract and ensures they are quickly eliminated from the body.

Garlic: This pungent bulb stimulates the liver in producing detoxification enzymes that help filter out toxins in the digestive system. Also, allicin, a compound found in garlic, is extremely effective in killing a variety of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and parasites.

Green tea: Green tea is high in catechins - a flavonoid — which speeds up liver activity and increases the production of detoxification enzymes. Green tea is also packed full of antioxidants which help to wash toxins out of the body.

Broccoli sprouts: Extremely high in antioxidants, broccoli sprouts can help stimulate the detoxification enzymes in the body.  The key component responsible for these actions is called sulforaphane and spouts can contain up to 100 times more sulforaphane than mature broccoli.  These small but nutritionally powerful veggies can be found at your local health food supermarket.

Parsley: Parsley has a wonderful detoxifying effect on the bloodstream. It is beneficial for the health of the colon, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen.  It also provides the body with many vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamins A and C, as well as chlorophyll.

Along with consuming some of these foods, make sure you are hydrating your body with plenty of water which a very important part of detox!

Some of the most frequent questions I get at around this time of year are about detox: “What is a detox?”, “Do I need to detox?”, “How will it make me feel?” etc.  Well I’m here to answer these burning questions!

Detox…DETOX!  The word seems pretty scary, well at least when it’s written in all capitals, but it’s not as scary as it may seem.  Detoxification is about cleaning your body of all the “junk” that has accumulated over the years.  Just as we do Spring cleaning for the house, it is important to do the same for the body.  Everybody’s body is unique, so are the clearing rates at which the detoxification organs (skin, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines and lymphatic system) remove various toxins that have built up in the body. 

Unfortunately we live in a toxic world.  We are frequently exposed to environmental toxins such as: industrial pollutants, chemical pesticides, pathogenic bacteria, certain prescription antibiotics and over the counter medications and even excesses of certain foods.  If the eliminatory organs are not functioning properly, toxins are left with no place to go and remain inside the body.  This in turn can leads to progression or development of disease. That’s where a detox can come in.  Think of it as giving your eliminatory organs a much deserved break from the burden that is put on them on a daily basis.

Low energy levels, skin conditions such as eczema, gas and bloating, PMS, irritable moods, sweet cravings can all be symptoms of toxic build up in the body, so if you experience any of these, a little Spring cleaning might be what you need.

So what does a detox consist of?  Well for the extreme few individuals, it consists of fasting or colonics.  However, for the rest of us, it can be as simple as eating whole foods i.e. foods that don’t come packaged, drinking more water, exercising and perhaps supplementing with specific vitamins or herbs to aid the body in eliminating toxins.

Avoiding processed foods, sugars/artificial sweeteners, saturated fats and substituting those with whole foods is a great way to start your detox.  Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides much needed nutrients and fiber that helps improve digestion as well as improve elimination through the liver and kidneys.  Saunas, hot yoga or anything that works up a sweat will also help your body detox through the skin.  Want to help your lymphatic system with removing toxins?  Try massage therapy or contrast showers!  At the end of your shower, do a few cycles of alternating hot and cold i.e. 1 minute hot, 10 seconds cold, always ending on cold.  This is a great way to help with lymphatic circulation through the body.

If you aren’t feeling the absolute best that you can feel, taking some time to improve how your body is eliminating toxins may be worth the effort.  In the end, you will feel more energized and rejuvenated!

General Tips for Detoxification:

• Drink plenty of water (at least 8 glasses/day)
• Add half a lemon to a warm glass of water and enjoy it first thing in the morning.  This is a great way to help stimulate your liver to aid in detoxification.
• Eat your salads and greens – they provide you with lots and lots of live enzymes and minerals and also help detoxify heavy metals from the body
• Exercise regularly, for at least 20 minutes - Partner up with a friend or family member if motivation is a problem. Go for a brisk walk or jog, or try something different like a spinning class or Yoga!