Chapter VI
What to Avoid if You Want To Get Pregnant
1. Simple sugar and refine starches
Simple sugar and refine starches have a very high reading in the GI index list as they cause sharp rise and drop of blood sugar in the bloodstream, leading to
a) Hormone imbalance
As the levels of insulin produced by the pancreas have to increase traumatically when the blood sugar levels rise and stop when the blood sugar drop. The imbalance of levels of sugar also cause the over production of cortisol hormone by the adrenal gland that interferes with production of sex hormone, causing infertility.
b) Vitamins
Over production of cortisol caused by intake of sugar and refine starches also increases the risk of nutrients deficiency as resulting of vitamins and minerals depletion including B vitamin and magnesium.
c) Weakened immune system
Study show that intake a teaspoon of simple sugar can weaken the immune system up to 4 hours as resulting of weakening protein functions in body defence.
2. Saturated fat and trans fat
Saturated fat and trans fat interferes the liver function in essential fatty acid metabolism, leading to over production of certain hormones in the prostaglandins family, causing menstrual camps and pain, nervous tensions as well as irregular menstrual cycle, thereby increasing the risk of infertility.
3. Coffee
Intake of large amount of coffee daily to fight off stress may have a negative effect in the reproductive system. As study show that women who consume 300 mg or more of caffeine take longer to conceive than women who do not or take less.
4 Drug and alcohol
Drugs and alcohol can influence an imbalance of reproductive hormones. As drug increases the tension of the nervous system leading to hormone imbalance, excessive alcohol drinking can cause liver damage, which abnormal function of liver in all kinds of metabolism, causing blood and qi stagnation in the liver and effecting a couple's reproductive abilities. Alcohol also causes nervous tension, leading to over production of certain hormones, thereby, increasing the risk of infertility.
5. Carbonate Soda
Carbonate soda contains high amount of sweetener, caffeine and phosphate which can interfere with calcium absorption as well as stimulating the over production of certain hormone including cortisol, leading to fatigue, stress and anxiety.
6. Lubricants
Lubricants may be toxic and can decrease the sperm's ability to move and motility through the female's reproductive tract for egg fertilization. If necessary, using the water base lubricants is recommended.
7. Douching
Douching may cause over production of certain the bacteria in the vagina causing infection or inflammation as well as decreasing the sperm motility and cervical mucus penetration.
It is said that caffeine of green tea is absorbed quickly by the body, after entering the digestive system, therefore, it does not interfere with the fertility process.