If you are looking to conceive, you might be wondering about the many ways that you can increase your fertility. Your diet and your overall health will play a big part and what you might not know is that there is a spice that you probably have in your cupboard already that can boost your chances of conceiving.
Turmeric is a bitter and warming spice that has been shown in clinical tests to improve the vascular health of the ovaries1. It is a close relative to ginger and it comes from the orange coloured rhizome of a plant called Curcuma longa. Curcumin is a polyphenol within Turmeric which provides the medical benefits that this golden Indian curry spice is famous for2.
The Fertility Health Benefits
Research has shown that turmeric has been beneficial in helping with fertility health conditions such as ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, premenstrual pain and amenorrhea. It is also very good for you when it comes to detoxifying the liver and it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory – which is excellent for your hormonal health3.
Also, Turmeric contains multiple antioxidants, which will help to improve fertility in women who suffer from endometriosis. Antioxidants will help to fight against free radicals and will also protect the liver. When free radicals are not dealt with over time they can damage the mitochondria of the eggs and make them less fertile.
Experts in fertility also suggest that the natural compounds found within turmeric will help to prevent the natural infertility that occurs with aging. Reservatrol and circumin both will have anti-aging effects that could protect your eggs from the effects of time4.
Also, turmeric will enhance the body’s ability to suppress pain by depleting the neurotransmitter that transfers it. Turmeric also contains a lot of beneficial nutrients including vitamin E, magnesium and folate.
Getting Turmeric in Your Diet
If you want to enjoy the benefits of turmeric for your fertility and your overall health, try making a few different dishes containing this spice. Here are some tips for adding more turmeric to your diet.
- This spice is present in a lot of Indian dishes, so take a look at a few different curry options and try cooking them up yourself.
- Turmeric is absorbed better when eaten with black pepper, which is why many recipes include both spices together.
- You can also improve your absorption by taking it with a meal that contains fat, such as coconut oil.
- If you don’t feel like cooking, you can make a turmeric tea by infusing it with ginger, lemon juice and raw honey.
- You could also also make a turmeric smoothie with mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut oil and almond milk.
By adding more of this spice to your diet you could not only be adding flavour, but you could also be helping to improve your fertility health and increase your chances of conceiving. So, why not mix in a dash of turmeric and see what happens?
References
- Dr sandra Cabot. Tumeric Milk: T for Therapeutic!. https://www.drsandracabotclinics.com.au/turmeric-milk-t-therapeutic/ (Accessed May 2016) ↩
- Natural News. Curcumin’s healing powers revealed. http://www.naturalnews.com/043131_curcumin_turmeric_diabetes_prevention.html (Accessed May 2016) ↩
- Natural Fertility Info. The Benefits of Turmeric for Fertility Health. http://natural-fertility-info.com/turmeric-for-fertility.html (Accessed May 2016) ↩
- Tumeric.com. Herbal Birth Control & Fertility Protection with Turmeric. http://www.turmeric.com/womens-health/herbal-birth-control-fertility-protection (Accessed May 2016) ↩
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