Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices

by Jeremy Groll

Dr. Jeremy Groll is an expert in reproductive endocrinology and fertility treatment. Fertility Foods presents his groundbreaking, noninvasive, nutritionally based method, which increases ovulation, reduces miscarriage, and significantly improves your chances of successfully getting and staying pregnant.

Dr. Groll's specialized research has proven that there is a powerful link between a body's insulin resistance and fertility problems. Resistance to insulin increases the body's insulin levels, hindering normal ovulation either by limiting the maturation process of the released egg or by preventing ovulation altogether. High insulin levels can also impede the fertilized egg's ability to attach to the uterus, leading to implantation failure and miscarriage. In fact, women with insulin resistance problems are four to five times as likely as other women to suffer miscarriages -- meaning they have as high as a 50 percent chance of miscarriage.

Dr. Groll has developed an insulin-reducing diet based on balancing protein and complex carbohydrate intake to create insulin levels most conducive to ovulation. He combines his nutritional plan -- which includes nutritional charts, food suggestions, and recipes -- with a specific exercise program that enhances insulin metabolism and an emotional support system that you can draw on during your quest to become parents. This three-pronged approach increases the rates of spontaneous ovulation and significantly improves the uterine environment, decreasing the potential for miscarriage.

One in every ten couples in America is affected by infertility. Yet, only 5 to 10 percent of patients actually need high-tech procedures such as in vitro fertilization. Whether you are taking your first steps in combating infertility or searching for effective methods to support more advanced fertility treatments, Fertility Foods is your helpful and rewarding guide.

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have PCOS and the diet in this book helps target insulin-resistance, a major issue of PCOS. I lost 13 lbs with the diet and conceived the same month, after nearly 2 years of struggling with infertility. I also had twins!

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of it didn't apply to me. A lot of it was simple, common sense. A good reminder that simple things like eating well and getting exercise improves not only overall health but fertility too. I picked it up for the emphasis on insulin and what happens to fertility when insulin production and use go haywire. As a Type I diabetic, I thought it might hold some insight for me, but a lot of it was stuff that I already knew, or, like I said, fell into the category of "common sense."

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Groll clearly has a great deal of clinical experience. He proposes reducing insulin resistance and overweight to improve fertility, which is backed by scientific evidence, but he recommends a quite low-calorie diet to accomplish this, which is not. For me, the diet would be under 1200 calories, which is low given that he also recommends 150 minutes a week of exercise. I wish he'd taken the time to pare down his list of 2 dozen recommended supplements because some of his recommendations were based on weak evidence. I was glad for the reminder for more exercise.

After reading the book, I decreased carbs and increased protein and exercise, and I still haven't gotten pregnant. I didn't try to stick to the 1200 calorie limit, and so I didn't lose more than a couple pounds. (I am 15 pounds overweight.)

This advice may be more useful for women with PCOS-related conditions, or women who have problems with ovulation, versus male-factor infertility.

[steffie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not enough recipes. Something about it just doesn't work.

[TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey]

I only read part of this and had to return it to the library.

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to help you understand your body and its reactions to foods!!