Unraveling the Dynamic Impact of Metabolic Health

Metabolism goes beyond breaking down food to fuel the body, especially for women trying to conceive. With Dr. Betty Murray's expertise in this field, she discusses the interconnectedness of metabolic health and fertility and how to rectify imbalances to achieve optimal health.

Metabolic Health and Fertility

Metabolism is converting food and light to fuel cellular function, including reproduction and hormonal balance throughout the body, making it an essential part of fertility. In our current medical system, there is a tendency to overlook subtle imbalances that affect fertility, which leads to delayed diagnosis or unnecessary treatments. 

In medical diagnoses and insurance language the term "infertility" is often used to describe sub-fertility. Understanding factors affecting fertility, such as gut health, metabolic function, and hormonal balance through a holistic approach is essential.

Holistic Approach to Metabolic Health

Achieving optimal metabolic health involves addressing the root cause, such as our diet, sleep and lifestyle. By focusing on these factors and integrating a healthier lifestyle, individuals can optimize their metabolic function and promote long-term wellness as well as improving their reproductive health. 

Sleep for Metabolism

Proper sleep is significant in maintaining the optimal mechanisms of our bodily functions. Aside from allowing our bodies to recover from stress, it also allows our bodies to manage detoxification, metabolism, and hormonal balance effectively. To maintain a consistent and healthy sleep schedule, here are the things you can try:

• Establishing a routine aligned with our natural circadian rhythms
• Using amber-tinted glasses in the evening to reduce blue light exposure
• Creating a sleep-friendly environment such as blackout curtains, no devices in bedroom
• Reading, listening to quiet music or meditations, or taking a warm bath
  
  

Dietary Intake for Healthy Metabolism

Diet is a cornerstone of our overall health, and providing our bodies with clean and healthy fuel is essential. In women, many struggle with various forms of imbalances or sub-fertility caused by poor sugar metabolism. The general dietary recommendations emphasize the importance of vegetables, whole fruits with intact fiber, and healthy fats and protein sources. Eating whole food alleviates the confusion around carbohydrates, and taking the right amount of more nutritious food helps regulate blood sugar and support gut health by nourishing the microbiome.

Fasting in Women's Fertility Health

Fasting affects people differently, and media discussions about this topic often oversimplify it without diving into nuances, including age and gender. Intermittent fasting, or having 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating windows, may not be ideal for women who are trying to get pregnant, because it impacts the hormones negatively. Skipping meals for too long causes a spike in cortisol, which causes stress, affecting fertile health. It is still advised to eat three meals throughout the day evenly; however, the 5:2 fasting method provides benefits without any metabolic drawbacks associated with daily fasting.

5:2 Fasting for Fertile Health

5:2 fasting, also known as alternate-day fasting, offers a balanced approach for people who are interested in the benefits of fasting while mitigating its impact on stress chemistry. This method involves 16 hours of fasting, two to three times a week, followed by a day of regular eating. 

This method improves overall metabolic health and also supports fertile health. Given that the body is adequately nourished, it is not faced with stress that causes hormonal imbalance and promotes a safe and nourishing support for reproduction and overall health.

Hormone Metabolism in Fertility

Talking about hormone metabolism in fertility usually involves the three sex hormones: progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. These sex hormones are primarily produced in the ovaries but are also synthesized by fat cells. An example of metabolic dysfunction causing reproductive problems is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Regarding hormone metabolism, our environment also plays a huge role. The modern environment exposes us to numerous chemicals that resemble hormones processed by the liver through detoxification. When these outside toxins resembling a hormone are not adequately metabolized, they can accumulate and recirculate in the body, mimicking hormonal excess that disrupts normal hormone function, impacting health and fertility.

Listen to the Full Episode here:

• iTunes
• Spotify
• Buzzsprout

Or watch the Vodcast on YouTube

Know the status of your fertility health. Take our FREE Fertility Quiz now: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Fulfill your dream of a family. Know your best options for a healthy pregnancy: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs 

Boost Employee Productivity by Investing in their Fertility Health. Check out our Corporate Wellness program and know the benefits it can bring to your company: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/corporate-wellness

Dr. Betty Murray is a women’s health advocate, nutrition expert, PhD researcher, certified functional medicine practitioner, author, speaker, and the visionary behind Living Well Dallas Functional Medicine Center and Menrva. Her expertise helped women understand their metabolism, hormones, and fertility to restore balance in their overall health. 

Resources:

Website: https://bettymurray.com   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bettymurray_phd/ 

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to the HealthYouniversity podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition for yourself or others. Consult your healthcare provider for any medical issues you may have. This entire disclaimer also pertains to any guests or contributors to any HealthYouniversity podcast.