34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An alternative couples can try at home before/with expensive fertility treatment, June 11, 2006
This review is from: Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices (Paperback)
The gist of this book is that insulin resistance--a condition that can be pre-diabetic, and a condition that can be MODERATED BY PROPER DIET--impedes fertility. The book describes that problem and proposes a solution.
I am not a fan of all the low-carb diets that have been popular these past few years. Luckily, this doctor doesn't seem to be an extremist. His suggestions are to balance carbohydrates and protein, both throughout the day and AT EVERY MEAL, thus avoiding insulin surges. He also prescribes eating something at the end of the day (bedtime) in order to avoid a "starvation" period of more than 8-9 hours.
According to his charts, if I were to try to use his system to lessen my insulin resistance (and, based upon his research, become more fertile), I would be expected to eat about 92 grams of protein and 92 grams of carbohydrates per day. He also gives a goal for fat grams. While I don't recall what mine was, I noted that it was comparable to what a standard weight loss diet would suggest.
To compare with a "normal" diet range for my height/weight (from a diet/fitness site I subscribe to):
PROTEIN -- 92 g (Groll) -- 30 to 136 g (my diet)
CARBS -- 92 g (Groll) -- 135 - 252 g (my diet)
I am not a nutrition expert to evaluate this professionally, but it doesn't seem too extreme to my reading of the numbers. I also recall that, during my pregnancy (in 2003), my doctor and our Bradley method childbirth instructor advised me to eat at least 80 g of protein per day. I believe that a higher protein level is frequently advised for pregnancy, so it could be relevant to fertility as well.
Groll also discusses the importance of exercise both for general health and as another way to decrease insulin surges that can lead to insulin resistance. All in all, his program appeared reasonable and healthy to me.
For someone struggling with infertility, I expect that following a plan like this might be a simple, cost-effective step to take before submitting to other more expensive and invasive fertility treatments. Naturally, anyone with specific health issues should consult their physician before starting this or any other diet and exercise plan!
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
not worth the money, July 23, 2006
This review is from: Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices (Paperback)
The main disappointment with this book was the lack of actual meal plans and recipes. Nearly 2/3rds of the book is given over to advice about exercise, emotional health, etc-- good stuff, but also stuff that's covered better in several other well known books. There are really only a few pages given over to how to actually eat. This plan is also based on Atkins principles, and though it is much more flexible and reasonable, it would be quite difficult to follow for vegetarians and veggie friendly options are not provided by the authors. This book is mainly of interest to women with PCOS who need more general lifestyle information. Women with endo and other issues, or people who are looking for more concrete nutritional info, meal plans, etc should look to the Healing Gourmet book on fertility. It has a similar approach (to insulin resistance) but provides concrete suggestions for meal planning.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great book and a nutrition plan that you want to stick to, July 8, 2007
This review is from: Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices (Paperback)
It is a very good book which, in very simple terms, explains how this nutrition plan works. I have PCOS and this book makes me hopeful that I may be able to control my condition without serious medication. I certainly would recommend this nutrition plan before trying Metformin. I was surprised how quickly the plan worked: I saw improvements in my symptoms within weeks after starting the plan. In fact, I have so much more energy and feel so much better that I would want to stick to this way of eating indefinitely. I only wish there would be more and better receipes in this book.
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