How to improve egg health
Egg health is the biggest hurdle to (in)fertility. Age is the biggest hurdle to egg health. So…where does that leave us and our “geriatric“ pregnancies? We can turn to the mighty mitochondria.
A little biology review on cell structure…
Our body is made up of cells including your sex cells (gametes) which are eggs in women and sperm in men. Each cell contains all the structures it needs to survive. Think of it as its own little city or town. This town is so independent that it even has its own power plant.
The mitochondria are the power plant of each cell. Some cells even have multiple because they require so much energy, like the cells in our muscles.
Just as in real life, eventually the power plant will start to break down with age/use. The once strong structure has become damaged from strong winds and storms and things just don’t work as well as they used to.
This is a natural occurrence in our eggs as well. Chronic inflammation, damaging free radicals, and oxidation damage the mitochondria. This comes from our lifestyle, what we eat, how much we sleep or exercise, and toxins in our daily environment), but unfortunately, they are also byproducts from reactions in the mitochondria themselves (silly I know).
Eventually, the mitochondria don’t put out nearly as much energy as is required to perform normal function. And when we are talking about an egg that is being nudged and stimulated during our cycle to start developing in time for ovulation, this energy deficit can cause things to go awry. The cell may develop but too slowly and without the right number of chromosomes (chromosomal abnormalities) which can set off other dominos that lead to issues with fertilization, implantation, or even miscarriage if the embryo is not equipped and unviable to be sustained.
So if we know the mitochondria are pivotal to egg health and the other dominos that lead to a healthy pregnancy then we should protect and support these little power plants as best as we can.
Here’s how:
Supplements:
CoQ 10: or Coenzyme 10, is the key element inside the mitochondria that passes the energy down the line to increase output. It is also considered an antioxidant and can protect cells from oxidative damage. It can be found in foods like oily fish (salmon and tuna), organ meats (liver), and whole grains (oats, brown rice, wild rice).
Supplement with 2 daily doses of 200 mg each for max absorption, best in ubiquinol form.
Alpha-lipoic acid: has anti-inflammatory properties, is a powerful antioxidant, and also helps the mitochondria make energy for the cell.
Supplement with 400-600 mg of standard alpha-lipoic acid or 200-400 mg of R-alpha lipoic acid.
L-Carnitine: used to transfer fatty acids into the mitochondria for metabolism to be used for energy production. It is made in our body and found in animal products so those on vegetarian/vegan diets may have less intake.
Supplement with 400 mg dose
B-complex: the B vitamins each play a part in energy production. Though they have separate roles, they work best together instead of isolated in single supplements
Lifestyle:
Reduce the amount of damaging, oxidizing toxins in your environment. Focus on the ones you can control.
Avoid plastic water bottles, Tupperware, and cookware that are used with hot foods/liquids (think plastic pasta strainer or spatula)
Reduce the amount of artificial fragrance in your personal and home care products. These chemicals are damaging to your cells
Prioritize sleep and exercise since both of these activities are supportive and restorative to your body and helps bring you back into balance.
What does this mean?
Research is clearly showing the link between egg health, (in)fertility, and mitochondrial health. With this knowledge, you can begin to protect your eggs and your fertility!
Visit Moon Catching’s Wellness Store to find these supplements in a curated recommendation list, labeled Egg Health, with trusted, potent ingredients.
