Preconception Wellness Expert and ProXeed® Plus Offer Helpful Tips for Men to Support Fertility and a Healthy Conception
(PRWEB) August 29, 2013 -- Each year, millions of couples will actively try to conceive a baby, with many hopeful parents planning and preparing for the event. Preconception wellness experts like Amy Ogle, M.S., R.D., co-author of Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception (Revised Edition), recommend couples prepare at least three months before they begin trying to conceive. Yet, women are typically the sole “preppers,” says Ogle, despite the fact that men play an equal part in making babies.
Preparing to have a baby should be a labor of love for the father-to-be and mother-to-be alike. “Most men don’t realize that the best gift they can give their future son or daughter is making themselves as healthy as possible prior to trying to conceive,” says Ogle, who is also a registered dietitian. This includes making dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as consulting a physician when considering a dietary supplement, such as ProXeed® Plus, which is clinically-supported and developed to help optimize the health and quality of sperm*.
Ogle explains that when sperm cells begin to develop, they are assigned chromosomes that could someday deliver half of the genetic material needed to create a baby. Basic sperm formation takes over two months, and it can take an additional two to three weeks before they are available for fertilization. “That is why it’s so important to give at least 90 days to prepare for pregnancy,” says Ogle. “What a man eats, how he exercises and what he’s exposed to in the environment during those ninety days can all affect sperm health.”
Below are some easy-to-achieve, yet important and helpful tips to help men to optimize sperm health when preparing for conception:
1. Feed the Swimmers: “Make healthy food choices a top priority,” says Ogle. “Eat a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy oils and protein sources, including seafood and meats or vegetarian alternatives. And pay particular attention to whole foods that are rich in nutrients such as zinc, selenium, vitamins E and C, and folic acid to optimize sperm health,” adds Ogle.
2. Support Sperm Health: Too little is known about supplements to routinely recommend them to all men who want to father a child. However, on an individual basis, it may be helpful to review with one’s physician the potential benefits of taking a supplement such as ProXeed® Plus for three to six months prior to trying to conceive. Ask important questions such as whether the ingredients are in amounts comparable to those that were used in clinical trials. Twice daily use of ProXeed® Plus, may benefit sperm quality in as little as 90 days. However, for maximum benefit it is recommended that ProXeed® Plus be taken for six months*
3. Get Moving: Research shows that 20-30 minutes of cardio and physical activity per day can yield a load of health benefits for men prepping for pregnancy. “Exercise can help lower inflammation, manage weight and lower stress, all of which boost fertility,” says Ogle.
4. Give Up the Vices: Smoking, heavy drinking, drugs, excessive caffeine, and fatty foods (especially trans fats) can all lead to poor sperm health. Ogle suggests that men familiarize themselves with acceptable serving sizes of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages well before and while trying to conceive; as with many of the preconception recommendations, they differ from those for women.
5. Keep Cool: Sperm are produced in the testes at slightly below body temperature, so turning up the heat can slow things down. Enjoy a warm or hot shower, but avoid lounging in the sauna or Jacuzzi. “Also be aware of other causes of excessive heat in the groin area, such as excessive body weight and long uninterrupted hours of sitting,” says Ogle.
6. Limit Exposure: Consider that your work environment may contribute to fertility problems, so use proper safety precautions. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports that careless exposure to things like pesticides, chemical fertilizers, lead, nickel, mercury, chromium, petrochemicals and radiation can lower sperm count.
7. What’s Up Doc?: When preparing to conceive, men should schedule a doctor’s appointment and discuss their medical history, as well as any current medications or conditions. To help start the prepping for pregnancy conversation with a healthcare provider, consider filling out a detailed medical checklist like the one on http://www.prepping4pregnancy.com and sharing it with the doctor.
8. All Systems Go: Even once a man is in tip-top shape and ready to make a baby, keep in mind that marathon love-making might actually delay conception for some couples. As long as the couple is making love three to four times a week, spread out over several days during the woman’s fertile window, the chances will be ideal for success.
For more information about ProXeed Plus, a print out of the medical checklist, or to take a fun and informative quiz about being prepared to have a baby, visit http://www.prepping4pregnancy.com .
- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Danielle Maiello, Robin Leedy & Associates, http://www.robinleedyassociates.com, +1 (914) 241-0086 29, [email protected]
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