Fasting could extend female fertility
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| Photo credit: Fasting - Empty Plate, by RitaE |
That's the implication of two new studies which suggest that restricting food may offset some of the loss of egg quality and quantity that comes with aging.
The findings may even enable new eggs to be created from scratch.
It's not yet clear whether the findings extend to humans, but a better understanding of the mechanisms involved might eventually make it easier for older women to bear children.
In the first study, Jonathan Tilly and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School reduced the calorie intake of adult female mice by 40 per cent and found that significantly fewer of their eggs had abnormal chromosomes once the mice reached the age of 12 months – advanced reproductive years in mouse terms – compared with mice that were allowed to eat as much as they liked.
Such abnormalities in eggs are known to increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects in older mothers, both mouse and human.
Journal references: Tilly: Moderate caloric restriction initiated in rodents; Van Gilst: Starvation Protects Germline Stem Cells and Extends Reproductive Longevity
Source: Fasting could extend female fertility
TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Ovulation Diet: Trying To Conceive By Eating Fertility Boosting Foods Eating To Get Pregnant Guide by Dana Tebow
-- This book is just what you need if you are having trouble getting pregnant. Dana's book provides all the well-meaning advice you could find.
But do not be fooled by the kind manner in which she presents her advice, because this book is filled with the fruitage of many months of careful research.
Dana begins with basics of explaining what ovulation is. This is the most crucial aspect of understanding how the ovulation diet works.
Once the foundation has been laid, Dana next explains what Cervical Mucus is, and its role in helping you conceive the child you have always wanted.
Dana even explains the foods that will help you become more fertile. Best of all, she presents a few of the methods that have been tried and proven to help women get pregnant.
Paperback: 24 pagesClick to order/for more info: Ovulation Diet
Category: birth defects, chromosomal disorder, Diet, Miscarriage, Old Eggs
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