According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control, the birth rate in the U.S has declined and is the lowest in 30 years. Although there are social factors involved, based on dietary patterns, a decline in the reproductive health of modern women is also part of the cause.

Men’s health is the other side of the coin to explain the decline in fertility. Sperm counts in men from America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have dropped by more than 50 percent in less than 40 years.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sperm-count-dropping-in-western-world/

The rate of decline is not slowing. Both findings -- in a meta-analysis bringing together various studies -- pointed to a potential decline in male health and fertility.

"This study is an urgent wake-up call for researchers and health authorities around the world to investigate the causes of the sharp ongoing drop in sperm count," said Hagai Levine, who co-led the work at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Jerusalem.”

The analysis did not explore reasons for the decline, but researchers said falling sperm counts have previously been linked to various factors such as exposure to certain chemicals and pesticides, smoking, stress and obesity. There is no medical solution to increase the sperm count. The recent trend to have children later in life makes the issue of a low sperm count, a crucial one.

What is missing from the analysis of a low sperm count is the roll of diet. Sperm count is linked to testosterone levels. Modern men’s diets can account for a major role in creating the lowered sperm issue.

Modern diets and many natural diets do not support a man’s overall health. Estrogen like compounds is present in foods that have higher amounts of pesticides such as certain fruits and vegetables, commercial meats, commercial poultry and commercial dairy products. These are known as zeno-estrogens. They act like estrogen to lower testosterone levels.

Sometimes those who are health conscious eat diets that are too high in plants or phytoestrogens. These include various types of soy products including soymilk, tofu, tempeh, soy sausage and other soy products. Hemp and flax seeds, and oils, are high in phytoestrogens. If consumed in large amounts, these foods lower the testosterone levels.

Foods in modern and healthy diets that suppress the metabolism can raise the estrogen levels in the body. These include the excessive consumption of nuts, seeds, nut butters and seed oils such as canola, soy, sunflower, and others. Bromated bleached flour, most commonly in white flour products, suppress the thyroid which can lower testosterone levels. Excessive amounts of liquids, fluoridated water, excessive consumption of raw vegetables and fruits can suppress the metabolism and testosterone production.

Diets that are missing key nutrients are modern junk food diets, low carb diets, and unsupplemented vegan and vegetarian diets. Vegan and vegetarian diets that emphasize fruits and vegetables also suppress the metabolism and lower the testosterone production. It is often misunderstood that vegan style diets meet nutrition requirements. In truth, many plant foods require eating unmanageable volumes of some of these foods to meet these nutrient requirements. Some key nutrients are just not available in them.

Physical, mental and emotional stress lowers testosterone levels in men as well as excessive dieting or eating too little foods. A low-calorie diet was proven to affect a man’s sexual functioning in the Minnesota Starvation Experiment run by Ancel Keys in the 1940’s.

Men have some similar and some different needs than women for reproductive health. Men need more calories than women. Men under 25 will need at least 3500 calories per day and more if physically active. Men over 25 need, at least, 3000 calories per day. For some men, there are plenty of calories in junk food diets, but key nutrients are missing.

https://www.edinstitute.org/paper/2015/1/12/homeodynamic-recovery-method-doubly-labeled-water-method-trials-and-temperament-based-treatment

For reproductive health men require more protein and nutrients from animal foods sources such as grass-fed lamb or beef, pastured eggs, raw cheese, wild fish, and naturally raised pork and poultry. Men need slightly more of these foods than women. It is imperative that men eat red meat several times per week as they need the extra iron and zinc for proper fertility. Foods rich in cholesterol in natural animal products promote the production of testosterone.

Natural gelatin powders and bone broths are essential to balance the intake of red meat and other high protein foods. The amino acids in red meat and poultry are inflammatory. The amino acids in bone broths and gelatin powder balance the inflammatory amino acids so they don’t harm the body. This is why traditionally meat was eaten on the bone and bones were used in soups and broths. You may remember your mother or grandmother cooking this way. These are the recent generations that achieved the highest longevity in the U.S. Organ meats have a similar balancing effect. So when the whole animal is eaten there is a balance achieved between the different parts just like what is promoted about plant foods as whole foods. Modern people are so disconnected from farming and nature that this idea is hard for some to grasp and accept, but not understanding this is a great danger to our health.

Carbohydrates in the form of grains are essential for men in order to get adequate calories in their diets. To get the right amount of daily calories, men need to eat more naturally refined white rice and unbleached white flour, as well as, natural sugars. Whole grains and sugars from cooked and some raw fruit and dried fruits are also fine, but have less calories. Raw fruit, particularly, has more water and less calories.

Men need fat soluble vitamins like women, such as vitamins A, D, K2 and E. Most are from natural animal foods such as liver and other organ meats, pastured eggs; grass fed dairy products, fish eggs, cod oil, sardines, fatty fish and others.

Natural fats in the form of butter, tallow, and lard from grass fed or naturally raised animals, and coconut and olive oil, are essential in adequate volume for the production of natural hormones and overall men’s health.
Sea salt to taste, herbs, seasoning and other natural foods are needed .

Elements of lifestyle such as either no exercise or excessive exercise, over exposure to electromagnetic fields from gadgets, pollution and other stressors knock down a man’s hormonal and overall health. Moderate, yet regular exercise is essential.

Commercial interests and convenience are driving nutritional choices for men with very poor consequences. The lowered sperm count if continued will affect not only fertility, but natural masculine vitality and health leading to weak men.

Men need to be trained from a young age in how to protect their health for future generations and to contribute to society. In the past men and women were known to have their own individual strengths. Today in some circles, it is believed that all of the characteristics were socially learned. Yet there is research that shows that some of our behavior is coming from the natural strength that is inherent in healthy men and women. Perhaps we can discover the truth of this by fostering the natural strength and vitality of men and women for our current and future generations. 

​It is hard not to get political about a topic such as this. For all the rhetoric about the sanctity of marriage, and the importance of family, the reality in the U.S is that it is getting harder and harder to have children. Some mothers are putting off having children until later in life. Doing this has poor health consequences beyond what medicine and science can tell us.

The Centers for Disease Control recently released a report that the birth rate in the United States is the lowest in the last 30 years. It is below the replacement rate to sustain the population. Many people from writers in the New York times to conservative talk show hosts have reasons for this. The actual reasons go much deeper than what you may hear in the mainstream media.

Only 12 percent of U.S. private sector workers have access to paid family leave through their employer. For all the talk about the sanctity of life, there is very little social support for mothers. 1 in 4 mothers go back to work 10 days after giving birth.  There are ongoing class action suits against companies because of their discrimination, bias and harassment of pregnant mothers in the work place.

Going back to work right after giving birth has enormous health consequences for the mother and baby. Let’s look at just this issue. Afterbirth practices in traditional cultures were very different than in the modern world. Social support was stronger with extended families. Customs for afterbirth were healthier from a natural viewpoint.
​
In Asian cultures, and many others, mothers were encouraged to stay in bed for the first week or more in order to let the pelvis which opened up in natural childbirth to close. After this, very light standing and physical activity was encouraged for the next weeks and light activity after that.  If the pelvis doesn’t close completely, the organs in the lower body collapse over time creating problems with reproductive, digestive, colon and bladder functions.

Because of weakened conditions in modern women, many women have to have surgery to give childbirth. From an energetic view, cutting into the lower abdomen weakens the health of the whole body. Steps must be taken to restore a woman’s health when this procedure is done. In Asian studies, the lower abdomen is considered a very strong energy center. If compromised, the health of the whole person declines. Giving birth is a very big event. The body needs to heal.

In addition, the bonding between the mother and child takes time, definitely more than 2 weeks. There are potential psychological consequences of this bond not being fully developed.

Hardships are imposed on mothers who want to stay home with their newborn. Low income motherhood throws a woman into poverty. High earning women are knocked off the promotion track. In addition to this, men’s wages have been stagnant for decades. Although the unemployment rate is going down, wages are not going up making it harder for mothers to rely on their husbands’ income during early motherhood.
 
When having children, women because of financial and other needs, are working full time while keeping a household and parenting. This can be exhausting. Complications such as birth defects can occur in someone who is depleted from diet and activities. Infertility can result from artificial means employed to force conception.

Women who cannot afford to have a child are putting off having children until they are older. In America, between a combination of poor diet, excessive dieting and exhaustion from work, many women find themselves depleted during middle age. They become further exhausted after the child is born due to their work schedule and imbalanced after birth practices. Giving birth traditionally was a younger woman’s activity because their vitality is at an optimum level and the mother has enough energy to raise a child. It is clear that we have to change our thinking on this topic to value and support motherhood at any age. This has be changed politically as well as personally.

From a political view point, economic equality has to be created. We need to work to change this with elected officials and get smarter beyond rigid camps of politics to create economic justice. We are all in this together. We rise and fall together. Pressures have to come to bear for treating women who are pregnant with respect and care by all companies and organizations.

From the personal perspective, it is important for women who decide to be mothers to understand how to prepare for childbirth and how to recover correctly after childbirth. Particularly, women have to be careful about restricting their diets by either dieting or going on extreme diets such as raw foods, vegan, and paleo types of eating.

Adequate nourishment and the right kind of activity is important before and after birth. Things to consider in a woman’s daily diet are adequate amounts of calories. Include healthy whole grains and some natural refined carbohydrates and cooked vegetables. Have natural animal proteins daily including: naturally raised meat, poultry, fish, and whole dairy products. Use natural fats such as butter, olive oil and coconut oil. Eat organic fruits, natural sugars, small amounts of juices, natural seasonings such as sea salt and garlic and mild herbal beverages. It is important to limit junk foods and excessive consumption of highly processed foods with chemicals and additives. Avoid dieting and instead eat more home cooked or naturally prepared foods.

Avoid high amounts of aerobic exercise which weakens the metabolism and do moderate but regular exercise. Do stress reducing activities such as breathing and meditation. Think carefully about what kind of work to pursue in order to work smarter.

I feel it is important to try to have children earlier in life as much as possible and create a network of social support to help you. My first two children were born at a time when there was a very strong natural foods macrobiotic community in the Boston area. There was a network of other women and mothers who cooked for our family and helped in other ways after the birth of our children. 

​The Centers for Disease Control state that the birth rate in the U.S has declined and is the lowest in 30 years. In my next article, I will discuss contributing social reasons for this occurrence. There is, however, another issue involved, the infertility crisis.

Infertility studies by the Center for Disease Control in 2005 showed that 1 in about 8 women were unable to carry a child to term, a large decline from past surveys. One of the concerning discoveries of the study was the observation that the decline in fertility for women ages 15-24 was very similar to the decline for women aged 25 years and over. 15-24 are normally very fertile years—thus a decline in the youngest category of fertility that closely matches that decline in older women indicates the existence of a developmental threat that is fundamentally affecting adolescents’ natural development into fertile young women.

Another study noted that the rate of unexplained infertility 20 years ago was 20%. Today, it is 40%, double the rate, reinforcing the case for an unseen yet highly prominent threat to fertility at all ages. This is not a topic brought up among friends and family. Fertility clinics have waiting lists months long.

From a holistic macrobiotic or longevity view, there are good reasons for the decline. Our modern and some trendy eating styles bear a great deal of the blame.

Traditional cultures understood the value of adequate nutrition in particular ways intuitively, and from their experience, that was important for both men and women’s reproductive health. Their wisdom can be explained through the modern scientific lens of nutrition. Common eating patterns in the U.S including many naturally oriented dietary pathways are not aware of the importance of these foods. I believe that this is the crux of the infertility problem that affects both men and women’s ability to foster children. In this article I will address a woman’s nutritional needs for reproductive fitness. Men are the other side of the coin which I will shed light on in another article.

The first aspect of women’s eating to address is the elephant in the room. Modern women since the 60’s have focused on excessive dieting. When a person diets, they cut out many key nutrients that are needed for healthy functioning of the body including reproductive functioning.

Women and many men are concerned about weight gain. This issue is not as simple as the amount of foods that you eat. There are many aspects of daily modern life and food that suppress the metabolism and either foster overeating or create easy weight gain. A certain amount of people who gain weight do not overeat. This touted connection is one of the biggest myths. Often in the case of those who don’t eat much, they have chronically dieted or have been on a restrictive diet for a number of years.

Eating adequate amounts of calories from predominantly healthy foods fosters a healthy metabolism. A healthy metabolism supports fertility. Research suggests that a woman under 25 needs about 3000 calories to maintain their metabolism. Not getting enough calories can interfere with fertility. Many young and middle aged women are dieting or dieting on and off.  Both dieting and binging on foods create problems with the metabolism.

​https://www.edinstitute.org/paper/2015/1/12/homeodynamic-recovery-method-doubly-labeled-water-method-trials-and-temperament-based-treatment

Besides adequate calories for reproductive health women need adequate protein from natural hormone and pesticide free meats, wild fish, eggs and whole milk dairy products. Carbohydrates from whole grains, some refined grains and natural fats such as butter, coconut oil and olive oil must be adequate. Mostly cooked vegetables, some raw vegetables, cooked and dried fruits, and other natural foods are required.

Vegetable proteins sources alone are not adequate as a source of protein because the amount in grains and beans is too low. In order to have adequate daily protein amounts the volume of these foods would be excessive. For example, depending on a person’s size someone would have to eat up to four cups of cooked rice and four cups of cooked beans in a day. To boost their protein consumption, a person following a vegan diet can add rice or pea protein powder. Those following a vegetarian diet can eat more eggs, dairy products and add whey protein powder.  

Particular nutrients that are missing in modern women’s diets are vitamin A, vitamin K2, vitamin E, vitamin D, B vitamins, iodine, calcium and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for healthy fertility.

The fat-soluble vitamins are particularly important. Vitamin A is not biologically available from vegetable sources for most people or in adequate amounts. A dependable source of vitamin A is only from animal food sources including butterfat from grass fed animals, liver, other organ meats, sardines, eggs of pastured chickens, cod liver oil, fish and shellfish. Many of these are not eaten by women today.

Vitamin D and K2 are only available from animal food sources. Vitamin E is missing from most women’s diets. Vitamin E is depleted by eating lots of polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as flax, soy, canola, sunflower and other seed oils. The scientific name for vitamin E, tocopherol is derived from the Greek language. It means to bear young.

A lack of many of the above nutrients creates a low thyroid condition which is common in many women. The thyroid is intimately linked to reproductive function.

In many natural diets the above nutrients are missing. In addition, in both modern and natural diets, there are many substances that suppress the metabolism. These include bromated or bleached flours, polyunsaturated fats, high fructose corn syrup, tofu, excessive amounts of nuts, seeds, and nut and vegetable milks; pesticides and hormones in commercial vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, dairy products and excessive watery foods, beverages and more.

Lifestyle factors include imbalanced body postures from excessive sitting and slumping over computers and phones cause poor circulation to the body organs. A lack of healthy exercise and many environmental factors are contributing to the problem of infertility.

A healthy education that goes beyond the government recommendations is important to solve the infertility crisis.  Along with understanding the importance of motherhood, training in the correct way of eating is essential for young women to give the tools for a lifetime of overall health including reproductive health.  In many ways, we need to go beyond leaving education to the marketplace and media.