Regular consumption of a fertility smoothie for PCOS can go a long way towards improving your PCOS symptoms.
And this is true whether you’re trying to get pregnant or not.
Interestingly, mainstream discussions about fertility tend to focus only on the end goal: having a baby.
But healthy fertility is actually a journey that involves:
- Ovulating each month: this indicates that your hormones are going through their natural, programmed cycle. Healthy cycles are a must, regardless of whether you’re trying to conceive or not.
- Healthy eggs: if you’re trying to get pregnant, ovulation is just the first step. You also need healthy eggs in order to actually conceive.
- Maintaining a pregnancy: once you’re pregnant, your body has to be nourished properly so that you and your baby can thrive through the 9 month journey together.
So, when you’re dealing with PCOS, how do you achieve all of the above?
Well, it really boils down to:
- lowering inflammation.
- keeping toxins low.
- balancing your hormones (in the case of PCOS we’re particularly concerned about insulin, androgens, cortisol and sex hormones)
And this is where a fertility smoothie comes in.
With the right blend, and with daily consumption, smoothies can help you address all aspects of fertility.
So, let’s go ahead and take a look at:
- how PCOS fertility smoothies can actually improve your health.
- which ingredients to use in your fertility smoothie.
- recipes you can use to get started.
MAIN BENEFITS OF DRINKING A PCOS FERTILITY SMOOTHIE
1. Keeps You Regular
Toxic buildup – from food, water, cosmetics and other environmental sources – plays a huge role in PCOS symptoms.
Once toxins are in the body, the only way to get rid of them, safely, is through regular bowel movements.
A minimum of 2 bowel movements a day is necessary.
If you’re only having bowel movements every few days (or less) then toxins end up recirculating into your bloodstream.
With the right fertility smoothie, you can keep yourself regular and get rid of toxins before they accumulate to unhealthy levels.
2. Provides Essential Nutrients
Whether it’s boosting fertility, regulating hormones, detoxing or digesting food…everything in the body requires nutrients.
Nutrients are the raw material for everything that the body has to do.
Many times, fertility problems (and other hormonal imbalance symptoms) come from the fact the body is undernourished.
I mean, think about it…let’s take magnesium, as an example.
Your body uses magnesium for more than 300 processes (many of which affect menstrual cycle, PMS, sleep, energy levels and more)!
And then there are also cofactors that the body needs in order to properly absorb various nutrients.
For example, you need:
- Magnesium, zinc, boron and vitamin K2 in order to use vitamin D efficiently.
- Vitamin C to improve absorption of iron (especially plant-based sources of iron).
- Vitamin D to improve the uptake of calcium.
As always, everything is connected 🙂
Since fertility smoothies use a variety of whole foods you get a wide array of nutrient dense foods.
In addition, by including one or two optional add-ins you can further boost the nutrient density of each smoothie serving.
3. Improves Digestion
In order to absorb nutrients from food, you need a healthy digestive system.
But unfortunately, poor digestion tends to go hand-in-hand with hormonal imbalances like PCOS.
And this can make it more difficult for you to get rid of toxins.
You see, your body needs to be able to absorb fiber and other nutrients from food, which it then uses for elimination.
However, if your digestive system is sluggish, then you end up constipated.
That constipation means toxins don’t leave your body fast enough, which contributes to fertility, acne, weight gain and other symptoms..
But here’s the interesting thing…it’s easier for your body to absorb food in liquid food.
And that’s the beauty of smoothies.
They place less strain on your digestive system, while giving you the nutrients you desperately need.
It’s interesting to note that I had a client tell me that when she eats raw spinach, she doesn’t have regular bowel movements.
However, when she drinks smoothies with spinach in them, she’s consistently regular.
4. Supports Your Liver
Before toxins get eliminated, they have to be filtered from your blood and processed.
The liver does this heavy lifting.
Fertility smoothies use ingredients like healthy fats, greens, fruits and herbs that support the liver so that it can work for you.
5. Lowers Inflammation
One of the 3 main underlying causes of PCOS symptoms is inflammation (you can learn more about all the causes of PCOS in this post on the 7 steps for natural PCOS relief).
And inflammation occurs as a response to various types of stress, including:
- emotional stress and
- chemical stress, which comes from a diet and other environmental factors
Since fertility smoothies contain foods that are rich in antioxidants, they’re great for lowering inflammation.
And less inflammation means your cortisol levels go down.
When cortisol goes down, this also improves insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels, thyroid function and ovarian function.
6. Nourishes Your Gut
As we just saw above, fertility smoothies can lower inflammation.
This is good news for your gut because inflammation contributes to leak gut syndrome and also, disrupts your gut microbiome.
Since the gut plays a role in hormone production and detoxification, that means gut health also affects fertility.
Also, fertility smoothies contain fiber, which acts as “food” for your gut bacteria.
The more fiber you have in your diet, the happier your gut bacteria will be 🙂
INGREDIENTS TO USE IN PCOS SMOOTHIES FOR FERTILITY
Now it’s time to look at how to make your fertility smoothies for PCOS.
Here’s a breakdown of the different categories of ingredients you need.
Liquid Base
Choose from:
- Water
- Herbal tea (red raspberry leaf, spearmint, peppermint)
- Coconut water
- Full fat plant milks (almond, coconut, cashew, macadamia)
Whole Fruits
Only use fresh or frozen fruit.
For the frozen fruit read the ingredients list to make sure there are no preservatives or additives.
You really can use any fruit you like…it’s a question of how creative you get with your combos!
Some of the easiest fruits to use in smoothies are:
- Berries
- Cherries
- Bananas
- Mangoes
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Limes
- Lemons
- Watermelons
- Peaches
- Apples
- Oranges
- Melons
- Pears
- Kiwis
Green Veggies
The easiest options are:
- Baby spinach
- Kale (make sure to remove the stem before blending)
- Cucumbers
Depending on your creativity (and the power of your blender) you can also use:
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collard greens
- Swiss chard
Healthy, Unrefined Fats
- Nut butters (almond, peanut, coconut, macadamia, cashew)
- Seeds (hemp, flax, pumpkin, chia, sesame)
- Avocados
- Full-fat plant milks (coconut, almond, coconut, cashew)
Plant Proteins
- Nut and seed butters (almond, peanut, coconut, macadamia, cashew, tahini)
- Seeds (hemp, flax, pumpkin, chia, sesame, sunflower)
- Full-fat plant milks (coconut, almond, coconut, cashew)
Optional Add-Ins
- Bee pollen and royal jelly (they support the immune system, boost fertility, lower inflammation and balance hormones; DO NOT USE IF ALLERGIC TO BEES)
- Adaptogenic powder (for example maca or ashwagandha)
- Fresh spearmint leaves
- Cinnamon
- Raw honey
- Green, unrefined stevia
- Plant protein powder (hemp, pea, brown rice)
- Cacao powder
One final mention in this category: consider using a detoxifying green powder. This Green Juice powder from Organifi is a personal favorite.
It contains 12 foods that are some of the most nutrient dense, antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory, liver-friendly, detox-friendly and hormone friendly on the planet 🙂
If you think that sounds like a lot of hype, check out my review to see why I’m a fan of this product.
FERTILITY SMOOTHIE RECIPE FOR PCOS
Below is a basic pcos fertility smoothie recipe to get you started, along with 3 different variations you can try.
That’s basically 4 fertility smoothie recipes that you can start using right now!
Ingredients
1 fresh banana (sliced)
1 cup mango (fresh or frozen)
1 cup baby spinach
¾ – 1 cup almond milk (depending on how thick you like your smoothies)
1 tsp bee pollen
How to Make
- Place all ingredients into a blender.
- Blend on high until well combined and smooth.
- Top with bee pollen
Variation #1: swap the mango for 1 cup of blueberries, plus juice from ½ lime.
Variation #2: swap the mango for ½ cup mango and ½ cup pineapple, plus 1 tbsp hemp seeds.
Variation #3: swap the mango for ¼ – ½ cup avocado, plus 1 tbsp hemp seeds.
RELATED QUESTIONS
What should I eat for breakfast if I have PCOS?
Start your day with a glass of water (or lemon water), followed by a smoothie or smoothie bowl.
This allows you to start your day with a healthy balance of fruits and veggies, plus a wide variety of nutrients.
Eating this way gives you energy (without overstimulating your adrenals with coffee, for instance) and keeps your blood sugar in balance.
Is a protein shake good for PCOS?
A protein shake is good for PCOS as long as you make sure to use a good quality plant-based protein powder.
Also, if you use yogurt in the protein shake, it should be unsweetened, full fat, organic yogurt (non-organic yogurt comes from cows that have been given growth hormones and antibiotics…a no-go for PCOS and for fertility).
Is almond milk OK for PCOS?
Yes, almond milk is a good milk option for PCOS because it contains plant protein (which helps lower inflammation).
Do keep in mind that some brands use additives and/or preservatives. It’s hard to avoid them all.
But read the label before buying and go for the ones that don’t use lots of different preservatives or additives.
If you’d like to have more control over the quality of your almond milk, you can make your own following these simple steps.
- Soak 1 cup of almonds in water for 8 to 12 hours
- Place almonds in a blender with 4 cups of water.
- Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Strain through cheesecloth or a nut milk bag.
- Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Is coconut oil good for PCOS?
Coconut oil improves insulin resistance, fights inflammation, protects the liver and a whole lot more. It’s definitely a great addition to your PCOS diet.
Read this post to learn more about the benefits of coconut oil for hormones.
CONCLUSION
Fertility smoothies are a great addition to any PCOS diet.
They will help with ovulation, irregular periods, conception and a whole lot more.
Just remember that smoothies alone won’t get rid of your symptoms or help you conceive.
To support your fertility naturally when you have PCOS, an anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing diet can be a great ally.
Pay attention to the rest of your diet as well as your lifestyle to ensure that you’re addressing your fertility needs from all angles. For more resources that can help you, see the list of related articles at the end of this post.
I hope this post gave you more clarity and inspiration when it comes to pcos fertility smoothies.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, just leave your feedback below 🙂
Related Posts:
5 Natural Alternatives to Clomid
Maca Fertility Smoothie: Benefits, Best Type To Use and Recipe Tips
Inositol For PCOS: Pros, Cons and Food Sources
Fertility Diet To Improve Egg Quality Naturally: A Complete Guide with Food List
5 Things You Should Know Before Using Black Cohosh for PCOS And Fertility
A Complete Guide to Using Cinnamon for PCOS: Benefits, Dosage and Recipes
How to Use Ginger for PCOS: 5 Tips You Probably Don’t Know
Adaptogens For PCOS: Why You Need Them and Which Ones To Use
