Most of us know that eating sugar and a lot of carbohydrates isn’t great for our health and hormones, but studies show that elevated blood sugar levels can actually reduce pregnancy rates!
When we eat sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods, the amount of sugar (glucose) in our blood quickly rises. In response, the body releases the hormone insulin to move the glucose out of our blood and into our cells for energy production. The more carbohydrates we consume, the higher our blood sugar rises, and the more insulin the pancreas releases.
Since all hormones are interconnected, and insulin is a hormone, increased insulin levels cause other hormones to become out of balance. When women have too high insulin levels, testosterone, cortisol, and adrenaline levels increase, throwing progesterone and estrogen out of balance. Chronically high insulin levels can lead to problems with ovulation, implantation, and embryo development.
For men, research shows that higher levels of sugar and carbohydrates in the diet can cause decreased testosterone levels and reductions in sperm concentration and motility.
This doesn’t mean you have to forgo all sweet treats. I love sweets and carbs! In my household, we just make sure they are generally sugar and grain-free (yes, they still taste good!). We use stevia to sweeten things like avocado/cacao smoothies and grain-free flours (Birch Bender is awesome) to make special treats like the sugar and grain-free birthday cake in the photo!
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