Fat and Fertile

Nourishment is one of the most important inputs when trying to conceive, and one we can control. How do we provide the body with the material foundation required to create new life? What foods signal abundance to our own cells, so that they can multiply? Could eating enough promote a felt sense of safety that signals it’s safe to bring new life into the world? Reproductive physiology is energetically expensive, which is why we need foods like ghee that serve energy density. We need more. We need extra.

In Chinese Medicine, fertility is seen as a sort of vital sign, because the ability to conceive offers a potent peek into a person’s health. It’s not just about being able to get pregnant, but having the internal resources and regulatory capacity to sustain new life.

Plain caramelized ghee crafted from pasture-raised butter is a fertility superfood in its own right. While it contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, perhaps even more impressive is the way it enhances the bioavailability of other nutrients in the food (and herbs!) with which it’s paired. Ghee also serves cholesterol, considered the building block of sex hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone, making it a precursor for hormone production, hormonal balance, and overall fertility.

Ancient Ayurvedic texts state that the consumption of ghee promotes śukra (male and female reproductive tissues and fluids) and ojas (vital life force), further asserting that it directly supports a healthy womb and enhances fertility.

Cholesterol is essential for the production of adrenal hormones, like cortisol, as well. When we don’t have enough cholesterol for adrenal hormone synthesis, we experience fatigue, low libido, and dysregulated stress response, which can compromise fertility. Enter...

DOPE + SHROOMY COCOA

Ideal when we need more pleasure and a healthier stress response. Stress is disruptive to the body’s overall balance and can impair reproductive signaling. 4 adaptogenic fruiting body mushroom extracts support regulatory capacity and resilience. Mucuna pruriens (“the dopamine bean”), helps the body release more of this happiness hormone, while cacao also enhances mood.

MERMAID BUTTER

Rich in antioxidants and minerals, this blend helps feed and protect on the cellular level. Pearl is a nutrient-dense tonic herb that nourishes Yin, which provides the material foundation for the developing endometrium and potential pregnancy. It also helps prevent burnout and calms the spirit. Blue Majik spirulina extract has inflammation-taming properties that help neutralize free radicals-–important because egg cells and reproductive tissues are vulnerable to oxidative stress.

MILK MOON

There is a lot of overlap when it comes to how we support a postpartum woman and a woman TTC. The main goals of supporting the reproductive system, replenishing energy, and building the blood are the same. This highly nutritive blend contains Shatavari, which promotes reproductive balance and nourishes reproductive tissues. The beetroot is antioxidant-rich, blood-nourishing, and can improve blood flow, further supported by all of the warming herbs like cardamom and ceylon cinnamon. Lion’s Mane is a Qi tonic, supporting our vital energy.

KINDLING

This gently warming blend helps support some of the physiological systems that intersect with reproductive health. Warmth contributes to a healthy inner climate, supporting circulation and a more nourishing uterine environment—important for conceiving. It also supports digestion, helping to prevent dampness and stagnation that not only compromise nutrient absorption but impair energy and blood flow. As a soothing and gentle ally for metabolic health, it can encourage the release of what no longer serves, and make space for the new.