You’ve (maybe) read countless articles about what to eat and what yoga poses are the best. Maybe you’ve heard good stories in Facebook groups and have created your own strategy based on what you hope will also help you get pregnant faster.

The problem is that a lot of ‘good advice’ is myths that tend to spread faster than the wind. Other advice may work for some, but have the opposite effect on others, depending on how our underlying fertility and health interact.

Worse still, some supplements can actually hinder your fertility! Well, it’s good enough, so I’ll say it again: Some supplements can actually make it harder for you to get pregnant!
So, it’s not surprising if you feel confused by the many conflicting advice you encounter out there, and maybe also feel like you’re fumbling around a bit blind when it comes to the right supplements.

It can be super frustrating! Because most of us see ourselves as well-educated, intelligent women who know their stuff from their mistakes and don’t jump on just any bandwagon… but when it comes to supplements, it’s really a jungle for most people!

Here are 3 good tips that you can use as a compass in the jungle of supplements:

1. KNOW THE QUALITY!

Let’s just say it: When it comes to dietary supplements, price usually follows quality, although there are of course (a few) exceptions.
It costs a little more if the nutrients in your dietary supplement are made from good raw materials, are treated as gently as possible in production, have high absorbability, perhaps have a patent on the composition and the evidence is in order. It costs all the way through the supply chain, and this can be seen in the price in stores. Often, you can read a little about the scientific studies that support the effect of the supplement on the manufacturer’s website. Have time and resources been spent on conducting independent studies that show a positive result? Then you can also be reasonably sure that the quality is in order.

2. AVOID PRODUCT CONTAMINATION

You have probably heard that certain fish oils, for example, are rancid or have heavy metals in the package. This is a very good example of a dietary supplement where it is really important to look out for yourself. The same can be said about the healthy oils that are extracted from plants. For them, they must be protected from sunlight and preferably kept refrigerated. If they are liquid in a bottle instead of in capsules, you usually get more for your money. However, remember to use the oil as soon as possible after opening, and always within the best before date stated on the bottle. This way you ensure that your product is as fresh as possible. If you are in doubt, smell and taste the product. If the smell is heavy and it does not taste fresh, then the product is out immediately. Otherwise, there is a fairly high risk that it will cause inflammation in the body and thus hinder your fertility.

3. MAKE SURE YOUR BODY CAN ABSORB VITAMINS

For vitamins in particular, it is important to get them in a form that resembles ‘real’ foods as much as possible. There are quite a few supplements on the market in synthetic form, and the body can rarely utilize them very well. Therefore, go for what is popularly called ‘foodstate’. It is not (just) a clever marketing trick to make supplements as ‘foodstate’. There IS a meaning to the madness, as the body can better absorb and use the vitamins if they are in the right composition of amino acids, fat and fiber, depending on the supplement in question. Look at the list of ingredients. Is the product made from real berries, herbs and vegetables?

For some types of supplements, the absorbability is as low as the price, and thus the effect is unfortunately also negligible. Fortunately, there are many scientific studies that demonstrate an effect of certain supplements on fertility. But the effect is often related to your age, your weight, your hormonal balance and your general health. There is therefore no one-size-fits-all when it comes to supplements. This is exactly why I use hair mineral analysis to uncover the individual deficiencies and imbalances that need to be corrected. And no, no two bodies function 100% the same – therefore the path to optimal fertility is always individual. But if you go the route on your own, follow the advice. Make sure there is evidence behind your supplements and that the quality is in order, so that it actually has a positive effect. Otherwise, it is often better to leave them alone.