Female fertility Part 2 Womb Needs The womb produces many different prostaglandins and the rich endometrium lining nurtures the fertilized egg or ova after implantation. The placenta is built from this nutrient rich source. A healthy placenta will lead to a healthy baby as it gathers the maternal hormones and nutrients to feed the embryo via its blood stream. If the mother’s nutrition stores are inadequate then the baby will have poor nourishment and may not develop properly. Eating well for 3 months before conception will ensure that adequate nutrients are available to the developing baby. Dietary Advice In order to maximise the chances of conception and pregnancy a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, proteins, complex carbohydrates and natural fatty acids is essential. This is not difficult. It means eating the freshest, healthiest food you can afford for 3 months before conception and for the nine months of pregnancy. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and lentils, lean meat, oily fish, some dairy products and eggs are suggested. It’s actually like eating as your grandparents - fresh foods untainted with chemicals. Other Recommendations: Drink one litre of fresh filtered water each day (8 glasses). Eat two servings of fresh, green leafy vegetables per day, two servings of red-orange vegetables, salad and two pieces of fresh fruit. (Avoiding citrus fruits as bowel irritation may occur. Berries are anti-inflammatory and diuretic.) Eat two to three servings of whole grain cereals such as rice, oats, rye, corn, millet, quinoa, unless you are grain/gluten intolerant. Eat 30gms of fibre foods each day including fruit, vegetables and whole grain cereals or nuts and seeds. Eat complex carbohydrate foods daily, such as, cereals, root vegetables or pulse vegetables (peas, beans and lentils). They supply slow-releasing sugars into the body to sustain energy levels. Consume one tablespoon of fresh, cold-pressed oils each day from sesame, walnut, sunflower, safflower or olives. Or, use one tablespoon of ground linseed with breakfast. Avoid trans-fats in manufactured foods. Eat 50-75gm of protein foods per day choosing from a variety of sources. This ensures a wide range of amino acids that are available in peas, beans, lentils, grains, nuts, seeds, tofu, eggs, dairy foods (from goat or sheet) and fresh fish or lean organic meats. Nutritional Supplements Nutritional supplements are tools to improve body biochemistry and to correct biochemical imbalances while dietary nutrients from food is being supported. A good multi/vitamin/mineral supplement along with vitamin C and essential fatty acid supplements will help restore the body’s nutritional balance. Other supplements that will be supportive while the diet is adjusted include, a digestive enzyme (non-glandular), magnesium malate, iodine, evening primrose, zinc citrate, gluconate or bio acidophilus. Diet, indeed, plays a major factor in fertility and overall health. Three regular meals each day beginning with a nutritious breakfast is a key factor. Remember what our grandmother told us, “eat right, exercise and reflect”. However, these items are just general pieces of advice, your chances are improved if you get some personalised advice keyed to your specific needs and deficiencies that you can only get by consulting a nutritionist and preferably one specialising in fertility issues. You need to follow that advice not just to conceive but throughout the pregnancy.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:24:22 +0000
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