» Wave: Dear Jacquie
Your health queries answered with Jacquie Lane from the College of Naturopathic Medicine
I’m trying for a baby with no luck so far. Can nutrition help?
TF, Brighton
You bet! Detoxifying your system and giving it a nutrient boost can increase your chance of conceiving. Eat organic food to reduce your exposure to hormones and pesticides. To reduce exposure to xenoestrogens (man-made compounds that can mimic the effects of oestrogen), don’t eat foods wrapped in plastic cling film, and drink water out of glass bottles rather than plastic.
Do not buy bagged salad due to possible toxins/bacteria enclosed. Cut out smoking and microwaved food. Cut out caffeine and tannin and drink more herbal teas. Fresh ginger and/or lemon with hot water all help the liver eliminate toxins.
Boost your nutrient intake and aid bowel elimination by eating a rainbow assortment of five to seven portions in total of vegetables and fruit daily to get a good intake of health protecting compounds. Include protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal and eat a variety of whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat, rye, and spelt, in breads or pasta.
Essential fatty acids are vital to regulate hormones. Eat oily fish three times a week, including salmon, mackerel, and herrings, but not tuna due to potential mercury content. Incorporate seeds into your daily diet such as flax, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame; use them in salads, or grind and add to porridge, or use cold pressed oils in salad dressings.
Vitamin E should be plentiful in your diet and can be found in cold pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ, sunflower and sesame seeds, and sardines. Fresh ginger root and some seeds are good sources of zinc which is also required.
For supplements focus on essential fatty acids: Omega 3 (EPA & DHA) 1000mg/day, and a good quality pregnancy multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Opt for a probiotic which includes at least eight billion probiotic cultures to help the body dispose of unwanted excess hormones. Don’t overlook your general lifestyle: yoga and walking are great for metabolism and stress reduction.
If you have a general health query that you would like to raise here you can email Jacquie at healthqueriesforWave@naturopathy-uk.com. Please note that Jacquie cannot enter into individual correspondence unless your query is chosen for publication. CNM open evening
If you would like to train to become a nutritional therapist, please call to book your place at CNM’s next open evening in Brighton. 01342 410505, www.naturopathy-uk.com
