Photo credit: Salad Pasta With Roast Beef, by Naomi Kuwashima

How you eat affects your chances of making babies, says Times nutritionist Jane Clarke

CAREFUL WITH CAFFEINE
Although research is mixed, I suggest keeping caffeine intake down to a couple of cups of tea or coffee a day — especially men, because caffeine affects the mobility of sperm. (A sperm must flick its tail 800 times to move one millimeter.)

Caffeine is thought by some to delay conception — several studies say women who drink coffee find it three times as difficult to conceive within a year as those not drinking it. So give it up if you can. If you're watching the caffeine during the day and find yourself lacking energy at night, chocolate can be an ally, since it is high in phenylethylamine, which stimulates the production of feelgood and energetic endorphins. Why not indulge in a little good-quality, high cocoa-bean content chocolate therapy?

S IS FOR SELENIUM
Over the past few years, selenium has shot to the forefront of fertility research. Worryingly, selenium levels in European soil, and consequently in most food we eat (vegetables and vegetable-eating animals being its richest dietary sources), are far lower than, for example, in the US. Indeed, in a study of Scottish men, selenium supplements were shown to increase significantly the sperm cells' ability to swim, indicating they had been selenium-deficient.

However, we don't know enough about how much selenium we need in our diet to recommend supplements (although experts think it's about 60 micrograms a day for women and 75 men). So I'd advocate boosting your intake of the most concentrated dietary sources of selenium instead. These include Brazil nuts (254 micrograms per 100g), dried mushrooms (110 micrograms per 100g), lentils (40 micrograms per 100g cooked weight) and tinned tuna (80 micrograms per 100g).

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
Zinc and vitamin C are both linked with fertility and libido, so it's vital to have a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and pulses. Zinc deficiency has been shown to cause low sperm count and mobility, which means eating plenty of fresh figs when they're in season, seafood such as oysters, lean red meat and crumbly cheese such as Wensleydale.

Vitamin C has been found to increase sperm production, thereby improving chances of conception — so think about plenty of freshly-squeezed fruit juices; green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli; and blueberries, kiwis, pomegranates, and the aptly named passion fruit. Cook foods lightly; eat as much raw food as you can, and as quickly after cutting and peeling as possible, to minimize the amount of vitamin C lost on exposure to the air.

FAT IS A FERTILITY ISSUE
The body needs essential fats — omega 3 and omega 6 oils — which are contained in oily fish such as salmon (preferably organic or wild), sardines, fresh tuna (tinned is fine, but contains fewer omega oils), herrings and mackerel, hemp oil, nuts and seeds. They're critical for both female and male fertility, regulating fluidity of cell membranes and allowing cells to function efficiently. Seeds and nuts (wholewheat products such as wholegrain bread, oat biscuits, and porridge are other options) are also rich in vitamin E, good for ensuring a healthy blood supply to the genitals.

Conversely, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated oils, trans-fats (in crisps, kinds of margarine — declared on labels, luckily) and saturated fats (in fatty meat and dairy) are to be kept low, as they block the absorption of the essential omega fats.

Full article: TimesOnline.co.uk

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TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Getting Pregnant the Natural Way
(Women's Natural Health)
by D. S. Feingold, Deborah Gordon

-- Are you experiencing infertility?

Written by an authority in complementary medicine, Getting Pregnant the Natural Way is a compassionate guide offers natural approaches to help you now.

Drawing on the benefits of herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutritional therapies, and mind-body medicine - in conjunction with the latest medical therapies, Dr. Deborah Gordon explains the mechanisms of fertility and the possible causes of infertility, then outlines a simple six-step program to help you:

• Prepare your body, mind, and spirit for pregnancy
• Prevent, control, or reverse conditions impairing fertility
• Improve your overall feelings of health and well-being
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Create balance in your life

Uniquely created from a woman's perspective, Getting Pregnant the Natural Way offers support, wisdom, and hope for you to reach your goal of a healthy pregnancy.

Paperback: 272 pages
Click to order/for more info: Getting Pregnant the Natural Way

Start reading Getting Pregnant the Natural Way on your Kindle in under a minute!

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

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Photo credit: Tea Cup, by Saxon

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: The effect of caffeine consumption on fertility was examined prospectively in 210 women.

METHODS: Women reported on caffeinated beverage consumption and pregnancy status monthly. Odds ratios for becoming pregnant were calculated for both high and moderate vs low consumption.

RESULTS: No significant association was found for any of the caffeinated beverages except tea. Drinking one-half cup or more of tea daily approximately doubled the odds of conception per cycle.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that caffeine may not be the responsible agent for variation in fertility associated with consumption of the beverages examined.

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1.4M), or see the PubMed citation or the full text of some References.

Source: Differences in fertility associated with caffeinated beverage consumption

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TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Inconceivable: A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics
by Julia Indichova

-- A memoir of hope for the thousands of women struggling with infertility, from one who beat the odds by simply tuning in to her body and tapping her well of sheer determination.

At a time when more and more women are trying to get pregnant at increasingly advanced ages, fertility specialists and homeopathic researchers boast endless treatment options.

But when Julia Indichova made the rounds of medical doctors and nontraditional healers, she was still unable to conceive a child.

It was only when she forsook their financially and emotionally draining advice, turning inward instead, that she finally met with reproductive success. Inconceivable recounts this journey from hopeless diagnoses to elated motherhood.

Anyone who has faced infertility will relate to Julia's desperate measures: acupuncture, unidentifiable black-and-white pellets, herb soup, foul-smelling fruit, even making love on red sheets.

Five reproductive endocrinologists told her that there was no documented case of anyone in her hormonal condition getting pregnant, forcing her to finally embark on her own intuitive regimen.

After eight caffeine-free, nutrient-rich, yoga-laden months, complemented by visualization exercises, Julia received amazing news; incredibly, she was pregnant.

Nine months later she gave birth to a healthy girl.

Paperback: 208 pages
Click to order/for more info: Inconceivable

Start reading Inconceivable on your Kindle in under a minute!

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

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