Five Favourite Fertility Foods

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Eat an avocado a day.

Avocados: if you cut an avo in half – what does it look like? A pregnant woman’s belly with a bulging seed = fertility. The humble avocado is full of wonderful therapeutic fats, those ‘good’ fats that our bodies need. These fats are especially beneficial for healthy female reproductive organs and known to balance the hormones.

 Eat eggs daily they are a super fertility food.

Eggs: If you know me I love eggs. They are an excellent source of protein full of nutrients and two eggs equal a complete serve of protein, good quality fats and packed with fertility nutrients. Remember the best quality is best for you so try organic and definitely free range.

Eat Wild Caught Atlantic Salmon for fertility power. 

Fish: The perfect fish for fertility is Wild Caught Atlantic Salmon, it’s full of omega 3 fatty acids, it’s a high quality protein and packed with vitamin B12 and Iron; all the things needed for making babies. Be sure to pay the premium price because you do pay for what you get! Wild caught means that it has never been fed pink pellets to colour its flesh like some farmed salmon is – true story.

Eat seeds and nuts as an awesome fertility snack.

Seeds and Nuts: Good quality seeds and nuts are full of good fats, proteins and essential vitamins and minerals to get the fertility train moving. Try organic and definitely support local when purchasing. Pumpkin seeds or pepitas are especially high in zinc, which is essential for both males and females when it comes to excellent egg and sperm quality.

 Eat figs as a fertility treat. I love them fresh off the tree.

Figs: A real must for improving and boosting male semen, they’re quite specific for treating the male reproductive system, after all what do they look like! Eat them fresh, dried, baked, mix them with goats cheese or other culinary delights. They’re full of essential vitamins and minerals to help you reach your peak.

Of course baby making may not be that simple, so come in for a consult and we can tailor a pre-conception plan especially for you addressing you and your partners individual needs.

Bali. Beautiful Bali.

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As some of you may know, we’ve been really fortunate and have just spent the last few weeks on a family holiday in Bali. We had a great trip; we spent time in Ubud; ate, swam, walked through rice fields, drank fresh coconut juice and just hung out. We then went to the beach and had a villa in Bingin. If you’re a surfer you know where Bingin is! It is just as beautiful, the water was fresh and it was great swimming in the ocean in August and having the sun lick our skin. My boys’ legs became chocolate colour with their beautiful olive skin and I even got a bit of a tan too. It was a beautiful family holiday and when seeing a country with new eyes it’s made me think and see a few Indonesian qualities that I really like and think that maybe I should apply a little bit more to my life.

Gratitude

Every morning an offering of gratitude and faith is made. A beautiful simple offering to the gods to show thanks, give abundance and ask for protection. Flowers, fruit, sweets, rice, incense is offered in a bowl handmade from palm leaves. Master 3 and his mates were privileged to partake in this offering with Made our host. What a special way to start your day, a reminder to give thanks.

Nutrition/Diet

The Balinese diet is centered on rice and rice based products and is full of lots of colourful fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices. Protein mostly comes from soya bean, which is then processed into tofu or tempeh. Eggs play a big part in their diet and are nearly included in every meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner. The most common form of meat products are fish and poultry. 

Coconut products are used in abundance it's a heat stabilized fat making it great for cooking and is also full of the ‘good fats’ making it a key nutrient in their diet. Coconut is full of many healing properties; anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, it's protective and energy giving. Most products have some sort of coconut milk/fat/oil used within. Also, peanuts are another main characteristic found in the Indonesian cuisine. Dairy is very rarely used but tea is drunk daily.

Lifestyle

The Balinese live a very relaxed life compared to their Aussie neighbors. Nothing is in too much of a hurry. Mostly the mornings are used to get the jobs done and the afternoons to relax and rest a little before the evening chores begin. I spoke with several locals who have had the opportunity to come and experience life in Australia and all said they couldn’t believe how hectic and busy everyone was, and that they much preferred their way of life. It is easy to breathe, walk and live without too many stresses.

Family

Family life is also very different to our way of life. Most families live in an extended family situation; that is with many relatives living in the same house or commune. The responsibility of children and babies are shared with all the members. They really do take into account the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Mothers, like us work away from the home but have such a wonderful community to continue to raise and care for their children, I find it enviable.

It’s also very common for the Balinese to bed share with their children believing it is the best place for their child to sleep; close to them and protected.

And, I personally love that all children are named One (Wayan), Two (Made), Three (Nyoman), Four (Ketut) and then one (Wayan) again – seems to make life so much easier!

I loved our holiday to Bali, I have been lucky to go several times and I am always amazed at how patient and respectful the Balinese are to all the foreigners that grace their tiny island.     Merkassi.

What differences do you love about foreign places?

The BIG C – cancer!

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Cancer is a scary topic. People are scared of cancer because of the many unknown variables, it’s a sickness that is deemed to have no cure, it’s an illness that puts stresses on families and relationships and potentially equates to the loss of a loved one.

Cancer is a growing concern in our modern world, there is a cancer that is related to each and every system within our body, some are curable, some are more manageable than others and some are unfortunately fatal.

The one thing that all cancers have in common is the need to support the cancer sufferer and the family of the sufferer. Through Naturopathic medicine this support maybe achieved by taking on a holistic approach and treating the whole; mind, body, senses. As naturopathic practitioners we are able to assist the patient and their family by treating the stresses that are caused, by giving them both mental and medicinal support, we can work alongside their GP and their oncologist. We have the tools and knowledge to support the cancer patients diet through nutrition and by using herbal medicines as food.

Naturopathic practitioners take on a holistic role, empowering the patient and supporting their general wellbeing, potentially making life a little easier to manage when diagnosed with such a disease.  Naturopathic practices are able to support emotions such as feelings of depression, overwhelment and the loss of sense of self, support proper liver function, and possibly assist the bodies elimination channels, assist proper digestive function, assist tiredness and fatigue and also help address other cross over symptoms from traditional conventional treatments.

I've recently attended the latest Integrative Care and Support of Cancer Patients as a Naturopath I'm happy to discuss cancer support with you.

Here’s a list of key foods for you to try and that may assist in you living better with cancer.

Organic Fruit and Vegetables – are higher in Phytochemicals than conventionally grown fruits and vegies. Especially try Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Carrots, Leeks, Cauliflower, Apples

Also, as they have not been sprayed with pesticides and chemicals they have built up their own resistance to bugs and insects by trying to protect themselves from being eaten!!

Green tea (organic of course) – is high in good anti-oxidants which is associated with better clinical outcomes

Tumeric – Some studies show that turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems. It acts as an anti-inflammatory support and may support cell cycle regulation.

Reduce sugar intake – studies have observed that cancers may rely on sugar, so by eliminating or reducing sugar can only be of benefit.

Essential Fatty Acids = Good fats – they may come in the form of healthy fish, and other easily obtained EFA including seeds and nuts

Maintaining your normal exercise routine is also an important key factor in living with cancer. And of course, taking one day at a time.

Our Favourtite breakfast

I guess this is our houses favourite breakfast only because it is the one that is eaten on most mornings of the week. I started making this muesli years ago because the organic, store bought cereals were too expensive. I couldn't conceive paying over $10 for a 300g bag of fancy muesli that was eaten in a few sittings (lives with a hungry man), and I could make it myself without the dried fruits which adds too much sugar.


It is a (VERY) simple recipe that when made gives you a complete protein, so eat our muesli with joy and I hope that it gives you enough energy to get through the morning.


Here's our Muesli Recipe (all grains and seeds are organic)
Oats 
Almonds
Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Sunflower seeds
Mix all the ingredients in a large jar.
Oats are the main ingredient and the other seeds and nuts are a sprinkling through out.

Serve with cut up fresh fruit (whatever is in season) berries, stone fruit, bananas, kiwis, pears.
Add milk (this combined with the seeds/nuts/grains/dairy makes it a complete protein).


I usually add a dollop of natural yogurt and honey.
Chew lots and enjoy.
xx

A Vegetarian Baby

A friend asked me about vegetarian recipes for her baby. Now this could be controversial but I believe babies need red meat because red meat is the best source of Iron. And Iron in meat (haeme iron) is more easily absorbed than Iron (non-haeme iron) in vegetables.


Babies have immature gastrointestinal tracks, they are so very new and still developing and cannot therefore effectively digest and absorb everything they eat so it is important to fed them easily absorbed and digestible foods. And, as Iron in meat is more easily absorbed than veggie Iron this makes it a great source of Iron for babies.


Currently in Australia babies are encouraged to begin eating meat from 8 months, red meat is a terrific source of a complete protein and an easily digestible source of iron. The benefits of Iron include the production of haemoglobin, assists brain development and function, regulates body temperature and metabolism and lack of Iron directly affects the immune system. These are all important functions of a new and developing baby. If, (not only babies but) people don't eat and absorb enough iron they can acquire Iron deficiency anaemia, this can lead to a whole range of problems.


Iron benefits, deficiencies, food sources
Iron deficiency anaemia


Other sources of iron include wholegrains, nuts, eggs, legumes, seeds and of course iron fortified cereals - most baby foods including rusks have Iron added.


Also meat is a primary source of a complete-protein. Proteins primary function is to build and repair tissues and cells in the body and then amino acids which are the building blocks that make up proteins are key factors in aiding most of the functions and processes of the body - therefore proteins are very important in the growth and development of our babies. And I hear you ask that there is protein in seeds, nuts, grains, dairy but unless they are combined they are not complete proteins.


So a few easy red meat ideas for new babies are lamb cutlets and mince meat.  Mince meat is great because it's an easy protein source and can easily be made into lots of things; a shepards pie, rissoles, bolognese sauces and I make what I call a Moroccan style bolognese - with beans and potatoes in it (but no real spices). Of course you can source the best quality organic meats for you and your bubba. I know people choose to eat or not eat meat for all sorts of reasons,  ethical, cultural, religious, financial but my suggestion is in the first few years it is a good idea to feed your babies meat and they can later make their own decisions. If you choose to feed your baby as a vegetarian it is important to serve Vitamin C with every meal to prevent anaemia.


From 8 months I fed my baby lamb chop cutlets - he loved it, but that's not to say all will!