Simply blend and serve:

1 teaspoon honey (1 teaspoon is approx. 5g)

1 teaspoon lecithin powder

1 teaspoon LSA powder (blend of linseed (flaxseed), sunflower seed and almonds in a finely ground powder)

1 teaspoon wheat germ (oil or powder)

1 teaspoon acidophilus cultured yoghurt

1 raw egg (medium sized organic, max 3 per week)

½ medium sized banana (alternatively 1/2 cup of strawberries, blueberries or mango pieces can be used)

250 ml milk

Nuts, seeds and pulses contain plant chemicals called phytosterols, which are known to promote testosterone production.  Nuts also contain magnesium, which balances levels of the hormone prolactin, which can compete with testosterone.

Almonds are regarded as one of the most nutrient rich nuts, high in nutrients known to be beneficial to reproductive health including zincand L-arginine.  Linseeds are a good source of omega 3 oils and sunflower seeds are also considered to be one of the most nutrient rich seeds.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Until next time

Sally Nourse

For more information about natural fertility support please visit www.livewellnaturally.com.au

Based on these findings, it is my recommendation that while women are trying to conceive they should consume full-fat dairy products.  While some women may find this a difficult adjustment to make, it may be valuable to remember that full-fat milk is only 4% fat , think 96% fat free, and once pregnancy ensues you can return to the low-fat dairy products that many of us are used to.

The Australian, 1 March 2007

WOMEN with a taste for full-fat milk and ice cream stand a better chance of getting pregnant, while those who consume low-fat dairy foods may actually impede fertility, according to a study published today.

The results of the study, which monitored 18,555 women between 24 and 42 in the US who tried to or became pregnant between 1991 and 1999, sharply challenges US government dietary guidelines, the authors said.

Three or more daily servings of low-fat milk or its equivalent per adult may well be deleterious for women planning to become pregnant as it would give them an 85 per cent higher risk of infertility due to a lack of ovulation, commented the lead author, Jorge Chavarro, a researcher at Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

By contrast, women who ate at least one serving of high-fat dairy food -whole milk, ice cream or, better yet, a milk shake – reduced their risk of anovulatory infertility by more than a quarter compared to women who ate little or no high-fat dairy.

Researchers were not sure what they would discover before sifting through the data, Chavarro wrote in an email, noting that previous studies on the relation between dairy products and infertility were contradictory.

But the correlation that emerged was so strong, he continued, that he was prepared to recommend that women seeking to have a baby ignore the government guidelines.  I think it is reasonable to consider having one or at most two servings of full-fat dairy foods per day temporarily while trying to get pregnant, he said.

Consumption of saturated fats should be kept to a minimum, he added, and total calorie intake should remain the same.

The researchers believe that the presence of a fat-soluble substance, which improves ovarian function, might explain the lower risk of infertility from high-fat dairy foods.

Their study appeared in the journal Human Reproduction, published by the Oxford University Press. Previous studies had suggested that lactose – a sugar found in milk – might be associated with a lack of ovulation, but Chavarro’s research showed no correlation at all, either negative or positive.

The Harvard study drew from data gathered in the massive Nurses’ Health Study II, which started in 1989 when 116,000 female registered nurses filled out a baseline questionnaire about their health. The survey has been repeated every two years since then.

Of the 18,555 married, pre-menopausal women followed in Chavarro’s study, 438 reported infertility due to problems related to ovulation.

Previous studies had suggested that lactose – a sugar found in milk – might be associated with a lack of ovulation, but Chavarro’s research showed no correlation at all, either negative or positive.

To view the original study go to: humrep.oxfordjournals.org

That’s because stress can affect the functioning of the hypothalamus. This is the gland in the brain that regulates appetite and emotions, as well as the hormones required to stimulate ovulation in women and produce testosterone in men.

If the effect of stress on your normal hormone levels is severe then it could result in you ovulating later in your cycle than usual, or not at all. This is a recognised condition, which is sometimes called “stress-induced anovulation”.

If you or your partner are feeling stressed, you may also feel less interested in having sex and may not have sex as often, which obviously does not help the chance of conception.  Some people also find themselves more likely to binge drink, smoke or eat a poor quality diet when they are stressed, all of which have been found to have a negative impact upon fertility.

Other research indicates that stress may have an impact on other aspects of fertility beyond ovulation, including problems with fertilization and implantation in the uterus. One study from the University of California San Diego found that the most stressed women undergoing IVF had less success every step of the way (fewer eggs retrieved and fewer eggs successfully implanted) compared to women who were not as tense. Another study from Israeli researchers tested whether helping women de-stress while undergoing IVF could impact the success rate. They found that women who were entertained by a clown after they received the treatment (laughter is a known stress-soother) were more likely to conceive than those who were not.

This is why it is so important to recognise that that taking time out to relax is not only important for your mental health, but for your reproductive health also.  While it is easy enough to say “just relax…” many people find that stress is an unavoidable part of life, and have got used to living with constant low levels of stress.  This can be avoided, or at least minimised by taking measures to combat stress.  Find a relaxation technique that works for you, remembering that what works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else. Also keep in mind that no single method is uniformly successful, a combination of approaches is generally most effective.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you have any questions regarding this or any other matter please feel free to contact me at the Live Well, Natural Wellness Centre.

Kind regards,
Sally Nourse

p.s. If you would like some more information about stress relief techniques you might like to read my colleague Wes’s blog on stress by clicking here.

www.livewellnaturally.com.au

What are Essential Fatty Acids?
For years it has been driven into our heads that fats are bad. We must eliminate fats from our diet to lose weight, prevent heart disease and more. However, what many people seem to fail and realize is that there are some fats that are actually good for us, and are in fact essential to our good health.

Essential fatty acids are some of these good fats. There are three different types of unsaturated fatty acids; Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are essential to the body. Omega-9 acids are not “essential” for human health, because unlike Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which cannot be manufactured by the body, Omega-9 is naturally occurring because the body does contain the necessary enzymes for synthesis of the fatty acid to take place.
However, there are some cases where the body is unable to produce adequate amounts of Omega-9 on its own, so in this case a supplement is definitely beneficial. Since Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are unable to be produced by the body, we must gain it by eating foods that are rich in these unsaturated fats or use a dietary supplement to get the necessary amounts in our body.
Best Sources of Omega 3-6-9 Essential Fatty Acids.
The three best sources of essential fatty acids that will provide the different levels of unsaturated fats are borage oil, flax oil and fish oil. As each of the types of fatty acids are processed differently by the body and work in different ways, it is important to ensure that you are getting the proper intake of each.
Flax oil and fish oil are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 acids have been shown to help fertility by helping to regulate hormones in the body, increase cervical mucous, promote ovulation and overall improve the quality of the uterus by increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organs. Borage oil is rich in Omega-6 fats, which can assist fertility by improving reproductive cell structure, decrease risk of inflammation and improve the condition of organs in the body. Omega-3 fats also contain two acids that are crucial to good health: DHA and EPA. These two acids have been shown to help many forms of disease. Low levels of DHA have been linked to depression and other mental health issues. During pregnancy, a lack of DHA may be associated with premature birth, low birth weight and hyperactivity in children.
Omega-9 monounsaturated fats are found in various food sources with the most amount of the nutrient found in olive oil. Other sources of Omega-9 fatty acids include fresh seeds and nuts, avocado and sunflower oil.
It is important to ensure that your daily intake of nutrients includes each of these essential fatty acids, particularly paying attention to intake of Omega-3 and 6. Dietary supplements can be found that contain 3-6-9 fatty acids combined or you can take them separately or add foods to your diet that are rich in these fats. For best results, look for supplements that use fish and flax oil for the Omega-3’s, and borage oil as a source of Omega-6.
Why Omega-3 EFA are Essential for Your Fertility

Essential fatty acids help to:

• Regulate hormones
• Increase the blood flow to the uterus
• Reduce sensitivity to the hormone prolactin, which can suppress ovulation.
• Increases fertile mucous, which is needed to help the sperm reach the egg.

I hope this information has been beneficial. If you have any questions regarding this or any other matter please feel free to contact me at the Live Well, Natural Wellness Centre.

Kind regards,
Sally Nourse

www.livewellnaturally.com.au