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BODY Regularly eating ginger during pregnancy is known to alleviate morning sickness but can also help promote a detox effect and help cellular function and is regularly advised during my nutritional consultations. Many love Italian food, and on the most romantic day of the year on Valentine’s day, most Italian restaurants are fully booked and it’s no wonder, not only does the food taste great but has a feel-good factor too! Italian’s are known to use oregano, basil and marjoram in their culinary delights and studies have shown that the addition of herbs such as lemon balm, marjoram and oregano to salad, and spices and herbs to salad dressing, increase their antioxidant activity significantly with a mood-lifting feel-good factor. So, let’s spice up your life and your fertile health by adding these amazing antioxidant-rich herbs and spices into your culinary delights. Cinnamon Helps start ovulation and regulate irregular periods. It has been used in research with its positive effects for those with PCOS in both jump-starting ovulation as well as reducing the insulin resistance associated with PCOS. Cinnamon can also lower blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol as part of a healthy diet. Aim for one-half teaspoon of cinnamon twice a day within your porridge, yoghurt or in a chai tea. Rosemary One recent study found that people performed better on memory and alertness tests when mists of aromatic rosemary oil were piped into their study cubicles. Rosemary can help with hormonal imbalance and is also known as an antibacterial when used in aromatherapy. Garlic Garlic can not only keep sperm and eggs healthy, but it is also packed with B6 and other nutrients are proven to give fertility a boost for both men and women. Garlic is also a known blood cleanser that aids in circulation, meaning you have the stamina to make a healthy baby. Garlic is full of selenium as well as Vitamin C, which prevents chromosome defects and damage. Paprika Contains capsaicin, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and known as a fertility spice. Try sprinkling on your salads and roasted sweet potatoes. Ginger Ginger has a well-deserved reputation for relieving an unsettled stomach. Studies show ginger extracts can help reduce nausea caused by morning sickness or following surgery or chemotherapy, though it’s less effective for motion sickness. But ginger is also packed with inflammation-fighting compounds and helps to normalize the hormonal system and tones the uterus. This is also a strong aphrodisiac and essential to help pregnancy. Oregano Oregano has been seen to have the highest antioxidant activity of 27 fresh culinary herbs so add this to your salads and roasted vegetables. Chili Peppers Chili peppers add a muchappreciated heat to chillyweather dishes and should be avoided in some but can give a boost to your metabolism especially those with PCOS and retaining weight after hormonal treatments such as IVF. Studies show that capsaicin can increase the body’s metabolic rate causing one to burn more calories and stimulate brain chemicals that help us feel less hungry. Turmeric Turmeric, the goldencoloured spice, is used in India to help wounds heal and applied as a paste, it’s also made into a tea to relieve colds and respiratory problems as well as autoimmune as well as fertility health conditions and may be helpful for those with PCOS and perhaps raised natural killer cells. Modern medicine confirms turmeric is associated with curcumin, a compound in turmeric that has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immune and certainly a must in my view when undergoing IVF. Saffron Saffron has long been used in traditional Persian medicine as a mood lifter, usually steeped into a medicinal tea or used to prepare rice. In one study, 75% of women with PMS who were given saffron capsules daily reported that their PMS symptoms such as mood swings and depression declined by at least half, compared with only 8 percent of women who didn’t take saffron. Parsley University of Missouri scientists found that the parsley herb can inhibit breast cancer-cell growth which as we know can be associated with hormonal imbalance. Sage Herbalists recommend sipping sage tea for upset stomachs and sore throats, a remedy supported by one study that found spraying sore throats with a sage solution gave effective pain relief. In another study, college students who took sage extracts in capsule form performed significantly better on memory tests, and their moods improved. Which hormones can have such an effect on. As considered to be one of the very few natural health experts to have studied a science degree in reproductive medicine, Chinese medicine, nutrition and natural therapies, I know that herbs and spices do much more than simply add amazing flavours to food. They are packed with antioxidants to really give your immune and body a boost whilst allowing you cut down on some less-healthy ingredients, such as salt, sugars and saturated fat, but most of all with a high pregnancy outcome for patients undergoing our treatment it’s the combination with the added spice of life that really matters and as they say the proof is in the pudding, well with a touch of allspice and cinnamon added of course. Should you wish to contact Michelle for more information how she can help you improve your fertility using her expertise email her at Info@michellemulliss.com | fertilityroadmag | follow us @fertilityroad fertilityroad.com | 29
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