Fertility Road Issue 44 May/June 2018

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