Playtimes HK Magazine Winter Issue 2018/2019 | Page 26

maternity
quality meats. Both partners doing this
will be most beneficial,’ she shares.
The proof is in the pudding
Jenny’s story bears testament to the
plethora of global research highlighting
the importance of a healthy diet on a
couple’s journey to conception and a
healthy pregnancy. In fact, earlier this
year researchers from the Harvard
T.H Chan School of Public Health and
Harvard Medical School published a
review of past studies that examined the
impact of diet on fertility.
The studies showed that a healthy
diet, folic acid, vitamin B12 and omega-3
fatty acids were all linked to improved
fertility in women who were trying to
become pregnant naturally. Unhealthy
diets rich in processed meats, potatoes,
sweets, sweetened beverages and trans
fat were found to have negative effects
on female fertility. Sperm quality also
improved with healthy diets, as outlined
above, and deteriorated with diets
high in saturated or trans fat and the
consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.
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Set the table for success
Benita Perch, a naturopathic physician
and homeopath, strongly advocates
the importance of a healthy anti-
inflammatory diet loaded with healthy
fats, high quality proteins, vegetables
and fruit to prepare the body to
conceive and carry a baby to term.
Alison Middleton, founder of Health
Nation HK, is of the same opinion.
“When you think of fertility foods,
oysters and yams spring to mind but
the truth is actually pretty simple. The
key is to adopt a whole foods approach
– consume foods that are as close to
nature as possible,” she says.
Good fat, bad fat.
Wild caught salmon, sardines,
avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil
are all excellent forms of Omega-3
fats. These can help regulate ovulation,
improve egg and sperm quality, and
aide fertilisation.
When cooking, use clarified butter
(ghee) or coconut butter as they do not
become unstable when heated, Alison
advises. “For non-cooking purposes,
use cold pressed olive oil, flaxseed oils
and nut oils”.
Trans fat (also known as partially
hydrogenated vegetable fat) should
be avoided at all costs. In January
2017, Harvard School of Public Health
discovered that women with ovulation-
related fertility problems tended to
eat more trans fat than fertile women.
Obtaining just two per cent of total
calories from trans fats instead of
healthier monounsaturated fats was
associated with a doubled risk for this
type of infertility, the study found.
Pack a punch with proteins
Benita recommends organic grass-fed
beef, and organic free-range chicken,
turkey and eggs. Processed meats
should be avoided, especially those
containing nitrates, as they’ve been
linked to fertility disorders in men.
Sustainable and toxin-free fish is
also a great source of protein, Benita
advises. To protect developing foetuses
from defects, high mercury fish such as