In Traditional Chinese Medicine we believe that at conception vital Essence known as Jing is passed on to the fetus from the mother and father. From the moment conception occurs, this forms the blueprint for your child.  This Essence determines the basic constitution (DNA) of the fetus including its strength (Qi)  and vitality (Jing).  To create healthy vibrant children one the of the best ways parents can influence their Jing is through food therapy. We share with you 5 foods that should avoid!

Where to start? Begin to treat your body like its a temple and avoid these 5 :

1. Give up alcohol at least three months before trying. By giving up the booze will put yourself ahead of the curve when you do fall pregnant. Clinical research suggests that alcohol intake negatively impacts IVF success, it’s associated with a longer time to conceive and increased risk of miscarriage.
2. Avoid caffeine  in all forms such as chocolate, energy drinks, and decaffeinated coffee. Caffeine is known to decrease blood flow to the uterus and increase anxiety and stress levels. If you have a clotting factor it can increase the risk of blood clotting which is factor in miscarriage.  Caffeine drives the body into sympathetic dominance which is our “flight or fight” response making it difficult for our hormones to maintain balance, increasing adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones put stress on the adrenals and over time can lead to adrenal fatigue.
3. Ditch the Dairy and this includes milk, cheese, ice cream, goat’s dairy and any food containing casein and whey. Dairy can cause inflammation in the gut and gut inflammation leads to a body-wide immune response. Notice if you produce more phlegm when consuming diary, or your sinuses have a reaction such as a blocked or post nasal drip.
4. Say goodbye to Gluten. When we eat grains and cereals it usually contains gluten. Gluten can have a huge influence on the body, gut and immune system. Other than feeling gassy and bloated, gluten affects the way we absorb nutrients and can lead to more serious problems such as gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity. With prolonged exposure it can result in Celiac Disease where Gluten forces your immune system to start attacking the lining of your small intestine. There is a growing body of evidence that has highlighted the link between these conditions and infertility. Try different alternatives  buckwheat, millet, quinoa and amaranth instead of the conventional breads and pastas.
5. Sugar.  We all know how bad sugar is. Sugar causes inflammation and insulin resistance in the body. When we consume sugar found in most processed foods, it causes a spike in our blood sugar levels and the pancreas release insulin into our blood stream to reduce the blood sugar levels. Constant exposure to sugar starts to become a hormone disrupter. It is best to avoid processed sugars and eat a  healthy range of whole foods, clean foods  with lots of plants and meat (if your diet permits).

Be sure to check out our recent blog Eating Your Way To Fertility. If you want to receive more in depth information or food therapy that is unique to you, please contact the clinic 03 9510 3700 or email us info@angea.com.au so we can book you in to see one our practitioners.