Fertility problems affect both men and women. According to the NHS, approximately one third of infertility is due to problems with the women, and another third is due to problems with the man. Whilst in just over twenty percent of cases, a cause cannot be identified.
The most common cause of infertility in men is a problem with sperm. Preconception nutrition for healthy sperm looks at the importance of food for improving your sperm quality.
Continue reading “Fertility for Men: Preconception Nutrition for Healthy Sperm” →
If you have decided the time is right to start a family and want to get pregnant fast, give mother nature a helping hand by introducing the following lifestyle changes.
To get into the right mindset for pregnancy think of yourself as the baby you want to care for. As a mother your focus will be on the well being, heath and safety of your child. Start caring for ‘you’ in this way now and enjoy the pampering, detoxing and ‘me-time’ required for optimal preconception health.
Of course, you have to have sex too, so we are going to start with the best time to conceive.
Continue reading “Get Pregnant Fast: Health for Pre-conception” →
Question: I am trying to maintain a healthy weight when pregnant, can I take sugar substitutes like aspartame and saccharin?
Answer
You will find sweeteners in many diet ready meals, snacks, drinks and also in chewable vitamin supplements. Although research indicates that sweeteners are safe, some research on sugar substitutes is inconclusive and many Mindful Mum’s avoid the use of artificial sweeteners completely during pregnancy. In the UK the use of sweeteners is controlled by the Food Standards Agency which allow five licensed artifiical sweeteners:
Continue reading “Can I take artificial sweeteners when pregnant?” →
Iron is an important nutrient for you during pregnancy because it is essential for the developing blood supply of your baby and for your own expanding blood supply. It’s easy for pregnant women to become deficient in iron during pregnancy so its important to eat plenty of iron rich food. Mindful Mum lists sources of iron for a healthy diet during pregnancy in the cut out list below.
Continue reading “Best Vegetarian Sources of Iron for Pregnancy” →
Whether you are pregnant, breast feeding, starting the weaning process or hiding vegetables in your toddlers meals, fruit and vegetables are paramount to raising a healthy child. In the UK we are advised to eat 5 portions a day from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, but should we be buying organic?
Mindful Mum has created the following guide to picking and choosing organic fruit and vegetables. The guide is based on ‘buying organic’ when the pesticide residues in a particular food are high. There is no need to go organic when the food does not contain high levels of pesticides.
Continue reading “Picking and Choosing Organic Fruit and Vegetables” →
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient you should consume every day if you are pregnant because your body cannot store it. A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 3 servings of vitamin C each day. If you are a fan of fruit this shouldn’t be a problem. Mindful Mum provides a list of Vitamin C food below and highlights why its such a great nutrient for you and your growing baby.
Continue reading “Best Sources of Vitamin C for Pregnancy” →
