So you’ve decided you would like to get pregnant. Here are a few basic tips that are essential in preparing for a healthy pregnancy.

1.    Feed yourself nutritionally dense food – No need to spend a fortune on expensive superfoods; just look for local, in-season, fresh produce. This will give every cell in your body the nutrients it needs to function at its optimum level, hence increasing your chances of optimum fertility. 

2.    Watch your weight – being over or under your ideal weight can affect your hormonal health.  But this doesn’t mean you should start avoiding fats.  Remember there is such a thing as good fats; essential fats, found in oily fish, flaxseeds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.  Keeping fit can also increase your chances of getting pregnant.

3.    Think about supplementing – Taking folic acid is highly recommended to prevent neural tube defects in babies. Plus a good quality multivitamin that contains Zinc and B6, as they work together to help regulate female sex hormones.

4.    Decrease exposure to harmful substances – that means cutting out or at least cutting down on alcohol and caffeine and of course, smoking is a big no-no. Plus be aware of other harmful chemicals in your environment e.g. pesticides, skin care products, cleaning products, etc.

5.    Try to relax – Never underestimate the negative influence that stress can have on the body and the mind.  Stress can impact on your fertility as it puts the body into high alert which hinders systems such as digestion or the reproductive system.  How many times have you heard couples say, “we stopped trying for a baby because it was stressing us out and then we got pregnant!”

6.    Address underlying health problems – Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, hormonal imbalances or food allergies can all influence fertility and often go undiagnosed.  So it is worth getting checked if you are struggling to get pregnant.

These are just a few simple ways to help increase your chances of getting pregnant and remember it takes two to tango so make sure the other half is taking care of himself too.

‘Tinned Wild Salmon and Hummus on Rice (or corn) Crackers’ 

Most of us struggle to eat tasty, healthy food for lunch when we’re on the go.  This is an old favourite of mine and it’s so simple and great for those mornings when you need to run out the door and you haven’t had time to prepare something the night before.  It’s very satisfying and it’s high in protein, fibre and omega 3.  Feel free to jazz it up with diced peppers, tomatoes, avocado, onion, herbs or a sprinkling of crushed chilli flakes…

Ingredients

• 1 small tin of wild salmon
• 1 heaped tbsp. of your favourite hummus
• 4/5 Rice or corn crackers 

Method

Simply mix the salmon and the hummus in a bowl and spread on the cracker.  Then wash is down with a nice relaxing cup of Tulsi tea.

Enjoy!