Trying to conceive? - Eat right

Diet is always important to maintain optimum health. When trying to conceive it is all the more important to eat right - it's always best to do all you can to ensure a healthy baby

Food to Eat

Tea - Green tea and orange pekoe tea are both excellent fertility enhancers. Tea contains a high level of antioxidants which aid in healthy immune systems. Research has shown that women who regularly drink tea increase their chance of conception.
Foods rich in vitamin C - Fruits, especially citrus, help enhance fertility, especially in men. Vitamin C plays a role in boosting the immune system, and thus helps to aid in a healthy conception.
Foods high in calcium - Calcium contributes to strong bones, and is especially important for pregnant women to consume.
Vitamin B6 and Folic Acid - Leafy green vegetables, nuts and whole grains contain high levels of these nutrients. Vitamin B6 is a reproductive hormone regulator and folic acid helps to prevent certain neuro-tube defects in the fetus.
Water - probably the most important thing to consume. Get in the good habit of drinking at least eight cups of water a day.Foods to Avoid
Eat a minimum of seafood. Avoid albacore tuna altogether due to the high levels of mercury in this type of fish. Mercury has been linked with serious birth defects including autism.
Avoid processed foods like sugar and refined flour (sweets and junk foods) since these provide no nutrition for a developing baby. Many older women who have babies are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and too much junk food can contribute to high blood sugar and a greater need for cesarean birth due to large babies from diabetic mothers.
Your baby depends on you and the foods you eat. Give it every advantage prior to conception and avoid problems further down the road. Eating healthy is one of the easiest things you can do during pregnancy to safeguard the health of you and the baby.

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Berries

Berries are also an excellent source of folic acid which helps protect against colon cancer, lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Folic acid also prevents some birth defects.
The dreaded fiber, we groan at the thought of increasing our fiber intake but its really not difficult. Berries are high in fiber and ever so tasty. Fiber protects against colon cancer, lowers your risk of heart disease, and helps regulate blood sugars.
Great so berries are high in vitamins and minerals, but there’s more good news. They are also high in phytochemicals. Wondering what phytochemicals are? They are a natural powerful antioxidant that ads color pigments and flavor to fruits and vegetables. The phytochemicals found in berries have been the object of some major studies.
These studies found that the phytochemicals found in berries show significant disease fighting capabilities. They can prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and slow down the aging process. They have also been shown to improve memory.
And if that’s not enough some berries have additional medicinal abilities. Cranberries and blueberries contain another substance that prevents and treats bladder infections. The dark berries contain substances that slow the aging process and the risk of developing alzheimer's.

BANANA

In the traditional medicine of India and the ancient Persia this golden fruit is regarded as nature's secret of perpetual youth. To this day, banana is known for promoting healthy digestion and creating a feeling of youthfulness. They help promote the retention of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen - all of which then work to build sound and regenerated tissues. Banana also contains invert sugar, which is an aid to youthful growth and metabolism.
Intestinal Disorder
The banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and blandness. It is said to contain an unidentified compound called, perhaps jokingly, 'vitamin U' (against ulcer). It is the only raw fruit which can be eaten without distress in chronic ulcer cases. It neutralizes the over-acidity of the gastric juices and reduces the irritation of the ulcer by coating the lining of the stomach. Ripe banana are highly beneficial in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, being bland, smooth, easily digestible and slightly laxative. They relieve acute symptoms and promote the healing process.

Constipation and Diarrhea
Banana are of great value in constipation and diarrhea as they normalize colonic functions in the large intestine to absorb large amounts of water for proper bowel moments. Their usefulness in constipation is due to their richness in pectin, which is water-absorbent and this gives them a bulk producing ability. They also possess the ability to change the bacteria in the intestines - from the harmful type of bacilli to the beneficial acidophilus bacilli.

Dysentery
Mashed banana together with little salt is a very valuable remedy for dysentery. Ripe bananas are also very useful in dysentery of children, but they should be thoroughly mashed and beaten to cream before use in these cases.

Arthritis and Gout
Bananas are useful in the treatment of arthritis and gout. A diet of bananas only for three or four days is advisable in these conditions. The patient can be given to eat eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.

Anemia
Being high in iron content, bananas are beneficial in the treatment of anemia. They stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.

Allergies
The fruit is very useful for those who are allergic to certain foods and who suffer in consequence from skin rashes or digestive disorders or asthma. Unlike other protein foods, many of which contain an amino-acid which these persons cannot tolerate and which causes allergy. bananas contain only benign amino-acids which in most cases are not allergic. The fruit, however, does cause allergic reactions in certain sensitive persons and they should avoid it.

Kidney Disorders
Bananas are valuable in kidney disorders because of their low protein and salt content and high carbohydrate content. They are useful in uremia, a toxic condition of the blood die to kidney congestion and dysfunction. In such cases, a diet of bananas should only be taken for three to four days, consuming eight to nine bananas a day. This diet is suitable for all kidney troubles, including nephritis.

Urinary Disorders
Juice from banana stem is a well-known remedy for urinary disorders. It improves the functional efficiency of kidney and liver thereby alleviating the discomforts and diseased condition in them. It clears the excretion organs in the abdominal region of toxins and helps to eliminate them in the form of urine. It has been found to be of great help in the treatment for the removal of stones in the kidney, gall bladder, and prostate. It is advisable to mix this juice whenever possible with the juice of ash pumpkin.

Over-weight
A diet consisting of bananas and skimmed milk is considered an effective remedy for weight reduction. In prescribed course of diet treatment, the daily diet is restricted to six bananas and four glasses of skimmed milk or buttermilk made from skimmed milk for a period of 10 to 15 days. Thereafter green vegetables may be introduced gradually, reducing the intake of bananas from six to four. This regimen or prescribed course of diet treatment can be continued till the desired results are achieved. Bananas are suitable for overweight people as they contain practically no sodium.

Menstrual Disorders
Cooked banana flower eaten with curd is considered an effective medicine for menstrual disorders like painful menstruation and excessive bleeding. Banana flower helps increase progesterone hormone which reduces the bleeding.

Burns and wounds
A plaster is prepared by beating a ripe banana into a fine paste. It can be spread over burns and wounds and supported by a cloth bandage. It gives immediate relief. The young tender leaves of banana tree form a cool dressing for inflammations and blisters.

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Types of Citrus

Citrus fruits are acidic fruits, which contain healthy nutrition content that works wonders for the body. Citrus fruits act as a fabulous source of vitamin C and a wide range of essential nutrients required by the body. Citrus fruit list is a real long one encompassing innumerable types of citrus fruits like clementine, leech, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, tangerine, kumquat, minneola, tangelo, lemon, orange and pummelo etc. Citrus fruits are not just meant to be consumed because of their wonderful taste, but also they form an essential component of a healthy diet, owing to their multiple health benefits. The real taste lies in consuming raw fresh citrus fruit. Citrus fruits have an amazing fragrance and this explains the reason why they are among the top fruit list of people. Usually these fruits are juicy and it is this juice that contains the main acidic element, which gives the fruit a characteristic sharp flavor. The color of the citrus fruit depends upon the climatic conditions. During non-wintertime in the tropical regions, the citrus fruit can be spotted in the green color until maturity, otherwise greenish orange. Usually the citrus fruits are picked even before they fully ripen. So, enjoy the tasty juicy citrus fruits and savor their health benefits