Eat yourself pregnant

Lost your mojo and want to know which foods will boost your libido? Trying for a baby or already pregnant and don’t know which foods are best? Zita West talks us through her new book Eat Yourself Pregnant, answering all our questions on finding the right balance of nutrients for fertility.

Back in the day, it used to be thought that Guinness was a good option for pregnant women to get their iron intake. While these days are gone, the question of nutrition during pregnancy remains unanswered for many. And when it comes to getting pregnant, did you know that the diets of both parties affects the likeliness? ‘When you’re trying to conceive, the saying should read ‘you both are what you eat,” because what you eat affects everything from your blood to your cells to your hormones, Zita reveals.

‘Eggs and sperm are cells like any others in the human body, yet in recent years how they’re nourished and looked after is largely ignored, particularly considering that they have the most important job of all – continuing the species,’ explains Zita. And when we’re currently living in an era when one in seven couples have problems conceiving and pregnant women are exhausted and struggling to beat common cravings like spicy foods, pickles and chocolate, it’s clear that many modern women in the market of motherhood just aren’t getting the right nutrients.

In response to increasing queries and demands from clients with regards to nutrition and fertility, Zita has released her latest book, Eat Yourself Pregnant. Detailing the nutritious, healthy and easy foods that help couples conceive, Zita shows us 80 indulgent recipes that aim to put vital nutrients back in your body. ‘My mission for writing Eat Yourself Pregnant is to make it easy, fun and enjoyable for any couple wanting to conceive to adopt a healthy pro-fertility diet, while still allowing for treats and real food. Who can live without bread, cheese and chocolate?!’ she says.

The UK’s number one when it comes to fertility and pregnancy, Zita is both a practicing midwife, acupuncturist and nutritional advisor, as well as the founder of the Zita West Fertility Clinic – London’s largest and most successful integrated reproductive health practice. Now the author of nine fertility and pregnancy books, Zita has high profile clients including Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Stella McCartney, Ulrika Jonsson, Jemma Kidd and Sophie Wessex – she must know her stuff, right?

Zita is clear on where she thinks women are going wrong: ‘one of the biggest misconceptions I come across when women are trying for a baby is that they feel they automatically have to cut everything out from their diets. It stems from a misunderstanding of the difference between nutrition and diet, but this is unhealthy and certainly in no way helping their body to be baby-ready,’ she says.

‘Diets are hard to sustain and failure to maintain them often leads women into a negative state of mind in which they do the complete opposite of what they intended. A diet has to comprise food that is nutritious and enjoyable, and most importantly it has to be doable so that you feel happy and relaxed.’

‘We also find ourselves cutting corners to save time because of pressures in all parts of our lives, so we’ll often miss meals, grab snacks, top up with sweets and eat while working. When we test at the clinic for nutrient deficiencies, we consistently see low omega-3, magnesium and vitamin D levels”. Alarmingly ‘the UK government’s five-a-day advice for fruit and vegetable consumption is heeded by only 13% of men and 15% of women,’ she says. ‘In order for a couple to have the best chance of conceiving, each of the cells in the reproductive organs of both female and male should ideally be fully nourished with a range and good quantity of important vitamins, minerals and essential fats.’

Zita recommends wholesome traditional foods, alkaline foods in favour of acidic ones and discourages processed foods, caffeine, trans fats and alcohol – yet still her focus is on nourishing the body in a positive, fun and sustainable way. ‘Nobody is asking for perfection – nobody should be striving for perfection. So just be good 80% of the time, that’s all I ask!’ she says.

Here are Zita’s key food groups needed for fertility:

• Protein to build hormones, eggs and sperm – from meat, fish or chicken and plant proteins.

• Essential fatty acids for hormone production and a healthy immune system and cell membranes – from oily fish, nuts and seeds.

• Slow-release carbohydrates for energy – from any brown cereals.

• B vitamins and folic acid for cell division – from green vegetables.

• Antioxidants – from fruit and vegetables.

You can buy a copy of Eat Yourself Pregnant for £14.99 here.