All posts filed under: Fertility

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The 6 Principles of Nutrition in Pregnancy

When I ask expecting parents what they hope their baby will be like, whether a boy or a girl, most reply that they don’t mind as long as their baby is healthy. Health is central to happiness and wellbeing, and is the benchmark for living a long and fulfilled life. Although we can’t control all factors for health, diet is certainly one that we can and it is unquestionably fundamental to our health. By eating healthily during pregnancy you are giving your baby the best possible start in life.  A healthy diet is also linked to a long list of benefits for mums, such as reducing the risk of developing long term diseases, minimising discomforts of pregnancy, contributing to increased energy and balanced emotional state, maintaining a healthy weight, and the list goes on. The benefits have also been shown to carry on as parents learn and appreciate the importance of eating a healthy diet even after pregnancy and will teach their children to do so too. During pregnancy your developing baby is completely dependent …

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Iron boosting Lentil Salad

I love this salad because not only is it delicious but it can taken for lunch on the go, or be served as a light supper. It is quick to prepare, healthy and very satisfying. I often make a double serving of this salad just so I can have it another day. Lentils and spinach are a rich source of iron, which often drops in pregnancy, and combined with the vitamin C of the lemon juice and other veg, it helps its absorption. Lentils and leafy greens are also abundant in folate- the natural form of folic acid- so are great for those of you trying to conceive or in early pregnancy, as folate is especially important for your baby’s early development. If that wasn’t enough goodness to convince you, lentils are also full of protein and fibre, so will keep you going for longer and help prevent constipation! There are many types of lentils, but for salads I tend to like puy lentils, as they cook quickly and retain their shape when cooked so …