It is estimated that 1 in 6 couples in Canada have trouble conceiving, which can be difficult both physically and emotionally. Luckily, there are natural ways to support fertility, such as making strategic dietary and lifestyle changes, that can help you reach your goal of parenthood.
Nutritional therapy enhances acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine treatments you may be receiving. It incorporates diet into a plan designed for fertility and is tailored to your individual needs. Good nutrition is important in helping you conceive as well as preparing your body for pregnancy. By implementing recommendations based on the principles of Chinese food therapy, I can help you address imbalances, focus on removing barriers to conception, and nourish your body for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Similar to conventional nutrition, Chinese food therapy provides a path to good health and recognizes that diet is an important component in fertility, conception, pregnancy and the postpartum period. Healing through food in the Chinese system involves determining the best diet for your specific needs based on your health history and specific pattern. This just means that when your body is out of balance, what’s going on falls into one or more general patterns of symptoms. For example, a woman that is being treated for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) will likely need different dietary guidelines than one who is seeking treatment for endometriosis or premature ovarian failure.
Chinese food therapy places a great deal of attention on your digestion. That’s because without good digestion, your body can’t properly convert the food you eat into energy and nutrients, which are needed not only for health, but also to support your fertility. In this system, food is considered to be medicine, that you take at least three times a day. While the effect is not as strong, different foods have different temperatures and exert different actions on your body, similar to that of Chinese herbal medicine. This means that foods can be chosen to help enhance the nourishing quality of your blood, improve your energy and warm you up to help boost your metabolism, to name a few of the many healing potentials of well-chosen foods.
Chinese food therapy can be a supportive component to your acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine treatments. During your first appointment, we’ll chat about any symptoms you’re having, fertility issues and your health history. I’ll also assess where you are nutritionally within a Chinese medicine framework. Depending on your specific needs, I can provide you with recommendations for foods to add to your diet, and those to avoid that may aggravate your condition. When appropriate, I can offer you food guides, snack ideas, a grocery shopping list and help you implement the use of a food diary. I feel fortunate that we’re located in Vancouver because there are so many food choices and grocery store options!
I provide my patients with a number of therapies that support fertility care, including nutritional support. I recognize that food therapy is an important tool that can enhance fertility, support conception and help maintain a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. For more information about how to incorporate food therapy into your fertility treatments, please contact us.
Dr. Jeda Boughton is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Registered Acupuncturist in Vancouver. She is also a Registered Herbologist and the founder of BodaHealth.
