A recent review study showed that acupuncture in conjuction with in-vitro fertilization improved the chances of a rates of pregnancy and live births. (This really shouldn’t come as a surprise since there have been many studies showing that acupuncture helps couples conceive.) This study was a review of 7 trials and over 1300 women undergoing IVF, so it wasn’t just a small pilot study, it did have some significance. (more…)
Omega 3 fatty acids have been in the news quite a bit over the past few years so I’m sure most people know that an adequate amount are necessary during pregnancy. However I’m always surprised when I suggest to women that are trying to get pregnant or are newly pregnant that they need to eat good sources of Omega-3 such as flax (best to use ground seeds rather than oil), walnuts, or brazil nuts. One of the best sources of Omega-3 are the fish oils which are very beneficial during pregnancy. (more…)
I enjoy treating women with PMS and other menstrual symptoms because both acupuncture and dietary modification can eradicate a large majority of the symptoms. (more…)
Keeping abreast with current research there was a recent study showing that organic meat and dairy foods led to higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is known that grass-fed animals have higher levels of this important fatty acid than do conventional meats of animals stuck in a farm lot. (more…)
A recent study looked at other potential markers of neural tube defects (NTD) besides folic acid. Of course by now we hope that any woman who may possibly conceive should be taking Folic Acid supplementation. It has been a well accepted fact that low levels of folate increases the risk of NTDs. And if a woman doesn’t begin taking folate until after she discovers she is pregnant it is already too late. (more…)
According to an article published in the Journal of Nutrition black and white pregnant women and neonates residing in the northern US are at high risk of vitamin D insufficiency, even when mothers are compliant with prenatal vitamins. (more…)
In yet another study showing the importance of healthy gut bacteria it is shown that probiotics during pregnancy and early in life reduce the incidence of IgE associated eczema. (think of IgE as the sort lived, quick onset reaction from foods, molds, animals etc.) This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 188 families with a history of allergic disease. Lactobacillus reuteri was given orally (more…)
In yet another study showing the importance of the vitamin of the year, Vitamin D, lower maternal intake is linked to an increase in wheezing among 5 year olds. The study was done here in New England (in Boston at the Brigham and Beth Israel) where the prevalence of asthma is the highest in the nation. (more…)
An interesting study was released this week that made headlines stating Vitamin D can help prevent breast cancer. But reading the study what it really stated is that girls with the highest intake of Vitamin D during puberty/adolescents had the lowest incidence of breast cancer. Those with the highest amount of sun exposure had the lowest rates of breast cancer. This is very similar to my meta-analysis paper on soy phytoestrogen and breast cancer protection. (more…)
