Planning for Raw Parenthood-Part 1
My sympathy runs deep for the new and expecting parents of this time. Pressure of everyday life and uncertainty about the quality of the food available are only compounded by the lack of knowledge on how to remedy either of these situations.But, let's face it, no endeavor is more worthy of our full fitness and nutritional dedication than that of parenthood. Even more so today. Mothers and fathers work harder, longer and in more polluted environments (outside and inside) than did their predecessors. Add artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides (did I forget any?), and so-called purified water (in toxic-leaching plastic bottles) and you have a very noxious cocktail of chemical toxins, not all of which our bodies are equiped to excrete easily.
Even when choosing organic produce, the soil is so depleted nowadays, due to overfarming and poor soil management, that we end up with nutrient deficient produce (zinc and selenium are two biggies in this department). Need we mention the problems relating to processed foods? Eating raw and living food doesn't all make it go away... We still have to deal with these issues.
So what's an aspiring raw and living food parent to do? Simple things, really. Raw and living foods are an integral part of a health-creating lifestyle. This healthy lifestyle will go a long way towards increasing fertility and facilitating conception, not to mention sustaining that precious baby growing inside mommy's tummy. On a well-balanced living food diet, there is little need for nutritional worry. Try the following and feel better and get healthier, the simple and easy way.
1) Hydrate
Drink plenty of the best quality water you can afford or find. Starting your day with a glass of water is actually one of the best things you can do for your health, according to many leaders in the raw food community. Once you are well hydrated, you can think of having breakfast. Remember to drink more water during the day at regular intervals.2) Eat breakfast
Ah! Have we heard this before or what? Well, now that you are aiming for health and envisioning childbearing, having a good breakfast under your belt in the morning will make for a smoother and more energetic start to your day. No one likes low blood-sugar symptoms! So think of something you would like for breakfast and prepare it so you only have to enjoy it (if time is a constraint). Green juices, green smoothies and raw granola are all great ways to start your day. But soup or even salad is fine too! Just go with what feels right for you.3) Snacking
If you like to snack mid-morning or mid-afternoon, fruit is an excellent option: it's easy to carry, requires little preparation, no clean-up (or so little), and nutritious to boot! If salty is more your thing, think raw kale chips (my personnal favorite!), seasoned soaked and dehydrated nuts and seed, raw crackers, or even veggies sticks and raw dip. And think about drinking more water!4) Food combining
There are some charts floating out there about "proper" food combining. Give them a look-over if you have any issues: bloating, burping, flatulence... If you experience no unpleasant symptoms after mealtime, then guess what? Your food combining is right for you! Congratulations and keep up the good work!5) Supplementation
Consider supplementing with B12 (even if you have the occasional animal product): most of us are B12 deficient, apparently. For the most part, rely on good quality food choices to provide you with the nutrients you require for a healthy body. With a well-balanced living food regime, this is almost a given. Eat your greens (you know you should!). Seaweeds and micro-algae are great to make up for the loss of nutrients in our produce. It has been said that pumpkin seeds enhance male fertility: a little help never hurt! If you are the least bit worried about deficiency, ask your healthcare provider for testing. Don't take supplements just for the heck of it.
Now that wasn't complicated, was it? Simple is often better. Next time, we'll see what can be done physically to gain better health and vitality. While waiting for baby....
