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Melanie Brown Nutrition

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Melanie Brown Nutrition

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  • Melanie Brown
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Organic food – is it still worth it?

September 15, 2011 Melanie Brown
Melanie-Brown-Nutrition-Organic-food-is-it-still-worth-it.jpg

I admit that I am quite a fan of organic food and often find myself having to defend buying it. Although I certainly don’t buy everything organic. I just think that fewer chemicals must be a better thing and through the work I am doing, I come across so much research done into the effects of environmental chemicals on fertility. They are actually known as ‘gender-benders’. Two years ago the Food Standards Agency released the results of a large study looking at whether organic food was actually better for you and the conclusion was no. Then last year a big EU funded study came to the exact opposite conclusion.

The other day I read in the paper that organic eggs are actually worse for you than battery because these hens that are allowed to wander about pecking at this and that and breathing polluted air contain more dangerous chemicals than hens that are stuffed into pens (who are presumably just full of stress hormones and who knows what’s in their food). Sales of organic food have substantially dropped recently although I have noticed that the price differential on some things has actually narrowed a bit. But, in many ways eating organic food is a much wider concept than whether it is any better for you nutritionally. Animal welfare is a big thing and I was especially moved by hearing a radio programme about the decline of bees possibly being related to the fact they are consuming so many pesticides, which affects their fertility too. People working in the production of food are also affected and particularly in developing countries where there is often a serious health impact. Much of the research on male fertility and pesticide use comes from these countries. Actually never mind developing countries, it’s not so great in the developed; whilst looking for something else I came across an article in the Ecologist about the ‘Immokalee babies’ (tried to put in the link but failed!). Pretty horrifying. My uncle is absolutely convinced that his years of farming and handling chemicals has caused his chronic and debilitating psoriasis on his hands.

In Nutrition Tags organic food, economy, nutrition
← To snack or not to snack…Eggs, fabulous brain food →

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So surprise surprise diet drinks aren’t good for you, well women anyway, not sure why not good for men either! It has been known for ages that artificial sweeteners are just total crap for you. And now we know they might just give you a stroke, oh great! 😳. And artificial sweeteners are not just in diet drinks; they’re in so many foods labelled low sugar, sugar-free, diet, lite/light. Aspartame is the king of the devils here, linked with depression (it interferes with our feel-good brain chemical serotonin) and may contribute to inflammation of the gastro-intestinal lining causing gastritis. All of these side effects impact fertility. Read labels; if it tastes sweet and is “low calorie” and doesn’t have sugar in it then what is in it? No more chemicals! #ivfwithicsi #ivf #fertility #infertility #fertilityjourney #sugarfree #aspartame #aspartamefree #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenerfree #artificialsweetener #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenersfree #dietdrinks #dietsodas #serotonin #chemicalfree #chemicalfreefood #serotonin #gastritis
So surprise surprise diet drinks aren’t good for you, well women anyway, not sure why not good for men either! It has been known for ages that artificial sweeteners are just total crap for you. And now we know they might just give you a stroke, oh great! 😳. And artificial sweeteners are not just in diet drinks; they’re in so many foods labelled low sugar, sugar-free, diet, lite/light. Aspartame is the king of the devils here, linked with depression (it interferes with our feel-good brain chemical serotonin) and may contribute to inflammation of the gastro-intestinal lining causing gastritis. All of these side effects impact fertility. Read labels; if it tastes sweet and is “low calorie” and doesn’t have sugar in it then what is in it? No more chemicals! #ivfwithicsi #ivf #fertility #infertility #fertilityjourney #sugarfree #aspartame #aspartamefree #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenerfree #artificialsweetener #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenersfree #dietdrinks #dietsodas #serotonin #chemicalfree #chemicalfreefood #serotonin #gastritis
Love these quick cook grains, this company makes fantastic organic foods. When you’re home late after a long day you want fast! Boiling water, stock cube/powder/gel in the water gives a delicious flavour, sometimes I add a clear spring miso soup or fry up onion garlic ginger and chilli first and water and grains. With salmon or chicken, tofu, nuts, prawns, and some greens and a drizzle of olive oil or butter. Anything goes and it really is fast #fertility #infertility #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #mediterraneandiet #quickcook #quickcooking #healthyfood #healthyfoodrecipes #vegan #veganfoods #veganrecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods
Love these quick cook grains, this company makes fantastic organic foods. When you’re home late after a long day you want fast! Boiling water, stock cube/powder/gel in the water gives a delicious flavour, sometimes I add a clear spring miso soup or fry up onion garlic ginger and chilli first and water and grains. With salmon or chicken, tofu, nuts, prawns, and some greens and a drizzle of olive oil or butter. Anything goes and it really is fast #fertility #infertility #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #mediterraneandiet #quickcook #quickcooking #healthyfood #healthyfoodrecipes #vegan #veganfoods #veganrecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods
I am not a soya hater for fertility, at least in small quantities.But I do think it should be organic. In fact there is very interesting research on its beneficial effects during IVF as it’s believed to block the negative effects of the dreaded BPA. But that’s another post! So as part of a plant based diet, and for vegans, tofu is a very useful food but it does need a bit of zinging up and I think this looks delicious! #fertility #fertilityjourney #fertilitydiet #infertility #infertilitydiet #ivf #ivfdiet #ivfwithicsi #ivficsi #tofu #tofurecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods #bpa #vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #vegetarianrecipes #meatfree #veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #tofuscramble
I am not a soya hater for fertility, at least in small quantities.But I do think it should be organic. In fact there is very interesting research on its beneficial effects during IVF as it’s believed to block the negative effects of the dreaded BPA. But that’s another post! So as part of a plant based diet, and for vegans, tofu is a very useful food but it does need a bit of zinging up and I think this looks delicious! #fertility #fertilityjourney #fertilitydiet #infertility #infertilitydiet #ivf #ivfdiet #ivfwithicsi #ivficsi #tofu #tofurecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods #bpa #vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #vegetarianrecipes #meatfree #veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #tofuscramble
Another dairy product for the non cow people. For some the protein structure in cows milk is difficult to digest and appears to be more related to allergies. Many people find goats and sheep products much more tolerable. And fermented things like kefir are so good for our gut bacteria who basically slave away producing anti inflammatory substances. They love a bit of kefir! #noncowmilk #goatsmilk #goatkefir #goatsmilkkefir #gutbactetia #microbiome #microbiomehealth #microbiota #allergies #ivf #ivfjourney #ivficsi #fertility #infertility #infertilitydiet #fertilitydiet #antiinflammatoryfood #antiinflammation
Another dairy product for the non cow people. For some the protein structure in cows milk is difficult to digest and appears to be more related to allergies. Many people find goats and sheep products much more tolerable. And fermented things like kefir are so good for our gut bacteria who basically slave away producing anti inflammatory substances. They love a bit of kefir! #noncowmilk #goatsmilk #goatkefir #goatsmilkkefir #gutbactetia #microbiome #microbiomehealth #microbiota #allergies #ivf #ivfjourney #ivficsi #fertility #infertility #infertilitydiet #fertilitydiet #antiinflammatoryfood #antiinflammation
This looks like a good  alternative whey protein powder for IVF if you can’t drink cows milk. I do usually recommend a little extra whey protein for the stimulation part of the cycle as protein helps to support the production of all those extra eggs. And research appears to support full fat dairy milk during IVF too. It may be the easily used protein, the fat soluble vitamins in whole milk or the growth factors in milk. After all milk is for growing baby animals bigger and so perhaps helps grow follicles and eggs.  So go for cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, camel - whatever does it for you, grass fed and if possible organic. #protein #ivf #ivficsi #ivfstims #ivfprotein #proteinpowder #fertility #infertility #infertilitysupport #noncowmilk #ivfdiet  #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet
This looks like a good alternative whey protein powder for IVF if you can’t drink cows milk. I do usually recommend a little extra whey protein for the stimulation part of the cycle as protein helps to support the production of all those extra eggs. And research appears to support full fat dairy milk during IVF too. It may be the easily used protein, the fat soluble vitamins in whole milk or the growth factors in milk. After all milk is for growing baby animals bigger and so perhaps helps grow follicles and eggs. So go for cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, camel - whatever does it for you, grass fed and if possible organic. #protein #ivf #ivficsi #ivfstims #ivfprotein #proteinpowder #fertility #infertility #infertilitysupport #noncowmilk #ivfdiet #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet
6.30am and I’m up and at it with my light lamp on my desk. I’ll do 30 minutes until it gets light outside. I’m especially interested in the circadian control of ovulation and the influence of dysregulated sleep and the potential stress associated with that on NK cells and inflammatory cytokine release. Studies suggest that IVF success rates are higher in Spring and Summer. Maybe Winter darkness is a factor? Am I obsessed with sleep, circadian rhythms and light exposure? Well yes, I get low from time to time and I still have the odd knackered hormone left myself! #hormones #ivfwithicsi #seasonalaffectivedisorderisreal #depression  #sadlamps #fertility #fertilityjourney #wintersadness #winterdepression #wintermood #infertility #infertilitysucks #infertilityawareness #lightexposure #daylight #ovulation #lhsurge #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #lackofsleep #lightandexposure #fertilityhelp
6.30am and I’m up and at it with my light lamp on my desk. I’ll do 30 minutes until it gets light outside. I’m especially interested in the circadian control of ovulation and the influence of dysregulated sleep and the potential stress associated with that on NK cells and inflammatory cytokine release. Studies suggest that IVF success rates are higher in Spring and Summer. Maybe Winter darkness is a factor? Am I obsessed with sleep, circadian rhythms and light exposure? Well yes, I get low from time to time and I still have the odd knackered hormone left myself! #hormones #ivfwithicsi #seasonalaffectivedisorderisreal #depression #sadlamps #fertility #fertilityjourney #wintersadness #winterdepression #wintermood #infertility #infertilitysucks #infertilityawareness #lightexposure #daylight #ovulation #lhsurge #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #lackofsleep #lightandexposure #fertilityhelp
If I’m not banging on about BPA my other favourite topic for my poor clients is sleep and circadian rhythms. Yesterday I went to an excellent conference called Women and Sleep at the Royal Society of Medicine and yes, sleep and sticking to our natural light/dark influenced body clock is essential for fertility. For example, LH, the hormone that surges mid-cycle for ovulation is under circadian control and stress induced by lack of sleep influences both uterine receptivity and NK cell/cytokines release. The most critical thing is getting enough natural light in the early part of the day, being outside or using a SAD blue light lamp either to wake up with or on your desk for 20minutes (like Lumie) and reducing bright light and blue screen light in the evening, no screens in the bedroom 2 hours before bed. And getting enough sleep - 7-8 hours so if you wake up in the night then you have to go to bed earlier. But it’s true that you can get sleep catch up at the weekend. And ‘sleep hygiene’ is essential, a routine that tells your body it’s soon time to sleep, like a warm bath. And bedrooms are for sleep and sex ONLY! Apparently light and noise are our biggest environmental enemies so blackout blinds, earplugs, eye mask, noise cancelling ear buds (Bose do these) and have a warm bed but no heating on. We evolved to sleep in colder night air. And some kind of meditation technique to rest your mind. My favourite is imagining I’ve won the Euro Lottery (this week it’s £112 million!) So I drift off spending it, houses for everyone I know, charities and trusts for this and that and shall I have a chateau in France or an apartment in New York - or both 😂and so far I’ve fallen asleep before I’ve spent it all! #sleep #sleephygiene #insomnia #insomniaproblems #lackofsleep #circadianrhythm #circadianrhythms #bodyclock #ovulationtest #ovulation #lhsurge #nkcells #infertility #fertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks
If I’m not banging on about BPA my other favourite topic for my poor clients is sleep and circadian rhythms. Yesterday I went to an excellent conference called Women and Sleep at the Royal Society of Medicine and yes, sleep and sticking to our natural light/dark influenced body clock is essential for fertility. For example, LH, the hormone that surges mid-cycle for ovulation is under circadian control and stress induced by lack of sleep influences both uterine receptivity and NK cell/cytokines release. The most critical thing is getting enough natural light in the early part of the day, being outside or using a SAD blue light lamp either to wake up with or on your desk for 20minutes (like Lumie) and reducing bright light and blue screen light in the evening, no screens in the bedroom 2 hours before bed. And getting enough sleep - 7-8 hours so if you wake up in the night then you have to go to bed earlier. But it’s true that you can get sleep catch up at the weekend. And ‘sleep hygiene’ is essential, a routine that tells your body it’s soon time to sleep, like a warm bath. And bedrooms are for sleep and sex ONLY! Apparently light and noise are our biggest environmental enemies so blackout blinds, earplugs, eye mask, noise cancelling ear buds (Bose do these) and have a warm bed but no heating on. We evolved to sleep in colder night air. And some kind of meditation technique to rest your mind. My favourite is imagining I’ve won the Euro Lottery (this week it’s £112 million!) So I drift off spending it, houses for everyone I know, charities and trusts for this and that and shall I have a chateau in France or an apartment in New York - or both 😂and so far I’ve fallen asleep before I’ve spent it all! #sleep #sleephygiene #insomnia #insomniaproblems #lackofsleep #circadianrhythm #circadianrhythms #bodyclock #ovulationtest #ovulation #lhsurge #nkcells #infertility #fertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks
Yesterday’s Mirror newspaper highlighting sperm. The more awareness raised the better. Even before trying to conceive men should just look at some basics like stopping smoking, losing weight, wearing boxers, stopping marathon cycling, reducing alcohol and caffeine and starting to eat a good Mediterranean diet, get some exercise and sleep.  #malefertility #malefertilitysupport #maleinfertility #maleinfertilityawareness #malefactorinfertility #sperm #mediterraneandiet #healthysperm #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #bpa #hormonedisruptors #endocrinedisruptors
Yesterday’s Mirror newspaper highlighting sperm. The more awareness raised the better. Even before trying to conceive men should just look at some basics like stopping smoking, losing weight, wearing boxers, stopping marathon cycling, reducing alcohol and caffeine and starting to eat a good Mediterranean diet, get some exercise and sleep. #malefertility #malefertilitysupport #maleinfertility #maleinfertilityawareness #malefactorinfertility #sperm #mediterraneandiet #healthysperm #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #bpa #hormonedisruptors #endocrinedisruptors
So surprise surprise diet drinks aren’t good for you, well women anyway, not sure why not good for men either! It has been known for ages that artificial sweeteners are just total crap for you. And now we know they might just give you a stroke, oh great! 😳. And artificial sweeteners are not just in diet drinks; they’re in so many foods labelled low sugar, sugar-free, diet, lite/light. Aspartame is the king of the devils here, linked with depression (it interferes with our feel-good brain chemical serotonin) and may contribute to inflammation of the gastro-intestinal lining causing gastritis. All of these side effects impact fertility. Read labels; if it tastes sweet and is “low calorie” and doesn’t have sugar in it then what is in it? No more chemicals! #ivfwithicsi #ivf #fertility #infertility #fertilityjourney #sugarfree #aspartame #aspartamefree #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenerfree #artificialsweetener #artificialsweeteners #artificialsweetenersfree #dietdrinks #dietsodas #serotonin #chemicalfree #chemicalfreefood #serotonin #gastritis Love these quick cook grains, this company makes fantastic organic foods. When you’re home late after a long day you want fast! Boiling water, stock cube/powder/gel in the water gives a delicious flavour, sometimes I add a clear spring miso soup or fry up onion garlic ginger and chilli first and water and grains. With salmon or chicken, tofu, nuts, prawns, and some greens and a drizzle of olive oil or butter. Anything goes and it really is fast #fertility #infertility #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #mediterraneandiet #quickcook #quickcooking #healthyfood #healthyfoodrecipes #vegan #veganfoods #veganrecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods I am not a soya hater for fertility, at least in small quantities.But I do think it should be organic. In fact there is very interesting research on its beneficial effects during IVF as it’s believed to block the negative effects of the dreaded BPA. But that’s another post! So as part of a plant based diet, and for vegans, tofu is a very useful food but it does need a bit of zinging up and I think this looks delicious! #fertility #fertilityjourney #fertilitydiet #infertility #infertilitydiet #ivf #ivfdiet #ivfwithicsi #ivficsi #tofu #tofurecipes #organic #organicfood #organicfoods #bpa #vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #vegetarianrecipes #meatfree #veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #tofuscramble Another dairy product for the non cow people. For some the protein structure in cows milk is difficult to digest and appears to be more related to allergies. Many people find goats and sheep products much more tolerable. And fermented things like kefir are so good for our gut bacteria who basically slave away producing anti inflammatory substances. They love a bit of kefir! #noncowmilk #goatsmilk #goatkefir #goatsmilkkefir #gutbactetia #microbiome #microbiomehealth #microbiota #allergies #ivf #ivfjourney #ivficsi #fertility #infertility #infertilitydiet #fertilitydiet #antiinflammatoryfood #antiinflammation This looks like a good  alternative whey protein powder for IVF if you can’t drink cows milk. I do usually recommend a little extra whey protein for the stimulation part of the cycle as protein helps to support the production of all those extra eggs. And research appears to support full fat dairy milk during IVF too. It may be the easily used protein, the fat soluble vitamins in whole milk or the growth factors in milk. After all milk is for growing baby animals bigger and so perhaps helps grow follicles and eggs.  So go for cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, camel - whatever does it for you, grass fed and if possible organic. #protein #ivf #ivficsi #ivfstims #ivfprotein #proteinpowder #fertility #infertility #infertilitysupport #noncowmilk #ivfdiet  #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet 6.30am and I’m up and at it with my light lamp on my desk. I’ll do 30 minutes until it gets light outside. I’m especially interested in the circadian control of ovulation and the influence of dysregulated sleep and the potential stress associated with that on NK cells and inflammatory cytokine release. Studies suggest that IVF success rates are higher in Spring and Summer. Maybe Winter darkness is a factor? Am I obsessed with sleep, circadian rhythms and light exposure? Well yes, I get low from time to time and I still have the odd knackered hormone left myself! #hormones #ivfwithicsi #seasonalaffectivedisorderisreal #depression  #sadlamps #fertility #fertilityjourney #wintersadness #winterdepression #wintermood #infertility #infertilitysucks #infertilityawareness #lightexposure #daylight #ovulation #lhsurge #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #lackofsleep #lightandexposure #fertilityhelp If I’m not banging on about BPA my other favourite topic for my poor clients is sleep and circadian rhythms. Yesterday I went to an excellent conference called Women and Sleep at the Royal Society of Medicine and yes, sleep and sticking to our natural light/dark influenced body clock is essential for fertility. For example, LH, the hormone that surges mid-cycle for ovulation is under circadian control and stress induced by lack of sleep influences both uterine receptivity and NK cell/cytokines release. The most critical thing is getting enough natural light in the early part of the day, being outside or using a SAD blue light lamp either to wake up with or on your desk for 20minutes (like Lumie) and reducing bright light and blue screen light in the evening, no screens in the bedroom 2 hours before bed. And getting enough sleep - 7-8 hours so if you wake up in the night then you have to go to bed earlier. But it’s true that you can get sleep catch up at the weekend. And ‘sleep hygiene’ is essential, a routine that tells your body it’s soon time to sleep, like a warm bath. And bedrooms are for sleep and sex ONLY! Apparently light and noise are our biggest environmental enemies so blackout blinds, earplugs, eye mask, noise cancelling ear buds (Bose do these) and have a warm bed but no heating on. We evolved to sleep in colder night air. And some kind of meditation technique to rest your mind. My favourite is imagining I’ve won the Euro Lottery (this week it’s £112 million!) So I drift off spending it, houses for everyone I know, charities and trusts for this and that and shall I have a chateau in France or an apartment in New York - or both 😂and so far I’ve fallen asleep before I’ve spent it all! #sleep #sleephygiene #insomnia #insomniaproblems #lackofsleep #circadianrhythm #circadianrhythms #bodyclock #ovulationtest #ovulation #lhsurge #nkcells #infertility #fertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks Yesterday’s Mirror newspaper highlighting sperm. The more awareness raised the better. Even before trying to conceive men should just look at some basics like stopping smoking, losing weight, wearing boxers, stopping marathon cycling, reducing alcohol and caffeine and starting to eat a good Mediterranean diet, get some exercise and sleep.  #malefertility #malefertilitysupport #maleinfertility #maleinfertilityawareness #malefactorinfertility #sperm #mediterraneandiet #healthysperm #fertilitydiet #infertilitydiet #bpa #hormonedisruptors #endocrinedisruptors

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