I have been trying to become pregnant for the last 3 years without success, which foods can help me in conceiving?

First of all, think of the psychological factors like stress in yours and your husband’s side. The stress has enormous effect in conceiving, moreover, excessive wish for a baby gives only negative results and this blocks your hormones as well as neurotransmitters.

As one of my colleagues put it in a simple manner, want to become pregnant, want to have a baby; then tell your husband you are not interested to have a baby now and you yourself forget about the baby, you conceive very quickly.

A general health, good nutrition and patience are important. Eat food rich in antioxidants and vitamin E. Foods rich in zinc and selenium are important for your husband.

Do not forget the physical activity, you both need this like walking, swimming or gymnastics are good. If you have any health problems, consult your doctor before you do these exercises.

Selenium

Approximately 30 years ago we thought Selenium was a toxic element. But we have now learnt much about selenium and it is really a very important and essential element for us. It is important for our health.

The vital works done by Selenium include:

• Selenium helps in the removal of other toxic elements like mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead from our body
• It decreases the viral load for HIV
• It reduces the incidence of cancers, particularly lung, colorectal and prostate cancers
• It plays also a vital role in thyroid hormone metabolism
• It is vital for antioxidant defence system. As apart of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase it helps the free radicals scavenging
• Selenium is involved in maintaining normal liver function
• It is needed in protein synthesis
• It defends sperms from the attack of free radicals, that is why it is present in high concentration in semen

Although it is the most important antioxidant nutrient, many Americans do not know about selenium and many doctors there consider this very shameful.

What are the foods rich in selenium?

• Meats
• Seafood
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Pulses
• Whole grains
• Yeast

What is the reason for selenium deficiency?

The problem is in most countries the soil is poor in selenium and the local food contains almost no selenium. Marginal selenium deficiency is possible in alcoholics and those who eat mostly refined and processed foods. That is why in most of the developed countries it is added in bread or in other food stuff or in animal feed. Or they must eat enough nuts imported from tropical countries.

If nothing helps supplementation is the last step.

What is the daily intake of selenium?

From 1986 it was continuously increased and it is now 200µg per day. The supplementation amount is also 200µg per day if the deficiency is established.

Selenium from the yeast is better than the inorganic salts.

As usual, the dose makes the poison. 600 to 750 micro g per day is the toxic dose.

The signs of selenium toxicity include:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Dry hair
• Caries in children
• Hair loss
• Abnormal nails
• Depigmentation of the skin
• Bad breath
• Vomiting
• Problems with the nervous system