Q: Do we really need to take supplements every day?

A: A healthy diet is always the basis for good health, but because nowadays it is not easy to get all the health boosting nutrients you need from your diet, taking supplements may be extremely beneficial.

With the dominance of supermarket shopping, there’s no way of knowing the freshness or nutritional content of our food. Even if you eat all the right foods modern agricultural and production processes remove much of the nutritional value.

For example, almost 80 per cent of zinc is removed from wheat during the milling process to ensure that bread has a longer shelf life. Part of the problem is that the soil food is grown on today is so lacking in nutrients due to overuse and commercial farming methods, so that even foods we regard as healthy, like vegetables, may not contain the nutrients you expect.

According to joint research by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, between 1940 and 1990 vegetables lost 76% of their copper content, 24% of their magnesium and 27% of their iron quotient. From the vitamin point of view, it may be so long since an orange was picked that by the time you eat it has lost most of the vitamin C you bought it for in the first place. 

A recent a Which Magazine report found that one pack of sliced green beans contained only 11% of the vitamin C it should have done. It’s clear that many of us are simply not getting all the nutrients we need to ensure optimum health and fertility from our food. This was confirmed by a National Diet and Nutritional survey published in 2003 which looked at adults aged 19-64 showed that only 15% of women and 13% of men actually ate the five-a- day target for fruit and vegetables.

With vitamins and minerals, 74% of women failed to achieve the Reference Nutrient Intake In an ideal world a healthy diet would provide all the nutrients we need but we don’t live in an ideal world and I do suggest that you take a good quality daily multi vitamin and mineral as an insurance policy instead of high doses of individual nutrients and take one appropriate for your age. So if you over the age of 45 take one designed for leading up to the menopause, through it and beyond (like MenoPlus) or if you are aiming to get pregnant take Fertility Plus for Women.

Q: Can acupuncture boost fertility?

A: The treatment of infertility with acupuncture dates back thousands of years and several studies suggest that this ancient therapy can improve fertility rates and support a woman’s whole body, unlocking unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing. For instance, a landmark study published in the respected medical journal Fertility & Sterility found that acupuncture dramatically improves the chances of becoming pregnant when used in conjunction with other assisted reproductive techniques.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Centre in New York reviewed studies and concluded that acupuncture helps to:

• Increase blood flow to the womb, which improves the chances of an egg implanting in the womb lining
• Reduce anxiety, stress, and the hormones that are secreted during stressful situations that can significantly decrease fertility
• Normalise hormones that regulate ovulation, especially in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
• Positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility
• Regulate menstrual cycles

In my opinion, acupuncture provides a safe, effective, drug-free, and natural approach to treating infertility and enjoying a healthy pregnancy. However, if you are having problems getting pregnant I would not recommend it as your only option; especially if you are over the age of 35. In my experience acupuncture works best alongside an integrated approach to fertility including nutrition and conventional medical investigations.

Q: Is it okay for me to exercise when I have a cold? I have a stuffy nose and sore throat and am desperate to leave the confines of the sofa. Will exercise make me feel worse?

A: You can continue with mild or moderate activity if you have a cold with no fever. Exercise may even help you feel better — by temporarily relieving nasal congestion; but don’t over do it and exercise gently. Having a cold taxes your body. So give it some help by staying as warm and as rested and relaxed as you can.

So how do you determine if you’re too sick to exercise? Here’s a good rule of thumb: If your symptoms are above the neck — such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat — you can proceed with your workout. However, if your symptoms are below the neck — such as chest congestion or tightness, hacking cough, or upset stomach — you should postpone your workout. Also, you shouldn’t exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.

This is because exercise is a stress on your body’s immune system and your immune system needs to be fighting off your illness. Plus if your cold is viral or you have a fever or flu there is a slight chance the infection will affect the muscle wall of your heart.

As always, use common sense. If you’re not feeling well but still want to exercise, reduce the intensity of your workout and listen to your body. If your symptoms worsen with exercise, stop and rest. Missing a few days of exercise isn’t the end of the world; swap your exercise time for some extra time in bed.

And to help your stuffy nose and sore throat try this natural remedy: Hot drinks can relieve congestion and soothe sore throats so juice four lemons and heat. Add one and a half tablespoons of honey. The lemon has high vitamin C content to help boost your immune system and the sweet, honey will sooth your throat.