Why isn’t my supplement working?

You may be taking a supplement or two, but how do you know if you are reaping the full benefits? What if you’ve been taking a supplement for a while now but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference? Below are 5 possible reasons why your supplement isn’t working: Dr. Ardyce Yik ND alwaysContinue reading “Why isn’t my supplement working?”

How to prepare your body for a healthy, optimal pregnancy

Planning to have a baby soon? Dr. Ardyce Yik ND offers the following tips to help you get started on your pre-pregnancy journey. Irregular periods or extremely painful periods? You need to ovulate to fall pregnant, and a regular menstrual cycle is an indication that you are ovulating when you’re supposed to. Excruciating pain duringContinue reading “How to prepare your body for a healthy, optimal pregnancy”

Babies wanted: China’s desperate attempt to save declining birth rate

China announced earlier this year that married couples can have up to three children, after data showed a dramatic decline in births in the world’s most populous country of over 1.4 billion people. Since then, 14 provinces have either amended local family planning rules or are seeking public opinion to make amendments to laws toContinue reading “Babies wanted: China’s desperate attempt to save declining birth rate”

Fertility: can I get pregnant after 40?

By the time you are 40, the chance of falling pregnant naturally is about 5% each month, compared to 20% in those under the age of 30. You can still get pregnant after 40, but you may need some support. This is because younger women typically have more and healthier eggs than older women. And whileContinue reading “Fertility: can I get pregnant after 40?”

Pregnant? Boost your child’s I.Q. and health by eating nuts 3 times a week

A new study from the European Journal of Epidemiology has found that eating nuts during early pregnancy can boost a child’s cognitive ability. According to the study done by researchers in Spain, children born to mothers who consumed 2 to 3 ounces of nuts per week during the 1st trimester of pregnancy typically scored higherContinue reading “Pregnant? Boost your child’s I.Q. and health by eating nuts 3 times a week”

How to boost fertility and IVF success

Planning for a successful pregnancy? Many couples are encouraged, after a few months of trying without success, to consider assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as IUI or IVF. Though these fertility procedures help bring the sperm and egg (closer) together, they are rather costly and often stressful- not to mention not always successful. In fact, theContinue reading “How to boost fertility and IVF success”

Optimal pregnancy: steps to a healthy, full-term baby

Ever wonder why some women sail smoothly through pregnancy? Want to carry a healthy baby to full term and reduce the risk for pregnancy-related complications? It turns out that what you do during pregnancy has a huge impact on your pregnancy journey and your baby’s health. Nutrition and other lifestyle factors during the early periods in theContinue reading “Optimal pregnancy: steps to a healthy, full-term baby”

You, your developing baby and environmental toxins to avoid

Preconception and prenatal exposure to environmental toxins can have a detrimental impact on fetal development and lead to potentially long-lasting health effects. Though the evidence is mounting, the majority of reproductive health professionals have little training on how to effectively counsel patients in this regard. Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, and herContinue reading “You, your developing baby and environmental toxins to avoid”

Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy: what’s best?

Eating fish during pregnancy is a controversial topic. We all know fish are very nutritious and packed with B vitamins, lean protein, and omega-3 fats which are beneficial for the baby’s brain and cognitive development, visual development, prevention of hypertension during pregnancy as well as prevention of postpartum depression. But unfortunately, fish can also haveContinue reading “Fish oil supplementation during pregnancy: what’s best?”

Miscarriage and low levels of copper and zinc

A new study from the University of Granada has confirmed that low blood levels of copper and zinc in pregnant women may be a factor associated with miscarriage (spontaneous abortion). Dr. Jesús Joaquín Hijona Elósegui, one of the researchers in the study, points out that “despite the significant progress made in reproductive medicine, spontaneous abortion isContinue reading “Miscarriage and low levels of copper and zinc”