Nutrition matters in TCM the body can be divided into “heaty” and “cold” constitutions. To prevent a build-up of “internal heat”, take food that has cooling properties. Ingredients with warm qualities are often used for “cold”-related ailments. Neutral foods, on the other hand, can invigorate the spleen, stimulate appetite and nourish the body. It is all about moderation, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Heaty foods include beef, mutton and chicken while cooling foods include pork, crab and duck.

For the man to improve sperm quality, eat well and include these in your diet: ell, squid, sea cucumber, cuttlefish, escargot, Chinese yam and ginkgo. Avoid excessive drinking as alcohol affects sperm quality. To increase your sex drive, load up on foods with zinc, including lean beef, chicken, chicken liver, eggs, pork, oysters and peanuts.

Diet should consist of higher amount of lean meat, egg and egg products, seafood, animal
liver, beans and bean products, fresh vegetables and fruits. Eat a wide variety of fresh and unprocessed food. Reduce intake of processed food.

Regulate body fat percentage when one is ready to conceive. It may be achieved through the consumption of olive oil or the supplementation of DHA. These ‘good’ fats are beneficial to the development of the fetus.

Increase intake of food which are high in folic acid, zinc, iron and calcium to ensure a
strong fundamental basis for the early development of the fetus.

Foods high in folic acid include fruits such as orange, strawberry, cherry, banana, lemon, peach, plum, apricot, hawthorn, pomegranate, grape, kiwi and pear.

For the prevention of constipation, flatulence and hemorrhoids (piles) during pregnancy,
consume food that are high in fibers such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, nuts, chives,
celery and figs.