Zita West is a midwife, acupuncturist, nutritional consultant and leading expert in fertility and pregnancy. In 1992 she founded "The Zita West Clinic", London's most famous holistic fertility clinic, which combines medical science and complementary therapies. She is the author of numerous books on the subject and counts among her fans names such as Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett, Stella McCartney, Ulrika Jonsson and Jemma Kidd.

What to eat to boost fertility

According to Zita West, when you want a child, what you put on the table plays a primary role. During the ovulation phase, for example, she suggests eating foods rich in inositol, such as beans, rice, lentils, melon, citrus fruits, nuts and oil seeds, which improve the quality of oocytes. During the first phase of the menstrual cycle, she instead recommends foods that are sources of iron, vitamin C and vitamin B: wholegrains, lamb, beef, chicken, shellfish, eggs, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, berries and kiwi; in the second phase of ovulation it is important to add spicy foods, tofu and watermelon, rich in capsaicin, isoflavones and L-arginine, which stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body, a vasodilator in the genital organs too. In the third phase of the menstrual cycle she recommends introducing beta-carotene, an antioxidant found in pumpkin, carrots, apricots, cabbage, spinach, potatoes and mustard. The fourth phase, according to West, is the one in which to eat foods that keep blood sugar levels balanced.

What to eat to keep desire alive as a couple

And to keep desire alive within the couple, the author suggests consuming chicken, lean red meat and turkey, cod, pike, shellfish, tuna, eggs, dairy products, avocado, bananas and oats, which raise levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that brings positivity and motivation; lamb, turkey, cod, salmon, sardines, tuna, asparagus, potatoes and yogurt are recommended for the production of serotonin, a mood stabiliser; chocolate, meanwhile, is the ideal food for encouraging the production of phenylethylamine, a neurotransmitter that appears to play an essential role in falling in love.