It's Time to Love Your Legumes Australia

Many of us have a bag or tin of dried beans sitting at the back of the cupboard and it can be difficult to know what to do with them. But thanks to a wave of plant-based trends, coupled with the International Year of Pulses in 2016, the humble pulse, or legumes as they're more commonly known, are now increasingly being seen for the nutritional powerhouses that they truly are. With pulses on the brain, we've been looking at the health benefits they provide and new ways in which to incorporate them into our diet!

But first, what actually is a pulse?

Pulses belong to the wider legume family, which is a group of plants whose fruit or seed is enclosed in a pod. Pulses refer specifically to the dried, mature seeds of these plants and include dry peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas. The term ‘legume’ includes these dry varieties, as well as fresh peas and beans and is a more commonly used term than pulses.

Many people are most familiar with legumes in the form of the much-loved baked bean, but there are hundreds of varieties of legume out there - some of the most familiar including chickpeas, lentils, peas and beans - like butter beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans and soybeans.

Legumes and pulses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours and can be eaten in many forms including whole, split, ground into flour, dried, canned, cooked or frozen.

Why are they so good for me?

Legumes are packed with a whole range of essential nutrients, they are...

• An economical source of plant-based protein.
• Higher in protein than most other plant foods.
• Generally low in fat, and virtually free of saturated fats.
• Rich in energy-giving carbohydrates, with a low glycaemic index to help maintain blood glucose control.
• A good source of B-group vitamins including folate, plus iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium.
• Abundant in fibre, including both insoluble and soluble fibre, plus resistant starch - all essential for maintaining good gut health!

There are many studies which show that legumes offer significant health benefits including protection against chronic diseases, assisting with weight management and helping to maintain good gut health.

How much should I be eating?

Pulses like chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans are full of nutrients, inexpensive and important for health and well-being. We recommend aiming for 100g or ½ cup of pulses at least three times a week to maintain good health.

 Download your copy of our latest e-book here for exclusive legume recipes and tips!

So how do I add more legumes into my diet?

  Enjoying legumes as part of a healthy habit is easier than you might think...

·        Use hummus instead of mayonnaise in a sandwich

·        Substitute a mix of kidney beans or red lentils for half the mince in a spaghetti bolognaise or chilli

·        Mix in a handful of black beans or lentils when cooking scrambled eggs

·        Try whizzing a handful of cannellini beans into a fruit smoothie 

·        Use mashed cooked brown lentils in a nutty bliss ball mix

Why not try something new with these legumes…

Chickpeas offer a creamy texture and mild taste and make a great base for soaking up flavours.

Try something new with chickpeas: why not mix up your hummus with additions like sundried tomatoes, beetroot, feta or cooked sweet potato or why not try the latest foodie trend, sweet hummus!

Black beans have a delicious meaty texture and make a great addition to burgers or as a mince substitute in chilli.

Try something new with black beans: use them to add a fudgy texture to brownies or showcase them as the star in your next veggie burger.

Download our latest e-book here to get a delicious brownie recipe where you can use lentils or black beans!

Lupins are slowly making their mark in the world of legumes due to their incredible versatility - they can be eaten fresh, or use lupin flour, flakes and kibble to add extra protein and fibre when baking.

Try something new with lupins: use a mix of lupin flakes and oats for a nutritious homemade muesli or use lupin flour to make these delicious Blueberry and Vanilla Muffins.

Top tips for prepping and storing your legumes

·        Cooking dried legumes (or pulses) in large batches is easy and cost-effective - simply freeze individual portions of cooked legumes for up to three months for ready-to-use convenience.

·        When using canned legumes, rinse contents thoroughly to reduce sodium content by more than 40%.

·        Soaking dried legumes for an hour or two, or overnight if you have time, ensures that they're easier to digest and maximises nutrient bio-availability. Split peas and lentils don't need to be soaked.

·        Store cooked, cooled legumes in an airtight container in the fridge for no more than 3 days - this applies whether they're from a can or cooked at home.

With so many varieties to choose from, there are many reasons to love your legumes - their health benefits, versatility and abundance of nutrients being just a few. But however you choose to eat them, know that whenever you do you’re making a significant contribution to your health.

Visit the GLNC website for more information on the nutrition benefits of legumes, handy tips and recipe inspiration or download your copy of our latest e-book here for exclusive recipes and tips!

Do you take the time to breakfast?

by Kathleen Alleaume

You've heard it before and you’ll hear it again: breakfast is the most important meal of the day – and it’s good to see that message is really sinking in.

A new study of Australian breakfast habits showed that just over 80 per cent (81%) eat breakfast every day. Very few respondents (3%) never ate breakfast, but of those who did (1), the main reason being that they were not hungry in the morning

Why is breakfast important?

Breakfast is important for several reasons. Eating a meal in the morning provides necessary fuel for your body and brain. It can also help stabilise blood sugar and insulin levels, which in turn regulates appetite, meaning we are less likely to be hungry and mindlessly snack throughout the day. For children, eating breakfast has been positively associated with brain function, cognition and academic achievement (2).

So what makes a nutritious breakfast?

For the most nutritious start to the day, aim to choose foods from each of the five food groups: fruits and/or vegetables, whole grains, protein foods and dairy. The first step is to choose quality carbohydrates, such as whole grains (e.g. rolled oats, buckwheat, quinoa), whole grain breads, high fibre breakfast biscuits, whole fruits and vegetables. These foods dish up a healthy dose of fibre to keep hunger at bay help and aid digestion and provide longer lasting fuel. 

Step two, combine your carbs with a serve of protein from foods like yoghurt, eggs, nuts and seeds or legumes. These foods help to promote satiety (feeling full) and ease blood sugar fluctuations, and also contain other nutrients like calcium and heart healthy fats. 

The final step is to choose a variety of fruit or vegetables for added fibre, antioxidants, as well a small amount of healthy fats, such avocado.

Get your day off to a great start with these nutritious breakfast ideas!

• High fibre smoothie; use a combination of fruit or vegetables with milk or yoghurt, rolled oats and nut butters
• Boiled eggs with whole grain toast
• Porridge or cooked quinoa parfait with yoghurt and fruit
• Slice of whole grain toast with baked beans and spinach and/or mushrooms
• Whole grain toast with smashed avocado and feta and a sprinkle of lupin flakes
• High fibre breakfast biscuit with milk and banana
• Buckwheat or lentil pancakes with fresh fruit and ricotta cheese

Or for more inspiration, take a look at GLNCs delicious breakfast recipes here.

Kathleen Alleaume is a nutrition and exercise scientist who is passionate about making sense of the conflicting health buzz.

References

1. Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council. 2018. Do you take the time to break-fast? Australian Breakfast Survey. Unpublished.
2. Hoyland A, Dye L, Lawton CL. A systematic review of the effect of breakfast on the cognitive performance of children and adolescents. Nutrition Research Reviews 2009; 22: 220-243.

Enjoying legumes on a low FODMAP diet

by Chloe McLeod

Enjoying legumes on a low FODMAP diet can be a challenge, but the good news is that it is possible! But firstly, what are FODMAPs?

FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, which are all different types of carbohydrates. These types of carbohydrate are poorly absorbed or digested for some. When these are poorly absorbed, increased water may be drawn into the gut, which results in diarrhoea for some people. For others, the carbohydrates travel to the large intestine where they are fermented by bacteria, which then produces gas. This gas can lead to additional symptoms of IBS including bloating, constipation, flatulence, pain and nausea.

Many legumes are high FODMAP, with the galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) found in legumes being one of the FODMAPs that people even without IBS don’t tolerate well.

The key reason to include legumes is fibre. When starting a low FODMAP diet, fibre intake is one of the first things that can start to drop. Legumes are a rich source of prebiotic fibres. These fibres are the ones that provide fuel for the healthy bacteria in your gut, with avoidance showing there may end up being a change in your gut bacteria, and not necessarily for the better!

But how on earth do you include legumes in your diet when following a low FODMAP diet, and still keep your symptoms in check? Especially when the bloating and wind that develops as a result of the legumes fermenting in your gut can be uncomfortable and downright embarrassing.

Check out my tips for including legumes whilst following a low FODMAP diet!

·        - Look at how they’ve been prepared. Canned legumes are much better tolerated than dried legumes, due to having a lower FODMAP content. Canned lentils are safe at 1/2 cup, whilst butter beans and chickpeas are low FODMAP at 1/4 cup. Keep in mind that if you choose dried over canned, it is likely the same portion won’t be tolerated if you are sensitive to GOS.

·        - Start small: if you know you don’t tolerate legumes well, start small and infrequent and build up over time. Have you ever noticed that people who regularly eat legumes seem to tolerate them better? This is due to the gut getting better at digesting the prebiotic-rich fibres with regular consumption. Maybe try 1-2 tablespoons of one of the options mentioned below and work up from there every few days.

·        - Remember that portions add up: whilst having 1/4 cup canned chickpeas is likely to be ok, if other GOS rich foods are added in, you may be more likely to experience symptoms. Instead, bulk out your meal with whole grains that are low in FODMAPs, for example brown rice, quinoa or millet.

So now you know what to look out for, how can you still include legumes as a regular part of your diet, even when sticking to low FODMAP options?

1    - Canned legumes are one of the easiest ways to incorporate legumes into your diet, as they’ve already been cooked! Used in the quantities above, they’re so versatile and will work added straight into a salad or add texture to a sauce or casserole if cooking. Why not try adding into spaghetti sauce, or including in a spinach salad with some feta and orange slices. Just remember to drain and rinse canned legumes prior to use.

-     - Sprouted mung beans: find these in the fridge  in the vegetable section in your local shops. The perfect addition to up the nutrient density of your salads, and mung beans are low FODMAP at 2/3 cup! Try incorporating these into your chicken and quinoa salad for some crunch, or top your favourite baked vegetable dish.

-    - Dried red and green lentils: dried lentils require a little more prep, and will take some time to cook prior to being ready to eat. Keep these to 1/4 cup serve of cooked lentils – they’re a fabulous addition to curries and soups! Try mixing coconut milk, zucchini and chicken along with red lentils to make a delicious creamy curry and serve with brown rice.

So however you incorporate legumes, remember you can still enjoy them as part of a balanced low FODMAP diet. Take a look at our recipe for low FODMAP Lentil Nut Burgers.

Chloe is a Sydney based dietitian who works closely with individuals and companies, develops recipes and writes about nutrition to help individuals and the wider population to optimise their health through elite nutrition. Chloe particularly specialises in the areas of food intolerance, sports nutrition and nutrition for arthritis and autoimmune conditions.

She developed and runs the online course The FODMAP Challenge, and provides individual nutrition services for both face to face and online consultations, and co-owns nutrition consultancy business, Health & Performance Collective. 

3 reasons you should be making homemade soup this winter

As the weather starts to cool down, there are few things more nourishing than warming up with delicious comfort food, like a big bowl of homemade soup. Not only is soup a quick, easy and healthy dinner solution, it's easily reheated for a wholesome lunch the next day - often tasting even better! Or simply freeze your leftovers for up to a few months - it’s the ultimate cheap and nutritious frozen meal.

Here are 3 reasons why you should make soup part of your weekly routine this winter:

1. Homemade soup can be a balanced ‘one-pot’ meal

Gone are the days of having a one or two veg soup as an entrée to the main course. These days, exciting and balanced soup recipes are the main course, one that will ensure you're getting a variety of food groups and nutrients in one meal! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different whole grains and legumes to mix things up – quinoa, barley, rice, beans, chickpeas, lentils and peas – these all add important nutrients to your soup, add variety and help keep you full. Several studies also show that eating soup is associated with higher diet quality and lower body weight (1).

2. Soup is cheap, quick and easy to make

Most soup recipes make 4-6 serves, and are easily stored in the fridge or freezer. Additionally, when you compare the cost of ingredients against the number of meals you get out of the pot, soup works out to be an extremely economical option! Most soups are also low on prep and cooking time – just chop up your veggies, throw in a mix of herbs, spices, grains, legumes or lean meats, then leave to simmer.

3. Soup is the ultimate staple for meal-prepping

Homemade soup is an obvious choice when meal-prepping for the week, due to its versatility with storage and reheating. You’ll be the envy of your co-workers when you have a chicken, barley and vegetable soup to pop in the microwave at lunchtime. Coming home from a long day in the office, with hungry kids in tow, there’s nothing better than having a freezer full of rich tomato and cannellini bean soup to throw on the stove and reheat. You know you’re consuming a healthy, nutritious and warming meal in the time it takes to come to the boil – just toast a few slices of wholemeal or whole grain bread and you’re set.

Get creative, experiment, and mix and match to get the most out of your soup this winter!

Quick tips on making your soup super healthy:

-        Choose low salt/sodium stock

-        Experiment with plant-based sources of protein such as tofu, beans, eggs or lentils

-        Skip the cream – thicken with milk, yoghurt, sweet potato, pureed white beans or beaten eggs 

-      Add flavour with fresh herbs and spices

-        Cook with lean meats such as chicken, turkey, fish or seafood

Take a look at our recipe collection here for more great soup inspiration!

Reference

(1) Zhu Y and Hollis JH, Soup consumption is associated with a lower dietary energy density and a better diet quality in US adults. Br J Nutr. 2014 Apr 28;111(8):1474-80

Australia Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition Wrap-Up

In late November last year the team from GLNC headed to Adelaide for the 10^th Asia Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition (APCCN). With the theme ‘Nutrition Solutions for a Changing World,’ APCCN brought together nutrition scientists from across the globe to share the latest in nutrition research. Read on for a wrap-up of the key themes from APCCN:

• The future of food: how can we contribute to a more sustainable food system?

Author and science communicator Julian Cribb opened the first Plenary Session with a sobering reminder of the risks involved with the modern day food system. Our population is growing at record rates, yet over-consumption and current practices are straining both our health, and the environment. Cribb noted over the next few decades, there is a need to grow more food to sustain the growing population, but produced from less land, using less water. But it’s not all bad news: Cribb’s presentation shared the endless opportunities and areas for innovation in sustainable food systems – a shift to a more plant-based diet, cultured meat and the use of food printers, and ‘Agritecture,’ the art of growing more food in urban environments, which can be observed in major cities with sustainably built high-rises covered in greenery.

• The microbiome: a trend that’s here to stay, but there’s so much more to learn!

Gut health made waves in 2017 for its links with health and possible disease prevention, and a number of research presentations at APCCN focused on how the microbiome can be altered through eating probiotic or prebiotic foods. Associate Professor Melinda Coughlan from Monash University shared interesting research around the potential for resistant starch to protect against Chronic Kidney Disease in mice, by suppressing or reversing inflammation from dietary AGEs, and decreasing changes in gut bacteria. But despite the hype, there was a consensus that nutrition science is still in the early stages of understanding how diet can affect gut health, so stay tuned!

• Food innovations and new product development: high-amylose wheat

Dr Anthony Bird from CSIRO presented research on a newly developed strain of wheat which is high in amylose and looks set to become a useful functional food ingredient. With ten times the amount of resistant starch than ordinary wheat, the newly developed high-amylose wheat can be milled into flour and used in food products as normal. This means people could benefit from the digestive and chronic disease protection resistant starch offers, without drastically changing or increasing the foods they eat.

• Whole grain: where we're falling short

GLNC General Manager Dr Sara Grafenauer also presented research findings from GLNC, alongside the University of Wollongong: ‘The whole grain gap: comparing intakes to recommendations.’ The study found that from a nationally representative sample of Australians, only 30% met the 48g Daily Target Intake of whole grains, so are missing out on the known health benefits. Find out more about the whole grain DTI here.

4 Steps to Creating the Ultimate Sandwich!

by Lisa Sengul

It’s that time of year again when the kids are headed back to school and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the thought of so many lunches to prepare. We’ve got your back this new school year - creating a nutritionally balanced lunchbox doesn’t have to be so stressful. Take a step in the right direction by making your kids a wholesome sandwich!   

Did you know bread contains vital nutrients such as fibre, B-group vitamins, folate, thiamine, zinc, vitamin E and antioxidants? So it’s the perfect vehicle for creating a nutritious, portable lunch.

If you’re lacking inspiration when it comes to packing school lunches, simply follow our 4 easy steps to creating the ultimate portable lunch…

1.     Choose your base - a well-constructed sandwich relies on a substantial base! Whatever you choose to build your sandwich on, we recommend choosing whole grain, wholemeal or high fibre varieties where possible. Whole grain and high fibre foods can reduce our risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

If you have a picky eater on your hands try using one slice white and one slice wholemeal bread or use a high fibre white bread!   

2.     Add flavour - use your favourite spread like vegemite, hummus or avocado to add a pop of flavour, colour and nutrients. Mix things up and try this bright beetroot hummus.

3.     Add your veggies - use a handful of salad or any other raw or cooked vegetables you have at home. Don’t look past last night’s leftover roast pumpkin or zucchini!

4.     Finally, choose your protein power - quick and easy sources of protein like cheese, tuna, boiled eggs or leftover roast meat are great for sandwiches.

Getting the kids involved...

Now that you’re ready to get creative, why not get the kids to help? A great way to get younger kids involved and make lunchboxes fun is by cutting sandwiches into shapes using cookie cutters!

Encourage your kids to get involved in lunchbox choices too - asking them to choose their fruit and veggies will help to reduce uneaten food at the end of the day.

Top tips for avoiding soggy sandwiches

·       Very lightly toast bread, just 1-2 minutes 

·       Make sure lettuce leaves, rocket and salads are nice and dry before assembling - use a paper towel to remove most of the moisture

·       Put condiments like mayo in the middle of your sandwich, between meat or cheese

·       Use lettuce leaves as a barrier - layer first so they are directly in contact with the bread

Still lacking inspiration?

Don’t worry, we’ve prepared a bunch of lunchbox sandwich, wrap and roll recipes that are sure to get your creative juices flowing. You can find all these and more on our website. Check out our Mexican Bean Wrap - it takes just 5 minutes to prepare and it’s a winner with the kids!

An Ingrained Truth: Pre-Exercise Fuelling & Post-Exercise Recovery Foods for Performance

By Toni L Franklin

Accredited Practising Dietitian, Dietitians Association of Australia, Provisional Sports Dietitian, Sport Dietitians Australia

The desire to seek out new or peculiar foods to add to our arsenal of table talk, or ‘foodstagram’ posts, is born out of natural human curiosity. But is there any grain of truth in the notion that we should be seeking out exclusive ancient grains to fuel our exercise training and performances?

Fuelling our bodies before exercise and restoring nutrition after exercise is a fundamental component of Sport Nutrition. Why?

Before exercise, the carbohydrate in food tops up our liver and muscle glycogen stores, especially if we are training first thing in the morning after an overnight fast. Eating before exercise also helps to avoid that niggling hungry feeling and help us get the most out of our training. Taking care to eat foods that don’t cause gastrointestinal upset should also be at the forefront of your food choices (1,2). After exercise, food helps you refuel in preparation for subsequent exercise sessions, promotes muscle repair and growth, boosts adaptation that occurs as a result of training and supports your immune function (3,4). The combination of appropriate nutritious foods and exercise works synergistically to help you achieve your goals.

Traditional and ancient grains battle it out on the playing field. Which is best?

Grains are a nutritious source of carbohydrate, fibre and micronutrients. A good comparison of the nutrient composition of different grains is found in the article “What’s all the fuss about trendy grains?” Grains also contain some protein, a fact that is commonly overlooked. Previous studies have investigated animal protein sources with a high amount of an amino acid called leucine and found around 20g stimulates muscle protein synthesis during recovery from exercise. However, we have recently seen an increasing interest in investigating plant sources of protein to support muscle protein synthesis, perhaps through fortification of leucine or by combining plant based proteins such as grains with complementary amino acid profiles (5).

So do both the hipster ancient grains and the traditional grandparent grains provide appropriate fuel for exercise? 

 The answer is yes. However, at this point, it’s important to reveal another essential principle of sports nutrition - using familiar foods with a known tolerance is always encouraged for key training sessions or competition. Most runners would not wear a brand new, untested pair of running shoes for a marathon race unless they are invincible to injury, blisters and indifferent about performance. If an ancient grain buckwheat, quinoa and chia acai bowl is what you normally eat and tolerate before exercise, go forth and conquer. But a good old-fashioned porridge or some whole grain toast with banana and honey is equally effective and possibly more tolerable on the gut if this is what you are used to eating. There is also something to be said about the nostalgic calming effect that familiar foods can have on settling rattled nerves before a big event. The crux of the matter is that a varied diet remains central to a healthy lifestyle. Both traditional and ancient grains should be friends not foes and there is no grain more ‘superior’ than another.

Key points for fuelling and recovery 

- Have your pre-exercise meal 3-4 hours before exercise if you struggle with gastrointestinal discomfort during exercise. This is more crucial for higher intensity weight bearing sports such as footy and running or sports where your stomach will be jostled about, such as gymnastics or boxing. If you are having a smaller snack this can be eaten 1 or 2 hours before the event.

- Good pre-exercise meals or snacks include: eggs and tomato on rye toast, a whole grain sandwich or wrap with some lean protein and salad, wholemeal raisin toast or oats with yoghurt and fruit.

- Try to have some post-exercise recovery nutrition with a combination of carbohydrates and protein as soon as possible after your event.

- Good recovery nutrition meals or snacks include: whole grain crackers and cheese or nut butter, wholemeal pasta and vegetable salad, tabbouleh, wholemeal spaghetti and meatballs, homemade muesli bar with oats or dried fruit and seeds.

And if you’re ever unsure about what’s best for YOU, contact an Accredited Sports Dietitian for your tailored nutrition plan to help you be your best.

Toni Franklin is a Dietitian with a background in clinical and sport nutrition. For more information about how you can use nutrition to improve your sport performance, please contact a member of Sport Dietitians Australia (SDA), Australia’s peak professional body and credible source of sport nutrition information. Visit www.sportsdietitians.com.au for more information.


References

1. SDA Sports Dietitians Australia. Factsheets: Eating & Drinking before exercise. Retrieved from: https://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/factsheets/fuelling-recovery/eating-drinking-sport/

2. Australian Sports Commission (2009). Eating before exercise. Retrieved from: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports_nutrition/fact_sheets/eating_before_exercise

3. SDA Sports Dietitians Australia. Factsheets: Recovery Nutrition. Retrieved from: https://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/factsheets/fuelling-recovery/recovery-nutrition/

4. Australian Sports Commission (2009). Recovery nutrition. Retrieved from: http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/sports_nutrition/fact_sheets/recovery_nutrition

5. Witard, O.C., Wardle, S.L., Macnaughton, L.S., Hodgson, A.B., Tipton, K.D. (2016). Protein considerations for optimising skeletal muscle mass in healthy young and older adults. Nutrients, 23;8(181) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848650/

Carbohydrates & Fertility: An Update On the Latest Research

By Melanie McGrice, AdvAPD

One in six Australian couples struggle to conceive [i] and the psychological, physical and emotional impacts of infertility can be overwhelming.  As one woman struggling with fertility recently wrote on her Instagram feed “I am angry.  Angry at my friends and family who managed to have children easily, angry at the doctor who told me that I had nothing to worry about, and mostly, angry at myself for all of the croissants that I’ve eaten over the years.” 

Pre-conception weight is one of the major risk factors for fertility outcomes and it is well accepted that weight loss improves fertility in overweight and obese women [ii]. In fact, research suggests that women who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30kg/m2 often have natural menstrual cycle disruptions at a rate of almost three times higher than women of a healthy weight [ii]. 

Although research shows that low carbohydrate diets are no better for long term weight loss than other energy restricted diets (and in fact, may be worse as they are often more difficult to ensure nutritional integrity, and are often more difficult to maintain), low carbohydrate diets are a popular choice for rapid weight loss [iii].  Considering the urgent weight loss requirements for many women (particularly in their late 30’s and early 40’s) wanting to conceive, we wanted to investigate the impact of low carbohydrate diets for conception.

Overall, the research shows that lower carbohydrate diets have a positive effect on reproductive hormones, ovulation rates and pregnancy rates than standard diets in women who are overweight or obese. However, before adopting a low carbohydrate diet there’s a few important factors to keep in mind….

1.      Firstly, the research does not yet confirm how low in carbohydrates the diet should be.  Our research was based on diets which were less than 45% carbohydrates so that we could include Very Low Energy Diet studies (also known as intensive phase meal replacements where all meals are replaced with meal replacements).  However, although lower than usual, 45% carbohydrates is not ketogenic for most people.

2    There’s one small prospective study which used meal replacements (which didn’t meet the criteria for inclusion into our systematic review), that actually reduced the number of eggs available for fertilisation [iv]!  This provides a warning that low carbohydrate diets are not suitable for everyone wanting to optimise their fertility.  One possible alternative may be a low carbohydrate diet for short term weight loss, followed by a period of slight weight regain.  This practice, known as “flushing” is often used to improve the fertility of farm animals [v]. A pattern of a period of weight loss, followed by a period of weight regain has also been found to demonstrate a positive impact on reproduction in women [v].  

      Consequently, I believe that a low carbohydrate diet should only be utilised for a short period of time to optimise menstrual cyclicity and fertility hormones, followed by a period of renourishment.

3.      Furthermore, optimal nutrition is essential in the lead up to pregnancy. Wholegrains are some of the best sources of key fertility nutrients such as iodine and folate.  Women following a low carbohydrate diet without meeting all their nutritional requirements could do more harm than good, so it’s essential to seek expert advice from an Accredited Practising Dietitian when considering a change in diet at any life stage. 

      The takeouts here are that low carbohydrate diets are clearly not suitable for everyone looking to lose weight in order to increase their fertility. However, a low carbohydrate diet may be a suitable option for some women who would benefit from losing weight prior to conception. As such it's important to always seek expert advice from a qualified nutrition professional, before embarking on any dietary changes.

To see the review or for further information, go to www.melaniemcgrice.com.au/research

References

[i] http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/womens-health-policy-toc~womens-health-policy-experiences~womens-health-policy-experiences-reproductive~womens-health-policy-experiences-reproductive-maternal~womens-health-policy-experiences-reproductive-maternal-fert

[ii] Sim, K.A.; Partridge, S.R.; Sainsbury, A. Does weight loss in overweight or obese women improve fertility treatment outcomes? A systematic review. Obes. Rev. 2014, 15, 839–850.

[iii] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/90/1/23.short

[iv] Tsagareli, V.; Noakes, M.; Norman, R.J. Effect of a very-low-calorie diet on in vitro fertilization outcomes. Fertil. Steril. 2006, 86, 227–229.

[v] Butler, S.T. Nutritional management to optimize fertility of dairy cows in pasture-based systems. Animal 2014, 8, 15–26.

The First 1,000 Days of Life: The Link Between Nutrition & the Gut Microbiome

by Rebecca Williams, APD

The first 1,000 days of life, spanning conception to the age of two, are increasingly being recognised as a critical window where a child’s environment, including the impact of nutrition, can significantly influence their long-term risk of non-communicable disease. So much so that research suggests environmental factors in infancy may have a greater impact on disease risk than even genetics or environmental influences later in life⁽¹⁾.  Specifically gut microbial composition and early nutrition have been shown to play a critical role.

Gut microbial composition is unique to every individual and is thought to be strongly influenced by a number of environmental factors, including method of delivery (vaginal or Caesarean section), the mother’s diet, whether a child is breast or formula fed and also the time and method of introduction of solid foods⁽¹⁾. Breast fed infants, for example, are exposed to more than 700 species of bacteria through their mother’s milk, as well as a range of oligosaccharides (prebiotic fibres) which stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria⁽²⁾.

It's been suggested that the establishment of the gut microbiome during the first 1,000 days is important for the development of ‘immune fitness’ and may result in a subsequent reduction of disease risk⁽¹⁾. The link between gut microbiota and health is influenced via short chain fatty acids such as butyrate and acetate - both produced when the gut microbiota ferment (or break down) the prebiotic fibres in our diets⁽⁴⁾. Butyrate is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects, decrease rapid rates rates of cell reproduction and may have an ability to enhance the colonic immune response^{(6, 7)} whilst also appearing to reduce intestinal pH which helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria⁽⁸⁾. 

In contrast, a reduction in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in early life could result in an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases in later life, including allergic diseases such as asthma, eczema and food allergies, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders including obesity and cardiovascular disease and other immune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease⁽¹⁾.

A key life stage for infants which also has a significant influence on the colonisation and diversity of gut bacteria during infancy, is the introduction of solid foods:⁽³⁾ foods that contain prebiotic fibres such as fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides and resistant starch support the growth and activity of beneficial gut bacteria⁽⁴⁾. Demonstrating the link further, a recent Australian study found that infants could access the benefits of prebiotics at a younger age than previously thought, with babies as young as seven months showing increased microbial diversity following consumption of resistant starch from solid foods⁽⁵⁾.

As outlined in the Infant Feeding Guidelines, solid foods should be introduced at around six months to meet an infant’s increasing nutritional and developmental needs. So in order to positively influence gut bacteria, it's important to ensure they're fed a balanced diet when beginning solid foods - introducing a variety of plant foods such as grains, legumes, fruit and vegetables as their first foods will ensure a varied intake of prebiotic fibres⁽⁹⁾. It's also important to ensure that the introduction of solid foods is complemented with an increase in water intake to prevent issues such as constipation, helping to promote good digestive health.

Emerging research demonstrates the importance of nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, with this initial period increasingly being recognised as a key influencer for long-term health. Once established in this critical window, the composition of the gut microbiota remains relatively stable throughout our adulthood, but can be altered as a result of bacterial infections, antibiotic treatment and long-term dietary changes.

This evidence suggests that the establishment of a healthy and diverse gut microbiome is essential to promote immune health and reduce risk of chronic disease in later life not only during infancy, but also emphasises the critical role of nutrition on our gut microbiota as we move through all life stages.

To find out more on the benefits of grains and legumes throughout all life stages and for recipes and more, visit our website here.

References

1. Tang M. Abstract: Role of Nutrition in Tolerance Development. Unpublished. 2016.

2.  Rodríguez JM, Murphy K, Stanton C, Ross RP, Kober OI, Juge N, et al. The Composition of the Gut Microbiota Throughout Life, with an Emphasis on Early Life. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. 2015;26:10.3402/mehd.v26.26050.

3. Johnson CL, Versalovic J. The Human Microbiome and Its Potential Importance to Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2012;129(5):950-60.

4. Slavin J. Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients. 2013;5(4):1417-35.

5. Gopalsamy GL, Christophersen CT, Bird AR, Young G. Abstract: Infants Can Ferment Resistant Starch Shortly After Wearning Which Changes Faecal Metabolite and Microbial Profiles. Unpublished. 2016.

6. Bi Y, Qin N, Yang R. Human microbiota: a neglected "organ" in precision medicine. Infectious Diseases and Translational Medicine. 2015;1(2).

7. Scott KP, Gratz SW, Sheridan PO, Flint HJ, Duncan SH. The influence of diet on the gut microbiota. Pharmacol Res. 2013;69(1):52-60.

8. Flint HJ, Scott KP, Louis P, Duncan SH. The role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;9(10):577-89.

9. Halmos EP, Christophersen CT, Bird AR, Shepherd SJ, Gibson PR, Muir JG. Diets that Differ in Their FODMAP Content Alter the Colonic Luminal Microenvironment. Gut. 2015;64(1):93-100.