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Procreation vacations ... now that's hot!

Lesley-Ann Thompson, Contributor

In between listening to the latest Britney Spears and Paris Hilton shenanigans on either Access Hollywood or Extra earlier this year, I heard the entertainment reporter speak of a growing niche market in hotels worldwide where couples trying to get pregnant were targeted with specially designed vacation packages to help them make their dream happen.

They're called Procreation Vacations and they're hot!

On that particular programme, it was the three-night Procreation Vacation Package at The Westin, our Lucaya Grand Bahama Island that was being featured. In addition to the expected sun and sand, the deal included unlimited glasses of sea moss elixir for the future dad (the Caribbean's answer to Viagra), all-you-can-eat bowls of pumpkin soup for the would-be mom (supposedly de rigueur among us island women for conceiving), as well as couples massages and dinners. Prices started at around US$1,900.

I thought to myself, how novel! Well, to be honest, if local hoteliers are paying attention to current trends, it really doesn't take rocket science to carve out tourism niches. But I couldn't help but wonder if this was something we had already tapped into here in Jamaica. If not, I say, ... why not?

hottest trends

Propelled by high-profile celebrity adoptions and pregnancies, having children has turned into one of the hottest trends of the 21st century. It is estimated that in the United States alone, more than six million women of childbearing age have trouble getting pregnant, and at least one in 10 couples have infertility challenges. Add hormone-enhanced foods, environmental pollution and high levels of stress to the procreation equation and 'Houston, we have a problem'.

Our country is rich in foods that impact positively on a woman's fertility and we celebrate aphrodisiacs that increase the male sex drive. If our chefs do their part to combine these elements into delectable treats, all our marketers will need is the right advertising and a few complementary Beres Hammond CDs to make the baby-making vacations 'sell off'.

Diet

The combinations are endless. Conch soup, peanut punch and crab back are some local favourites. Here are a few other food suggestions courtesy of epregnancy.com and eatsomethingsexy.com.

Yams: Rich in folate, as well as vitamins C and B6. They contain diosgenin, a substance similar to progesterone, which can help stimulate ovaries to release one or more eggs per month.

Papaya: Boasts vitamin C, a crucial fertility nutrient for men that helps improve sperm count, morphology and motility. The fruit also comes loaded with betacarotene, another antioxidant that improves semen quality.

Pumpkin: Rich in vitamin A and betacarotene, which promote fertility, pumpkin helps in successful pregnancies and lactation.

Bananas: Behind that slick peel, the banana is packed with nutrients essential to sexual hormone production, including potassium and B vitamins.

Beetroot: The root's potency lies in its high boron content, a mineral thought to influence the production of sexual hormones as well as improve the immune system.

Almonds: They're an especially good source of monounsaturated fats, which appear to increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant.

Oysters: Loaded with zinc, a key nutrient for testosterone production, important for stimulating libido in both men and women.

Ginseng: Authentic ginseng, which comes from the species Panax, is commonly used as a healing agent to treat fatigue, reduce stress, fight infection and cure impotence.

Email: Lthomp01@yahoo.com.