Diet Tips for Fertility

Any woman trying to get pregnant knows that this is a very exciting time in her life.  It can also be a very frustrating time, however, if it takes awhile to conceive.  There are many ways to help to boost your fertility. One natural way is to examine the foods that you presently eat and to try to change your diet and lifestyle to promote fertility.

Yes, Oysters Really Help

Everyone has heard wives' tales explaining which foods are best to eat when trying to conceive.  Most of these are just tales - and while the teller has good intentions, he doesn't necessarily have facts.  The only food that has truly been proven to increase fertility is oysters.  They have a large amount of zinc in them which helps with semen levels and testosterone levels in men.  Oysters have not been proven to help a woman's fertility levels, but they have been proven to help with male potency.  For men who don't enjoy gorging on oysters, there are vitamin supplements that include such things as zinc and Vitamin E (which increases the movement of sperm). You can also try a combination of 1000 mg of calcium a day with 10 mg of Vitamin D.

Banish Those Carbs

There are many low carbohydrate diets on the market today, but are any of them relevant to fertility?  Actually, yes.  Researchers has found that refined carbohydrates such as breads, pastas, white rice and others do have a chance to lower fertility rates.  Seventeen different nutrients are said to be lost when you process refined grains, and some of these nutrients are thought to help increase fertility.  Rather than eating these empty calories, try whole grains which are bountiful in antioxidants, B Vitamins and iron - all things thought to help with fertility.

An Apple A Day…

Fruits and vegetables have been considered helpful for ages, both for your health and your fertility.  Buy fruits that are bright in color such as red peppers, dark green, leaf vegetables and kale.  Keep both fruit and vegetables around and enjoy eating 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables every day.  Even if it doesn't end up helping with fertility - it certainly can't hurt, and it's great for your diet.

Not Too Thin, Not Too Thick

If you are too thin or too heavy, this can certainly have a negative impact on your ability to get pregnant.  This is particularly relevant for women, as many women who do not maintain a normal weight find that their cycles are not regular.  In order to conceive, it's certainly important for your body to be consistently producing eggs and for your cycle to function in a normal way.  Do not start dieting, however, when you are trying to get pregnant.  Try to cut back on your intake of unhealthy foods, and enjoy eating whole grains and healthy snacks.  Try to have three ounces of protein each day and to include nuts, beans, lean meat and chicken in this mix.

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

When trying to conceive, you certainly don't want to be consuming alcohol or caffeine.  Women who drink alcohol consistently while trying to conceive have been found to decrease their chances of conception by as much as 50 percent!  Caffeine can also reduce fertility and can cause miscarriages.  Interestingly, however, men have been found to increase their sperm movement when they consume caffeine prior to being intimate.  So, women should avoid alcohol and caffeine, but serve caffeine up to their partners!

Soy and Fish - Sink or Swim?

There are two foods that women should definitely avoid in large quantities while trying to conceive.  Tofu and soy have been linked, in large amounts, to decreased fertility. This is not to say that they aren't healthy, and that they aren't fine to eat in small portions.  However, it is important to know about these studies and to moderate the amount of soy you eat while trying to conceive.  Similarly, fish, with high levels of mercury, can be harmful to an unborn child's nervous system.  Fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish shouldn't be eaten while trying to conceive and while pregnant.  Fish that is low in mercury is fine to eat approximately twice a week with no ill effect.

Help your body to prepare for conception with these tips.  While there is no guaranteed diet formula for fertility, these suggestions can help you to eat a healthy lifestyle and to encourage fertility in your body.  You never know what will tip the scale and help you to finally conceive that baby you've been hoping to have.

Chat with other women about the best foods to boost your fertility in our pregnancy forum.

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