We always here about what to eat and what not to eat when a woman is pregnant, but what about before trying to get pregnant? Certain foods improve a woman’s ability to conceive, so if you are one of those women who are planning to have a baby, this article would be of help to you. Remember, a healthy balanced diet complete with essential nutrients help both a woman and a man’s fertility!
Bananas
They are loaded with potassium which not only helps in balancing the blood pressure, but also boosts both female and male fertility. Bananas also contain vitamin B6 which regulates the body’s menstrual cycle and hormones. A deficiency in B6 can lead to poor egg and sperm development.
Leafy Greens
These vegetables are high in folate (a B vitamin) that reduces the likelihood of a miscarriage or certain genetic problems with the baby. Salads with spinach, romaine, broccoli, arugula, and other dark, leafy greens help in ovulation. They also help in reducing the number of abnormal sperm in men, according to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction.
Beans
Beans are a good source of plant protein which helps in increasing the chances of conception. A study shows that women who had a lot of plant protein intake were less likely to have any trouble conceiving. If you do not like beans, lentils, edamame, nuts and tofu are all good sources of plant-based proteins, too.
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole wheat bread is good for the general health, but most specifically, to a woman’s reproductive health. It is a complex carbohydrate that takes time to digest, and it also helps keep blood sugar and insulin levels stable. When that happens, prevention in an imbalance in the hormones occurs. When in doubt, choose dark foods over their lighter counterparts (dark chocolate over white chocolate, brown sugar over white sugar, brown rice over white rice, etc.).
Olive Oil
This monounsaturated fat helps in increasing insulin sensitivity and in decreasing inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation interferes with ovulation, conception, as well as early development of the embryo. If you are going to eat salad, use olive oil with balsamic vinegar. You should also use this when cooking, as opposed to butter or vegetable oil.
Salmon
This cold-water fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that help in regulating reproductive hormones and increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs. Salmon is also lower in mercury compared to other fatty fish. If you are trying to get pregnant, steer away from king mackerel, swordfish, shark and tilefish.
Blueberries
Loaded with antioxidants, blueberries are sure to help boost a man’s sperm quality. Men who aren’t getting enough antioxidants can have problems with infertility. Make sure you eat your blueberries, men!
Ice Cream
No, this is not a joke. Who says you can’t eat sweets when trying to get pregnant? (Just this one, though.) A study shows that one or two daily servings of whole milk or whole milk products (such as this one) protect women against ovulatory infertility. However, you should not go over – one or two daily servings are enough per day.
