Fertility
10 Foods to Eat that Help Increase Fertility
Eloise Edington | 13 Aug 2021
As holistic approaches to fertility treatment are becoming more popular due to their effectiveness, we want to find out what the best foods are to help increase fertility for those who are trying to conceive. To learn more about the links between fertility and nutrition, Fertility Help Hub have reached out to Laurel Fertility Care, who are here to reveal all on the subject.
Read on to find out what are the best foods for improving sperm and egg health and what mystery, plant-based ingredient can give you just as many nutrients as meat can, but without the added risks of ovulatory infertility.
How to Increase Fertility?
Can eating certain foods really help with your fertility? The answer is yes. It’s important to remember that there is no magic diet that will result in pregnancy, but food and lifestyle choices do have a significant impact on the reproductive health of both women and men. The foods you eat, along with other factors like lifestyle and stress levels, can boost fertility through their impact on your gut, blood flow, hormone levels and overall health.
Laurel Fertility Care offers a holistic approach that includes many natural adjustments like diet and lifestyle changes before moving on to advanced treatment. Here are 10 foods to incorporate into your diet to boost your fertility.
1. Beans and Lentils
Beans and lentils are high in fibre and protein, which can help improve ovulation. Studies have shown that replacing animal protein with vegetable sources of protein can reduce the risk of ovulatory infertility. Legumes are also an excellent source of folic acid, a vital component that aids with conception and helps in healthy embryo development.
2. Sunflower Seeds
Eating sunflower seeds is an easy way to help maintain proper sperm levels without making any huge dietary changes. Roasted, unsalted sunflower seed kernels are rich in Vitamin E, an essential nutrient that increases sperm count and motility. Sunflower seeds also offer substantial amounts of zinc, folic acid, and selenium— all of which are potent fertility nutrients with stellar benefits.
3. Fruit
Antioxidant-rich foods like fruit and berries are high in Vitamin C and folic acid, which provides healthy foetal growth after conception. Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries all contain natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, two components that greatly improve fertility for both men and women. This study showed that women with high fruit intakes had a significantly reduced chance of infertility.
Related Article – 11 Things to Try Before Visiting a Fertility Specialist
4. Avocados
Avocados are full of Vitamin K, potassium and folate that assists your body with so many things— vitamin absorption, blood pressure regulation and more! They are also comprised of monounsaturated fats (healthy fats) that offer tons of dietary fibre and folic acid, which we know are crucial during the early stages of pregnancy.
5. Quinoa
Quinoa is an amazing whole grain because it’s not only carb-free, but it’s also a perfect source for protein, zinc, and folic acid. Altogether, these components offer a robust prenatal protection plan, while maintaining healthy foetal growth once pregnancy takes place. Not to mention, quinoa gives you all of the essential amino acids that meat products offer without any potentially harmful additives. And, as mentioned before, replacing animal protein with vegetable sources of protein can reduce the risk of ovulatory infertility.
Related Article – Gut Health – Why is the Mediterranean Diet So Good For Fertility?
6. Greek Yogurt and Cheeses
Fatty foods are great for boosting fertility. Greek yogurt and cheese contain calcium, probiotics, and Vitamin D, all of which help to improve ovulation. Also, you’ll receive an ample amount of protein from each food, reinforcing your odds of a successful pregnancy through more precise ovulation cycles.
7. Salmon
To pile on more of those healthy fats, salmon offers loads of protein and valuable omega-3s that improve foetal development throughout pregnancy. Men can also benefit from eating salmon for its high levels of Vitamin D and selenium, two components that raise semen levels and enhance its overall health. Keep in mind, it’s best to purchase wild-caught salmon to decrease the presence of mercury, which can be harmful to a pregnancy if too much is consumed. To be safe, limit your salmon intake to once or twice a week.
8. Asparagus
Asparagus is a powerhouse food with incredible benefits for those trying to get pregnant. Studies show that eating one cup of boiled asparagus will provide you with over 60% of your daily recommended value of folic acid, fulfil your daily Vitamin K value, and strengthen your reproductive health with more than 20% of vitamins A, C, and B. It also contains substantial amounts of zinc and selenium, so men should also incorporate asparagus into their diet!
9. Walnuts
Walnuts are packed with omega-3s and omega-6s that help your body maintain healthy brain functions and regulate hormones. Research also shows that men who eat walnuts on a regular basis will experience improved semen health, resulting in better motility, quantity, and morphology.
Related Article – Can Intermittent Fasting Improve Male Fertility?
10. Egg Yolks
Most people ditch the yolk of the egg to cut back on calories, but yolks contain Vitamin B and essential omega-3s. Yolks also contain folic acid which helps the body create red blood cells and helps to maintain embryo development after conception.
Related Article – The Importance of Fertility Nutrients and Supplements for Egg / Sperm Health
Making healthy choices and changes while on your fertility journey can help to reduce your stress levels and provide some control during a time when circumstances can often feel overwhelming.
While these 10 foods are recommended as a natural way to boost your fertility, we encourage each patient to practise balance in their diets! Extreme restrictions, or punishing yourself for the occasional indulgence in a bowl of ice cream or a slice of pizza, is not beneficial to your mind or body while on this journey!
While there is no fix-all diet for infertility, learning how you can increase your fertility through food is an effective way to take charge of your TTC journey. So long as you are eating foods that contain important vitamins, proteins and amino acids, your diet will be contributing to your general health as well as your fertility health.
If you would like to hear more from Laurel Fertility Care on holistic and clinical treatments for fertility, you can visit their website here.
