When planning a pregnancy, nutrition plays a very important role. It does matter if we spend the day eating pastries, hamburgers and fries on the one hand or grilled fish and colourful vegetables on the other. Today, when one in six women fails to conceive naturally, and this statistical fact shows a tendency to increase, there is a need to discover the causes of infertility and find concrete solutions. Approximately 40 percent of infertility causes are attributed to women, 40 percent to men, and 20 percent are unexplained. There are numerous factors that contribute to infertility, and nowadays nutrition is certainly one of the most important ones. What’s the best food for female fertility?
Cure for many ailments is good quality food, an active lifestyle and an optimistic attitude. The same is valid when it comes to infertility. Today, these three goals are not easy to fulfil, with all the obstacles that the fast pace of life lays before us. We often do not have time to prepare and plan meals, we are surrounded by fast food outlets that offer us simple solutions. And it is precisely these “solutions” that complicate our lives the most.
DIET FOR FERTILITY
Several clinical studies have recently been conducted that proved a direct connection between fertility and nutrition. In addition to the fact that it is important to prevent obesity, and in this sense one should be mindful of the number of calories consumed, it is also important to know what makes up our meals. The general conclusion of all studies is that a healthy diet is one of the biggest factors influencing fertility improvement. Thus, the so-called ‘fertility diet’, special nutrition and detox programmes for expectant pregnant women, have recently become popular.
Some studies have shown a positive effect that higher protein intake has on the quality of the ovum, embryo, as well as the number of embryos, and an increased fertilisation success rate. However, Harvard scientists determined that proteins should be of plant origin, rather than of animal origin. In order to make the fertility diet easier to follow, it is recommended to record everything that is consumed, either by using apps or simply by noting it down on paper. Most of the foods we grab on the go, without thinking, consist of simple carbohydrates. That is why it is smart to put together a menu for the week ahead so that we do not fall into the temptation of absentmindedly reaching for a greasy doughnut.
WHAT TO EAT MORE OFTEN?
So what is the best thing to include in the diet when planning conception? What’s the best food for female fertility? Here are the foods that should be on our dining table as often as possible:
- Avocado is extremely nutritious and a perfect food for female fertility since it is full of folic acid, potassium and unsaturated fatty acids, which are essential nutrients for every woman planning a pregnancy. Studies have shown that food rich in unsaturated fats increases the chances of artificial insemination up to three times. At the same time, avocado is filling, very tasty and easy to use. We can simply spread it on a piece of wholemeal bread and add a boiled egg.
- And exactly like that, in addition to avocado, eggs are another great food for expectant mothers. In addition to being rich in proteins, they also contain a number of important minerals and vitamins such as iron, selenium, magnesium, B group vitamins, zinc, as well as lutein, an important factor for the health of the brain and eyes of the future generation.
- Fermented dairy products, yoghourt and kefir, are rich in calcium, zinc, B vitamins and probiotics that look after our healthy intestinal flora. It is important to choose the natural ones, without sugar and additives.
- In India, asparagus is known as a fertility food. Asparagus stimulates the immune system and has an anti-inflammatory effect, but also improves circulation and microcirculation within the organs – including the reproductive ones. Another benefit of asparagus is that it helps expel toxins from the body because it improves kidney function.
- The healthiest fish is wild salmon. Extremely rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is food for super fertility. Vitamin D in which it abounds affects the health of the foetus and regulates sex hormones. It is enough to either grill it, pan-fry it without oil or bake it in the oven. Served with a big salad, it provides quite a filling lunch. Farmed salmon should be avoided and wild salmon chosen instead.
- Nuts – especially walnuts – are a well-known aphrodisiac and have also been proven to improve fertility. They contain healthy fats and are rich in vitamin E, which affects the endometrium – it helps to form a thick enough lining of the uterus where conception occurs. Walnuts also promote ovulation, and they are also great for future dads because they increase the number and mobility of spermatozoa.
- Meat can also enhance fertility, but not just any meat. It is important that it comes from free-range animals that were not pumped with antibiotics and steroids. Otherwise, hormones from meat can easily disrupt the hormonal balance both for women and men. That is why it is better to eat meat less frequently and to buy good quality meat from a reliable supplier.
- Honey has been used for fertility for centuries and modern medicine has confirmed its beneficial properties. Why is honey good for fertility? Numerous studies have shown that honey and pollen improve egg cell quality and promote ovulation, as well as the quality of sperm in men. One study also showed the effectiveness of vaginal application of honey and royal jelly before intercourse in cases of poor sperm motility.
- Another important food that we often neglect and which forms the basis of our body is water. Good hydration improves the work of the liver and enables the elimination of harmful substances from the body. Water is also important at the very moment of conception, because it regulates the composition and density of lubrication that enables the spermatozoa to reach the egg. This is another reason why it is important to drink the proverbial eight glasses of water a day.
Today, many doctors also recommend fertility detox for both partners, a natural purification process that helps to remove heavy metals, toxins and everything that causes inflammatory processes. It is recommended to consume fish, meat and dairy products from reliable sources, as well as organic fruit and vegetables, high-quality honey and nuts; one should definitely forget tobacco, alcohol, fast food, and remove all chemicals and care products that contain phthalates and parabens. Medicinal herbs also help in this process. In addition to helping to remove harmful substances from the body, medicinal plants balance hormones, promote fertility, improve microcirculation in the ovaries, stimulate ovulation and the formation of an appropriate endometrium. When we take care of our diet and try not to consume anything that may be harmful to our body, we also contribute to the quality of the ovum, reduce the chances of miscarriage and thus give our future child the best chance for a healthy childhood and life – that way eating the right food for female fertility is a valuable investment in the future.
VITAMINS IN FOOD FOR FEMALE FERTILITY
There is another important thing that we have to think about when planning a pregnancy, and that is that once it happens, it should be healthy and without complications, both for us and for our future baby. That is why one needs to increase the intake of vitamins, both for fertility and other bodily functions that will be under strain during pregnancy. There are extremely important vitamins of the B group, for example vitamin B6 that contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, B12 that prevents anaemia, biotin that participates in the creation and renewal of the skin and mucous membranes, vitamin C that protects our immunity, and the most important of all – folic acid (vitamin B9). In addition to contributing to the synthesis of amino acids, which participate in blood formation and eliminate fatigue and exhaustion, folic acid is absolutely essential for the development of the neural tube in the foetus. Its deficiency can cause a number of complications and serious foetal disorders, including miscarriage.
While we need to pay attention to our own nutrition, great help of medicinal herbs is contained in a bottle of drops or a box of capsules of Femisan A. This very simple to use and completely natural preparation based on medicinal herbs promotes fertility, strengthens the endometrium in the uterus, stimulates work of the ovaries and contributes to good and regular ovulation. Femisan Folate Pro takes care of vitamin needs before and during pregnancy. This nutritional supplement contains vitamins C, B6, B12, biotin and essential folic acid in the purest form, as well as omega 3-6-7-9 fatty acids. Femisan, food for female fertility and a healthy lifestyle are an ideal investment in our future!
