Though most people are aware that a healthy diet is important during pregnancy, it can also help a couple conceive. Certain nutrients help to balance hormone production, detoxify the body and promote organ health for improved fertility. In some individuals, certain foods may also lower fertility and should be avoided. A fertility diet is recommended for at least four months before trying to conceive.
Significance
The right nutrition can help a couple to conceive and have a successful pregnancy. A fertility expert can tailor a diet for a couple to address certain fertility problems. Foods can help balance hormones, build strong reproductive cells, increase blood circulation and keep organs healthy for fertility. Dr. Marilyn Glenville, a fertility expert in London, advises that a fertility diet is as important for men as it is for women, as infertility can also be caused by unhealthy production and quality of sperm in men.
Foods
According to a study published in the journal "Biology of Reproduction," the body needs essential fatty acids, such as vegetable oils, to produce hormones and regulate ovulation in women. Dr. Glenville recommends a diet high in antioxidants and certain minerals for couples trying to conceive. Antioxidants boost the immune system and cleanse the body of toxins. This improves liver health and overall well-being. Antioxidant-rich foods include brightly colored vegetables and fruits, teas, spices and herbs. The mineral zinc helps the body use the hormones estrogen and progesterone and protects genetic material (DNA). It is also needed for sperm motility (movement). Good food sources of zinc include wheat bran, wheat germ, Brewer's yeast and pine nuts.
Foods to Avoid
According to the medical journal "Gastroenterology," dietary estrogens can cause imbalances in hormones in the body. Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like hormones from plants that are converted to estrogen in the body. Xenoestrogens occur in meats and plant foods due to artificial hormones, pesticides and fertilizers. A fertility diet expert may recommend that foods high in these hormones be avoided. These include soya milk and soy products, yams, pumpkin, licorice, rice and processed meats.
Time Frame
Natural treatment plans such as fertility diets are extensive and vary according to individual needs. Dr. Glenville advises that as it takes at least three months for eggs (ova) to mature and for sperm cells to develop, improving your fertility through diet and other methods requires a time period of four months or greater. This period is called "pre-conception care" and, according to Dr. Glenville, it is as important as the pregnancy itself.
Considerations
Though some individuals may need only a fertility diet to conceive, other couples may need fertility procedures. Dr. Glenville recommends following an individual fertility diet plan while undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or other assisted conception procedures to enhance results. Herbal supplements, fertility drugs or hormone therapies should be taken as recommended by a health practitioner for a healthy conception and pregnancy.
References
- Biology of Reproduction: The Energetic Regulation of Ovulation: A Realistic Role for Body Fat
- Gastroenterology: Dietary Estrogens-A Probable Cause of Infertility and Liver Disease
- Occupational and Environmental Health: Endocrine Disruptors-Update on Xenoestrogens
- MarilynGlenville.com: The Natural Health Website for Women
