You may have heard that there are certain foods you need to eat to help maintain reproductive health -- and that other foods decrease reproductive health. This is true to a point. Some foods promote better health than others; however, no food is a "magic bullet" with regard to health, reproductive or otherwise.
Reproductive System
Whether you're male or female, the purpose of your reproductive system is to produce healthy gametes -- cells that can go on to produce a healthy baby, provided they meet under the appropriate circumstances with a gamete from someone of the opposite gender. Women have the additional reproductive task of housing and nourishing a developing fetus for nine months, making food choices particularly important for women of reproductive age, pregnant or not.
Fruits and Vegetables
Both men and women benefit from a healthy diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables. According to the Mayo Clinic, fruits and vegetables are sources of antioxidants, which are chemicals that help prevent damage to your gametes -- your sperm or eggs -- from environmental sources. Toxins can mutate DNA and lead to chromosomal changes that decrease fertility or increase the risk of birth defects.
Vitamins and Minerals
While vitamins and minerals help maintain health in both men and women, some vitamins and minerals are particularly important for women of childbearing age, especially during pregnancy. You need plenty of folic acid to help ensure your developing embryo builds the neural tube correctly, as this is the structure that becomes the brain and spinal cord, explain Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby." You may wish to take supplements if you don't eat whole foods, especially vegetables, fruits and whole grains, that are high in vitamins and minerals.
Foods to Avoid
In both men and women, too much body fat can decrease fertility and negatively impact the reproductive system. While there aren't foods you can eat to ensure that you maintain a healthy weight, there are some foods you should avoid or limit. Foods high in added sugars and fats -- especially animal-based saturated fat and processed trans fat -- tend to increase your body weight. Strive to eat mostly whole foods to maintain optimal reproductive health.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Fertility
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
