What Fruits Are Good for Women Trying to Get Pregnant?

Trying to get pregnant can be an exciting albeit stressful time in a woman's life. What you eat, drink, weigh, smoke and how active you are all influence your chances of conceiving. An app like MyPlate is a great tool to help keep track of your nutrition and exercise plan.

Eating a healthy diet — one that's rich in iron, zinc, folate and antioxidants — improves your chances. Fruit is an excellent source of these nutrients, while also providing other benefits such as minerals, hydration and fuel. Some fruits may be better than others when you're trying to get pregnant.

Read more: Foods to Eat While Trying to Get Pregnant

Tips

Fruits that make good choices when you're trying to conceive include oranges, dried apricots and strawberries and other fruits that are rich in vitamin C, zinc and folate.

Pump Up Your Iron

Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron, making it more effective. Iron-containing fruit includes sun-dried tomatoes, apricots, raisins, coconut, squash, watermelon, grapefruit and prunes.include:

• Iron-containing fruit includes sun-dried tomatoes
  
• apricots
  
• raisins
  
• coconut
  
• squash
  
• watermelon
  
• grapefruit
  
• prunes

Zinc: A Little Goes a Long Way

Fruits High in Selenium

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Research conducted at Northwestern University indicates that just prior to peak egg fertilization, the egg or gamete requires as much as 50 percent more zinc before it can move forward in its developmental journey. This means that maintaining an adequate supply of zinc is beneficial if not critical.

Read more: What Are the Benefits of Zinc for Women?

Essential Folate for Neural Development

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid starting one month prior to trying to conceive 4. Supplements are an insurance policy, but nothing beats getting nutrients fresh from food sources.

Read more: Foods Rich in Vitamin B12 & Folate

Think "C" for Conception

Fruits That Do Not Contain Folate

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Citrus fruits, such as:

• oranges
  
• guava
  
• papaya
  
• kiwifruit
  
• are an excellent way to get vitamin C

Adding Fruit to Your Diet

If you haven't been good about including fruit in your diet, make small, gradual increases to avoid getting constipated.

Although USDA ChooseMyPlate.com suggests a minimum of 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit daily, many experts contend that more is better 2.