How can I increase fertility?

Getting pregnant is harder than most people think and many factors influence conception including age, health, and weight to name just a few.

If you are under 25 years old, you have a one in four or five chance of becoming pregnant. This means that it “normally” takes four to five months for conception to occur if you and your partner are in optimum health and are actively trying.

If you are between the ages of 35 and 40 you have a one in six to seven chance of becoming pregnant with the conception rate dropping with each year closer to age 40. Statistics are only an average in this case and everyone is different. And you can increase your fertility to some extent by the life style choices you make.

There’s no question that one of the ways to increase your fertility is to ensure you have a healthy body. A good way to do that is for you AND your partner to eat healthy food.

What is healthy food?

Think about what you eat. Eating the right things is perhaps the easiest way to help get your body in the best shape to conceive. That means eating real food. Wholesome certified organic food is a great choice because it does not contain harmful pesticides and other chemicals. Eat it raw where you can and freshly prepared. You’ll get the right sort of nutrition and you’ll detox yourself at the same time! And don’t forget the easiest trick of all for a healthy body: reduce the caffeine and the alcohol to (almost) zero if you can and drink plenty of fresh, pure water. It hydrates the skin, cleans the system and it makes you look younger. Here are some food tips to set you in the right direction:

What should I eat to get pregnant?

Nuts, seeds and pulses

Contain plant chemicals called phytoseroles, which are known to promote testosterone production. Nuts also contain magnesium, which balances levels of the hormone prolactin, which can compete with testosterone. Almonds are regarded as the most nutrient-containing nut, high in important reproductive system nutrients including zinc and L-arginine. Sunflower seeds are regarded as the most nutrient-containing seed.

Iron and protein

Regulate blood sugar levels and also contain amino acids and B vitamins vital to hormonal functions and fertility. Most plant sources such as legumes, nuts and seeds need to be combined to get the full range of nutrients, whereas animal protein is a complete protein. Before conceiving, you need to get your iron levels up, as iron status at the time of conception affects the development of the baby, the pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it’s important for healthy ovulation. Research shows that once pregnant it is very difficult to increase iron levels.

Good fats

Are essential in maintaining cholesterol, the basic building material for the sex hormones responsible for ovulation and healthy sperm, which is why healthy fats in your diet can boost fertility. Good food fats include coconut oil, hemp, oil, eggs, cold pressed olive oil (unheated), flax oil, organic meat fats, organic cultured butter and fish oils. These fats also deliver fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Avocados

Are a rich source of vitamin E, which is an essential nutrient for fertility. This powerful antioxidant supports healthy circulation to the reproductive system and helps to regulate ovulation and cervical mucous production. Avocados are also full of monounsaturated fats and contain folate, iron and beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A.

Garlic

Contains an abundance of fertility-boosting nutrients. It is a good source of the mineral selenium, an antioxidant that supports conception. Selenium is thought to protect the embryo from damage, preventing chromosome breakages that could play a role in early miscarriage. Garlic is also a source of vitamin B6.

Broccoli

Is a great source of folate, a B-vitamin essential to a healthy pregnancy. This vitamin has been proven to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Broccoli alone won’t provide enough folate, so you will need a supplement (women are advised to take 400mcg of folic avid for at least four months prior to pregnancy). Broccoli is also a good source of vitamin C, which is needed for egg maturation and ovulation.

Eggs

Eggs are a good source of choline that supports brain development in the young embryo and in the young child. Remember that the brain starts development in the few days and weeks of life and in Australia it is estimated that most women do not have enough choline in their diets.

All of these foods are available as organic produce. Help yourself to them, feel better, help improve your fertility and most important, best of luck.

Mindful Eating

So, why is organic food healthy? It’s not so much the argument about nutritional content, it’s the clear fact that it doesn’t contain pesticides and other chemicals particularly harmful to the development of babies and young children. If you’d like to know more about Bellamy’s Organic and the certified organic baby foods we make, click on this link.

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