Nutrition and Fertility – The Fertility Diet

One of the most important steps to prevent infertility and also to treat infertility is to keep a watch on diet and nutrition. Poor diet does way more damage to your body than just reducing the lifespan.

Nutrition plays an important role in a healthy body and reproductive system. Food & fertility are definitely linked and lack of nutrition is a cause for both male & female infertility.

Nutrition & Fertility in Men

• Being overweight or underweight, regular consumption of oily & junk food could lower the sperm count.
• Several studies have shown that the intake of antioxidants are related to sperm quality. Antioxidants of the variety found in fruits & vegetables may help prevent damage to sperm that causes them to become sluggish and lose the ability to fertilize an egg.
• Antioxidants, glutathione & cryptoxanthin, which are present in bright colored produce such a leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers and oranges are associated with strong and healthy sperm.
• Certain kinds of antioxidants also protect the sperm from free radicals and promote energy & vitality.

Nutrition & Fertility in Women

• A healthy diet builds up nutrient storage for pregnancy and can have a positive effect on chilbearing.
• The hormones build themselves with the food you eat.
• Good food is the primary solution to balancing and handling PCOS
• A good diet may also decrease the chances of a miscarriage

What is a healthy fertility diet?

• A fertility diet fundamentally includes loads of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
• Eat lots of of fruits and vegetables- you must eat at least five portions of these in a day.
• Include sources of proteins like fish, chicken, eggs, lean meat, and pulses (lentils and beans) in your diet.
• Add a regular intake of dairy – milk, yoghurt, and cheese are rich in calcium.
• Food items that are rich in iron like red meat, bread, pulses, green vegetables, dried fruit, and fortified breakfast cereals will help you to boost the resources of iron in your body .
• Include some food or drink that contain vitamin C, like lemon or orange juice or some vegetables or fruits, it will help your body considerably to absorb iron. Also, please note that these need to be fresh juices.

What you should avoid

• Reduce the intake of processed sugar. Note that apart from the regular sources, this is present in abundance in sodas, colas and canned juices.
• Reduce caffeine. Studies have shown that caffeine can affect your hormonal balance, increase your chances of a miscarriage and prevent you from ovulating. So, reduce both coffee and tea.
• Lessen the amount of outside food you eat everyday. Try to cook your own food as much as possible.