Improving Fertility with Diet

Fertility levels for both prospective parents, particularly the future mother is highly dependent on a good, varied diet. If nutrients are missing, conception can be hindered.

Love your Carbs: Minimally processed, unrefined carbohydrates offer the body a source of constant energy. Choose non-starchy vegetables and avoid “beige” foods: white bread, pasta, rice, biscuits, cakes and crisps.

Feast on Fats and Proteins: Hormonal health requires nutrients found in proteins and fats, two food groups rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, B vitamins and a wealth of minerals, all needed for nerve, joint, muscle, hormone and brain health for you and the developing foetus. Try some or all of the following: cold pressed plant oils (raw, unprocessed olive oil, flaxseed oil, etc.) drizzled over meals or added in smoothies; avocados, butter, ghee, eggs, meat, offal and fat from grass-fed cattle; organic poultry and wild caught or organic fish; saturated plant fats, such as coconut oil and omega-3s in oily fish (anchovies, sardines, salmon); raw nuts and seeds. Remember that good quality proteins and fats are vital for hormones which support and promote fertility, including those produced by the thyroid gland, as well as insulin.

Drink: Good hydration supports all body functions, so drink filtered water.

Become a Picky Eater: You may have heard about ‘bad fats’; these prevent the uptake of good fats and create problems for fertility. They include trans-fats, oxidised fats and hydrogenated fats. Many processed foods contain hydrogenated fats; trans-fat occur mainly when oils get heated to high temperatures, whether commercially or in your kitchen; oxidation occurs when fats and oils are stored improperly and are allowed to deteriorate as a result.