Nutrition is of utmost importance because your body is the vessel in which you will be carrying new life. Therefore, the healthier your body is, the more likely you are to conceive and carry a baby to full term. Here are some of the nutrients that you should be sure to include in your diet:
Folic Acid
Folic Acid can improve fertility in both men and women. Besides supplements, you can obtain folic acid from natural sources such as green leafy vegatables, whole grains, wheat germ and citrus fruits. The recommended amount is 400 micrograms a day.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps in improving fertility and also preventing miscarriages.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant which improves general health, reduces stress and increase fertility among both men and women.
Calcium
Calcium is important for both men and women. It is important for women who are trying to conceive and also women who are pregnant. The recommended level is 1,000mg a day.
Iron
Iron helps prevent miscarriages. The recommended amount is 30mg a day. Green leafy vegetables are a good natural source of iron.
Zinc
Zinc is very important for male fertility. The recommended amount is 11 milligrams a day. Natural sources of zinc include wheat germ, seeds and soy.
L-carnitine and Co-enzyme Q10
Both of these have been found to increase male fertility.
Herbs
Some herbs found to be helpful for fertility include - chaste tree berry, red clover, Siberian ginseng, lady's mantle, black cohosh. There are also around 150 types of Chinese herbs that are useful for improving fertility. These are best obtained from a Chinese medicine practitioner.
Food
If possible, eat organic food to avoid consuming pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, preservatives, hormones, colouring, additives, antibioitcs, flavorings and other chemicals. Some experts say that a vegan or vegetarian diet improves fertility because of the increased intake of fruits and vegetables.
Things To Avoid
If you are trying to get pregnant, you should avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, certain drugs such as aspirin and antihistamines and fish from contaminated waters.
