Six fertility foods and six foods to avoid!

By Gervase Kibui

Eating a healthy, balanced diet, drinking lots of water, exercising regularly and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes is the best way to get your body in shape for a baby. However, you may be doing that already and are still having trouble conceiving. Certain foods are thought to boost fertility. By including the following foods in your own and your partner’s diet, you can help to increase your chances of conception and ensure that you are getting all the important nutrients you need to make a baby.

1. NUTS AND SEEDS.

You will get all the essential fats and vitamin E that you need from nuts and seeds. Vitamin E is sometimes known as the fertility vitamin because it carries oxygen to the sex organs. Nuts also contain selenium, which protects sperm and egg health.

2. ORANGES AND KIWI FRUITS.

These two fruits are bursting with vitamins C, which helps to maintain that the quality of a man’s sperm and a woman’s eggs.

3. SPINACH, BROCCOLI AND KALE.

These green leafy vegetables are a fantastic natural source of folic acid. Folic acid is essential for the developing embryo.

4. BROWN RICE

Brown rice and other whole grains are a rich source of B vitamins as well as ink and selenium. Zinc is essential for healthy sperm production as well as cell renewal and repair. Zinc helps to maintain a healthy menstrual cycle and is vitally important for growth and proper cell division in a developing foetus.

5. BOTTLED WATER

Avoid tap water, which may contain lead, pesticides, oestrogens, chlorine and other toxins that may adversely affect fertility.

6. OILY FISH (OR FLAXSEED FOR THE VEGETARIANS)

Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are the best source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) omega-3 and omega-6, which play an important role in regulating reproductive functioning, improving blood flow and enhancing sperm quality and mobility.

The following foods and drinks can reduce your fertility and should be avoided if you are trying for a baby.

1. RED MEAT

Eating red meat in moderation is OK. However, too much red meat will increase the amount of ammonia in your body. Too much ammonia can stop the egg implanting in the uterus. Too much rich protein can also increase the body’s acidity, which can adversely affect sperm activity.

2. NON-ORGANIC DAIRY

Again, in moderation, dairy products are OK. However, make sure it is organic as they will have fewer animal hormones. Animal hormones can cause hormonal imbalance in humans.

3. ALCOHOL, NICOTINE AND DRUGS

Drink alcohol in moderation and avoid nicotine and other drugs altogether. Alcohol, even a small amount, can increase your level of prolactin. Prolactin is a sex hormone, which can adversely affect your hormonal balance. Avoid all recreational drugs. Even over-the-counter drugs, for example painkillers and antibiotics, can disrupt ovulation and reduce a woman’s fertility.

4. COFFEE

Coffee and other drinks containing caffeine (such as fizzy drinks) are stimulants, which upset the body’s blood-sugar level. Caffeine has even been linked to miscarriage during early pregnancy. Even decaffeinated coffee contains many unnatural chemicals and is best avoided.

5. ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

Artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame, has been linked to infertility and miscarriage. You will find artificial sweeteners in any foods or drinks labelled ‘diet’ or ‘sugar-free’. Once in the body, aspartame actually breaks down into formaldehyde, which is the substance used to preserve dead bodies.

6. HYDROGENATED FATS

These are also known as Trans fats and recent research indicates that these unhealthy and processed fats reduce fertility in both men and women.