Did you know that in a survey of women attending London fertility clinics, a shocking 50% were suffering from vitamin deficiency after having tried to lose weight on nutrient-devoid diets?
Dieting can help people with obesity to lose weight, but dieting means eating a healthy, balanced diet with fresh and raw foods, not simply reducing the number of meals. If the number of meals are cut down, there may not be enough nutrients to sustain a pregnancy.
What Foods Can Boost Fertility?
Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates advised all new brides to eat plenty of fruits and seeds to get pregnant and for her man to avoid alcohol and hot baths. This advice is still valid today.
A diet which is high in fresh, organic fruit, vegetables and grains is the best kind of diet. Here are some fertility superfoods which you should include in your pre-conceptual diet:
- Citrus fruit - they have a high vitamin C content which has been shown to improve fertility levels
- Sunflower seeds and nuts for the zinc content
- Brown rice, oat, pulses and green vegetables for B vitamins. Vitamin B6 is particularly important as it helps to metabolise hormones like estrogen, which could assist you in getting pregnant. B6 is also good for pregnant women as it breaks down hormones that cause morning sickness, so having plenty of vitamin B6 in the diet can prevent or lessen morning sickness
- Oily fish for omega 3, or if you are a vegetarian, linseed or flaxseeds on your breakfast cereal
- Drink plenty of water and herb or fruit teas instead of coffee
Foods to Avoid
If you're trying for a baby, there are some fertility killing foods that you should avoid. These are:
- Alcohol - this inhibits your vitamin absorption and can even make you anaemic
- Tea, coffee and chocolate - these all contain caffeine which also inhibit your body's ability to absorb vitamins. Too much caffeine has also been linked to miscarriage
- White bread - this has been stripped of its goodness
- Sugar - too much sugar can depress your immune system. According to Dr. Sears, consuming just 75g of sugar (present in two cans of soda or a large cake) can alter your immune function. Even table sugar, fructose and honey caused a 50% drop in the white blood cells ability to destroy infection.
- Avoid highly processed foods such as microwave dinners. They are often very high in salt and low in essential vitamins. The microwaving process also destroys vitamins. If you want something quick, eat raw. Carrot sticks, cauliflower pieces, nuts and fruit are just a few examples of food that can be eaten raw.
You may find that just modifying your diet is enough to kick start your ovulation and start you on the road to motherhood.
Sources: 'Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal', p. 203-204, by Readers Digest, 2004
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