Pregnancy – Conceiving Tips – Five Super Foods to Boost Fertility

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Extensive research on infertility indicates that proper nutrition can increase your chances of pregnancy. Conceiving requires a regular menstrual cycle and quality cervical mucus, which in turn is affected by the kind of food you eat. Cutting out unhealthy trans-fats from your diet is a good start. Although you can obtain vitamins and nutrients from a pre-natal vitamin, nutrients from organic sources are utilized more effectively than those from supplements. So don’t depend on your vitamin supplements alone to stay well-nourished; take charge of your fertility by including these five super-foods in your diet.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme called bromelain which reduces inflammation and breaks up proteins that prevent embryo implantation. The highest concentration of bromelain can be found in the core, but the tart, juicy pineapple flesh is just as beneficial. If you’re going through an IVF or IUI cycle, consume a cup of sliced pineapple for five days, beginning on the first day of the embryo transfer. If you’re conceiving using a timed intercourse cycle, eat a cup of sliced pineapple for five days, starting on day one of ovulation. Make sure you don’t eat high amounts of pineapple too early in your cycle because this can make your cervical mucus more acidic which is not ideal for conception.

Oysters

You’re probably aware of oysters’ legendary aphrodisiac effect, but did you know that scientific studies back up their efficacy for improving sperm quality? This delicious mollusk contains high levels of zinc, which is needed to produce healthy sperm, sperm-friendly semen, and promote sperm motility. There are no studies that examine the effect of oysters on women but at the very least, they won’t hurt your fertility if you decide to eat a plateful of them with your man.

Full fat dairy

Most of us probably buy low-fat milk rather than its full-fat counterpart, but it turns out that a high amount of low-fat dairy increases the risk of anovulation. The large-scale Nurses’ Health Study done by Harvard Medical School researchers discovered that women who ate at least two portions of low-fat dairy foods were 85% more likely to experience ovulatory disorders. On the other hand, women who ate full-fat dairy foods at least once a day had a 25% reduced risk of infertility. Sounds like a great excuse to binge on ice cream, but the researchers say this only work if you don’t increase your daily calorie intake or overall saturated fat consumption. Once you get pregnant, switch back to low-fat dairy to limit the amount of saturated fats in your diet.

Shitake mushrooms

Research has revealed that shitake mushrooms are 40 times more potent than wheat germ in the strong antioxidant L-ergothionein. In fact, they may contain more of this antioxidant than any other food. Numerous studies have indicated that seminal oxidative stress has a very significant negative effect on male fertility. Consuming shitake mushrooms, with their high levels of antioxidants, can go a long way towards counteracting oxidation and improving sperm health.

Molasses

Refined carbohydrates are a big no-no for women trying to conceive. Instead of using white sugar, sweeten your drinks with molasses, the dark byproduct of processed sugarcane. Molasses has high amounts of calcium, iodine, and iron, which can decrease the chances of a miscarriage. It also contains a B-complex vitamin called PABA, which is known to increase the effects of estrogen. Because of its nutritional and energetic content, molasses is also recommended as a home remedy for polycystic ovarian syndrome and irregular periods. For best results use the black strap variety because it is marvelously nutrient rich.