Love junk food?  Love “comfort food”?  Have infertility problems?  Well, your choices of food you eat may be contributing to your difficulty in getting pregnant.

Ok, does that mean you have to eat “cardboard” food and avoid the food you like?  Not necessarily.  What it does mean is you have to watch the labels more and avoid processed food by cooking your own using ingredients that are high in the nutrients that increase your levels of fertility.

Choosing whole grains like brown rice and whole grain breads, or any complex carbohydrate as opposed to simple carbs that burn fast in your body and interfere with your blood sugar and insulin levels.  Steady insulin levels are good in order to avoid, or even reverse infertility problems.

Eating foods rich in zinc, like oysters, will also help boost not only fertility in women, but also in men.  Zinc is known to be the mineral that builds the tail and outer layer of the sperm cells.  Men with low levels of zinc tend to also have a low sperm count.  For women, zinc provides the body’s ability to use estrogen and progesterone efficiently which helps to decrease the risk of a miscarriage.

And good old vegetables, yes, mom was right, vegetables are good for you!  In the case of avoiding infertility problems, leafy green vegetables specifically, help avoid not only infertility in both men and women, but is also known to help prevent serious birth defects.  The nutrient found in leafy green vegetables (folate or folic acid) can be found in multivitamins, but like any nutrient, it’s more effective consumed from a food source.

Specific proteins can also boost a woman’s fertility.  Eating plant protein, such as peanuts, peas and beans, is much more effective than the protein from red meat.

Oddly enough, full fat dairy products, like whole milk, yogurt and cheese has been found to boost fertility for women and reduce ovulation problems better than low-fat or no-fat dairy.  Now, don’t go running out to grab your favorite 1/2 gallon of Ben and Jerry’s just yet!  The sugar in ice cream will increase your blood sugar and therefore your insulin becomes unstable which can contribute to infertility problems.

In summary, there are many foods available that still allow you to eat what you like and stay healthy and fertile!  The key is to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to stabilize your body in preparation for conception.  Understanding what foods to avoid can increase your chances of getting pregnant.

For more information on this and many other topics related to difficulty in getting pregnant, click on one of the e-books on the right to see the review and decide which one suits you best. Or click here to get your own copy of our recommended e-book.

Photo courtesy of Ramzi Hashisho