Planning to Get Pregnant? Have These 8 Fertility-Boosting Foods to Improve Your Chances of Conceiving

If you are planning to go the family way but haven’t had much luck conceiving, it’s time you took a good look at your diet. Fertility clinics have been running chock-a-bloc with patients, especially women struggling to conceive. One of the reasons for this growing plague of infertility is poor nutrition and there is an overwhelming body of evidence that holds nutritional deficiencies responsible for both male and female infertility. That’s why health experts recommend that women eat right and take care of their nutritional deficiencies before they try to conceive. So before you set out to make babies, here is a list of best foods you can eat to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Green leafy vegetables

One of the most important nutrients you need to get pregnant is folate. And leafy greens are one of the best sources for the same. It’s important to eat a diet rich in green vegetables like like spinach (palak), fenugreek (methi), kale, turnip greens,etc. before conception. These foods also help in minimising birth defects in your little one. In addition to folate, leafy greens also contain good amounts of calcium and iron, both of which are important for fertility.

Oily fish

In the recent years, we have heard so much about the miracles of omega 3 fatty acids. It turns out that the nutrient also aids in improving fertility. For the non-vegetarians, one of the biggest sources of this important nutrient is fish, especially oily fish. Eating omega 3 rich fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines help in boosting your chances of pregnancy. If you don’t fancy fish, you could also pop some omega 3 capsules daily.

Walnuts

Vegetarians don’t despair. There are plant-based sources of omega 3. You can get your daily dose of omega three from walnuts, the best vegetarian source of this valuable nutrient. Apart from that, walnuts are also a good source of vitamin E and B vitamins and proteins, all of which are good for your endometrial health.

Whole grains

If you’ve been on a low carb diet, you only have your diet to blame if you aren’t getting pregnant. Shunning grains could affect your fertility. That’s why it is recommended that you eat a diet rich in whole grains such as wheat, brown rice, millet (ragi/nachni), buckwheat and barley. These give you a good dose of beneficial B vitamins, vitamin E, fibre and antioxidants and improve your chances of fertility.

Broccoli

Another green veggie you should stock your fridge with is broccoli. The dark-green cruciferous vegetable is replete in the aforementioned folate and is one of the richest sources of calcium. It also has good amounts of other fertility-boosting nutrients like vitamin C and minerals that promote good reproductive health.

Eggs

It’s common knowledge that eggs are a great source of protein. But they are also rich in beneficial vitamins and minerals that aid conception. Choline, an important component in eggs, can positively impact foetal development.

Pomegranate

Agreed it is a pain to peel and eat but it is one of the most nutritious fruits out there. In fact, the Chinese also prize it as a symbol of fertility and abundance. It is a rich source of valuable nutrients such as vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin E. Starting your day with a fresh glass of pomegranate juice will have a positive impact on your fertility.

Water

Water is not a food but not having enough can nick your chances of getting pregnant. Strange but true! Dehydration can cause your cervical mucus to become thicker and more viscous. This makes it difficult for the sperm to swim through the thick mucus and reach the ovum.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2018 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).