When you are attempting to conceive a child it can be demoralizing to find that your fertility is lower than you previously assumed. While many people turn to chemical or surgical procedures to increase fertility, there are some common and well-documented ways in which you can naturally increase your fertility. Changing your diet or increasing your intake of certain foods is an easy and safe method you can use to attempt to boost your fertility. Read on to learn about the 5 Best Foods to Boost Your Fertility.
5Complex carbs
There is a reason we are attracted to sweet goodies and white bread. Our bodies crave the quick energy spike that we will get from eating these items. Many years ago, access to simple carbs like this was rare and the energy was quickly burned off, but now that is not the case. Simple carbs, such as those found in white bread, cake and white rice, are digested quickly by your body and are processed into blood sugar. To drive down the spike in blood sugar, your pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream and studies have found that high insulin levels can inhibit ovulation.
To prevent this, indulge in complex carbs, such as those found in fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. These complex carbs are usually ripe with fiber and nutrition and take longer for the body to break down. They also help maintain your weight and leave you feeling fuller for longer.
4Unsaturated Fats
Trans fats, such as those found primarily in snacks, commercial baked goods, French fries and some margarines, increases your body’s resistance to insulin.
Your body uses insulin to help move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells and when resistance to insulin is increased, it becomes more difficult for your body to move the glucose into the cell. Your pancreas will continue to produce insulin, which will increase levels in your bloodstream, negatively affecting your ovulation with metabolic disturbances.
To prevent this, consume healthy unsaturated fats like those found in avocadoes, nuts, olive oil and peanut butter.
3Whole Milk
Doctors have found that the more low-fat dairy products a woman consumed, the more difficulty she had with getting pregnant. While still not fully understood, researchers believe that full-fat dairy products convey hormones like estrogen and progesterone and that the processes of making these items into low-fat dairy removes these hormones and what are left behind are androgens, or male hormones. When female hormones do not check male hormones, it can affect fertility.
Instead, indulge in an extra serving of full-fat milk or yogurt. Even ice cream in small amounts can be beneficial, but only along the lines of 2 half-cup servings a week.
2Plant Protein
Plant protein, such as those found in beans, organic japanse tofu and nuts,, comes replete with healthy fats and is relatively low in calories when compared to animal protein. The lower caloric intake benefits weight loss or weight management and doctors have found that higher BMI is detrimental to a woman’s fertility.
1Folate and Folic Acid
Folate and folic acid are highly beneficial to a woman’s fertility and can be found naturally in foods such as dark leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, citrus fruit and peas.
While eating more of these items will be very beneficial to your body, since they are also nutritious, high in fiber and low in calories, doctors also recommend that women seeking to conceive also take a multi-vitamin with at least 400 mg of folic acid. Our bodies seem to respond better and absorb more of the synthetic version.
