Have you considered how your diet may affect your ability to get pregnant? Many recent studies have focused on which foods help prepare your body for pregnancy. It may be surprising to learn that dietary changes aren’t just important for the female partner. Antioxidants for the male partner are now encouraged and appear to benefit and increase your chances for fertility.
Basic foods and supplements below can help keep you and your partner’s body in shape for conception.
Folic acid remains important
Your folic acid intake prior to and during pregnancy is critical. It aids in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs), which can lead to Spina Bifida and anencephaly, the most commonly caused impairments caused by folic acid deficiency.
By taking the recommended supplemental folic acid you may increase your chances of ovulation. Additionally, there is evidence that folic acid plays a role in higher egg (oocyte) production in women.
If you are considering additional fertility treatment options, folic acid has also been shown to increase your chances of reproductive success with Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
Vitamin D supplements fall in favor
Unless you are insufficient in vitamin D, there is no proven benefit of taking vitamin D prior to pregnancy. Our fertility team headed by Dr. Stephan Krotz will assess your current metabolic profile to determine the right fertility diet and supplement regime to help you achieve your pregnancy goals.
Antioxidants for men appear important
Surprisingly, no real evidence exists that taking antioxidants increase fertility in women. However when the male partner’s diet includes additional antioxidant intake the couple’s chances of fertility show an increase.
What Foods Increase Fertility Chances?
Mediterranean style diets
There is evidence that a diet of fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables supplemented with whole grains can increase the chances of fertility in women and better quality semen in men.
Keeping your blood sugar at normal levels without drastic swings is important, especially since high insulin is associated with abnormal hormone levels found in PCOS patients.
Need a boost in the right direction? Our wellness program offers group classes , individual counseling and wellness podcasts. Having a fertility tracker is also a good way to keep up with your progress.
Alcohol and caffeine
Steering clear of the morning coffee may be a good idea. Some studies have shown that even 300 mg of coffee may negatively affect your chances to conceive. We recommend avoidance of alcohol or caffeine, as the impact on your fertility is still considered by many to be high and risky.
Knowing that eliminating these may be difficult, our trained integrative dieticians discuss and provide dietary alternatives to boost your energy, mood and stamina when replacing certain foods and beverages. We also have behavioral coaches (?)to help you make changes to your lifestyle that could make the difference in your pregnancy outcomes.
Dairy and soy
Although dairy and soy have not found favor with many fertility specialists and have been on lists as substances to avoid, the jury is still out in this area. Since you may have other conditions that require avoiding these foods, we will work with you to determine your ideal diet intake. Inovi nutritionists and wellness coaches review your current labs, diagnosis and treatment recommendations to develop your exact fertility roadmap.
