For those trying to conceive (or even thinking about it), our bodies might need a little more encouragement and support in addition to pre-natal vitamins and folic acid. These five little fertility helpers, commonly found in your local health food stores and also in your big supermarkets, can give a lot of bang for the buck. So, if you are planning to try to start trying for a baby, prep your body with these supplements and foods thought to boost fertility.
5 Supplements & Foods to Boost Fertility
Coenzyme Q10
You’ve probably heard of Coenzyme Q10 and its anti-aging properties on skin cream commercials, and while it definitely helps with our aging bodies, it does even more good from the inside. From dark leafy greens (think kale), nuts and seeds, red meat and even fish, CoQ10 can be found in many of the common foods we consume on a daily basis. It is in every cell of our bodies and plays a critical role in energy production. As we age and our bodies are unable to effectively convert CoQ10, the levels in our cells begin to decline and so does our energy. As an antioxidant, CoQ10 fights free radicals in those cells and helps to reduce cell and DNA damage, improving egg and sperm health and embryo quality.
For women who are getting a little older, but still hoping to get pregnant (either naturally or though IVF), CoQ10 may help produce eggs that function more like the eggs from the younger you. And as for men of any age, eating foods rich in CoQ10 can boost sperm health, count, motility and morphology.
Where is it found? Well, unless you’re really into eating organ meats, the best way to get a good dose of CoQ10 from food is to up your intake of dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, red meat, and fish.
→ Still feeling the winter blahs? Check out our 5 Foods to Beat the Winter Blues here!
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Raspberry leaf tea contains loads of vitamins (including B complex which is great for stress) and minerals that can not only help improve your overall health, but help tone and strengthen your uterus and it’s lining which is said to improve chances of implantation.
Raspberry leaf may also help lengthen the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle which is the time between the start of ovulation and the start of your period, if that time is too short, it can be difficult to get pregnant. The tea is known to help balance your hormones and it works for men as well. It’s also a good idea to take Raspberry Leaf Tea at the end of your pregnancy as it’s said to tone the muscles of your uterus to help with labour.
Spirulina
This freshwater blue green algae, used for centuries by Aztec and African tribes, is known as a superfood for very good reason.
Spirulina offers massive benefits. It’s a complete source of protein, has essential fatty acids that help balance out your hormones, has all of the essential amino acids needed that your body can’t make on its own, and it’s an antioxidant that fights free radical damage, which may improve egg and sperm health and increasing luteal phase. It also contains loads of chlorophyll which cleanses and builds blood cells while increasing your blood’s oxygen, feeding the whole body. And on top of all of that, spirulina is packed with vitamins and minerals, all of which help boost fertility, pregnancy and overall good health.
Omega 3s
Omega-3 is an unsaturated fatty acid that is essential and beneficial to us. It doesn’t occur naturally in our bodies but through our diets and it’s most often the Omega that’s not in balance with the rest.
When we have enough of it, Omega 3s help to normalize a woman’s hormones and cycle, can increase blood flow to the uterus, reproductive organs and cellular structure, increase cervical mucus (which helps the sperm get to the egg), assists in ovulation, helps to reduce inflammation, which can stand in the way of getting and staying pregnant, and may help with endometriosis and uterine fibroids. And once you’re pregnant, Omega 3s may help decrease miscarriage risk and pre-term labor while increasing your baby’s health and development of their brain, eyes, and nervous system. Let’s not forget about the men since Omega 3s contain DHA, an essential fatty acid important in sperm formation, also helps to increase sperm count and motility. A diet rich in flax, pumpkin and hemp seeds, walnuts, beans, and fish are all great sources of Omega 3, and it’s also found in good quality fish or flax oil and gel caps.
Maca
Maca comes from Peru where the soil is rich from volcanic minerals. Peruvians have been using it for over two thousand years to increase fertility, energy, vitality and sexual stamina. It’s also rich in amino acids, phytonutrients, fatty acids, and is loaded with vitamins and minerals that are said to help bring hormone levels back into balance in both men and women by nourishing the endocrine system. It may also increase egg health in women while increasing sperm count, sperm health, and motility in men – who should also be considering how to boost fertility if trying to conceive.
* As with any dietary changes you make before, during, or after pregnancy, please consult your doctor or OB before taking any supplements.
Tagged under: fertility,foods to boost fertility,fertility boosting foods
Category: recipegeek
