Foods to Increase Fertility

Your diet can either increase or decrease your fertility. If you are trying to conceive, it is important that you eat these foods to increase your fertility. In many ways this fertility diet is common sense--the healthier you eat, the more likely you are to increase your fertility and conceive.

Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts and legumes are the most important foods to increase fertility. These foods are helpful in a variety of way. They are full of vitamins and minerals, provide your body with plenty of fiber, and are low in trans fat, excessive sugar, and refined carbohydrates.

Green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and nuts are high in both folic acid and vitamin B6. Folic acid protects the fetus for when pregnancy does occur while B6 acts as a regulator of reproductive hormones.

Make sure that you eat plenty of fruit--especially fruit high in vitamin C such as oranges. Citrus fruits can help to increase your fertility. Both men and women will get a fertility boost by adding citrus to their diets.

For drinks, you'll want to cut out sugary soft drinks and replace them with tea and water. Drinking plenty of water is vital for your health, including your reproductive health. Try to drink eight glasses of water throughout the day. Add some cucumber, lemon, or orange slices if water is too plain for you. Also, drink more tea. Tea can be either green or black and can be decaffeinated if you prefer. Studies show that women who drink tea regularly have a better chance at conceiving. Keep added sugar to a minimum.

While you don't need to be a total vegetarian, you should consume more protein from plant sources than animal sources. While beans are a great source of protein, most foods that you eat contain protein. As long as you are eating enough calories, you are likely getting a sufficient amount of protein. By eating more vegetables, fruits, and legumes, you'll also be making sure that you are eating enough fiber, which is also important to increase fertility.

Of course, it isn't just about what foods you eat--it's also about what foods you don't eat. Fat is an essential part of your diet, especially when you are trying to conceive. Too low of a BMI can lower your fertility. At the same time, the wrong kinds of fat and too high of a BMI can also damage your chances of having a baby. The fat that you want to avoid is trans fat. This is the type of fat that is found in fried foods, hydrogenated oils, and margarine. Cut out fried foods, read your food labels, and use olive oil or canola oil in place of margarine when possible.

There is no one food that will guarantee conception. But by eating healthier you can choose the right foods to increase fertility and become pregnant faster.