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Fertility Enhancing Foods
Diet is important to maintain optimum health and all the more
when trying to conceive is it important to eat right and increase your chances
of conceiving a healthy baby. It’s true that women on “junk food” diets can
conceive, but it’s always best to do all you can to ensure a healthy baby.
Foods to eat
Tea – Green tea, orange pekoe (also known as “regular”) tea are both excellent
fertility enhancers. Tea contains a high level of antioxidants which aid in
healthy immune systems. Research has shown that women who regularly drink tea
increase their chance of conception.
Foods rich in vitamin C – Fruits, especially citrus fruits help to enhance
fertility, especially in men. Vitamin C plays a role in boosting the immune
system, and thus helps to aid in a healthy conception.
Foods high in calcium – Calcium helps to make strong bones, and is especially
important for pregnant women to consume.
Foods high in Vitamin B6 and Folic Acid – Foods that are leafy green vegetables,
nuts and whole grains contain high levels of these nutrients. Vitamin B6 is a
reproductive hormone regulator and Folic Acid helps to prevent certain neuro-tube
defects in the fetus.
Water – water is probably the most important food to consume. Water makes up 75%
of our bodies, and thus water is needed to grow a baby. Get in the good habit of
drinking at least eight cups of water a day.
Foods to avoid
It would probably be a good idea to eat a minimum of seafood especially avoiding
altogether albacore tuna due to the high levels of mercury in this type of fish.
Mercury has been linked with serious birth defects including autism. So it’s
best to avoid anything along these lines, just to be on the safe side.
Avoiding processed foods such as sugar, refined flour (sweets and junk foods)
since these foods provide absolutely nothing for a developing baby. Many older
women who have babies are often diagnosed with gestational diabetes, so it’s a
good idea to avoid this type of food as it can contribute to high blood sugar
levels and a greater risk of need a cesarean due to an overly large baby from a
diabetic mother.
Your baby depends on you and the foods you choose to eat, so be good to your
child before it’s born. Give it every advantage now prior to conception and
avoid problems further down the road. Eating healthy is one of the best ways to
insure a happy and healthy baby and probably one of the easiest things you can
do during pregnancy to safeguard the health of you and the baby. Begin these
healthy eating habits now.
©2005 by Lori Ramsey
Lori Ramsey of
Stages in Pregnancy
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