Natural Fertility Boosters

Ready to expand your family? While your most vigorous efforts will probably come in the bedroom, you may want to invest some energy in the kitchen, too. While you’re trying to get pregnant, both mom and dad can make some easy nutritional and lifestyle changes that will help improve your chances of conceiving.  A. Because shark’s fins were said to look like the male organ B. and figs like the female’s, early civilizations encouraged eating them to boost fertility.  Unfortunately though, there’s no one magic food that will lure sperm to egg. Practicing all-around good nutrition, however, can help.  The more natural your diet, the better off you’ll be! Think bright reds, yellows and greens for fertility-boosting foods. Salad greens, peppers, carrots, mangos and oranges are particularly rich in the folic acid, Vitamin C and other nutrients your baby-making bodies need.  Whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice are also full of folic acid. This mineral can help conception and lower the chances that your baby will develop neural birth defects like spina bifida.  While trying to conceive, be sure to consume lots of calcium, a mineral vital for mom and her baby to-be. Milk, orange juice, salmon and edamame are all great sources of calcium.  To fill dietary gaps, both mom and dad need to take a daily multivitamin. Look for one rich in folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc minerals that give fertility a boost.  As with any supplement, never take more than the recommended dose. Doing so can actually make you less fertile.  There are also some foods and drinks you should avoid. Alcohol decreases fertility in women and studies have shown that it increases the amount of abnormal sperm produced by men.  Also, cut back on the caffeine. More than 300 milligrams, or three cups of coffee, daily can decrease fertility and even trigger a miscarriage. How you eat is as important as what you eat. To ensure healthy weight gain and proper delivery of nutrients for mother and baby-to-be, don’t skip meals or go on a diet.  A. Under pressure? B. Couples with extremely high stress levels may have more difficulty conceiving than C. their calmer counterparts.  This is because, in women, stress causes extra uterine contractions which can delay ovulation and even prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.  Stressed-out men may experience reduction in both sperm count and sperm mobility.  While no alternative therapies have been proven to increase fertility, there are certainly many that reduce stress—and that can help lead to conception. Finally, an excuse to get a couples massage.  Yoga is another excellent way to de-stress and get your doctor-recommended exercise at the same time. Look for a fitness center offering classes in prenatal yoga.  It can help to shop for aromatherapy candles and bath products scented with lavender, sandalwood or sage. These scents stimulate the release of relaxing melatonin. Preparing for pregnancy with diet and stress-relieving exercises can help ensure that it occurs! Remember, always consult your doctor if you’re planning to become pregnant.