Fertility Diet Recipes

What is The Fertility Diet?

The Fertility Diet sometimes refers to a book written by Jorge Chavarro, Walter Willett, and Patrick Skerrett published in 2007.

The book is called The Fertility Diet: Groundbreaking Research Reveals Natural Ways to Boost Ovulation and Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant, and details findings from the Nurses’ Health Study relating to the effects a woman’s diet can have on her fertility.

The fertility diet doesn’t just refer to the book’s recommendations, though. Functional health professionals now offer a set guidelines based on boosting nutrients specific to conception and pregnancy that can also be referred to as a Fertility Diet.

See below for the best foods and recipes for fertility.

And, if you’re looking to switch to a functional medicine practitioner to help manage your fertility issues, then check out my article on how to find functional medicine doctors near me.

Worst Foods for Fertility

Before we get into the best fertility recipes, let’s talk about what men and women should avoid eating when considering getting pregnant.

Gluten

If you are one of the millions of Americans who has Celiac disease or non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, then you should avoid gluten. Eating gluten when you have either of these conditions can lead to systemic inflammation in the body and other issues.

Furthermore, American wheat is often heavily contaminated with pesticides, causing further endocrine disruption and potential issues including miscarriage.

Alcohol

Alcohol is another stressor on the body and can impair hormone metabolism in the liver. When you consume alcohol, your liver must process it first before resuming normal processes such as hormone metabolism.

Ensuring your hormones are being produced and metabolized efficiently is important for conception, so avoiding alcohol when trying to conceive is a good idea.

Artificial Sweeteners

For both conception planning and pregnancy, you may wish to avoid artificial sweeteners. This means you may have to give up diet sodas and other foods with sweeteners. And, even natural sweeteners may have some negative effects on fertility.

So, discuss with your doctor whether or not sweeteners are safe for you. See my list of the best sugar substitutes.

Excess Refined Carbohydrates and Sugar

Eating too many refined carbohydrates or sugary foods can cause blood sugar imbalance and further exacerbate conditions such as insulin resistance and PCOS.

To optimize your blood sugar and overall health, make sure each meal is balanced with healthy sources of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. You can check out my article with more ideas about how to eat clean and the best no-sugar foods. See below for specific fertility diet recipes.

Overly Restrictive Diets

Overly restrictive diets may cause excess stress and reduce the chance of conception for both males and females. If you’re trying to conceive, your best bet is to incorporate as many healthy foods as possible and avoid extreme diet. See my related articles on who should avoid going keto and the dangers of a vegan diet.

If you specifically have PCOS, you should read my article on the best PCOS diet. If you are trying to lose weight, then you might also like this article with the best weight loss tips for women.

And, please remember that there isn’t just one set of rules for a fertility diet. Each woman will have different needs and should be advised by a licensed healthcare professional to find a diet and supplement routine that supports her fertility needs.

Best Fertility Foods

On the other end of the spectrum, certain foods can definitely ensure your hormones are stable and supply you with the nutrients necessary to support life.

So, when trying to conceive or if you’re pregnant, consider increasing your intake of these nutrient-dense foods. You may also want to refer to my article on the Ten Foods to Eat to Be Healthy.

Foods Rich in B-Vitamins

Foods rich in B-vitamins help support energy levels, blood cell production and reduce the risk of neural tube defects.

Sources of B-vitamins include grass-fed red meat, pasture-raised chicken and eggs, sustainably-sourced fish, avocados, bananas, berries, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, some whole grains, and legumes.

Foods Rich in Iron

Proper iron intake and iron supplementation can help prevent low birth weight of babies and increases hemoglobin of the mom.

Sources of heme iron include grass-fed red meat, pasture-raised chicken and eggs, and sustainably-sourced fish. Non-heme iron from nuts, seeds, and legumes require additional co-factors such as vitamin C to be absorbed and are absorbed to a lesser degree than heme iron.

Foods High in Folate

Folate helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Focus on foods high in folate rather than folic acid, which is the synthetic inactive version of folate. Folic acid is not easily converted to folate, particularly by those with the MTHFR gene mutation.

Foods high in folate include pasture-raised chicken and calf’s liver, lentils, spinach, strawberries, and asparagus.

Foods Rich in Vitamin A

Vitamin A and its precursor, beta-carotene, help bone and teeth growth.

Sources of Vitamin A include fish and pasture-raised organ meats, eggs, and dairy. Sources of beta carotene include yams, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, and other vegetables and fruits. It’s pretty easy to spot most foods high in beta carotene as the nutrient gives them a bright orange color.

Foods Rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C supports immune system development and protects tissues from damage. Sources include citrus fruits, bell peppers, berries, cruciferous vegetables, and potatoes.