Diet plays an important role in female fertility, and this is why depending on what it includes it can enhance or weaken the health of eggs and thus increase or decrease the chances of fertilization.
Women who wish to have children should follow a proper diet, rich in nutrients. It is certainly good for men to do the same.
The foods that contribute to fertility are:
→ Legumes. Plant proteins help fertility in contrast to animal proteins. Moreover, they are rich in iron, which is essential for normal ovulation → Dried fruits. Especially walnuts, peanuts and cashews, are excellent sources of selenium, which contributes to the development of healthy follicles. Walnuts are also rich in zinc, essential for the production of sperm and for normal ovulation. Dried fruits are also rich in omega-3 and vitamin E, which help in the production of healthy cells.
→ Omega – 3 Fatty Acids. We find them in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna. The fatty acids regulate the reproductive hormones and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. They prevent the breakdown of chromosomes that cause genetic abnormalities and miscarriages. They enhance the motility of sperm, and the blood flow to the uterus.
→ Folic Acid. Found in green leafy vegetables and in cereals. Its deficiency causes reduced fertility and spermatogenesis.
→ Vitamin A. According to research its deficiency causes degeneration of germ cells.
→ Antioxidants. Protect cells from free radicals, which are responsible for male infertility. Antioxidants we mainly get from food. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and the carotenoids, maintain the integrity of the DNA of sperm cells. The beta-carotene improves fertility in men and the vitamin C enhances ovulation and the motility of sperm.
→ Zinc. Contributes to the motility of sperm. We get zinc from shellfish and meat.
→ Magnesium. We get it through vegetables and pineapple, it also contributes to reproduction.
→ Hot pepper. It causes the release of endorphins that fight stress, one of the main factors that hinder fertility.
The foods to avoid are:
-Processed meats.
-Soda
-Caffeine
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Simple and processed carbohydrates, such as white bread, white pasta, potatoes, sweets.
-Seafood rich in mercury, such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel.
