Diet plays an important role in a woman’s life. Not only does it make you look good, but it also helps in keeping you fit. It is also an important factor in determining your fertility. Consuming the right food is the safest and healthiest way of boosting fertility in women. It is important to include certain foods as part of your daily diet when you’re trying to conceive. 

Here’s a list of nutrients you should include in your diet to increase your chances of getting pregnant:

1. Vitamin B6

Women ingesting contraceptive pills have shown to have lower reserves of Vitamin B6 which is an essential nutrient in the reproduction process. To restore your Vitamin B6 levels, consume chicken and fish, avocado, spinach, sunflower seeds and cooked bananas.

2. Vitamin B12

The foetus uses Vitamin B12 from the mother’s reserves. Hence, it is essential to consume proper food containing this nutrient in order to avoid depletion. The riches Vitamin B12 sources are eggs, mackerel, sardines, red meat, beef liver, cheese and yogurt, and milk. Vegetarians, thus, have naturally lower reserves of Vitamin B12, as there are very few vegetarian sources and their best option is to consume supplements.

3. Vitamin D

Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption and strengthening of bones. During pregnancy, the foetus is dependent on its mother’s Vitamin D pool. Hence, the mother needs to have a strong source of Vitamin D at the time of conception to avoid osteomalacia or osteoporosis in the future. The richest sources of Vitamin D are milk and milk products, and fish.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E aids in maintaining the integration of egg and sperm, thus, enhancing the reproduction process. Get loads of Vitamin E by consuming almonds, spinach, fish oils and palm oils, sunflower seeds and avocado.

5. Iron

Like other nutrients, the foetus absorbs iron from the mother’s resource. Pregnancy leads to an increase in blood which brings down the iron content in the blood. Hence, before planning the baby, the woman needs to have normal reserves of iron in order to avoid malnutrition of self or of the baby in the future. Lack of iron can also lead to anaemia which can be harmful to both during the pregnancy. Some iron rich foods are beans, spinach, poultry, pork, red meat, seafood, apricots and dried raisins, peas, etc.

6. Protein

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential while planning for a baby. Hence, you should avoid unhealthy fats and replace them with proteins that contain relatively lower calories. Some protein rich foods are chicken, eggs, beans, tofu, nuts etc.

7. Folic Acid

A study conducted at Harvard University concluded that women who consumed multivitamins daily containing 400 mg of Folic Acid were less likely to experience infertility by 40 per cent. Broccoli, asparagus, spinach and turnips are vegetables rich in folic acid. Other sources include grapefruit, oranges, lentils, flax seed, avocado etc.

8. Fat

No, this doesn’t mean you can order a double patty burger at McDonald’s. Consuming the right fat is essential if you’re trying to get pregnant. You have to include Omega 3 fatty acid to your diet. The riches sources for this are almonds and walnuts.

People will tell you different things to eat which might not work for you. Consult a doctor, eat right and have a lot of sex! But remember, diet alone may not work magic for your body type. If you still find yourself unable to conceive, please try visiting a specialist IVF hospital. India is also home to some of the best test tube baby centres and IVF fertility clinics, so you’ll always know you’re in good hands. 

Let us know in the comments section about more foods that are good for women if they’re trying to conceive.