We talked about the shit you have to avoid, so now let’s focus on all the good shit you get to eat and should be eating!
So you’re trying to get knocked up, whether by a partner or via donor, and you really want it to stick. Why not eat foods that are known to boost fertility? I’m a lunatic so I’m loading up on all of them to up my chances. Here are some items that have been known or linked to boosting fertility. I also purchased these items from Sprouts to help kick my cold and boost fertility.
Specific Foods to Eat to Boost Fertility:
Prenatal Vitamins
Not food I know and you’re like umm I’m not fucking pregnant yet? Nope, you’re not but you should start taking these a few months before trying to conceive. It allows your body to get all of the nutrients that are needed in order to make a babe. It’s one pill a day, or opt for the gummy vitamins (which I verified work just as well haha) but get those vitamins in. It’s never a bad idea to take vitamins!
Pineapple
This one is my jam! I fucking love pineapple and honestly haven’t had it in a while because of the meal plan. So I’ve been loading up on pineapple which is delicious as fuck. There’s a very common belief that eating pineapple core for 5 days following ovulation or embryo transfer will help with implantation. While there’s no science to this, it doesn’t hurt to try. Especially since there are other good reasons to eat. Pineapple is a good source of vitamin C. One cup will give you 46% of your daily recommended value. It also has anti-inflammatory effects.
Wild Caught Salmon
I know, we just talked about seafood, but if you read my post about foods to avoid, you’d see the FDA chart which has a considerable list of seafood that you’re not only allowed to eat but encouraged to eat. Salmon is one of them! Cold water fish like salmon or canned light tuna are great options! They’re an excellent source of DHA and omega-3 fatty acids; they also help develop your baby’s nervous system and cut your risk of premature birth. You can eat them a couple of times a week in a fertility diet without worrying about mercury levels.
Berries
Luckily these were already a part of my diet so not something new I needed to add since they’re the main fruit on the 21 Day Meal Plan. Those tiny things are full of antioxidants, which are pros at protecting your body’s cells (read: those precious eggs) from damage and aging. Opt for blueberries and raspberries, which are extra-packed with antioxidants. If you’re conceiving with a partner, make them eat a handful every day too haha. Studies show that these preconception foods can keep his swimmers strong and healthy, too.
Oranges
You can eat them or drink the juice if it’s whole fresh squeezed juice. I don’t have time for that so I just eat them lol. Orange juice is very high in polyamine putrescine (I have no idea what that is but the FDA said it was good, haha) which can improve egg health. In one study, older female rats were given water rich in putrescine in the time just before and up to ovulation. The rate of chromosomal defects in the ovulated eggs decreased by more than 50 percent! SIGN ME UP! Also, vitamin C from these juices may also help. Low vitamin C levels may negatively affect female hormonal balance. Either way, they’re easy to eat and who doesn’t fucking love oranges?
Oysters
To be honest, I love this. I haven’t eaten them yet but definitely love knowing that I can. They are good because they are fucking full of zinc. You need zinc to conceive, deficiency of this nutrient may disrupt the menstrual cycle and slow egg-production. Of course, you should be taking a prenatal vitamin already but if you can’t stomach oysters try lean beef and poultry, dairy, whole grains (all of which you should already be eating!), nuts, eggs, and legumes.
Sunflower Seeds
I am eating about a tablespoon a day of these. Just regular roasted seeds, without salt! One ounce of sunflower seeds gives you 49% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin E, 16% of your daily folate needs, and 10% of your of Zinc! Sunflower seeds are also a good source of the fatty acids omega 3 and 6. They’re tasty and super easy to just pop a bunch in your mouth and go about your day. That’s what I do! haha.
Walnuts
To be honest, I couldn’t tell you the last time I ate a walnut. I know I’ve eaten them before but as to how long ago, no fucking clue. So I headed to Whole Foods to stock up from the bulk section. Walnuts are healthy fats and those are an important part of our health in general but also reproductive health. They’re rich in omega-3s and omega-6s.
Eggs
Which luckily is one of my favorite foods ever and it’s packed with a bunch of good stuff. The egg is beneficial and especially the yolk. Eggs are a good source of B-vitamins, which are essential for your fertility and baby making. Omega-3 fats are important for fertility as well, and you can get a boost from the omega-enriched eggs. They cost a little extra but are well worth it if you don’t eat much fish. I literally could eat eggs in basically every form.
Full Fat Dairy
Full-fat dairy products, like whole milk, full-fat yogurt, ice cream, cream cheese, and other cheese. A Harvard study found that women who ate full-fat dairy products were less likely to experience ovulation problems than women who ate primarily low-fat dairy products. If you go the ice cream route, they recommend only 1-2 servings per week!
See there’s so much good shit you should eat and you’re encouraged to eat! I know the what not to eat list was sad haha but this should make it better. Consume alllllll this good shit to help boost your fertility. Happy eating & baby making!
