Boost your fertility with oysters, seaweed and other foods

Have you been left disappointed by negative pregnancy test results for months now (and have ruled out all serious causes of infertility like endometriosis, PCOS, and hormone imbalance)? If so, it might be time to try a different tactic to make your baby dreams come true. Did you know that your lifestyle plays a huge role in how fertile you are? When you want to lose weight, you focus on avoiding bad carbs, fats, and sweets and rather opt for veggies and whole grains. The same principle applies when you’re trying to conceive; you start following a healthy, balanced diet and incorporate some exercise into your day. While including the below foods in your diet could help to make you more fertile, there’s no guarantee that you will fall pregnant naturally. Your age and other lifestyle factors, like whether you smoke or drink, also play a part.

The foods below have been said to help improve fertility by boosting minerals, vitamins, and your overall health to prepare your body for carrying a successful pregnancy:

Indulge in oysters

While oysters have been known to increase your libido, they’re also great to eat if you’re trying to have a baby. They are packed with zinc, which increases the production of good-quality eggs.

Turn to beans and lentils

Not only are they high in fibre, but they’re also high in protein which can highly improve ovulation. They’re also a great source of folic acid that helps with conception and to develop healthy embryos.

Nibble on seaweed

Seaweed is packed with nutrients that help enrich the liver, kidneys, bladder, and adrenals which are organs vital to fertility health. Bring on the maki rolls!

A handful of berries

Stock up on raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries! It doesn’t matter if you blend them in a smoothie, have them with yoghurt, or just plain out of the Woollies pack in the car – they all contain natural antioxidants that are great for both your and your partner’s fertility. They’re also high in vitamin C and folic acid.

Eat more spinach

Spinach has been called a fertility superfood by many as it’s packed with iron, folate, and zinc. These minerals are all essential for women who are trying to get pregnant. You can have it raw

Try sweet potatoes

Mashed, grilled, or baked – have them anyway you like them. They contain high doses of Vitamin A and iron which are crucial for enhancing fertility. Research has also shown that a lack of Vitamin A can lead to secondary infertility.

Stock up on asparagus

According to studies, eating just one cup of boiled asparagus will provide you with over 60% of your daily recommended value of folic acid. It will also fulfil your daily vitamin K needs, and strengthen your reproductive health with more than 20% of vitamins A, C, and B. Asparagus also contains substantial amounts of zinc and selenium. If you’re not a big asparagus fan, we’ve heard many people say it’s better to buy them fresh and avoid the tinned ones as they aren’t always a great experience.