{In no situation do we ever recommend that fertility diagnosis or treatment be undertaken without the oversight of a qualified medical practitioner. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.}

Could it be that something as simple as what you eat can have an impact on your fertility?

There are no specific foods or beverages that will definitely make anyone more fertile. However, one's overall nutrition has a subtle, but powerful effect on all of the body's systems, including the reproductive.

Assuming you already have some very basic awareness of what "good nutrition" means, here are some additional facts on how what you ingest can effect your efforts to conceive a successful pregnancy:

Essentials

If you're hoping to conceive, make sure you get good amounts of:

• vitamin E, sources: whole grains, broccoli, alfalfa, nuts, wheat germ, seeks, leafy greens, soy
• vitamin A, sources: cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, collards, kale, cauliflower,) alfalfa
• vitamin C (for men), sources: cruciferous vegetables, alfalfa, orange juice
• vitamin D (for men), sources: alfalfa, dairy products, salmon
• calcium (for men), sources: soy, broccoli, alfalfa, dairy products, salmon
• iron, sources: alfalfa, leafy greens
• zinc, sources: wheat germ, seeds, soy
• folic acid (for women), sources: leafy greens, whole grains, wheat germ, soy, citrus fruits
• essential fatty acids, sources: safflower & other vegetable oils

The most important thing to know about vitamins and minerals is that they are best absorbed and utilized by your body when taken in food form rather than pill or supplement form. Also, it is possible to overuse certain vitamin supplements, creating a dietary situation that is actually more harmful than helpful. One exception to this rule is folic acid for women, which should be supplemented by pill (up to 800 mcg per day) in addition to foods because of the strong correlation between folic acid deficiency and neural birth defects.

What to Avoid

Here's a quick list of things to avoid ingesting while trying to conceive (and later on during pregnancy):

Food-Related Items

• alcohol
• artificial sweeteners
• food coloring
• ginger, ginger ale, ginger beer
• quinine, key ingredient in tonic water
• caffeine (chocolate, sodas, coffee, tea, some pain and cold remedies)
• monosodium glutomate (MSG), BHA, and other food additives
• partially or uncooked foods
• contaminated food or water
• crash, fad, or high fat diets

Non-Food Items

• aspirin and other NSAIDS (e.g. ibuprofen)
• antihistamines and decongestants
• some oral antibiotics

From the Macrobiotic and alternative treatment literature, you'll find additional admonitions to avoid:

• meat, poultry, eggs
• sugar, including honey and maple syrup
• seedless fruit
• milk and dairy products
• rhubarb
• peas
• protein

In General...

If you're considering making changes to your nutritional intake in an effort to conceive, it would be wise to consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist for advice.

For the purposes of conception and pregnancy, your nutritional focus should be on enhancing the health of your body, not on facets of attractiveness such as weight (unless you're very over- or under-weight) or shape.

Making positive changes in your diet can not only have an impact on your fertility, it can better prepare your body to handle the rigors of pregnancy and assist in the creation of a healthy child.

Also see:

• Impact of Smoking on Fertility
• Toxin Exposure Effects on Fertility