This is the second part of a seven part series on natural fertility. Since diet is such a huge topic, it will be divided into two parts. You’ve checked your cholesterol, iodine, and thyroid. So, now it’s time to add some nutrient dense foods to your diet.
We have received diet advice over the past 50 years or so banishing foods that provide important nutrients for a healthy baby. As a kid, I was fortunate enough to grow up with my grandmother living with us. She did all the cooking from scratch using the dietary wisdom that had been passed down from generation to generation. That means I grew up eating liver once a week (I know, yuck, but I actually liked it).
Here are some foods to include in your diet to enhance your chances of getting pregnant:
Liver
This is the most nutrient dense food on the planet. It has just about every nutrient you need to support a healthy baby. These include choline, B vitamins, vitamins A and D, and minerals like iron and zinc.
All you need is three to four ounces per week,which you can eat in one serving or you can break it up into smaller daily servings.
If you can’t handle eating liver, you can take dessicated liver in pill form. However, that requires around 10 capsules/tablets a day to get the same amount of nutrients in one serving of liver. Click here for a video on a few ways to make liver taste better.
Eggs
To get the full benefits of eating eggs, you need to eat the yolk since that’s where all the nutrients are. Egg whites are great for protein, so definitely eat the whole egg. Eggs provide choline, vitamins and
minerals, and antioxidants. I recommend eating three eggs a day. Click here for a great recipe to cook breakfast (egg) muffins. There perfect for the morning or a great protein packed snack when your on the go!
Green Leafy Vegetables
You want plenty of folate to support the healthy development of a baby. Leafy greens like spinach, swiss chard, kale, beet greens, and collard greens are a great way to get this nutrient. Frozen greens do not contain much folate. Because of this, you
need to go fresh here. I recommend cooking greens as too many raw greens can cause digestive upset and may contribute to kidney stones. You can lightly steam them or sauté them. Add some fat like olive oil, butter, or red palm oil to increase absorption of antioxidants. For more information on antioxidants, click here to read, “Antioxidants – Can They Be Boosted With Chiropractic Care?”.
Salmon, Fatty Fish & Seafood
We need omega-3 fats, particularly DHA to support healthy brain development in babies. Fish is one of the best sources for this. Other nutrients provided with fish
and seafood are iodine, selenium, and vitamin D. You just need to watch the source here to avoid mercury and plastic; click here to find the healthiest options.
Avoid farmed fish and go with wild caught. Tuna should be limited to 6 ounces or less per week. You want to shoot for two to three servings of fish per week. Vital Choice Wild Seafood is a convenient way to get good quality fish and seafood.
Beets
Beets are great for liver and gallbladder health. They also support healthy circulation due to their nitric oxide content which may improve fertility. They also provide iron and folate.
An easy way to include beets is to boil them whole in salted water for about 45 minutes (until a fork can prick through easily). Cool, peel and cut up in bite size pieces. Marinate them in some olive oil and vinegar with salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic powder (or whatever seasonings you like) and keep them in fridge. Add to salads or eat plain.
Stay tuned for more diet tips and foods to avoid. Click here if you want a little extra support and use the coupon code BLOOM100 until July 8, 2019 to get $100 off my Baby-Ready Body Basics course. It contains 4 modules and 16 lessons with short videos, checklists, cheat sheets and more to help you with diet, stress management, eliminating toxins, and more.
It also includes meal plans, recipes and a weight loss guide in addition to a PDF copy of my book The Switch Diet. If you’re serious about having a baby, this course will guide you step by step to get your body ready for a baby.
Annette Presley RD, LD, is a functional nutritionist, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She enjoys helping people live their lives well so they can stay out of hospitals and spend more time with their families and doing the things they love.