Hey good people,
I have irregular periods and I think it’s time for me to have a baby. What are my chances? Are there foods I can take to boost my chances to conceive?
Esther Kimani Staff
First avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking and foods like soft cheeses (which may carry listeria), foods containing high levels of vitamin A (such as liver), raw or lightly cooked eggs (risk of salmonella), and sushi. Avoid high processed sugar foods as too much blood sugar can influence hormonal balance.
<strong>Do take:</strong>
Whole Grains as these have an antioxidants, B vitamins, and iron.
Vegetables: Eat lots of colorful vegetables — the brighter the color, the better! You can also boost your calcium from foods like broccoli, kale, or oranges.
Dairy: Take your low fat milk, sour milk, yoghurt and cheese in moderation to boost your calcium.
Fruit: Eat around 3 cups per day to maintain good reproductive health.
Fish: This provides the all-important boost of Omega-3’s, which are vital to fetal development.
Prenatal Vitamin or Comprehensive Fertility Supplement: Everyone knows you should take a prenatal vitamin once you become pregnant, but less well-known is the importance of prenatal supplementation while trying to conceive.
For your partner they also need to avoid smoking and drinking when trying to conceive, as both activities are detrimental to sperm health. There are vitamins and nutrients that help with the production of healthy sperm — zinc, folic acid, selenium, L-Carnitine and vitamins C and E in particular have been shown to help. Fish, chicken, meat, offal (matumbo), eggs, margarine and vegetable oil (soybean, corn, safflower, and cottonseed), wheat germ, green leafy vegetables and whole grain foods are rich sources of these.
