His and Her Foods for Maximum Fertility

These days, you hear a lot about fertility treatments; but it seems that talk of why fertility problems exist in the first place is less common. Getting to the root of infertility – in particular, which nutritional deficits may be responsible for reproductive problems – may be a simpler and more cost-effective alternative to “traditional” infertility treatments.

Men

• Vitamin C
  Although studies have found that both men and women with fertility problems have a higher-than-average nutritional deficit, men in particular could benefit from an increase in certain vitamins. For instance, according to a study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, men can increase their sperm count by up to 140% by upping their intake of Vitamin C to 1,000 milligrams a day (Getting Pregnant, 2011). Foods high in Vitamin C include broccoli, tomatoes, papaya, mango, and kiwi.
• Vitamin E and Selenium
  Vitamin C isn’t the only nutrient that can help improve a man’s fertility. A study reported by the Archives of Andrology demonstrated that increased levels of Vitamin E and selenium can help sperm swim better, enabling them to reach the egg for fertilization. Guys looking to increase their Vitamin E and selenium intake should choose foods like nuts, spinach, and sunflower seeds.

Women

• Whole Grains
  As if there isn’t already enough incentive to make the switch to whole grains, it appears that it helps with female fertility as well. Because good insulin function is imperative to healthy fertility, and whole grains don’t burden the endocrine system like processed flour does, it appears that eating whole grains like wheat bread and brown rice, as opposed to the white varieties, may help you conceive.
• Dairy Products (The Real Stuff)
  Females are notorious for skimping on real dairy products like cheese, milk, and butter in an effort to maintain their figures, but researchers at Harvard have found this to be harmful to the ovulation process. Instead of skipping the dairy altogether, try just one serving of the full-fat stuff a day.

{ MORE: New Mamas: How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Having a Baby? }

When it comes to fertility, little changes can make a big difference. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, try tweaking your diet just a bit, and see if it has an effect. If it does, not only will you be happily expecting, but you’ll have saved a ton of money on expensive fertility treatments, not to mention all the stress that goes along with them.