Why Nutrition is Important for Fertility

Food is a necessity to withstand life. And truly, "“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” (Hippocrates). Food powers everything that we do, how are bodies function, and is a key factor in quality of life. And what we eat is one of the very few things that we have control over that can have an impact on our fertility. And did you know that what a female eats can have an effect on her egg quality and a male on his sperm quality. And what a mother eats while she is pregnant has a major impact on her babies future health.  Making changes to your diet such as ordering a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad rather than a cheeseburger with fries is a great place to start. There are also "fertility foods" that can provide essential nutrients necessary to grow a baby. Key nutrients for fertility to help balance hormones include:

*selenium (found in brazil nuts, chicken, mushrooms, veggies, whole grains, and shellfish)

*Vitamin D (sunlight!, fortified milk or juice, and salmon)

*zinc (dairy, chicken, fish, turkey, whole grains)

*choline (eggs-the whole egg, especially the yolk!, chicken turkey, fish, and leafy green veggies)

Key nutrients for a healthy pregnancy include:

*calcium (leafy green veggies , broccoli cheese yogurt, and legumes)folic acid (avocado, legumes, beets, enriched cereal, spinach)

*iron (sardines!, legumes; meat--consume mostly fish, chicken and turkey; leafy green veggies, and whole grains)

Focusing on getting a variety of foods into your diet can help improve your chances of conceiving and being able to support a healthy pregnancy and baby. So whats on my plate for supper tonight? Grilled chicken, roasted broccoli and cauliflower, avocado, and watermelon for dessert.

God gave us one body--it is our job to take care of this temple of God. One day, your body will be growing your baby blessing so prepare your body for that precious gift starting now!

"Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you." 1 Corinthians 3:16

Love and prayers for your future baby blessing!