Can Foods Increase Your Fertility?

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You know it's wise to eat healthy, but did you know certain foods are believed to boost your chances for getting pregnant?

We all know that we're supposed to cut back on alcohol and try to eat the recommended portions of all the major food groups when trying to conceive, but a faction of people believe there's more: that specific foods can actually boost your fertility. Doctors, scientists, dietitians, herbalists, and organic food supporters are all touting the power of food in fertility.

If you and your husband have been trying for months to conceive without success, you may begin to wonder if you're doing something wrong or start asking yourself questions such as, "Is my ovulation cycle off?", "Are we having enough sex?", "Are my husband's 'swimmers' too weak?", "Am I too stressed out?" or "Could it have something to do with that nuclear power plant in my backyard?" Although aspiring mothers seem to worry about nearly everything under the sun when it comes to making babies, one of the last things they tend to consider is diet.

The Disturbing Stats

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seven percent of couples who tried to conceive in 2002 had problems getting pregnant—meaning they had been trying for a year or longer without success. Although a large portion of couples struggle with conception due to low sperm count, ovulatory problems, and endometriosis, a significant number of infertility cases are simply deemed as unexplained. This unsolved fertility mystery is what has provoked several nutritionists and doctors to take a closer look at dietary factors.

Miracle Fertility Foods?

Zinc

There are countless conflicting opinions when it comes to fertility-boosting foods. Some studies point to zinc as the magic fertility bullet. This type of research claims that the consumption of at least 15 mg of zinc a day can increase semen and testosterone production in men and ovulation and fertility in women, report the editors at Fertility.com. Zinc plays a positive role in female fertility by promoting proper cell division, a process critical to the earliest stages of conception and fetal development. Similarly, in male reproduction zinc may well be necessary for adequate testosterone levels and sperm counts. Oysters, chicken, beef, crab, and turkey are all good sources of zinc.