Learn about the importance of nutrients and vitamins for fertility

Many hopeful parents want to know whether there is such a thing as a “fertility diet.” While there isn’t a set meal plan that’s guaranteed to help you conceive, it is important to reach and maintain a healthy weight. It’s also helpful to get the right nutrients and vitamins for fertility. Read on as our Austin fertility doctors explain what vitamins you should be getting in your diet if you want to have a healthy baby.

Here are some of the top nutrients and vitamins for fertility

Your “fertility diet” should consist of important vitamins for fertility. Our Austin fertility doctors find that the following nutrients can help you conceive and have a healthy pregnancy.

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is important for a healthy pregnancy. It has been shown to prevent neural tube defects in babies as well as preterm labor and spontaneous miscarriage. You can get folic acid naturally from foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, leafy green vegetables, chickpeas and kidney beans. As soon as you start thinking about trying to conceive, you should also supplement your diet with a prenatal vitamin that has 600-800 micrograms of folic acid.

Iron can be found in most prenatal vitamins because pregnant women should get about 27 mg of iron every day. In women with low iron levels, taking an iron supplement can improve fertility and ovulation. In addition to getting iron from vitamins for fertility, you can also find it in meat, poultry, fish and beans.

Calcium is important for your bone health and your baby’s growth in the womb. The best way to get the recommended 1,000 mg of calcium each day is from food. The best foods to help you get your daily dose of calcium include yogurt, figs, spinach, almond butter, milk and cheese. Most prenatal vitamins also contain some calcium.

You may want to consider taking a DHEA supplement. One study showed that women with poor egg quality who took DHEA had a substantially higher chance of having a live birth than patients who did not use this supplement. Due to the low cost of DHEA and the low chance of side effects, it can be worth discussing this supplement with your doctor.

Don’t forget about the importance of having a healthy BMI

Our Austin fertility doctors often tell patients that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important when trying to conceive. Women who are overweight or underweight tend to have lower fertility rates than women who have a healthy BMI. This is because being underweight or overweight can cause irregular periods and interfere with ovulation.

The best way to reach and maintain a healthy weight is by eating a nutritious diet and getting regular physical activity. Our team can provide specific suggestions for you if you’re struggling to reach a healthy BMI.

If you would like to learn more about how to eat a healthy fertility diet and which vitamins for fertility should be a part of it, please contact us for an appointment. Our team can help you develop a customized and comprehensive treatment plan.