Terri Ramsey Beavers Are you trying to get pregnant? Struggling to conceive? Or undergoing egg donation with an egg bank like Donor Egg Bank USA (Donoreggbankusa.com)?
Regardless of which situation best fits your circumstances, you can make a few simple lifestyle changes to help increase your fertility and chances of conceiving.
From being mindful of what you’re eating to being conscious of what can decrease your fertility levels, here are five quick, easy, and simple lifestyle changes you can make to give your fertility a much-needed boost.
1. Enjoy a Fertility-Friendly Diet
It doesn’t matter what area of life you’re trying to improve; most self-help guides offer tips and tricks on changing your diet so you can enjoy a plethora of health benefits. When it comes to improving your fertility, this remains true.
Thankfully, adopting a fertility-friendly diet isn’t restrictive; there’s an abundance of foods classed as fertility-friendly. Plus, almost anything in moderation is often OK — even full-fat ice cream is recommended as a fertility booster!
Foods that are thought to improve fertility success include:
- Asparagus
- Beans and lentils
- Citrus fruits
- Egg yolks
- Full-fat dairy
- Liver
- Mature cheese
- Oysters
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate
- Sunflower seeds
- Tomatoes (cooked)
- Walnuts
2. Keep Yourself Well-Hydrated
Staying well-hydrated is fundamental regardless of whether you’re trying to conceive. But when you’re looking to improve your fertility, drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins while ensuring your reproductive organs and cells are functioning properly.
3. Start a Fitness Regimen
If you aren’t already regularly active, it’s a good idea to add some moderate exercises to your daily regimen. Exercising regularly helps keep you fit, helps you lose weight, and boosts your mental wellbeing.
Not overdoing it is key.
Too much vigorous exercise can result in lowered progesterone levels and inhibited ovulation. In turn, this may make it difficult to conceive. Try to limit high-intensity workouts to around five hours per week.
Yoga, jogging, or walking are great for your physical and mental health. Not only will they help keep you fit, but these activities will also provide essential “you time.” This time out from your day-to-day stresses is a key aspect of destressing and increasing your fertility.
4. Limit Your Alcohol and Caffeine Intake
When it comes to alcohol and caffeine, moderation tends to be OK. Unfortunately, overdoing it could have a direct impact on your and your partner’s fertility.
You can enjoy a glass of wine on a Friday night or relish that morning coffee, but try not to over-indulge when you’re out with friends, and resist that third or fourth cup of coffee in the afternoon.
Ultimately, a fertility diet is like any other; the first few weeks can feel restrictive as you adjust to these new habits. Once you’re accustomed to them, you’ll be able to easily resist the temptation to reach for another snack or glass of wine.
5. Quit Smoking
While the other tips above are general guidelines, quitting smoking is a huge recommendation for anyone trying to get pregnant—regardless of gender.
For instance, women who stop smoking are twice as likely to get pregnant each month, and smoking in males can lead to damaged DNA in sperm and erectile dysfunction.
Quitting smoking while trying to get pregnant also helps when you finally conceive – you’ll only have the food cravings to deal with!
Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Fertility and Beyond
These five tips are healthy habits to get used to for your pregnancy and parenthood.
By enjoying a healthy lifestyle pre-pregnancy, you’ll likely find that you don’t gain as much weight throughout your pregnancy and may find it easier to lose weight afterward. Plus, feeling fit and healthy works wonders when you have a toddler to chase!
