Fertility Food Pyramid
By now, we all know about the food pyramid as a guide for eating right. But how many of us know that there's a fertility food pyramid which can serve as a dietary guide for women who are trying to conceive? This pyramid isn't much different from the one we all know and love, but the focus is a bit different, based as it is on the latest research relating to diet and fertility.
The essence of the fertility food pyramid is eating a great many fruits and vegetables. These foodstuffs supply the body with antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water. Try to include all the colors of the rainbow to ensure you get all the nutrients your body needs to make and sustain a pregnancy. Some women find that making a smoothie with a variety of fruits is a pleasant way to pack all the fruit they need for one day into one serving.
Add a salad at lunch and some green vegetables at dinner and you've covered the veggies, too. Two good ones to try are Swiss chard and broccoli. The darker green vegetables are powerhouses for nutrition.
Buy Organic
Next up is protein. The best choices are meats, poultry, fish, eggs, or beans. Aim for getting 70-100 grams of protein each day. If you can afford the cost, buy organic to avoid additives.
If you listened to the talk on the street, you'd never eat another carb. But carbohydrates are necessary to good health and especially so for the woman who is trying to become pregnant. The best carbohydrates are those that are whole grain and unrefined. You want them as close to their natural state as possible.
Whole grains are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber aids the body in metabolizing excess estrogen so it can be excreted from your system. But always eat carbohydrates with an equal amount of a protein source.
Blood Sugar
For instance, if you eat four ounces cup of cooked brown rice have 4 ounces of tofu or chicken. This type of combined eating will prevent spiking blood sugar levels that can have a negative impact on fertility and the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Dairy products are a must to fill your calcium requirements. Calcium is crucial in helping the body to maintain a state of alkalinity, an important factor for fertility. If you're lactose intolerant, you can still get calcium from dark green leafy vegetables, quinoa, seaweed, almonds, and sesame seeds or tahini.
The body needs some fats in order to manufacture hormones and to supply vitamin A. Low-fat diets are the enemy of fertility. Instead, include a moderate amount of fat in your diet from sources like fish oil, olive oil, flax seeds, meat, and dairy products.
Maple Syrup
Last but not least, don't deny your sweet-tooth. Whenever possible, substitute healthy sweeteners for processed white sugar and artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Real maple syrup or agave nectar are two excellent choices to use in moderation.
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