Are you trying to get pregnant? You might wonder whether there’s anything you can do to make it easier to conceive. Some things might be beyond your control or need medical help. But improving your diet and lifestyle choices can also help boost your fertility and support your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
In a nutshell: To boost your fertility, maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy prenatal diet rich in antioxidants, exercise regularly, manage stress, and avoid smoking, excessive alcohol, and drugs.
Healthy prenatal diet to boost your fertility
Here are some diet and lifestyle choices to consider for boosting your fertility:
Get enough iron to boost your fertility
Monitor your iron levels before pregnancy to avoid anemia, a condition where your blood lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. Iron is essential for producing hemoglobin, so talk to your healthcare provider about checking your levels and whether supplementation is needed.
Anemia is common but treatable. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates it affects one-third of women of reproductive age and 40% of pregnant women worldwide. Correcting anemia before conception can improve your health and support a healthy pregnancy.
If your healthcare provider advises you take iron supplements, your condition should improve – you will probably be advised to take them in addition to your prenatal vitamins.
Last but not least: Get enough sleep to boost your fertility!
If you don’t have a regular sleep schedule yet, it’s time to adopt one. Researchers are trying to understand the relationship between sleep and fertility and studies suggest that women with fertility problems often don’t get enough sleep.
A lack of sleep can also boost your stress levels. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
