Why is nutrition so important for fertility?

Babies are not created from nothing; they are made from the nutrients available at each stage of development. It starts with a healthy egg and a healthy sperm to start the process, then the mother needs to be able to provide everything to grow this new little human. If the mother’s diet is not sufficient, the body will take from the mother to give to the baby for example essential fatty acids will come from the mother’s brain (think baby brain) and iron from the mother’s stores (think fatigue).

A healthy diet goes a long way to creating quality eggs and sperm and supporting the nutrient needs of the developing baby, such as:

• A diet rich in colourful vegetables especially of the green leafy variety.
• Lots of good protein sources such as fish, eggs, beans, quinoa, lentils and lean meat.
• Inclusion of quality fats such as avocado, oily fish, coconut cream, nuts and seeds.
• Wholegrains such as oats, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat and rye.

Mum-to-be needs:

• Reduce risk of DNA damage
• Protect against miscarriage & pre-eclampsia
• Prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida

Zinc

• Helps to mature eggs prior to release
• Reduces risk of miscarriage
• Essential in numerous reactions required for healthy growth and development of the foetus and placenta.

• Helps with production of increased blood levels
• Builds up baby’s stores to get them through first 6 months after birth (little comes through breast milk)

• Reduces risk of gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia
• Increases brain function, skeletal development
• Reduces risk of developing diabetes & allergies later