Foods to Boost Fertility
There are many foods that may affect your ability to conceive. Some of these foods are believed to lower the risk of fertility problems in both men and women.
Aphrodisiacs
Some foods have been connected to sexual desire and fertility for centuries. The reason for this is that the foods are thought to resemble the shapes of the sexual organs. The foods believed to be aphrodisiacs include: almonds, avocados, asparagus, bananas, dates, figs, garlic, oysters, and pomegranates. However, if they do not work for you in that way, at least they are rich in important vitamins and minerals which are good for fertility.
Brain Foods
Foods that contain the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine are considered to be “brain foods”. They may raise the levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, which play a key role in producing hormones that prepare the uterus to receive an embryo. Tryptophan is found in almonds, dried apricots, bananas, carrots, celery, dates, papaya, parsley, spirulina, sunflower seeds, and sweet potatoes. Tyrosine can be found in lean turkey and lean fish-such as cod, sea bass, sardines, and crab. It can also be found in kidney or mung beans and oats.
Flavanoids
Flavanoids are a group of plant pigments that give color to a whole range of fruits. They also have strong antioxidant activity that helps to neutralize damage caused by free radicals. Flavanoids help to protect sperm and egg cells which can be damaged by free radicals. Eating foods rich in flavanoids helps to protect them. Some fruits that have flavanoids are: blueberries, cherries, grapes, oranges, peaches, plums, raspberries and tomatoes.
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