Although there is are no superfoods or supplements that have been
proven to help with fertility, to give yourselves the best chance when planning
a pregnancy, it is advisable for both men and women to eat a healthy
balanced diet, to moderate alcohol intake (under 2
units a week), and to aim for a healthy weight (see our page on
seeing if you are a healthy weight here).
Being a healthy weight is particularly
important for women – women with a healthy weight (body mass index between 20
and 25) have been found to be more successful at getting pregnant than women who
are overweight or underweight.
Here is more advice for women trying to get
pregnant
- take a daily
400 microgram folic acid supplement, and carry on taking it
until the 12th week of pregnancy. This helps to prevent some birth
defects.
- eat fish weekly because of its healthy oil
content, but don’t have more than two portions of oily fish a week. Oily fish
includes fresh tuna (not canned tuna, which does not count as oily fish),
mackerel, sardines and trout. Other goods sources of these healthy fats
are rapeseed
oil, olive or omega
3 rich spreads, omega
3 enriched eggs, omega 3 enriched milk, nuts and seeds.
- Don’t eat
shark, swordfish or marlin because they can have high levels of
mercury.
- eat plenty of food rich in iron such as red meat,
pulses, bread, green vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals. Although liver contains a
lot of iron, you should avoid eating it while you're pregnant.
- avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A. Fish
liver oil also contains high levels of vitamin A. Having too much vitamin A may
harm an unborn baby.