For Men: Poor diet can be a contributing factor towards male infertility issues such as - hormone irregularities, low sperm count, reduced sperm motility (swimming capability), poor morphology (shape) and DNA fragmentation inside the sperm cell. Low immunity can result from dietary factors, leading to illnesses or infections which can cause disturbances with sperm production.
For Women: Poor diet can contribute towards infertility issues such as - poor egg quality, hormonal imbalance, ovulation disorders, the inability for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus, infections and many other reproductive disorders. There are also other common diet related health conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia or obesity) which in turn can become a cause of infertility. Also a woman's diet before or during pregnancy can have a big impact on the woman's ability to carry to term.
Eat healthy fats. Eliminating trans-fats and using more vegetable (unsaturated) oils is good not only for fertility but for avoiding heart diseases, damage to blood vessels and improving insulin sensitivity. Nuts, vegetable oils, fish like salmon and sardines and nuts should be part of any healthy diet.
Eat protein from vegetables, not meat. Proteins from peas, beans, soy and nuts are found to improve fertility.
Eat foods that are rich in fiber and are also rich in carbohydrates that are digested slowly (such as vegetables, whole grains, fruits and beans) which improves fertility, and controls blood glucose and insulin levels.
Drink whole fat milk regularly and avoid skimmed milk (milk that has no cream, also called milkfat). Try to drink a glass of whole fat milk or yoghurt daily if you want to improve your fertility rate.
Eat more iron. Iron-rich plants such as beans, spinach, tomatoes, pumpkin, beats and whole grains are all fertility boosters.
Drink a lot of water and avoid the too much tea and coffee (drink in moderation).
Stay away from sodas, they have been found to increase your risk of ovulatory infertility.
Let's end here and continue next week.