Fertility and Diet

While healthy eating prepares your body for pregnancy, it also can affect fertility in ways that are not yet clear. 

Consider the following tips to maintain your overall health and promote fertility:

• Get moving. Along with healthy eating, include moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
• Add in strength training to build muscle. Elevated levels of body fat can affect hormone balance, which impacts fertility. Weights and resistance bands are popular tools for strength training. Other activities that may strengthen muscles include some types of yoga and pilates, as well as activities that involve carrying heavy loads, such as gardening and yard work. Try to include muscle strengthening activities at least twice a week.
• Make nutritious choices. Keep weight within a healthy range by following a healthful eating pattern. Include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein foods and low-fat or fat-free dairy on a daily basis. Limit your intake of added sugars, including those from sweetened beverages, desserts and baked goods.
• Balance calories and activities. Balance your food choices with your physical activity on a daily basis. It's a step in the right direction for maintaining a healthy weight.

Although staying at a healthy weight won't guarantee you'll get pregnant, it may be a helpful starting point for both men and women.