Fertility friendly diet

[MissYogi]

It feels like there is so much conflicting information out there about what to eat to boost fertility. What are some of the specifics you all strongly believe in for conceiving a health baby?

 

[MindUtopia]

The approach I took when I got pregnant with my daughter was to eat real, whole foods (not processed or junk food, including processed 'health' or 'diet' foods) and to eat a largely plant-based diet. I have read a lot about eating an alkaline diet and fertility, and often alkalizing foods are recommended by fertility specialists (a more alkaline body is supposedly better for conception, I think better for sperm survival maybe?). I didn't personally consciously take that approach, but alkaline foods tend to be more fruits and vegetables (plants) rather than meat and dairy (which are more acidic), so maybe it helped? But really it's just eating real, whole foods, mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, vegetable sources of protein like nuts, lentils, and also eggs, healthy sources of fat like avocados, nuts, etc. and some fish and seafood but limiting processed foods and meat (I might have meat once or twice a week). That's pretty much what I did last time and it worked well and that's how I generally try to eat anyway. Only thing I'm doing this time in addition to that is to limit sugar. I don't really eat any refined sugar anymore, except maybe on occasion a dessert for a special occasion (friend's wedding, Christmas, family Sunday lunch), but no sugar day to day, just because it makes me feel sick, so I feel like that can't be a good thing!

 

[MissYogi]

That is basically how I have been trying to eat. I used to be a strict vegetarian so now I only eat meat every once in a while. I try to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, although I admit I am far better at eating my fruits than my veggies. I also eat hardly any processed food, just the occasional treat. I'm trying to limit my caffeine to just one cup of coffee a day, and hopefully by the time I'm actively trying just cut out caffeine altogether.

I have heard very conflicting messages on fish though. Some say it's great to eat salmon to conceive quickly but others say that salmon is very bad for when trying to get pregnant. I know the mercury could be an issue but curious if it is ever actually good for conception. Also sweet potatoes or yams confuse me. I've heard that they are conception super food and also that they are a natural birth control so I really don't know what to think.

Any other foods that anybody really believes in always eating for conception or always staying away from?