Having a baby is a major dream of most married couples but some of them face difficulties getting pregnant. Eating certain foods can really boost one’s fertility. Not only food but lifestyle also have a significant impact on the reproductive health of both men and women. In this article you can find natural foods to consume  to boost fertility and get pregnant faster. 

Eat more fruits and vegetables 

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public health has found that those who consume more trans fat, sugar and animal protein may get ovulatory disorders. Eating more fruits and vegetables can improve egg quality. Another study done in 2012, compromising young, male adults found eating 75 grams of antioxidant-rich walnuts per day improved sperm quality. A relationship between higher take of folate intake and successful implantation has been found by another study involving 232 women. Foods that are rich in antioxidants may improve fertility for both men and women by  deactivating the free radicals in the body, which can damage both sperm and egg cells. Not only fruits and vegetables, other natural foods such as nuts, and grains are packed full of beneficial antioxidants like vitamins C and E, folate, beta carotene, and lutein which can improve fertility. 

According to traditional medicine following fruits and vegetables are consumed to boost fertility. 

Egg plant - it is said the egg plant can increase sperm production in males. That is one of the reasons that eggplants can be seen in many indian diets. 

Durian - durian is an incredibly nutritious fruit. Studies have shown that durian can intensify sexual libido and stamina, increases the sperm motility, and helps to reduce infertility in both males and females. Another reason to add durian to the fertility diet is that durian can prevent anemia. Anemia may lead to infertility. Durian is rich in folate,  which is an important vitamin for red blood cell production, and contains iron and copper. These nutrients can bring the production of red blood cells to normal and cure anemia. To prevent adverse effects limit durian fruit intake to two or three servings a week. 

Beli (Aegle marmelos) fruit and flower - The fruits can be eaten  fresh or made into a smoothie. The flowers of the plant are dried, and can be drunk as a herbal tea after boiling. The leaves, bark, roots, flowers,fruits, and seeds of the Beli tree are used in traditional medicine to treat various illnesses.  Beli tree is considered as a symbol of fertility, because beli provides nutrients to women that support each stage of pregnancy, from preconception and increases sperm quantity and quality of men.  Eating beli fruit makes digestion effective, which helps to absorb nutrients in the diet. That property is beneficial to improve fertility.  Caffeine must be cut off from the fertility diet, dried flowers of beli can be drunk as a herbal tea instead because they are caffeine free. Beli fruit also has the property of controlling blood sugar and  prevents diabetes. According to ayurveda Beli fruit can increase the production of red blood cells preventing anemia.  Even though beli has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times, there are not enough  scientific studies to confirm those benefits of beli.  

Garlic and Honey - Garlic has selenium in it, a mineral that may help to reduce the chances of miscarriage in women. It is also believed to enhance male fertility. It contains vitamin B6 which regulates hormones and builds your immune system.Honey has been used for centuries to boost fertility. It increases amino acids which feed the reproductive system. 

One of the remedies to boost fertility in men using garlic and honey is mentioned below. 

Get a clean mason jar, pour bee honey filling half of the jar, then add peeled and cleaned garlic cloves into it, covering all the cloves in honey.  Seal the jar and keep for several weeks. Then eat one clove of garlic in each morning to increase sperm production.  

Dates - Studies have found that date fruit extracts can improve the process of spermatogenesis and the concentration of male sex hormones. Date fruit contains phytochemicals and  antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenols, vitamin C, E, A genistein, and selenium. Some of these have a gonadotropin activity and  protect testicular function from oxidative stress. The antioxidants and nutrients present in dates improve female fertility by reducing oxidative stress that can affect formation of mature female eggs. Not only during the time of getting pregnant, consumption of dates during pregnancy gives many health benefits.  One of the remedies to improve fertility with date fruits is mentioned below.

Take about 90 dates and remove the seeds. Insert a little piece of cheese to the empty space inside each date fruit after removing the seed.  Then cover cheese with the date fruits.  Take a cleaned mason jar and then put the cheese filled dates into it, then fill honey to cover all the dates with cheese. Seal the lid and keep for three days. After three days eat 3 dates then drink a glass of cow’s milk  in the morning each day.  

Avocado -  avocado contains healthy plant based fat that can reduce inflammation in the body, which leads to regular ovulation and general fertility. The monounsaturated fats in avocado helps during the IVF (In Vitro fertilization) cycle, increasing the success rate by three, according to a new study done by the Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. They  studied the fat intake of 147 women, who were mostly in their 30s and undergoing IVF treatment, and found that women who ate the highest amounts of monounsaturated fat were 3.4 times more likely to have a child after IVF compared to those who ate the lowest amounts. 

To boost fertility you should avoid trans fat. Trans fats are found in commercially baked and snack foods, french fries, some margarines and animal products.Due to more trans fats in diet the insulin resistance of the cells increases. That means the blood sugar cannot get into the cells easily, while the pancreas pumps more insulin. High insulin levels affect metabolic process and functioning of ovaries. 

Hathawariya - Hathawariya is  considered as the Queen of herbs. The scientific name of this plant is Asparagus racemosus.  It is a climbing vine and has needle-like leaves. Hathawariya is a popular herb used in indigenous medicine. This herb has the ability to increase fertility and vitality, therefore it is used for Ayurvedic treatments in the female reproductive system.  It balances the hormonal system of women and also it is used to increase milk secretion in  lactating women. There are benefits for the reproductive system of men as well. The plant may be used in cases of sexual debility and impotence. Hathawariya is consumed as a porridge (herbal soup). Many medicinal qualities of this plant have been associated with phytonutrients present in its roots, and especially one type of phytonutrients called saponins.     

Wel penela - The scientific name of Welpenela is Cardiospermum halicacabum. It is a climbing wine and it has fertility boosting properties.  It is consumed as a porridge and  as a Coconut stir fry. Among the health benefits of Welpenela  stimulating sexual desire is there. You can find many Ayurvedic products that are produced by Welpenela such as Welpenela syrap, capsule, herbal porridge mix etc. When making coconut - stir fried Wel penela leaves, add red onions, and fry with ghee to increase its fertility boosting property.  

Anamalu banana - Being rich in an α-amino acid called tryptophan, important to produce happy hormone serotonin. This chemical can also regulate  libido, which leads better sex. In men, the rich potassium content of bananas helps to improve the production of testosterone, the male hormone and improving sperm quality. Banana helps women to improve fertility by producing quality eggs and regulating sex hormones.  Among the various types of bananas Anamalu has more fertility and libido boosting properties than other varieties.