Trying for a baby is an exciting time, but it often comes with many questions and uncertainties. One area where you can truly take control is by nourishing your body with the right foods. Conception isn’t just about timing—it’s about building a healthy foundation for pregnancy through mindful diet and lifestyle choices.
In this article, we’ll explore practical nutrition tips and lifestyle adjustments that can support your path to parenthood and empower you to embrace this beautiful chapter confidently.
Two fundamental changes significantly impacted my journey, and I’m eager to share them with you. In Chinese medicine, the solutions are often simple, enjoyable, and yes—they even involve delicious foods! Let’s dive deeper into the role of nutrition.
What to Eat to Get Pregnant Faster: Nutrient-Rich Foods for Fertility
What to eat to get pregnant faster is a common question for many on the fertility journey. Nutrition is critical, especially as you move through the bleeding phase. The focus should be on nourishing your blood and supporting the kidney and liver energy when trying for a baby.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the kidneys play a vital role in fertility. While this might initially sound exotic, it aligns closely with what we understand in Western medicine. Consider the adrenal glands, which sit atop the kidneys and produce androgens and oestrogens—hormones that are key to reproductive health.
Additionally, the liver, which holds about a pint (13%) of the body’s blood supply at any given time, plays a crucial role in hormone regulation. So, while TCM may use metaphorical language, its concepts often overlap with modern medical understanding.
Embrace Offal!
Building on nourishing your body, TCM often follows the principle of ‘like for like.’ If you’re losing blood, you want to replenish it—so in Western terms, that means focusing on iron-rich foods.
Livers and kidneys are excellent sources of iron, though they might not be everyone’s first choice. However, with the proper preparation, these foods can be incredibly delicious!
Sadly, many of us have lost the tradition of eating offal and have forgotten how to prepare it in a way that brings out its best flavours. This is a shame because offal is one of the most nourishing foods.
If the texture or smell of liver isn’t appealing, try a good quality pâté. Or, think about giving your palate a fresh start. Perhaps you didn’t enjoy liver as a child because it wasn’t cooked well, but you’re not a child anymore—and you can cook it better! Reframing your thoughts about these nutrient-dense foods could open up a whole new range of nutritious options.
Learn from the Best
Learning from experts is always a good idea to help you get started. Gordon Ramsay’s take on making any liver taste amazing in just over a minute. Or, for those who prefer lamb’s kidneys, check out this MasterChef recipe by Monica Galetti.
Remember, opting for organic and high-welfare sources is essential when choosing offal. You want to avoid products from cheaply farmed animals, as antibiotics and other substances used in these processes are stored in the liver and kidneys.
The good news is that even organic offal is still quite affordable. But if liver and kidneys aren’t to your taste, you can always opt for a medium-rare steak with cavolo nero—a fantastic alternative. What’s not to love?
Beyond offal, other nutrient-rich foods can support your fertility. Consider incorporating:
All types of pulses, with a special mention for adzuki beans, black beans, flaxseeds, and beetroot
Dark, leafy greens are another excellent choice
Fruits like berries and red grapes
Overall, focus on incorporating plenty of protein, healthy fats, and abundant greens into your diet.
During this month's phase, consider going low-carb and prioritising protein. If you include carbs, opt for whole grains or small portions of basmati rice.
Optimize Fertility with Blood-Nourishing Foods
One key strategy to optimize fertility is to focus on blood-nourishing foods. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers detailed, season-specific, and cycle-specific guidance designed to support each organ and its role in fertility when trying for a baby. These foods are chosen for their nutritional value and ability to improve your body’s natural processes and reproductive health when conceiving a baby.
So, what to eat to get pregnant faster? Certain foods are believed to have unique qualities and benefits that make them particularly beneficial during the fertility journey. While we’ve already touched on some of these, there are additional options that can further nourish your blood and optimise your fertility.
For example, beef, poultry, and eggs are highly recommended. There’s nothing more yin and yang than an egg with a runny yolk, which is particularly beneficial in the first part of your cycle. How you cook the yolk affects the enzymes it contains, and keeping the yolk runny helps preserve those precious enzymes, making them more active and beneficial.
Here are some of the top blood-nourishing foods to consider:
Liver: Opt for organic liver from higher welfare sources. The liver is incredibly rich in iron and other essential nutrients that support blood health.
Adzuki beans: Aim for around 60 grams per day. These beans are packed with nutrients that are beneficial for blood nourishment.
Kidneys: Choose organic kidneys from high-welfare sources. They are rich in essential nutrients that support the kidneys and overall fertility.
Dark, leafy green vegetables: Improve your blood health with greens like spinach, kale, and chard, which contain iron, folate, and other vital nutrients.
Steak: Choose steak from organic, higher welfare origins, and cook it rare or medium-rare to retain its nutritional value. Steak is an excellent source of heme iron, which is more easily absorbed by the body.
Poultry: Opt for organic, higher-welfare poultry. It’s a lean protein source that supports overall health and fertility.
Egg yolk: Keep the yolk runny to preserve the enzymes. Eggs are a powerhouse of nutrients, including choline, essential for reproductive health.
Black beans: Add black beans to your diet. These are another excellent source of protein and iron, both crucial for blood health.
Flaxseed and sesame oil: Improve hormonal balance with oils rich in essential fatty acids.
For foods that are higher on the Glycemic Index, it’s best to introduce them in moderation. These foods can provide energy, but balancing their intake is key to maintaining stable blood sugar levels, which is essential for hormonal balance:
Berry fruits: Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Enjoy them in moderation to support your overall health.
Red grapes: Grapes are rich in antioxidants like resveratrol, which can support reproductive health.
Beetroot: Beetroot is excellent for blood health and is high in folate, essential for pregnancy.
Dark, leafy greens: Food like cavolo nero is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron.
Foods to Avoid When Trying to Get Pregnant
Just as there are foods that can support your fertility, there are also certain substances and foods to avoid when trying to get pregnant:
Processed foods: Highly processed foods contain unhealthy fats, excessive sugar, and additives that can disrupt hormonal balance. Avoid foods like fast food, sugary snacks, and pre-packaged meals.
High-mercury fish: Mercury can accumulate in the body and negatively impact fetal development. Avoid high-mercury fish like swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish. Instead, opt for low-mercury options like salmon, sardines, and trout.
Excessive caffeine: While moderate caffeine intake is generally considered safe, excessive caffeine can harm fertility. Limit your caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day (about 360 ml of coffee).
Alcohol: Alcohol can interfere with hormonal balance and impair fertility. If you're trying to conceive, it's best to avoid alcohol altogether to create the healthiest environment for pregnancy.
Refined carbohydrates: Foods like white bread, white rice, and sugary cereals can spike blood sugar levels, negatively impacting ovulation and overall hormonal balance. Choose whole grains instead.
Trans fats: These unhealthy fats, found in fried foods, margarine, and some baked goods, can increase inflammation and negatively affect insulin sensitivity, which can affect fertility.
That's it in a nutshell. This approach is simple yet incredibly powerful—it’s an absolute game-changer. When balancing irregular menstrual cycles and optimising fertility, the best place to start is by focusing on your period and supporting your body’s natural rhythms.
The wisdom here is clear: If you want to improve menstrual cycle regularity and optimise fertility, learning how to live in harmony with your cycle is essential rather than working against it. By supporting your body in what it’s naturally meant to do, you’re setting the stage for optimal health and fertility.
Fertility Recipes for Those Trying for a Baby
Before we wrap up, I want to highlight the importance of aligning your diet with the different phases of your menstrual cycle, especially if you're trying for a baby.
To make this easier, I’ve created a dedicated recipe section that offers specific recipes tailored to each phase of your cycle: The follicular phase, the fertile days, and the luteal phase. These recipes simplify determining which foods best support your body at each stage. They combine insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern hormonal science.
But here’s something you might not have considered: The emotional and mental nourishment that comes with preparing and enjoying these meals. The journey can be emotionally taxing when you’re trying for a baby.
Engaging in the mindful preparation of these recipes can be a soothing ritual, helping you feel more connected to your body and more in control of your fertility journey. It’s not just about the nutrients; it’s about creating a supportive, nurturing environment for yourself.
Additionally, consider the role of your overall lifestyle in this process. While nutrition is a cornerstone, remember to balance it with adequate sleep, stress management, and gentle physical activity. All these factors work together synergistically to optimize your fertility.
I hope you find these resources and recipes helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time to be here. If you know someone else who could benefit from this information, please feel free to share this article with them.
Thanks for being here,
Irena x
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