Fertility Nutrition and Diet

The importance of fertility nutrition and a preconception diet plan

The foods you eat (or choose not to) can have an impact on your fertility. Fertility nutrition is extremely important for balancing the hormones. A good diet will support and nourish the organs that produce hormones that are essential for reproduction. A study by the University of Surrey showed that couples with a history of infertility who made changes in their lifestyle, diet, and took nutritional supplements had an 80% success rate. Many people are unaware that diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect your ability to conceive. There are also certain foods and drinks that can impair fertility.

Treating the cause, not just the symptoms

If we treat just the symptoms of infertility (hormone imbalance, amenorrhea, overweight, underweight, PCOS, etc.), it’s like putting a bandage on a gaping wound. The holistic approach to infertility is to look to the causes of these symptoms and make lifestyle changes that will heal the body and decrease or eliminate the symptoms, increasing your odds of conception. To do that, nutrition is crucial. Everything that you eat can be turned into the fuel that your body uses to produce hormones, enzymes, blood, bone – in fact, every single cell in your body, and all the processes that take place, are determined by what goes into your mouth. Your diet is the foundation of your health, so it is important that your food contains the right nutrients to keep you balanced and healthy and to prevent health conditions from cropping up in the future.

Partner with our nutrition program

Our Nutrition Program educates you on what food and lifestyle habits to include and what to avoid, improving your chances of conceiving as well as a successful pregnancy. Based on the most recent nutrition research, our Registered Dietitian, Erin Macdonald, R.D., uses an integrative approach that includes relaxation, exercise, and food to nourish your body on all levels. By optimizing your weight, ensuring adequate vitamin intake from food and supplementation, and suggesting healthy lifestyle habits, our Nutrition Program will help you enhance your fertility and promote a health pregnancy.

During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your individual goals for health and current lifestyle habits. Erin will make specific recommendations based on your diagnosis. After your first consultation, you will receive a customized plan that includes: meal ideas, recipes, lifestyle suggestions and supplement recommendations.

  • A fertility-friendly diet can help you:
  • Improve absorption and distribution of nutrients
  • Balance blood sugar levels to address PCOS and gestational diabetes
  • Detoxify from environmental toxins
  • Balance hormones
  • Optimize weight to attain an ideal BMI (body mass index) for conception (19-25)

Who can benefit from a nutrition consultation?

Men or women looking to improve their chances of conceiving by optimizing their weight, supporting sperm and egg quality and resolving conditions like PCOS can benefit greatly from a nutrition consultation.

How many nutrition sessions should I sign up for?

Some people need a jump-start to their program with a single nutrition consult. Others benefit greatly from ongoing support with meal plans and recipes. During your initial consultation, your nutrition consultant will help you determine a protocol that best supports your personal goals.

Did you know overweight women have lower IVF Success Rates? Read more here.


SCCRM Welcomes…Erin Macdonald, Registered Dietician

Read more about Erin’here, or if you are interested in scheduling a consult with Erin to discuss your nutritional needs, please call 949-642-8727.

Those who take medicine and neglect their diet waste the skill of the physician.

–Chinese proverb

Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine shall be thy food

–Hippocrates