Superfoods

We are going to let you in on a little secret… 

Technically there is no such thing as a superfood. 

Wait, what? 

Yes, we know it seems like every week a new “superfood” is featured somewhere on the internet or on the front cover of your favorite health magazine. But… 

Nutritionally speaking, there’s no official definition of a superfood. And given the over-zealous claims by marketers and food companies alike, the European Union has banned using the term on products that do not provide clear and credible scientific evidence to back up marketing claims. 

However, regardless of whether superfoods are truly a thing, we believe that the concept behind superfoods is quite REAL, especially when trying to conceive. 

Let’s explore which foods are actually ‘super’ when it comes to optimizing your reproductive health and overall wellness…

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll discover:

• What is a superfood?
• Benefits of superfoods for fertility
• Top 7 superfoods to eat with your fertility diet
• Superfoods vs. supplements

What is a Superfood?

As we briefly mentioned, there is no exact definition of what makes a superfood. 

So, how did the term originate then? 

Some believe that the word was officially coined back in 1915 when it first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary as “a food considered especially nutritious or otherwise beneficial to health and well-being.” 

And according to the Harvard School of Public Health, the banana was one of the first foods to be popularized as a superfood – largely because of the enthusiastic advertising of a food company. Alas, we digress.

Back to defining superfoods…

In our work with New York Times bestselling author and superfood chef, Julie Morris, we’ve come to come to view superfoods as foods that are exceptionally high in nutrient density and are packed with antioxidants as well as phytochemicals. 

SUPERFOOD = High nutrient density + Phytonutrients + Antioxidants

For those of you not familiar with the term phytochemicals, it simply refers to naturally occurring chemical compounds contained within plants that contribute to their color, taste, and smell. 

Antioxidants, on the other hand, are more well known as molecules that protect the body from harmful free radicals (molecules that damage our cells, including your ovaries – yikes!). 

Nutrient density is the ratio of micronutrients (e.g, vitamins and minerals) to calories.  Food with high calories and relatively low nutrients (e.g, glazed donuts) will have a low nutrient density. On the other hand, food with low calories and a high amount of nutrients (e.g, kale), will have a high nutrient density. 

High nutrient density = GOOD food selection

Low nutrient density = LESS GOOD food selection

Bottom line: superfoods don’t have a scientifically-accepted definition, but when approached with rational nutrition wisdom, a clear concept emerges that helps us see beyond any marketing hype. 

Benefits of superfoods for fertility

Time to uncover what you really came here to learn about… 

Can superfoods really benefit fertility?

Well, before jumping into the list of our top fertility superfoods, it’s important to acknowledge that very few foods have specifically been evaluated with respect to reproductive outcomes. 

Most of what we know about fertility “superfoods” are based upon studies pertaining to categories of overall whole food groups (e.g., plant-proteins, whole grains,  etc).

With that said, when attempting to classify fertility superfoods, here are some of the key nutrients we looked for in a particular food:

• Folate
• Iron
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Vitamin B12

Of course, there’s a lot more to our decision-making when it comes to superfoods, but we recommend you always start by looking at nutrients and you won’t go wrong or be tricked into spending unnecessary money.

Top 7 Superfoods To Eat With Your Fertility Diet

Superfoods come in many different forms – from the everyday foods found in your grocery shop to the more exotic items that typically reside in health food stores. 

And yes, while we believe the more specialized superfoods like acaí berries, maca, and spirulina can support your reproductive health (especially if you’re struggling with infertility), it’s always best to select foods that have been studied as part of a pro-fertility diet (e.g., seafood, plant-proteins, fruits, and vegetables). 

Here’s a rundown of the everyday superfoods we recommend incorporating in your fertility diet:

#1: Salmon 

Fish often gets a bad wrap when trying to conceive and during pregnancy given well-founded concerns around mercury exposure. However, choosing fish such as salmon, which is low in mercury, is an excellent superfood addition to your pro-fertility diet. Salmon offers loads of omega-3s (like EPA and DHA) as well as protein. It’s also a good source of vitamin D and selenium.  No need to go overboard on the salmon – 2-3 servings per week is all that’s typically recommended.

#2: Berries

We all have our favorites (Dr. Eskew = strawberries & Dr. Haas = blueberries). Regardless of your favorite, berries are filled with antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. This means they are great for supporting the health of those energy-demanding cells in your body (yes, that includes your ovaries!).

#3:  Quinoa 

Unlike other whole grains, quinoa is packed with protein that contains all the essential amino acids that you’ll find in meat products (and unlike animal meat, quinoa has not been called into question as a potential fertility-threatening food). Quinoa is also a great source of zinc and folic acid. And in case you missed our post on carbohydrates, quinoa is a lower glycemic load carbohydrate as well, which along with being a whole grain- makes it a perfect addition to your Fertility Diet!

#4: Lentils 

For starters, lentils are another nourishing plant-based protein.  As we mentioned in our post on proteins, plant-based sources in place of animal products have been shown to improve ovulation. Additionally, lentils are filled with folic acid and iron, both vital components for successful conception and the development of healthy embryos.

#5: Oysters 

Rumored to be a powerful aphrodisiac, oysters are actually an extremely nutrient-dense food. They contain more iron (and zinc too) than almost any other pro-fertility food.  The vitamin B12 content of oysters is also quite high and they have a healthy portion of omega-3s. All-in-all they are an excellent fertility superfood if you like the taste (not a Dr. Haas culinary favorite even though they support sperm health and men’s fertility too).

#6: Spinach

There’s no better vegetable for your fertility than leafy greens! Spinach is one of the less bitter green vegetables and it’s packed with folic acid. That means it’s the perfect food to boost fertility, support a healthy pregnancy, and prevent neural tube defects as your baby develops. It’s also rich in calcium and potassium, so enjoy!

#7: Egg Yolks

Even though they often catch a bad wrap, egg yolks are full of pro-fertility nutrients. In fact, egg yolks supply almost all of an egg’s iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12. They also provide a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA as well as the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and vitamin E. Another good reason to eat eggs? They contain choline, which may reduce the risk of some birth defects.

There you have it, the top fertility superfoods we recommend at OvulifeMD. Other fertility superfoods worth mentioning that did not make the top 7 list include olive oil, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, sardines, and full-fat dairy.*

*If the whole dairy products thing has you confused, we’ve got an entire post dedicated to explaining how this controversial food can help balance your hormones (e.g., estrogen & progesterone) – super important if your menstrual cycles are abnormal.

Superfoods vs. Supplements

Before we wrap up, here’s a question we commonly hear:

 “Why should I eat superfoods when I can take a supplement or a prenatal vitamin?”

For starters, supplements are artificially produced and only contain isolated nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, etc.).

What remains unclear at this time is just how well synthetic nutrients are absorbed, especially if one’s gut health is suboptimal as a result of eating nutrient-poor foods in the first place. Moreover, we can miss out on many other phytonutrients contained within whole foods. 

In fact, one of the more important arguments in favor of eating superfoods in their whole form is that supplements are composed of isolated nutrients. More often than not, a single “active” ingredient is reproduced and packaged into a pill, completely missing a wide variety of other phytonutrients and chemical compounds that are likely to have other beneficial properties, which may in fact enhance the effect of the isolated ingredient.  

None of this is to say that supplements don’t have their place. At OvulifeMD, we believe that there are many high-quality supplements with high-quality research supporting their effectiveness. So this blurb is not a complete knock on supplements. 

Ultimately, the important takeaway is that you should always start with a pro-fertility diet packed with nutrient-dense superfoods, and then look to supplements with their targeted nutrients to boost fertility. 

Final Thoughts

With or without a widely accepted scientific definition, the concept of superfoods is quite real, especially when it comes to your fertility. 

Before blindly accepting marketing hype, it’s important to evaluate the nutritional composition of the food and decide for yourself. 

Whatever you decide, make sure that your fertility diet incorporates as many of the top fertility superfoods as possible.