What Sources of Folic Acid Are Best For Fertility?
Folic acid (also known as Vitamin B9) always comes up as a topic of prenatal health. Not only is it an essential nutrient for a growing baby but also for the pre-fertility health of the parents. It is necessary for regularity of ovulation, for starters, as well as sperm health.
We usually only recommend supplements for their intended purpose. That is, to supplement a healthy diet and not replace it. We also emphasize food-based vitamins over synthetics. Your body does not recognize those manufactured pills. They’ll go from one hatch to the other (mouth to rectum). They are not absorbed very well at all. It would be more efficient to dump those into the toilet, where they’d end up anyways.
Real food and food-sourced vitamins are going to give you a whole lot more of what your body needs.
Which Foods are Rich in Folic Acid?
- Dark leafy greens. Including spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, asparagus and broccoli.
- Fruits like papaya, oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, and raspberries.
- Love on your guacamole! One cup of avocados has approximately 22% of your daily folate needs! It’s also high in fatty acids, vitamin K, and dietary fiber.
- Peas, beans, and lentils are also high in folic acid. Go for lentils, pinto beans, and garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Also black beans, navy beans, kidney beans, lima beans, split peas, green peas, and green beans. With one bowl of lentils, you’ll have met 90% of your daily folate needs! This is better than what any multivitamin could ever offer you.
- Nuts and seeds are good sources of folate. You can try almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Almonds and peanuts also rank high in folic acid. Try sprinkling them on salad. You can also take them to the next level by sprouting them. Your future offspring will love you for it!
- Other foods high in folic acid are okra, cauliflower, beets, celery, carrots, squash, and corn. You can cut brussel sprouts in half and roast them face down in olive oil and garlic.
Many maternal vitamins tout folate in their ingredients, however, it is folic acid you’re seeking in your diet. In this case, Mother Nature knows best. Her source is always the best choice so enjoy her bounty and make it part of your natural fertility plan.
This topic is further expanded in Step 3 of The 8 Steps to Natural Fertility Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About.
You can download your free copy here.
