Every woman knows that diet plays an important role in fertility. If you want to know how to get pregnant, you will need more than just awareness of when you are ovulating. A nutritious and balanced diet and the right quantities of vitamins and minerals are the key to both conceiving, and having a health pregnancy. But did you know that you can also combat that notorious early pregnancy fatigue with the right diet? Let’s take a look at which foods give you an energy boost, and which you should avoid unless you want to take afternoon naps every day.
Have you been having sugar cravings? It could be minerals and proteins that you are lacking. Consuming too much sugar can result in blood sugar peaks and falls, mood swings, fatigue, and feelings of depression. Try to grab high-protein snacks to satisfy those sugar cravings before giving into candy and ice cream. Yogurt, cheese, boiled eggs, and nuts are all full of protein. They will increase your energy and hopefully keep sugar cravings at bay.
Pregnancy signs like morning sickness and heartburn indirectly contribute to fatigue. Herbalists say that there is a powerful link between pregnancy nausea and vomiting and blood sugar levels. Keeping blood sugar levels constant can reduce your feelings of nausea. You can do this by eating small meals frequently. Increasing your vitamin B6 intake may also reduce morning sickness. Vitamin B6 is contained in all whole grains, but depleted by pregnancy. A supplement is therefore a good idea.
Iron-deficiency anemia is another major cause of fatigue among women who are expecting a baby. To prevent or treat anemia, boosting your iron levels is the answer. Leafy green vegetables, liver, beets, beans, lentils, and dates. Vitamin C aids the absorption of iron into the body, so upping your intake of oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, and broccoli to ensure a maximum iron boost.
Besides eating well, there are many other ways to increase your energy during pregnancy. Regular prenatal exercise like walking swimming, or jogging, as well as fresh air will help prevent fatigue. Many women find meditation useful too. Remember that your body is doing a lot of hard work growing your baby, and that it is completely normal not to be able to do all the things you did before getting pregnant. Forget about your home being spic and span, and take it easy at work too if at all possible. Take some time for yourself every day to escape from the daily stresses of life.