Fertility health

Fertility reflects your overall health, for both partners. Nutrition can't guarantee a pregnancy, but research links certain everyday habits with healthier hormone balance and sperm quality.

Supportive basics:

• Eat a Mediterranean-style diet with vegetables, beans, whole grains, fish and olive oil
• Get enough folate from leafy greens and legumes; a prenatal vitamin is often recommended before conception
• Keep blood sugar steady with protein and fiber at each meal
• Limit alcohol, avoid smoking and keep caffeine moderate
• Make sleep and stress care a priority

Every body's story is different, so work with your doctor or practitioner, especially before starting supplements or if you've been trying for a while. Try this: plan this week's meals around one new plant protein, like lentils or chickpeas.