Introduction

If you’re past forty, don’t let anyone discourage you. There’s much you can do to become a new parent once again, or even a parent for the first time. Oftentimes, it’s so much simpler than conventional medicine and Big Pharma will let you think it is.

Many couples in their late-thirties and early forties desire to become parents or to have more children. Those who are already parents possibly had an inexplicably long dry spell since having their last child. Many of the women after 40 still ovulate, but the fertility of the eggs drops dramatically. Men too suffer fertility decline, but about five years later than women.

Fertility Friends and Foes

From a body-soul point of view, there are two culprits responsible for accelerated decrease of fertility. These are the standard modern diets of junk foods and stress. Any experienced holistic nutritionist will tell you that a good diet is conducive to fertility, both for men and woman. What’s more, any foods that strengthen the immune system will also boost fertility. In that respect, reducing stress contributes to boosting the immune system and to enhancing fertility. You are welcome to enjoy all the resources here in our health and fitness section that will undoubtedly jumpstart fertility after forty.

The Big 4

Make sure your diet contains four vital fertility-enhancing elements:

#1. Omega 3 fatty acids – they not only keep the heart healthy and keep LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in check, but they combat stress and anxiety and have a load of other benefits to the body that earn them a separate article, soon, G-w willing. You’ll find Omega 3 in cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines, as long as they’re not fried. Frying kills nutrient absorbability. Other great sources of Omega 3 are walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds.

#2. Zinc – a must-mineral for male fertility and libido. Lentils are a fantastic source of zinc but the fact that they contain phytates gives them a bad rap. No problem! Soak your lentils for at least an hour then cook them for at least 20 minutes and the phytates disappear. Pumpkin and squash seeds also deliver a high-zinc punch, as do sesame seeds, cashews and almonds, mushrooms, kale and fresh garlic cloves. As for the nuts and seeds, stick to air-dried and not oil-roasted. Eggs contain healthy portions of zinc but don’t eat them fried. Eggs enhance fertility in ways that scientists don’t even know. Don’t worry about cholesterol as long as you eat a diet free of white sugar, white flour and other simple carbohydrates. Red meat is a great source of zinc, but if you do eat meat, get it organic and grass-fed.

#3. DHEA – “dehydroepiandrosterone” is a hormone that puts the brakes on aging and enhances both male and female fertility and libido. Your doctor probably won’t tell you the body uses cholesterol to form the hormone pregnenolone which is then converted into DHEA. You therefore do not want to lower your HDL cholesterol levels, which stay high from consuming olive oil, fatty fish and avocado. Eat all the eggs you want and drink dry red wine with no fear (as we do here in the Mediterranean area) as long as you stay away from white sugar or white flour. Sweet potatoes and yams also very rich sources of DHEA  – roast them with the skin. Eat sweet potatoes year around and celebrate fertility and long life. Here again, stress destroys DHEA levels but exercise increases DHEA dramatically.

#4. Vitamin E – as a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin E protects the body from the free radicals that harm cells, tissues, organs. kill fertility and accelerate aging. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and almonds, avocado, fresh-water fish with salmon as the king, spinach and all greens, sweet potatoes and bananas.

Takeaway

As you see in the above four vital fertility-enhancing elements, some foods appear in more than one category. Salmon is a champ, as well as pumpkin seeds and almonds. Put nuts and seeds in your salads and eat plenty of greens. Take our advice in reducing stress levels and enhancing exercise and rid your diet of junk and manufactured foods. Don’t forget plenty of spiritual Vitamin E, which is emuna, the pure and simple faith in the Creator. He alone holds the keys to fertility. Therefore, even if the doctors say that a person has no chance of becoming a parent, prayer and faith enhancement override nature. G-d bless for wonderful children, and let us know how this advice worked for you.