Food as the medicine takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to supporting fertility and reproductive health.

Once an overlooked and underestimated factor in fertility and pregnancy outcomes, the importance of nutrition to preconception preparation is only just being realised.

Esteemed medical journal The Lancet is one of many peer-reviewed publications to publish studies in recent years promoting the evidence-based benefits of optimal nutrition in the months, or even years, leading up to pregnancy.

With one in six Australian couples experiencing fertility troubles, it is more important than ever to highlight the significance of nutrition and its ability to influence fertility, pregnancy outcomes and foetal gene expression.

When I mention this to clients, they rush to ask me what they should be eating. And while no single food can guarantee a healthy pregnancy, a combination of nutrient-rich wholefoods, nutritional supplements, gut health support and lifestyle changes may go a long way to improve both maternal and paternal fertility, creating a harmonious environment for a growing baby.

I find women are generally more open to making dietary changes in preparation for pregnancy, with men often thinking they’re off the hook. But studies have found children may have a higher risk of metabolic disease and Type 2 diabetes if their father ate a poor diet prior to conception, while paternal exposure to certain chemicals like paint and pesticides is associated with a higher risk of cancer and genital malformations.