Progesterone Buddy.
You may or may not already know that progesterone is the star hormone in what's known as the luteal phase (the bit after ovulation) of your menstrual cycle.
Progesterone is the calming hormone that may make you feel a little more chilled out in the second half of your cycle but it's also super important when it comes to nourishing and maintaining a pregnancy. Healthy levels of progesterone help to create a welcoming uterine lining for your little one.
So, where does vitamin B6 come in? Well this little essential water-soluble nutrient is one of a handful of nutrients that have been shown to help boost progesterone levels. A study of 364 women found that women in the group with sufficient vitamin B6 levels had a higher ratio of conception and a lower ratio of pregnancy loss compared to those who were vitamin B6 deficient.
What's more is that research has shown that having adequate levels of vitamin B6 prior to getting pregnant and into your pregnancy may even help prevent morning sickness.
I always advocate eating a variety of nutrient dense foods over self-supplementing when not being guided by a medical professional. For supplement recommendations always seek professional advice.
These are some of the foods to think about incorporating into your diet as sources of this awesome vitamin. Sweet potatoes are my favourite to add in to the luteal phase!
Sunflower Seeds
Bananas
Prunes
Salmon
Beef Liver
Sweet Potatoes
White Fish
References
Alayne G. Ronnenberg, Scott A. Venners, Xiping Xu, Changzhong Chen, Lihua Wang, Wenwei Guang, Aiqun Huang, Xiaobin Wang, Preconception B-Vitamin and Homocysteine Status, Conception, and Early Pregnancy Loss, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 166, Issue 3, 1 August 2007, Pages 304–312, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwm078