Even if you aren’t trying for children, baby dreams indicate that your maternal instinct is kicking in. They can also suggest that a situation or relationship looks innocent but may hide danger.
Vitamin D is essential for fertility because it promotes healthy ovaries and eggs. It’s also an antioxidant that helps reduce oxidative stress on the body.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for cellular and skeletal health and fertility. This is a fat-soluble nutrient, so it’s best taken with foods high in healthy fats, such as avocados, eggs, nut butter, seeds or cheese.
Multiple RCTs have reported a positive impact of vitamin D supplementation in improving sleep quality. These findings must be interpreted cautiously due to the small number of studies included and the short duration of supplementation. Vitamin D has been linked to vivid dreams, but it is a rare response that most people do not experience.
Folate
This B vitamin helps make DNA and promotes cell growth. Dark green vegetables, for example, are a natural source of this vitamin. It is added to enriched grain for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects (like spina bifida).
Most people need more folate. Some medications and medical conditions can also affect the absorption of folate. Folate deficiency can lead to anemia. Anemia, or a lack of red blood cells, can lead to fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.
Researchers have found that higher intakes of ovulation support supplements, including folic acid, increase fertility. However, the precise role of this vitamin has yet to be well studied. Several studies have reported that women who take multivitamin supplements with or without folate experience higher pregnancy rates than those who do not.
During the pregnancy and breastfeeding months, it is recommended that women consume a minimum of 600 mcg of folic acid daily to help prevent congenital disabilities. However, if you are trying to conceive, your doctor may recommend a higher dosage of up to 5,000 mcg daily. This is a safe dose and should only be taken under the supervision of your doctor to ensure that it doesn’t interfere with other medications you are taking.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is an essential vitamin that plays a role in many of the body’s processes, including the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also helps support immune function and metabolism. A healthy diet provides the bulk of our daily intake of vitamin B6. Still, supplements can be useful in meeting dietary needs, especially when trying to conceive or during certain life stages, such as pregnancy.
A study suggested that ingesting vitamin B6 before bed can enhance dream recall. To test this, researchers from the University of Adelaide split 100 participants into three groups: one group consumed 240 mg of vitamin B6 before bed each night; another group took a placebo; and the third group ingested a vitamin B complex preparation that contained pyridoxine and other B vitamins. The results indicated that those who ate vitamin B6 had a 30% higher score on dream salience, a composite of their dreams’ vividness, bizarreness, and color.
The researchers also found that vitamin B6 didn’t affect the quality of their sleep or cause them to experience more bad dreams. Still, they note that further investigation is needed to determine if the vitamin’s effect on dreaming would vary depending on how much B6 is consumed in the diet. Vitamin B6 naturally occurs in various foods, including avocados, bananas, spinach, tomatoes, whole grains, legumes, and fish. It is also available as a supplemental nutrient in most health food stores.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that works in the body to make protein and DNA, maintain normal blood sugar and pressure, regulate muscles and nerves, and more. A diet rich in magnesium-rich foods — including leafy greens, beans, nuts, seeds and avocados — is important to ensure you get enough of this nutrient.
Some studies suggest magnesium may help people with anxiety, which can interfere with sleep, by suppressing certain neurotransmitters in the brain that cause stress and fear. In addition, one study of insomniacs found that magnesium supplements lowered the time to fall asleep and improved overall sleep quality.
Other research suggests magnesium promotes relaxation by stimulating GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters. It’s also been used as a natural sleep aid, helping kids with ADHD and autism calm down and sleep.
The recommended daily magnesium intake is 400mg for men and 310mg for women. However, if you take a high dose of magnesium, it can cause diarrhea and nausea. High levels of magnesium in the body can also interact with some medications, such as levothyroxine and penicillamine, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Wilson’s disease.
To avoid taking too much magnesium, talk to your doctor. Eating a diet high in magnesium-rich foods, especially those that contain B6 can help you avoid a supplement.