Scientists say an element found brazil nuts could increase a woman’s chance of getting pregnant.
The mineral is selenium, which is a natural antioxidant that plays a crucial role in the early stages of conception.
Brazilian nuts are also important for healthy ovarian follicles, which are responsible for the production of eggs in women. Brazil nuts have been tested and proven to have the highest amount of selenium, followed by seeds and grains, seafood, wholewheat bread, red meat and mushrooms.
University of Adelaide’s Melanie Ceko, who conducted the research, said: “Selenium is an essential trace element found in protein-rich foods like red meat, seafood and nuts.
“It is important for many biological functions, such as immune response, thyroid hormone production, and acts as an antioxidant, helping to detoxify damaging chemicals in the body.
“We’ve known for some time that selenium is important to men’s fertility, but until now no one has researched how this element could be involved in healthy reproduction in women.”
In the study, researchers showed exactly where selenium is located in the ovary. The researchers also found that the levels of selenium were higher in the bigger, healthy ovarian follicles, where eggs are produced.
Ms Ceko said: “We suspect they (Brazilian nuts) play a critical role as an antioxidant during the late stages of follicle development, helping to lead to a healthy environment for the egg.”
Researchers hope their evidence will help women with infertility problems.
