There are many people who believe that their diet has a huge impact on their journey of trying to conceive.
There are many people who believetheir diet has a huge impact on their journey of trying to conceive.
Many couples feel that the way they and their partner eat has an affect on the conception process. So what kinds of foods are people focusing on and avoiding?
Medical professionals will always encourage a healthy diet and lifestyle when trying to conceive a baby. Lifestyle choices such as excessive drinking and smoking are perhaps the more obvious areas requiring changes.
Medical professionals will always encourage a healthy diet and lifestyle when trying to conceive a baby. Lifestyle choices such as excessive drinking and smoking are perhaps the more obvious areas requiring changes.
However, many doctors believe that other elements of diet and lifestyle can have an important impact on a person’s fertility. There are a number of reasons why a couple may struggle to conceive but this seems to be one of the first areas that a fertility specialist will query.
There is no doubt that the food we eat affects all bodily processes. For example, many women who experience eating disorders find that their menstrual period becomes very irregular or completely stops.
There is no doubt that the food we eat affects all bodily processes. For example, many women who experience eating disorders find that their menstrual period becomes very irregular or completely stops.
In some cases, due to lifestyle choices, a woman may experience a period at a regular time but have no idea that the period is not a sign of Ovulation. A period does not equal an egg being released from a woman’s ovaries.
There has been extensive and on-going research from Harvard which studies a possible link between certain nutrients (or lack thereof) and ovulatory disorder. The studies identify a possible link between the number of women following “fertility diets” and a reduction in the number of ovulatory disorder cases.
There has been extensive and on-going research from Harvard which studies a possible link between certain nutrients (or lack thereof) and ovulatory disorder. The studies identify a possible link between the number of women following “fertility diets” and a reduction in the number of ovulatory disorder cases.
So what is a fertility diet? In truth they vary from person to person and naturally all doctors and nutritionists will have a unique voice and slant but here are some of the general recommendations that seem to be thread in many cases.
- Eat healthy unsaturated fats where possible and avoid trans fats. This involves moving away from French fries, butter and baked goods and consuming more fish, nuts and seeds.
- Choose foods high in protein but not necessarily from meat. Protein from plants and beans seems to be a better option.
- Choose full-fat dairy and have 1-2 servings per day. Avoid low fat versions of milk and yoghurt.
- Aim for a healthy BMI. Being underweight and overweight can affect your fertility.
- Regular activity and exercise may boost your fertility as it helps the body “run” more affectively. It will also serve you well during and after pregnancy.
- Avoid caffeine where possible. Choose decaf versions of your favourite tea and coffee and be aware of the high caffeine content in foods like soda.
- Eat slow-release whole grains daily to boost energy and general health. Starting the day with porridge is a good place to start!
- Wild-card – choose warm foods the week before your period. Maybe this is an old wives tale but many believe that eating warm stews and soups the week before your period has a positive affect on your Uterus by “keeping it warm”. We did call it a Wild Card...
Written by Tracey Quinn, Staff Writer, with Family Friendly HQ.
