In today’s busy lives, people end up inculcating unhealthy food choices that ultimately damage the proper functioning of their organs. Your diet plays an important role in achieving a healthy pregnancy. Recent research shows that your diet plays an important role not just in helping you become pregnant, but can also decrease the amount of time it’ll take for you to conceive.
The true fertility nutrition lies in healthy fats, plant-based proteins, and whole grains. These food items help in regulating blood glucose and insulin levels which results in healthy ovulation and subsequently pregnancy.
According to studies by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the intake of trans fats and foods like processed meats and sweetened beverages negatively affects the fertility of a woman. Another study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health indicated that consumption of trans fats and animal proteins resulted in ovulatory disorder in over 19000 women.
A 2009 study published in the medical journal “Fertility & Sterility” states that couples who adhered to the Mediterranean diet had better rates of conceiving. Mediterranean diet includes a higher intake of vegetable oils, vegetables, fish, and legumes. The study also showed that a higher intake of B-vitamins positively affected fertility.
Another study published in Obstetrics & Gynaecology journal stated that higher intake of monounsaturated fats, vegetable protein sources, low glycaemic carbohydrates, high-fat dairy, multivitamins, and iron through dietary intake significantly increased the fertility rates in their subjects.
By looking at these studies, we can clearly say that there is a very strong relationship between one’s fertility and diet.
A balanced diet is extremely important for hormones to function properly, but when stress is placed on the system, the body’s natural chemical rhythm faces a toll.
Not able to maintain a proper weight is also the main cause of rising cases of infertility in women. Overweight or underweight women have shown higher instances of infertility and a lower IVF pregnancy rate. Excess weight also worsens the condition of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which also affects fertility in women. One of the leading symptoms of PCOS is inconsistent ovulation and irregular cycles.
Here is the list of food items you can take to optimize your diet and improve your fertility:
- Whole fruits and vegetables
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Whole grains
- Raw Nuts
- Legumes
- Extra virgin olive oil, which is also a great source of monounsaturated fat
Food items like refined carbohydrates, trans fats, highly-processed foods, alcohol, excessive caffeine should be avoided by women who are trying to get pregnant or undergoing any fertility treatment.
To know more about fertility nutrition, contact Kanupriya Khanna, one of the best female fertility nutritionists in Delhi to start your journey towards a healthy pregnancy.
