Trying to get pregnant? Then avoid these common dietary mistakes.
Every year around this time I begin to work with a flurry of women who are trying to conceive. Some are just getting started. Others have been trying for months, or even years.
All of them are looking for help, and many are ready to try anything that might make a difference.
This includes dietary changes, of course, and I am happy to give advice on this. But there is one thing that almost always comes up, and it’s something I don’t recommend. It’s a practice so common that most people assume it is actually helpful. But it’s not. What is it? Drinking green tea!
Yes, green tea – that wonder-drink loaded with anti-oxidants – turns out to be very bad for fertility
Trying to get pregnant? Then avoid these common dietary mistakes.
You and your partner have been trying to get pregnant for some time but are having no luck. You’ve read all the books, spoken to your GP and are only too aware that you may need to be patient before you conceive. But apart from avoiding alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes, is there anything else you can do?
In fact, the answer is yes. According to an expert in human reproduction and endocrinology, Dr Jeffrey Russell, there are a number of dietary mistakes which could be affecting your fertility.
He explains: “Many women believe that as long as they eat a healthy diet, they will not have any problems getting pregnant when they decide to try. Unfortunately this is not always the case.”
So what are the main culprits? Here Dr Russell reveals the top five dietary mistakes which could be stopping you from conceiving…
If you want to increase your chances of conceiving, you may want to take a look at your diet. A poor diet has been linked to problems with ovulation, as well as implantation issues and even miscarriage. But which dietary mistakes should you avoid? Read on for the top 8 worst dietary mistakes when trying to get pregnant.
Top 8 Worst Dietary Mistakes When Trying To Get Pregnant
1. Eating Too Few Calories: Being underweight is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Underweight women have an increased risk of irregular periods, sometimes caused by low body fat levels from dieting. Even if you are not trying to lose weight, but simply don’t eat enough calories, your fertility could suffer. If you think you might be underweight, consult a doctor about how much weight gain is right for you.
2. Not Eating Enough Protein: Protein is important for conception and implantation, because it plays a role in hormone synthesis and follicle development. Foods rich in protein include meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. You can also get protein from soy products like tofu and tempeh.
Are you trying to conceive? If so, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ data, more than 6 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term. But according to Dr. Maria Sophocles, a board-certified OB/GYN and medical director at Women’s Health Care, PC in Princeton, NJ, there are some foods that can help make it easier to get pregnant, while others can cause trouble. Here are a few dietary mistakes that could be standing between you and your dream of becoming a mom, along with tips for boosting fertility through diet from Dr. Sophocles.
1) You eat too much sugar
You might have heard that sugar is bad for you—and when it comes to getting pregnant, that’s true too! “Sugar causes inflammation in the body which can interfere with normal hormone function, including ovulation and menstruation,” explains Dr. Sophocles. It also increases cortisol levels (a stress hormone) which contributes to insulin resistance—a condition that makes it harder for women to get pregnant due to hormone imbalances. To get sugar out of your diet
“My mother, sister and sister-in-law were all pregnant at the same time as me, and none of them had any trouble conceiving, so I didn’t think I would either.”
But, after a year of trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, she and her husband decided to seek some advice.
“At first my GP told us to wait another year. I was 34 at that point and was not keen on just waiting. We went back to him with some more information we’d found about diet and fertility, and he did refer me for tests,” she says.
In the end it took another two years before Sarah conceived naturally after being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) – a condition that affects how a woman’s ovaries work – which can make it difficult to conceive.
While there’s no special diet or pill that will “guarantee” you’ll conceive a baby, making changes to your diet could help boost your chances of getting pregnant. And while you don’t have to cut out whole food groups or follow a strict eating plan – it is important to make sure you’re getting the right mix of nutrients for your body.
I’ve always been very cautious about making claims about diet and fertility, but this is one area where I think there is emerging evidence. What a woman eats and drinks during pregnancy is important for her health, and the health of her developing baby. But what you eat before you get pregnant may also matter.
A new study in the journal Human Reproduction suggests that women who consume a diet high in trans-fats are more likely to have ovulatory infertility. That’s when the ovaries don’t release an egg properly each month. They found that with each additional 2% of calories from trans-fats, the risk of infertility increases by 73%. This held true even after controlling for other factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity. Trans-fats are found in foods like deep fried foods and processed foods containing hydrogenated oils like some brands of margarine or pre-packaged baked goods.
Now this was just one study so it’s not conclusive yet, but it certainly provides a clue that getting your weight under control before trying to conceive will increase your chances of conceiving naturally.
1. Drinking Too Much Alcohol
2. Eating Too Many Processed Foods
3. Not Getting Enough Folate
4. Skimping on Protein
5. Eating Too Much Fat
6. Drinking Too Many Diet Beverages