How Does Diet Affect the Chances of Conceiving?

Posted on November 5, 2018 by WellnessMonsters

Edited and published by Wellness Monster Louise

Conceiving is not Always Easy

There are women that struggle with fertility every day. Some women are completely unable to conceive due to medical conditions beyond their control. Some women find themselves in a situation where their partner is unable to help in the process. Conceiving simply doesn’t come easy to them. Does diet affect their ability to conceive? This article will explore that question.

The More Colorful the Food, the Better

When a woman makes the decision that she is ready to become a parent, the next step is obvious. Whether they are in a relationship with someone that is prepared to take that step with them, or if they find themselves reaching out to medical professionals to assist with the process, they start walking the path to conception. Some are fortunate enough to become pregnant immediately; others find themselves in a struggle that they just assumed would come easy.

Each month a hopeful mother receives their menstrual cycle may be followed by a day or two of heartbreak and tears. It’s as though they lost the baby they had hoped they had conceived and may have even convinced themselves they had. It may not be a true miscarriage, but it definitely feels like one. The heartbreak can be unbearable. The woman may question herself. Is there a reason that she’s not able to conceive when everyone around her is pregnant? Why can some women get pregnant and not want the baby or even take care of the baby where she wants the baby and can’t get pregnant? It’s enough to drive a woman insane.

Sometimes when a woman finds herself in a situation where she is not becoming pregnant, she will visit her Obstetrician Gynecologist. The OBGYN may recommend a few words of encouragement, offer to complete a few tests or scans, and quite possibly recommend a change in diet. Can a change in diet actually help someone conceive?

There are certain foods that women should avoid when trying to conceive, and there are certain foods that they should include in their diet. What about the future father? Should he also monitor the foods he is eating? The answer to that is a resounding “YES!” Both parties trying to conceive should be conscious of the foods they are eating.

no-coffee-or-beer The mother-to-be should begin filtering out caffeine, and avoiding alcohol. Processed foods are also in the “no” category. It should come as no surprise that fast food is high on the list of foods to avoid. Studies have shown that women who are eating four or more servings of fast food a week are more likely to be infertile. (livescience.com)

Some foods to consider including into the diet are those that are high in folic acid. Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube birth defects, such as spina bifida. (babycenter.com) Folic acid may be found in vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, asparagus, and broccoli. Another group of foods to consider are those high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron and of course iron is important to conceive. Foods rich in Vitamin C are sweet yellow peppers, kiwi, broccoli, lemons, papayas, strawberries, oranges, kale, parsley and thyme. Not only will the Vitamin C help the body with absorbing iron, Vitamin C also helps to boost the immune system, which is useful as well. Ever hear of Omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3’s can be found in seafood. These fatty acids play an important part in regulating ovulation and improving egg quality. It’s even possible that they may delay the aging of the ovaries. (babycenter.com) Omega-3’s also play a role in the baby’s brain and eye development once the woman has conceived. They also will be beneficial in lowering the risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia and may even ease depression.

Over the years, carbohydrates have gotten a bad reputation. They are known to add excess weight to someone that does not include regular exercise in their daily routine. If someone is active, carbohydrates are not as big of an issue, but for those that are more stagnant, carbohydrates can be a nemesis. However, carbs don’t have to all be bad. There are actually some good carbs out there that may improve fertility.

Carbohydrates that are considered fast carbs (white bread, potatoes, and sugared sodas) may cause a woman to struggle with fertility. Slower cards that are high in fiber can actually improve fertility. What does fast versus slow carbs mean? Fast carbohydrates are those that are digested faster and the slow cards take a little longer to digest. These are the ones that will be beneficial. (newsweek.com)

Always Be Conscious of What to Eat

broccoli It may sound hard to believe, but diet truly does play a major part in conception. There is a reason doctors are always talking to their patients about diet and exercise. It would be easy for anyone to tell a couple that are trying to conceive to relax and just let it happen. It’s not always that easy. Some couples actually have to work at becoming parents. Some have to monitor their temperatures to determine when they will be ovulating. By eating a well-balanced diet that includes folic acid, Vitamin C, Omega-3’s and slow carbohydrates, the hopeful mother-to-be is improving their chances of becoming pregnant.