What not to eat when you are trying to be pregnant?
Numerous factors can play a role in an individual or couple’s ability to conceive. Of all the factors, nutrition plays a very important role. Good nutrition is key for fertility. As much as consuming certain foods is beneficial for conception, removal of certain food from the diet plays an equally important role in increasing the fertility.
This article tells you about the top 5 foods that need to be minimised in your diet if you are trying to conceive.
- Soda and high sugar foods.
When it comes to fertility, sugar is not your friend. Consuming foods high in sugar like soda, energy drinks, baked foods have an adverse effect on the fertility of both men and women. Sugar causes inflammation and glycation which ages our organs ( including the reproductive organs) and destroys cells. Sugary beverages affect quality of egg or ovum making it difficult to conceive even in women undergoing IVF.
- Caffeine
Though we love our coffees, limiting our caffeine intake to one – two cups of coffee per day is essential if you are trying to conceive. Studies have shown that consuming more than 5 cups of coffee in a day has been associated with decreased fertility and it can take approximately 11% longer to get pregnant and can put pregnant women at increased risk for miscarriage.
- Low fat dairy
Research have shown that men and women have different responses to dairy regarding its effect on fertility. While low fat dairy may not have any effect on male fertility, in women it has been shown to cause infertility. When fat is removed from dairy products, male hormones called androgens are left behind. In women, these interfere with the menstrual cycle and puts them at risk for PCOS and infertility.
- Smoking
Smoking is neither good for your lung health nor good for your reproductive health. Smoking can damage the genetic material in sperm and eggs leading to difficulty in conceiving. But the good news is that fertility is improved in both men and women after quitting smoking though it takes a longer time in women to see any improvements.
- Alcohol
Though its well known that consuming alcohol when you are already pregnant might hamper the health of the fetus, drinking alcohol ( even in moderate quantities) by both men and women can impair the couple’s ability to conceive. For men, drinking alcohol can cause decrease in sperm quality, reduce libido, decrease sexual function. In women, alcohol consumption can cause imbalance in sex hormone, affect ovulation and disrupt a women’s menstrual cycle making it difficult to conceive.
Apart from these, its good to avoid foods high in trans-fat, loaded with preservatives, all kinds of processed foods if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Healthy bodies are generally fertile bodies and diet plays an important role in your overall wellness, whether you are a man or women. Smart food and lifestyle choices can go a long way in supporting you and your partner. The list of foods to avoid for fertility is nothing different from the foods that your doctor or nutritionist might tell if you ask for healthy diet. Do consult your Gynecologist or health care provider in case of any doubt.
