Advances in reproductive medicine have enabled millions of people to get pregnant who otherwise could not have in the past. But you may not want to seek expert medical care to conceive a child, even if you're concerned your fertility may not be optimal. Take steps now to eat healthy and put your reproductive ability at its peak.
Diet-Related Infertility
In recent years, nutritional research has made more connections between nutrients and fertility-impacting conditions. For women, ovulatory disorder is one of the more common causes of infertility, and fortunately, it's a cause that diet can often prevent or make better. In the case of male fertility, some of the most recent reproductive nutrition research is revealing that women aren't the only ones who need to watch what they eat in order to have a baby. Sperm quality and quantity are apparently negatively impacted by a man's diet and can be improved with changes of habit.
Weight Is Important
The oldest nutrition-related fertility research continues to be validated by newer studies that clearly state too much weight is a big problem for both men and women who want to conceive. For women, being underweight, too, plays a role in ovulatory disorder. The best target to aim for is a moderate body mass index of between 18 and 25.
Disclaimer and Guarantee
There are no real "wonder foods" when it comes to getting pregnant. The complexity of nutrients and how your body uses them makes eating a wide variety of foods in moderation and strictly avoiding some essential to reproductive health. However, eating right is always good for your body, whether you're trying to conceive, have a healthy pregnancy, or be an energetic parent.
Optimal Nutrition for Fertility
Virtually all study findings so far recommend similar dietary choices for men and women, based on the importance of a moderate body mass index: carbohydrates that are "slow-burning" or low on the Glycemic Index, low-fat meats, and a daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Women are now being advised to partake in whole fat dairy, rather than low-fat, based on evidence presented in "The Fertility Diet" published in 2007.
Popular Fertility Diets
A number of books have been written about diets that can enhance fertility, most of them by people who once had trouble conceiving. The information in these books illustrates the expansion of what researchers continue to learn. One of the first, "The Infertility Diet," by Fern Reiss, was published in 1999. One of the tips published on the book's website warns against dairy products for women. Another author, Julia Indichova, wrote in her 2007 book, "The Fertile Female," that dairy may be a problem for people with specific conditions, such as fibroids or endometriosis. When addressing the dairy question in 2008, the authors of "Fully Fertile" referred primarily to the common occurrence of hormones in most cow's milk, with related higher estrogen levels that can actually be disruptive to a woman's normal hormonal balance. All of these books offer fertility-enhancing food lists and related recipes to simplify dietary choices for men and women who hope to conceive.
The Fertility Diet
In November 2007, Harvard Health Publications put out "The Fertility Diet," written by Dr. Jorge Chavarro, Dr. Walter Willett and Patrick Skerrett. The book was widely publicized, mostly because its claims are backed by highly reputable research, but also because of the unusual finding that whole dairy is better for female fertility than low-fat. It is important to note that this fertility diet focuses only on women's fertility issues, and the findings were not based on studies of women with sub-normal fertility. Also, the book's recommendations apply only to ovulatory-based infertility and not any of the other potential causes for inability to conceive.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Calculate Your Body Mass Index
- The Infertility Diet: Free Tips
- Harvard Health Publications: Follow the Fertility Diet?
- "Fully Fertile"; Tamara Quinn, Elisabeth Heller & Jeanie Lee Bussell; 2008
- "The Fertile Female"; Julia Indichova; 2007
