Your diet can increase the chances of pregnancy (01/04/16)

There are many factors that can help achieving a successful result: one of them is our diet. According to the experts, our diet can increase the chances of pregnancy.

“The food we eat affects the blood, the cells and the hormonal system and therefore it’s also important to pay attention to the diet”, explains Dr Veronique Moens, of Institut Marquès.

Alcohol doesn’t help fertility, even though there aren’t conclusive documents. Caffeine isn’t good either, caffeine narrows the blood vessels and slows down blood circulation towards the uterus making difficult the implantation of the embryo. Less than 500 ml of coffee is not considered an obstacle to conceive a child, but it’s advisable to avoid caffeine when there are difficulties to become pregnant or when an IVF is required.

Some foods such as ceviche, sushi and smoked shellfish should be avoided.

Listeriosis is another threat to pregnancy, as it can cause spontaneous miscarriages if it appears during the first or second trimester. This infection is caused by a bacteria found in contaminated foods, frequently in precooked meats (sold as a ready-to-eat product), and unpasteurised soft cheeses and dairy products.

Recommended foods

There are some products that help. Food rich in nutritive substances, for instance, wholemeal grain, especially for women suffering with polycystic ovaries. These products are more advisable than refined carbohydrates, as they can lose up to 17 nutrients during the process of production such as antioxidants, vitamin B and iron.

Fruit and vegetables contain overabundance of micronutrients and fatty acids omega-3 which helps pregnancy. Fish is a good source of omega-3, although we have to be careful with the quantity ingested due to possible elevated levels of mercury, therefore it’s advisable to avoid tinned yellowfin tuna and swordfish, whitefish, sawfish, tuna filets, shark, mackerel, marlin and grouper.

Men can also improve the quality of the sperm

Not everything relies on the woman! As we explained a few weeks ago, eating berries and citrus fruits can help prevent the risk of erectile dysfunction, and there are also foods that favour a good sperm performance. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, boosts sperm movement, especially in the case of smokers. A glass of orange juice in the morning is beneficial! Folic acid and zinc, which are found, for instance, in chicken, favours the volume control of sperm.