How to Jump Start Your Fertility Diet in the New Year

The New Year is a fresh start for you to improve your fertility by taking better care of yourself. You must give more attention to your overall health if you are planning on undergoing fertility treatment in 2019. This means breaking bad habits and eating better.

• Stop smoking because women who inhale nicotine are more likely to be infertile.
• Recent research suggest vaping harms the lungs and heart. The artificial flavors have a toxic effect on cells.
• Eliminate unhealthy foods in your diet by avoiding processed and fast foods.
• If you are overweight – BMI of 25+ – losing weight will help to increase your fertility.
• Get plenty of sleep to avoid irregular menstrual cycles. A lack of sleep leads to weight gain. Weight gain leads to ovulation problems. You should get at least 8 hours of sleep to increase your fertility.

Improving Your Fertility Diet

A new diet and fertility study has examined the impact of diet on fertility. Positive dietary effects on fertility for women have been linked to the intake of:

• Folic acid
• Vitamin B12
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Healthy diets – the DASH

Fertility Diet Tips

• Low-sodium canned or frozen veggies
• Herbs and spices instead of salt
• Lemon juice, citrus zest, or hot chilies for extra flavor and no sodium
• Canned fruits packed in juice or water – not syrup
• Non-fat, plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
• Healthy vegetable oils instead of butter
• Half wheat and half white flour
• Puree sweet potatoes, carrots, or cauliflower and keep in freezer for easy use in soups and casseroles
• Instead of alcohol – infuse cranberries, pomegranate arils, or orange slices into sparkling water

Fertility Diet Importance

• You must be proactive in your quest for pregnancy success
• You must think about what you’re eating

Why is diet important? A healthy diet will increase your chances of conceiving and help to support a healthy pregnancy.

Today, more women in their 30s and 40s are wanting to become first-time moms than their 20-something counterparts. What’s the real story? A Nurses’ Health Study found that women who followed a fertility diet had a 66 percent lower risk of ovulatory dysfunction. The participants in this study followed a recommended fertility diet.

• Plant-based foods
• Protein-rich foods
• Healthy fats
• A bit of full-fat dairy products

Bottom line: Nutrition and optimal fertility go hand-in-hand.

The DASH Diet

A fertility diet – known as the DASH Diet can improve your health, lower your BMI, and reduce your risk of PCOS. The DASH Diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – is a low-calorie diet helping to increase fertility in women. Women adhering to the DASH Diet can reduce BMI at a higher rate than those on a typical low-calorie diet.

DASH Diet Recent Study

A recent 12 week study of women on the DASH Diet by Kashan University of Medical Sciences resulted decreased anti-Mullerian hormone. The women studied were suffering from PCOS and high BMI – obesity. The findings of the study show that the DASH Diet improves metabolic profile, BMI in PCOS.

DASH Diet Can Improve Fertility

The DASH Diet emphasizes:

• Portion size
• Eating a variety of foods
• Getting the right amount of nutrients

The DASH Diet contains the same components of a regular low-calorie diet

• 52% to 55% carbohydrates
• 16% to 18% protein
• 30% total fats

In addition, the DASH Diet is rich in:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole Grains
• Low-Fat Dairy Products

The DASH Diet is:

• Low in Saturated Fats
• Low in Cholesterol
• Low in Refined Grains
• Low in Sweets

This low-calorie DASH Diet results in beneficial effects by reducing the harmful effects of the following in women suffering from PCOS and obesity:

• BMI
• Insulin Metabolism
• Free Androgen Index
• Anti-Mullerian Hormone
• Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
• Nitic Oxide
• Malondialdehyde

Nutrition and Fertility

Nutrition plays an essential role in improving the chances of conception and supporting a healthy pregnancy. Diet matters greatly before pregnancy and solidifies healthy eating habits during pregnancy. Make sure you take your vitamin supplements containing folic acid.

A Healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)

A healthy body weight and diet is essential to increasing your chances of becoming pregnant. Strive to achieve and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) to keep your reproductive cycle in balance. A BMI of 19 to 24 indicates a healthy weight. Anything above 24 or below 19 may be hindering your chances of ovulation and conception.

Plan of Action to Get Pregnant

Make an appointment with a fertility specialist for a thorough reproductive examination and preliminary assessment of your reproductive health. Why does this matter? Up to 34 percent of infertility cases are due to structural issues with a woman’s reproductive system. At New Hope Fertility Center, both female and male patients undergo a complete fertility assessment to evaluate their reproductive health.

The good news! Flagging any potential medical cause of infertility is the quick and cost-effectively help you get pregnant over the summer. Once the problem is identified, great strides toward a pregnancy can be made through a customized treatment plan.

More Helpful Pregnancy Resources

It is important to work with a fertility doctor having the experience to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your infertility and design a customized treatment plan meeting your specific personal needs.

Customized Protocols

• Timed Intercourse with medical assistance
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
• Conventional IVF
• Mini-IVF™
• Natural Cycle IVF™
• Needle-Free IVF

To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. John Zhang at New Hope Fertility Center, call 917.525.5496.