Is It True That Your Diet Can Help You Get Pregnant?

From the moment you decide you want to have a baby, you want to get pregnant immediately but that could trigger anxiety and even depression in some cases. A new Harvard review published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology says that the foods you eat might actually make a difference in how fast you become pregnant when you are expectant.

Though the authors of the study didn’t call it a “fertility diet,” per se, especially considering the fact that one of the study authors created a fertility diet in 2007. The study however tried to put together a meal plan that’s heavy on pro-pregnancy foods, and lighter on the stuff that’s not really going to help.

Can Eating Certain Foods Help With Pregnancy?
Your diet isn’t going to magically develop a foetus in your womb, because there are a number of other factors involved. These factors include your age, underlying health conditions, etc.

You should however note that you could be the healthiest eater on the planet and still struggle with fertility issues. You could also eat like total crap and get pregnant with a simple touch from your partner.

Despite these, the researchers found some correlation between certain foods and a lower frequency of infertility and greater success in infertility treatments like IVF.

What Foods Are Good For Fertility?
There are a few foods that might help you out if you’re trying to get pregnant. They include Fatty fish (tuna, salmon), Walnuts, Soybeans, Fish oil, Seafood, Poultry, Whole grains, Fruits and vegetables.

All of these are linked to better fertility in women and better semen quality in men. The researchers also point out that taking a folic acid supplement to prevent neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain, spine, and spinal cord) is also a good idea.

What Foods Have No Effect On Fertility?
While the study didn’t mention whether certain foods can totally derail fertility, it however pointed out some foods that will not be beneficial. These foods include Cheese, Egg yolks, Vitamin D-fortified cereals and Antioxidant supplements.

Antioxidants are great for you, but taking an antioxidant supplement doesn’t seem to help women who are going through IVF.

The researchers point out that dairy and soy, which were once seen as bad for fertility, weren’t consistently related to fertility issues. Same is applicable for moderate amounts of alcohol and caffeine.

The researchers specifically say that the research to support the idea that alcohol and caffeine can mess with fertility seems “less solid that it once did. As far as those vitamin D-rich cereals, except you’re deficient in the vitamin, getting more than your recommended daily allowance doesn’t seem to help boost your fertility.

Again, eating a good diet is a small part of the larger puzzle that makes up your fertility. If you’ve been struggling to conceive, it is important you talk to your obstetrician/ gynaecologist.