When it comes to getting pregnant, the staff at IVF Plano believes it important to cover all your bases. Along with discussing available fertility options with a reproductive endocrinologist like Dr. James Douglas, you can take control of your reproductive health by focusing on nutrition.
In addition to knowing the causes of infertility, maintaining a healthy diet focused toward getting pregnant can help you feel more in control during this journey. IVF Plano suggests ways in which women can make changes in their diet to help increase their chances of getting pregnant.
The Harvard Medical School recommends that women switch out one or more servings of meat protein with another alternative each week. This may include nuts, soy (like tofu), or whey protein powder. Plant-based protein can help increase a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.
While you are trying to get pregnant, eating cooked fish can provide a viable protein supplement that also includes omega-3s, which are healthy fats that can help increase fertility. Be sure to focus on low-mercury fish, and don’t consume more than 2 servings per week, such as salmon, tuna, sardines, or herring. Avoid saltwater fish, including swordfish, mackerel, marlin, and grouper, as they pack in the highest mercury levels.
Doctors recommend fruits and veggies as part of a healthy diet for all adults and children. It is always important to “eat your colors,”, meaning focus on daily consumption of colorful fruits and vegetables that give you the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Try to stay away from only consuming carb-loaded vegetables, like potatoes, and focus on eating a variety instead, like peppers, bananas, mangos, and sweet potatoes.
A major source of iron in the average person’s diet comes from meat, so take a prenatal vitamin, as well as an iron supplement, if you are a vegan or vegetarian. In addition, taking flaxseed oil is a great source of the omega-3s mentioned earlier. This is an essential fatty acid that helps membranes on receptor cells bind more easily to hormones, a crucial reproductive function that occurs in the uterus and ovaries.
Besides focusing on a healthy diet, it is also important to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and listeria bacteria, which is sometimes found in raw produce. Stay up-to-date on product recalls and make diet a priority when it comes to your fertility journey.
Dr. Douglas takes your overall wellness into account when designing a fertility treatment plan. Contact IVF Plano to learn more about taking control of your fertility, and boosting your chances for getting pregnant.
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