People wanting to conceive often ask what the best diet is, and if becoming vegan will help.
Cutting out all animal-derived food and drink is, of course, a personal choice. However, replacing some animal proteins, such as meat and eggs, with foods such as legumes, pulses, nuts and seeds, can actually reduce the risk of infertility.
Research has shown that consuming 5% of energy as vegetable protein, as opposed to animal protein, is associated with a more than 50% lower risk of ovulatory infertility (lack of ovulation). At the same time, eating fish, especially low-mercury fish such as tuna, cod, herring, sardines, mackerel, perch, wild salmon and pollock, can also improve fertility potential.
We also know that consuming foods which are rich in antioxidants and eating regular meals, while avoiding highly-processed foods and trans fats (found in hydrogenated vegetable oils) are all linked to increased fertility potential.
This also applies to cutting down on refined carbs, eating more fibre and vegetable proteins (found in pulses, nuts, seeds) and choosing high fat dairy products – over low fat versions which are often higher in sugar to compensate for the flavour loss.
And don’t forget that staying active, taking multi-vitamins, sleeping well, cutting down on caffeine, not smoking or drinking alcohol, are all associated with improved fertility.
For men, healthy sperm are of course important too. Avoiding obvious things, such as smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs, can help to promote healthy sperm, and just as with women, a nutritionally-balanced diet, regular physical exercise, taking multivitamins, a healthy body weight and plenty of sleep, will help to increase fertility potential.
With NOW-fertility, this kind of information and advice will be at your fingertips. Our personalised IVF care, and always-on approach will offer access to online educational and information resources whenever you need them.
To find out more about NOW-fertility, do contact us.
