When you are trying to get pregnant, eating the right kinds of foods is vital and can boost your fertility considerably. However, if you are also including certain foods which are detracting from your fertility, your attention to eating “good” foods could be all to no avail. There are a number of foods to avoid when trying to conceive and below are 4 of the main culprits which you should not eat.
Although many manufacturers are now actively stopping the use of trans fats, which are an industrially created fat, they can still be found in a number of foods, and it is important to be aware of, and check for their presence in the foods you eat. The can often be found in fries and chips and in some packaged foods, such as popcorn and vegetable shortening. One famous study indicated that women who ate trans fats were more likely to suffer from problems with ovulation. Trans fats can also promote insulin resistance, a factor in infertility which can also cause inflammation and hormonal imbalances. In men, trans fats can cause the outer surface if the sperm to become more rigid, thus making it less able to penetrate the egg.
Although it can seem totally harmless to enjoy a morning coffee or two, caffeine in any form can affect fertility and is certainly on the list of foods to avoid when trying to conceive. Women who conceive over 400mg of caffeine a day (approximately 2-3 cups depending on strength and size) were more likely to be infertile or at least experience fertility problems. There are also indications that caffeine can affect sperm health.
When not trying to conceive, soy can have definite health benefits. However, studies have shown that men who consumed soy were more likely to have “unexplained fertility”. Upon further investigation, this was found to be related to low sperm counts and poor sperm motility. In women, soy is thought to reduce the levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and increase the length of the menstrual cycle.
Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates
Other foods to avoid when trying to conceive include sugar and refined carbohydrates. The main issue with eating sugar and refined carbohydrates in terms of your fertility is that it can disrupt the normal working and production of your hormones. When we eat these foods, they cause a “sugar rush” meaning that the body has to quickly produce insulin to avoid the blood sugar levels remaining too high. Your body cannot cope with regular peaks and troughs caused by eating these foods and eventually, becomes insulin resistant. This causes hormonal imbalances which often affect ovulation and thus inhibiting your chances of conceiving.