.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction/ High Mercury Fish
0:47 Red and Processed Meats
2:04 High glycemic-index foods
2:35 Excessive caffeine
3:19 Rw animal products
• High Mercury Fish
• Fish (particularly the cold-water kind, such as salmon and sardines) are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which foster fetal brain development.
• But fish can also contain mercury—high amounts of which can harm a baby’s developing brain and short-circuit your chances of staying pregnant once you get pregnant.
• Avoid fish with high levels of the toxin, such as swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel and shark.
• And check out this advisory from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on the healthiest seafood choices for women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant.
2.Red and processed meats
• Current research suggests that a high consumption of red and processed meats, such as beef, bacon, hot dogs, and sausage, are likely dietary contributors to infertility for people of all genders.
• Those who ate fewer than 1.5 servings of processed meats per week had a 28% better chance of achieving pregnancy compared with men who ate 4.3 servings per week.
• However, men who ate the most poultry had 13% higher fertilization rates than men who ate the lowest number of poultry.
• Red and processed meats can also be high in trans fats and saturated fats, which are associated with lower fertility.
• Other research suggests that a high intake of animal protein overall may also be associated with worsened fertility outcomes.
• One study found that women who met high “fertility diet” scores, which included more vegetable protein than animal protein, had lower rates of infertility due to ovulation disorders.
• Consider replacing red and processed meats with plant-based protein alternatives, like:
• seitan
• tofu
• tempeh
• beans
• peas
• lentils
3.High-glycemic-index foods
• If you want to increase your fertility, avoid foods that make your blood sugar spike, especially if you’re not pairing them with foods that slowdown that rise.
• Blood sugar spikes can cause inflammation, alter our hormones, and impede ovulation.
• Try to choose slow-burning carbs, such as whole-wheat bread and pasta or brown rice, over refined ones when possible, and combine them with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
4.Excessive Caffeine
• You don’t have to completely cut out your morning pick-me-up, but you may want to consider cutting down on the number of cups you consume per day.
• Findings vary, but to be safe, stick to two cups or fewer each day.
• Drinking more than five cups of coffee a day is associated with decreased fertility, and that once you do become pregnant, drinking more than 200 mg of caffeine a day (the equivalent of about two cups of coffee) may increase your risk of miscarriage.
• Keep in mind that different types of coffee contain different amounts of caffeine; a cup of Starbucks coffee usually contains more caffeine than other brands.
• And tea, hot chocolate, energy drinks and certain sodas have caffeine too.
5.Raw animal products
• Raw meat, seafood, and eggs might contain salmonella, coliform bacteria, or toxoplasmosis, which can infect a fetus if it passes through the placenta.
• Make sure to cook all animal products thoroughly, and skip sushi, carpaccio, and the like.
source
