Once you have decided to go for the IVF treatment, start monitoring your diet. It is seen that obesity or too low body weight affects fertility adversely and reduces the success rate of IVF. So, starting with an excellent diet will be a great option to fight these issues. Paying attention to your diet and essential nutrients will help your body to carry pregnancy easily. The IVF process is emotionally and physically demanding, so a good diet is also a way to boost up your mood and be relaxed by the medium of food.
Kind of food to eat during IVF treatment:
By understanding your food, you can improve your chances of success as food has an indirect relation with the process and the right choice of food will help your body to respond in a better way. There are certain nutrients that are essential for the IVF treatment to be a success.
Food rich in zinc:
If the hormones that are responsible for the regulation of the reproduction process in the body are at an appropriate level, it will affect the entire process in an effective way. Any kind of hormonal imbalance will cause an unpredictable functioning of the ovaries or eggs. Zinc helps in balancing the hormone level. You can rely on zinc supplements but natural ways of consuming nutrients are considered better. Include grains, nuts, dairy products, meat items, and potatoes which are rich in zinc.
Folic acid in food:
Folic acid along with certain prenatal vitamins helps in the healthy development of your child’s brain and spinal cord. In general, birth defects occur in the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy majorly due to a lack of certain nutrients in the body required for the development of a child. So, you can store the amount of folate in your body to ensure proper brain and spinal cord development.
Iron-rich food:
If you have an iron deficiency or anaemia, it can cause your baby to be born too early or too small. Every month during menstruation, you lose iron and due to lack of a healthy diet, many of you might suffer from iron deficiency. Iron in the body is related to ovulation and good health of eggs; Deficiency of iron leads to poor egg health.
Healthy fats:
If fats are consumed in moderation, it is actually beneficial for your body. But trans-saturated fats that are present in junk foods should be avoided at any cost. These fats will work as energy storage in your body which you might need in the journey of IVF treatment and after a successful pregnancy.
Protein-rich food:
The appropriate presence of protein in your body affects the development of eggs in the ovaries. Protein is highly recommended in the process of getting pregnant as it helps in the development of the body and provides instant energy to the body.
Examples of food to eat during the treatment
- Green Leafy Vegetables: Green leafy is one the most important food item because these are fertility boosting food. As these are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, and iron, they should be part of your daily food intake.
- Cabbage: They are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. The Di-indole methane present in cabbage helps in regulating estrogen metabolism.
- Broccoli: As broccoli is rich in Vitamin C, which assists in maturing the eggs.
- Potatoes: Potatoes help to increase the cell division in the body. Regular consumption of potatoes provides essential vitamins like B and E to your body.
- Banana: Loaded with vitamin B6, this superfood helps in regulating menstruation cycles. You can consider this fruit as a healthy snack option because it provides you with versatile options.
- Pineapple: Pineapple contains a good amount of manganese in it. Manganese is known as a reproductive mineral and so it helps in boosting the reproductive hormones.
- Salmon: Rich content of Omega-3 fatty acids makes this food an essential intake because it can help in Oestrogen balance and also increase blood flow. It should be properly cooked
- Complex Carbs: Complex carbs are great for regulating blood sugar levels. It will also help you in maintaining a healthy weight.
- Colourful Fruits and Vegetables: Colors in fruits and vegetable has their own significance. They are loaded with essential nutrients.
Examples of food to avoid during the treatment
- Eggs in raw form: Raw forms of eggs are used in many food products like mayonnaise, biscuit cream, and salad dressing. But there is a virus named salmonella virus which is present in raw eggs which can cause food poisoning. Hence, it is recommended to cook them well before consumption.
- Artificial sweeteners: Avoid consuming food that comes with artificial sweeteners. It is bad for your health in the normal state also. Saccharin based sweeteners reduce the success rate of IVF. Instead, you can use sucralose-based sweeteners or any natural sweetening syrup.
- Refined sugars: Food containing refined sugar in it makes you feel happy for some time but pressurize the liver to produce more insulin quickly to balance the sugar level. This pressure over the organs of the body begins to affect the fertility process.
- Seafood: Seafood is a good source of protein and essential fatty acid but consuming raw or half-cooked seafood causes infection. Also, seafood is rich in mercury content which causes issues with the development of the fetus and result in birth defects.
- Alcohol: Alcohol is the major cause of erratic ovulation. It does not only affect the health of eggs but is also responsible for fetus impairment.
- Caffeine: Limit the amount of coffee and tea consumption, when you are undergoing fertility treatments.
- Cheese: Not all cheese but only specific types of cheese have to be avoided. Few varieties of cheese contain bacteria that are known to cause infection.
