Can eating certain foods help your chances to fall pregnant?
Recently I've been reading about Harvard's research into the link between diet and fertility and it has shown that, yes, diet and exercise DO play a role in your chances to conceive.
So let's have a quick look at the overview of what foods are good to eat:
Carbs
Specifically the difference between good and bad carbohydrates can impact on your fertility significantly.
Bad carbs - White bread, potatoes and sugary drinks do disrupt the balance of hormones needed for reproduction.
Good carbs - Wholegrain pasta and breads that are rich in fiber can improve your chances of conception by balancing your blood-sugar and insuline levels (which in turn balance your hormones).
Fats
It is already well known that women who restrict fat from their diets altogether can have trouble ovulating or may even stop menstruating altogether. Fats carry building blocks of hormones and cell renewal.
That's not to say your should start gobbling down lots of fatty foods though. Bad fats such as Trans fats actually increase the likelihood of developing ovulatory infertility.
Stick with the good fats and oils, like olive oil and fish oil. (Especially those high in Omega 3).
Protein
Again it depends on the type of protein eaten as to how it will affect your fertility. One of the most significant studies shows that eating plant proteins (such as beans and nuts which are an excellent source of protein, fiber and other nutrients) can significantly improve fertility.
It therefore makes good sense to include more plant proteins such as nuts and beans into your diet.
Milk and Ice Cream
Now for some good news! Eating one or more servings of full fat dairy (such as yoghurt, milk, cottage cheese and ice cream) can help improve fertility.
So ditch the low fat milk from the fridge and replace it with the full fat version. Women who consumed low-fat dairy products were more likely to have trouble conceive than those who at full fat dairy products.
Now you don't need to feel guilty about having that icecream sprinkled with nuts - it's good for your fertility!
Weight & Exercise
Keeping yourself within a healthy weight range (not too big and not too small - just right ..) will help you balance your hormones and improve your conception chances. While we have all heard of this before, it does make sense that keeping your weight under control will help guard against high blood sugar and keep your insulin levels in check.
Exercise also improves circulation, and since your blood carries your hormones, better circulation means that you have an increased chance of getting your hormones to the right place at the right time, and improving the elimination of toxic substances from your blood.
Exercise is also great for producing natural stress relievers which we could all use some of when worrying about trying to fall pregnant!
The diet Atkins principles laying the groundwork for a more balanced and healthy eating to the standard American diet. Emphasis is placed on the use of good carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The average American eats a lot of processed foods that have hidden sugars and carbohydrates highly processed. This has enabled most Americans on the road to diabetes and pre-diabetes. What is sad is that diabetes has a series of steps and predictable that they can be easily recognized.
The road to diabetes has to do with what is called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are quoted on the index with regard to the degree of response of the insulin they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce large amounts of glucose). Carbohydrates and refined sugars which make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.
We are able to assimilate more easily these foods as children, and our bodies function more effectively in our youth. There may have been secondary effects such as weight gain and mood swings, but not highlighted. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more frequent. The nation-wide epidemic of obesity is the result of a diet high in carbohydrates and instability in the levels of blood sugar.
Many people who are overweight are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas gets over worked and it releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This results in the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.
With age, blood glucose and insulin more difficulties worsened. The condition is known as "hyperinsulinism" and is a precursor to type II diabetes. It is usually accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides. After years of using a diet rich in carbohydrates, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the principal organ of fat and pounds usually accompany creator too late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.
However, there are easily identifiable warning signs to diabetes that appear early. Your family doctor can perform insulin level tests that will let you know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic conditions, and studies show that low-carb diets like Atkins can help. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most effective methods to controlling pre-diabetic conditions.
The Atkins diet helps to effectively control blood sugar. The combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates maintain good body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling the amount of carbohydrates and the type will help limit the peak insulin. This will allow his pancreas work in the way they are meant to be, and that will reduce the likelihood of your development of pre-diabetic conditions. It is a vicious circle which, if unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively that produces blood sugar stable throughout the day and helps you stay off the road to diabetes.
Both Tracey Edwards & Jonas Milkei are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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