Fertility and diet: Is there a connection?
Here are some headlines on fertility and diet that caught our attention:
The ultimate fertility diet: We reveal what to eat and what to avoid
Here’s what to eat if you’re trying to get pregnant
Trying to get pregnant? Foods to eat and avoid to boost fertility
Wow! Who knew that your choices at tonight’s dinner buffet could transform you into a parent? Not so fast — let’s look at the new study that’s causing all the fuss.
A new study of fertility and diet
Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School have just published a review of past studies that examined the impact of diet on fertility. Here’s what they found.
For women trying to become pregnant naturally (without “assistive reproductive technologies” such as in vitro fertilization), the following vitamins and nutrients were linked to positive effects on fertility:
folic acid
vitamin B12
omega-3 fatty acids
healthy diets (such as the Mediterranean diet)
On the other hand, antioxidants, vitamin D, dairy products, soy, caffeine, and alcohol appeared to have little or no effect on fertility in this review. Trans fat and “unhealthy diets” (those “rich in red and processed meats, potatoes, sweets, and sweetened beverages”) were found to have negative effects.
Studies of men have found that semen quality improves with healthy diets (as described above), while the opposite has been linked with diets high in saturated or trans fat. Alcohol and caffeine...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Family Planning and Pregnancy Fertility Health Women's Health Source Type: blogs
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