21 Mar Nutrition Tips When Trying to Conceive
You’ve probably heard the expression, “your body is a temple…,” and that’s certainly true for women who are pregnant. However, it’s equally true for women who are trying to conceive. What many don’t know is that preparing your body for pregnancy is just as important as it is to take care of your body after you’re pregnant.
The more we learn about the role nutrition plays on health, the more we realize the foods you eat while trying to conceive can increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Health Eating Tips While Trying to Conceive (TTC)
It’s not easy to change your diet overnight, so we begin focusing on these healthy eating tips to comfortably migrate into a healthy pregnancy diet and lifestyle.
Switch from processed to whole foods
Processed foods are laden with all kinds of things that aren’t good for your body – including white sugars/simple carbohydrates, preservatives and other chemicals, and high salt content. One of the easiest switches you can make is the one from processed to whole foods. This change eliminates hundreds of excess calories from your diet and slashes empty carbs and unhealthy chemicals that aren’t good for you or baby.
Learn more about an anti-inflammatory diet
The more we learn about fertility, the more we realize that immune function and inflammation levels can make or break your conception and/or pregnancy. We’ve also learned that diet can markedly increase or decrease inflammation in the body.
By focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet – prioritizing whole foods, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables and low-fat proteins – you enhance overall health in a myriad of ways. This includes diminishing the side effects of health conditions exacerbated by inflammation such as PCOS or endometriosis – both of which contribute to infertility.
Talk to your doctor about prenatal supplements
Many women don’t know they’re pregnant for weeks, or even months, after they’ve conceived. In the meantime, that tiny embryo needs all the healthy vitamins, minerals and healthy fatty acids it can get as it gets on with the business of neurological and physical development. Talk to your doctor about taking prenatal supplements to ensure baby is getting all the nutrition and vitamins s/he needs from the minute of conception.
Eat fish on the safe list
Healthy protein, fat and omega-3s are all on the “nutrients that increase fertility” list – and increasing your fish intake will promote all three. Experts recommend eating two- to three-servings of fish per week. Focus on SMASH fish (Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovies, Sardines and Herring) for ultimate pregnancy and physical health. Read the American Pregnancy Association’s, Mercury Levels in Fish, to learn more about the importance of fish in a pregnancy diet as well as which fish to seek out and/or avoid.
Are you concerned that it’s taking you too long to conceive and that nutrition intake my be the cause? Contact us here at the Fertility Center of Dallas to determine if it’s time to schedule a consultation.