If you’ve been expecting or trying to get pregnant recently, there are a couple of foods that you should be avoiding, and some foods that you should be eating more of.
Maintaining a healthy diet is integral to a successful pregnancy. There are a lot of different foods out there that can increase your overall health as well as your reproductive health. In this article, we’ll take a look at some things that you should avoid, and some things you should be ingesting more of.
What To Eat
1. Fruits And Vegetables
There are a couple of food groups out there that some have dubbed the “best pregnancy foods”, and a lot of these can be fairly complicated. However, one of the foods that can greatly improve your health, especially while expecting or expecting to expect is fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are naturally packed with vitamins and nutrients that keep you healthy, but one type of the most important things you should be consuming is Vitamin B Folate. This Folic acid is essential in producing prenatal vitamins that are essential if you’re trying to conceive and will also reduce the chances of neural-tube birth defects. Vegetables that are high in Vitamin B Folate include Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus.
2. Fish
Fish is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids which certain scientists have said have a positive effect on fertility. It’s best to choose fish that are rich in these acids such as tuna, salmon, tilapia, and catfish. However, there are some fish out there that contain high levels of mercury that should be avoided as it can have a negative effect on fertility and pregnancy. These fish include swordfish, shark, and marlin.
3. Whole Grains
Women trying to conceive and those already expecting need to have a diet very rich in nutrients. This is to ensure that your health and the health of the developing child will remain in the best condition possible. Whole grains are a great way of getting this nutrient, and they’re also fairly easy to make and digest. Oatmeal, whole-grain cereal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice are highly recommended as they are great sources of nutrition.
Things To Avoid
1. Alcohol
If you’re already pregnant, you should already be avoiding and abstaining from alcohol as that can do a lot of damage to your health and your child’s health. But even if you’re just trying to get pregnant, alcohol can be very bad for you. An occasional beer or a small glass of wine won’t really hurt your chances, but regular consumption of alcohol is a big no-no. Aside from that, you can never really be 100% sure that when you’re ovulating or when you actually conceive, so it may be best to completely avoid alcohol.
2. Trans Fats
Trans fats are found in a lot of processed foods and numerous studies show that they have a relation to infertility. This goes for both men and women, as there are studies that suggest that these trans fats may have a correlation to ovulation problems in women and a lower sperm count in men. These fats are also generally unhealthy so it’s best to avoid them if you are already expecting.
3. Caffeine
Thre is evidence out there that suggests very high consumption of caffeine can lead to some fertility problems. While a cup of coffee every now and then won’t hurt you, the general consensus is that it’s best to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum if you’re expecting pregnancy. No one really knows what exactly caffeine’s relationship to infertility is, but to be on the safer side of things it’s would be best to greatly lower your intake or cut it out altogether when trying to get pregnant.
Conclusion
The process of life is beautiful and uncertain. That’s why it’s best to be as healthy as possible to make sure that everything goes smoothly. So now that all the best foods and the not-so-best things for your pregnancy have been laid out, all that’s left to do is clear the pantry of things to avoid and fill it up with the things you need!