Dietary No-No's
If you've made the big decision to get pregnant, it's time to start fine-tuning your diet toward that goal. There are foods that are best avoided during the time you are trying to conceive. Topping the list are dietary items that contain chemical additives and preservatives. Examples of these additives are artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet. Such additives can change the delicate balance of your hormones and blood sugar levels. Avoiding diet soda would be wise, since the beverage contains aspartame.
Modest Amounts
Some foods need to be moderated rather than eliminated from the diet. A woman must have a modest amount of fat in her diet in order to maintain her hormone-producing capabilities and for getting sufficient amounts of vitamin A, but high fat foods should be given a miss.
Ingesting caffeine may make egg implantation mission impossible. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, cola, and in other carbonated beverages. The substance serves to constrict blood vessels. This constriction cuts the blood flow to the uterus which prevents the egg from being able to implant on the uterine wall. If you can't see cutting out coffee altogether, make an attempt to limit how much you drink. This is even more important if you're trying to conceive via IVF.
Empty Calories
Refined carbohydrates fill you with empty calories when you might have chosen more nutritious whole grain items instead. Rye or whole wheat sourdough breads can offer your body the nutrients it needs to support a developing fetus. In women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) eating lots of whole grains is even more important since it helps to stabilize insulin levels. When insulin levels are out of control, the result is often irregular and even absent ovulation, which may make conception impossible.
It's true that a woman who is trying to conceive needs to eat enough protein, but red meat should be eaten in only modest amounts. Beef can cause the levels of ammonia to rise and this can pose an obstacle to egg implantation. Choose to eat chicken or fish, instead.
Even modest alcohol consumption, say 2 drinks weekly, can raise a woman's prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone that tends to inhibit contraception. This same hormone is excreted in larger amounts during lactation. This is the reason that nursing mothers tend not to conceive.
Women who love to snack on the edible green soybeans known as edamame are often surprised to learn they are best avoided when trying to conceive. The phytoestrogens in this treat can lengthen a woman's menstrual cycles and hamper fertility.
