Fertility: the Mediterranean Diet Can Help You to Get Pregnant

If you’re trying to get pregnant, you may have read dozens of articles about the best diets to follow or best foods to eat to conceive quickly or to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

One of the top-notch diets that seems to have amazing effects on women trying to conceive is the Mediterranean diet. According to several studies, women who adopt a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, fish and whole grains, are less likely to have trouble conceiving.

A Spanish study compared the diet of more than 2000 women. About 500 of them had fertility issues and 1600 others were the mother of at least one child. The results showed that only 17% of women eating the Mediterranean diet had trouble conceiving, while 26% of women who were following a “Western” diet (lots of meats, processed foods and fast foods) experienced fertility problems.

What should I eat to boost my fertility?

Following the Mediterranean diet can triple your odds of becoming pregnant via IVF or another fertility treatment. Moreover, the fresh products featured in this diet may be a great protection against ovarian dysfunction. These foods will also help you to have a healthy pregnancy and lower the risk of complications during pregnancy.

Convinced? If you are thinking of following the Mediterranean diet – whether you’re trying to get pregnant naturally or via a fertility treatment, here is what you should and should not put on your plate.

Basically, opt for fresh and organic products that you can find growing naturally in the Mediterranean region. Go for those that have gone through only minimal processing. Eat lots of beans, fruits and vegetables (olives, avocados, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, figs, onions, garlic); choose vegetable oils (olive oil) over butter and margarine; nibble on peanuts and almonds for your snack rather than crisps and sweets; and eat whole grain pasta or bread. Don’t hesitate to add spices and herbs to make your meals even tastier. Unlike salt, they can do wonders for your health!

On the contrary, a diet high in saturated fat (dairy foods and red meat) may affect your fertility. Avoid eating too much meat or sugar contained in sweets, sodas, snacks and fast foods. Not only can these processed products loaded with trans fats disturb your ovulation, they can also lead to being overweight or even obese, two of the most common causes of infertility.

The other benefits of the Mediterranean diet

In addition to being amazing for boosting fertility, the Mediterranean diet is also great for reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Eating like an Italian or a Spaniard may help you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, which is important when you’re TTC and want to stay healthy. On top of that, the diet appears to be a fantastic aid for sleeping and fighting against sleep apnea.

All things considered, it’s safe to say that the Mediterranean diet is one of the best things to try when looking to improve your health. Incidentally, this is also the opinion of the experts at the US News and World Report, who rated this diet as one of the best in the world. So if you’re trying to conceive, don’t hesitate to give it a go!