IVF Diet: Foods to eat during IVF treatment

Staying healthy during pregnancy is essentially important. Lacking proper nutrition can cause defects in the child. Although there is no direct relationship between success rates of IVF with nutrition . There is however the health of the egg/sperm related to the food we eat.

A balanced diet should be maintained for at least a few months so that there can be an IVF Success .

BMI is a good measurement of body weight, it is easy to calculate and provides crucial information about your body. BMI is another topic on its own, so it is better to research this separately.

Monitoring your diet can help you identify which food you need and which you don’t.

Monitoring your Diet

There are mobile apps and websites that can monitor your diet , help create a diet plan and suggest changes to your lifestyle. But due to the lack of human interaction can demotivate people over a period of time.

Visiting a dietician is an alternative, their personal interaction session can help a lot, provide a personalized diet, get you motivated and help you reach your goal. Apart from a personalized diet, it is said that they are more effective than any apps and websites out there. They provide a pregnancy -specific diet as well.

If cost is really an issue then, there are free diet planners out there on the internet, however, they are not that good. However, they can act as a skeleton to your diet plan. This is more of an independent approach.

Which Food to Eat?

• Foods Rich In Zinc: - Zinc helps in balancing the hormone level, so it is necessary to meet the daily requirement of zinc which is 15 mg will work to benefit you. You can rely on zinc supplements but natural ways of consuming nutrients are considered better. Zinc is found in grains, nuts, dairy products, meat items and potatoes which are rich in zinc.

• Folic Acid: - Folic acid is considered as the pregnancy superhero. Folic acid along with certain prenatal vitamins helps in the healthy development of a child’s brain and spinal cord. Folic acid is required in varying amounts during pregnancy , it is best to get a test to check the exact number and adjust your diet plan accordingly. Below is a list of amounts of folic acid required during different stages of pregnancy: -

• When you plan and try to conceive: 400 mcg
• In the first 3 months of pregnancy: 400 mcg
• In the 4th-9th month of pregnancy: 600 mcg

• Iron Rich Foods: - Iron deficiency causes anemia and is linked with premature birth and underweight children. Iron is readily available in common vegetables and fruits. Some good sources are Pumpkin seeds, oysters and spinach. You can add iron supplements in your diet but after consulting your doctor.

• Fats: - If fats are actually essential for your body when consumed in moderation. But trans-saturated fats that are present in junk foods should be avoided at any cost. Fats from walnuts, olive oil, corn, chia seeds, and flaxseed oil are healthy fatty acids and are unsaturated fats which are recommended because of these help in the formation of healthy eggs in your body.

• Protein: - Protein is highly recommended in the process of getting pregnant as it helps in the development of the body and provides instant energy. It is necessary to include 60 grams of protein in your diet on a daily basis. Meat products are a great source of protein. For vegetarians soya is a good source, it packs more protein than meat-based products but it lacks certain fats that come along with meat.

• Stay Hydrated: - Staying hydrated is a no brainer. Consume 7-8 glasses of water. Do not keep your body thirsty at all.

Foods to Avoid

There are several foods that one must avoid, in fact, the list is quite long. But, there is 1 thing that is common, i.e. avoid undercooked or uncooked food. They may contain different bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can harm your body.

Apart from undercooked foods, fast foods, artificial sweeteners, sugars, caffeine, and alcohol must be avoided. They can create stress and affect your reproductive processes.

This article was aimed at helping you set a diet plan, however, you and only you can implement it.