Good nutrition is fundamental for our organism to function optimally, it is therefore a key aspect in all stages of life and one of the main environmental factors that affect reproductive capacity. So much so that specialists in Assisted Reproduction warn that a diet based on food with poor nutrient quality reduces the reserves of nutrients necessary for the reproductive systems of both women and men to work effectively.
Nutrition and fertility for women
In the case of women, there are numerous causes that can decrease fertility, but that we can relate very closely to nutrition are:
- Weight, both underweight and overweight:
- In the case of low weight it can cause menstrual disorders and therefore ovulation disorders.
- Overweight and obesity: Fat tissue plays an important role in the metabolism of sex hormones and excess fat affects reproductive capacity. The probability of spontaneous pregnancy decreases in a linear fashion as the Body Mass Index (a measure of excess body weight) increases.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): this hormonal imbalance can worsen when insulin levels in the bloodstream rise sharply. Large insulin spikes can be triggered by the consumption of refined carbohydrates. What happens is that insulin flows into the blood and retro acts on the ovaries and can cause irregular ovulation.
Nutrition and Fertility for Them
Deficiency of certain nutrients in the diet, such as folic acid, zinc and antioxidants, affects male reproductive capacity.
In conclusion, nutrition and in general the incorporation of healthy lifestyle habits in the periconceptional period, that is, the period surrounding the exact moment of fertilization, is an important determinant of the expected results.
It goes without saying that the guided change of eating habits is a two-way affair, both for the woman and the man. Likewise, in addition to a good diet for this periconceptional stage, physical exercise and movement are important, as they help to control the levels of body fat and hormones. All this together with a guided supplementation, will increase the reproductive capacity and of course, will decrease any risk during pregnancy.