Women trying to conceive should ditch the junk food and eat more fruit, says new study

There are many factors that can affect a woman’s fertility. Recently it was found that women who ate more junk food and less fruit take longer to conceive. According to a study published in the Human Reproduction journal, evidence shows that healthier diets help make women become more fertile.

Australian researchers at the University of Adelaide, spearheaded by Professor Claire Roberts, looked into the impact of diet on infertility and the connection between the two. The research study involved questioning and surveying the eating habits of 5,598 women from Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Ireland. It aimed to understand and shed light on the correlation between a woman’s diet and eating habits to reproductive success.

The team gathered information and examined data of the participants who had conceived for the first time. Between the 14th and 16th week of their pregnancy, and during their first prenatal visit, the midwives were tasked to collect information. Questions were mainly focused on their diet a month before conception and how long it took for them to become pregnant. They were also asked how frequently they consumed green leafy vegetables, fruits, and fish. They were also asked how often they ordered take-outs from their favorite fast food outlets and what they typically ordered – specifically burgers, pizzas, and fries.

After data collection and analysis, the researchers discovered that women who consumed less than three pieces of fruit in a month took 50 percent longer to conceive in comparison to women who ate more fruits monthly. (Related: Top 7 Superfoods Your Pregnancy Diet Must Include.)

Meanwhile, women who ate fast food more than four times a week while eating fewer fruits found it harder to conceive.

When the team of researchers looked into the impact of diet on infertility, they found that in women with the lowest intake of fruit, the risk of infertility increased from eight to 12 percent. For those who ate fast food four or more times a week, the risk of infertility increased from eight to 16 percent.

The researchers concluded that fast food may affect a person’s fertility due to its high saturated fat content. Dr. Jessica Grieger, a post-doctoral researcher, asserted that small modifications in dietary intake can go a long way in reducing infertility rate. She highly recommended that women who want to easily get pregnant be mindful of their dietary patterns as it can be very beneficial.

Lead researcher Professor Claire Roberts of the University of Adelaide, said: “These findings show that eating a good quality diet that includes fruit and minimising fast food consumption improves fertility and reduces the time it takes to get pregnant.”

Fruits are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall health. Find out more health benefits of fruits at Fruits.news.

Sources include:

Independent.co.uk

NBCNews.com