I’m a fertility doctor – these are the five foods and drinks I’d never have while trying to conceive

By James On Sep 21, 2023

Women are told to avoid a whole host of different foods during pregnancy.

Shellfish, unpasteurized milk products and soft cheeses are off the menu, for fear they contain bacteria that could endanger them or their unborn baby.

But dietitians also warn that certain foods are best avoided when trying to conceive.

London-based dietitian Ro Huntriss shared the foods she would skip or eat less of when trying to conceive.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, alcohol can be passed on to your unborn baby, according to the NHS

Alcohol

Abstaining from alcohol is the advice for women trying to conceive.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, alcohol can be passed on to your unborn baby, according to the NHS.

It adds that drinking during pregnancy can lead to long-term damage to your baby and the more you drink, the greater the risk.

Ms Huntriss said: ‘If a mother drinks alcohol while pregnant, this increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, in addition to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder which can cause mental and physical problems in your baby.’

But it’s not just while you’re pregnant, alcohol consumption is also linked to a reduced chance of becoming pregnant, says Ms Huntriss.

Caffeine

Caffeine should be limited if you are trying to conceive, even though it has no negative effect on conceiving.

This is because drinking too much of it is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, Ms Huntriss said.

According to dietitians, women should have no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day when trying to conceive

She suggests that women should consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day when trying to conceive.

This is approximately two cups of instant coffee, containing approximately 100 mg of coffee per cup.

If you drink too much caffeine while pregnant, you risk complications such as low birth weight and miscarriage, the NHS says.

Oily fish

Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are rich sources of nutrients, so it may seem surprising that dietitians recommend not going overboard when trying to conceive.

‘While these are an excellent source of nutrients including iron, iodine and omega-3, they should be limited to two servings per week due to the contaminants they contain, which can build up in the body and cause damage to a developing developing child,” says Ms. Huntriss.

Eating too many oily fish can be harmful to an unborn baby, according to the NHS, as they contain pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls.

The NHS adds that pregnant women should also avoid ready-to-eat, cold-smoked or salted fish, as these may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.

This can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, or make your newborn seriously ill, the NHS says.

Foods high in vitamin A

Foods like eggs, beef liver and fish oil should be avoided if you’re trying to get pregnant, according to experts. That’s because they contain a lot of vitamin A, which can cause malformations in the fetus

Foods like eggs, beef liver and fish oil should be avoided if you’re trying to get pregnant, according to experts.

That’s because they are high in vitamin A, and women trying to conceive should be careful not to consume too much, Ms Huntriss said.

She said: ‘If taken in excess, vitamin A can be harmful to an unborn baby.’

Vitamin A is formed in the body when beta-carotene, the coloring agent in red, yellow and green leafy vegetables, is broken down.

Too much vitamin A can cause malformations in the fetus, including spina bifida (abnormal development of the spine), small or no eyes, cleft lip, cleft palate, absent or malformed ears, and malformations of the limbs, kidneys, genitals, heart and thyroid. and skeleton, according to the toxicology committee at the Food Agency.

Eating too many trans fats is linked to an increase in infertility and could affect the length of pregnancy, dietitians say

Trans fats

Trans fats found in margarines, cakes, cookies and fast foods should be avoided if you are trying to conceive.

‘Trans fat intake is associated with an increase in infertility and can affect the duration of pregnancy, leading to developmental disorders and miscarriage,’ says Ms Huntriss.

However, she notes that this is not as big a problem as it used to be.

This is because manufacturers have significantly reduced the levels of trans fats in foods in recent years due to their known bad health effects, such as the increased risk of heart disease and blood clots.

Foods that may be beneficial for people trying to conceive

Ro Huntriss, a London-based dietitian who focuses on fertility nutrition, says the Mediterranean diet is a great place to start when it comes to fertility.

She suggests eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, in different colors.

‘They are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that can support egg and sperm quality,’ says Ms Huntriss.

Including folic acid-rich foods such as asparagus, broccoli, chickpeas, spinach, kale and citrus fruits daily can help reduce the risk of neural tube defects, promote healthy ovulation and support healthy hormone levels.

Ms Huntriss added: ‘Whole grains are part of the Mediterranean diet and in addition to their antioxidant capacity, they have been shown to improve IVF rates and can help thicken the endometrial lining, increasing the chance of successful implantation.’

Eating olive oil, avocados and oily fish is also good for you if you are trying to get pregnant.

But Ms Huntriss warns against eating too much oily fish.

She said: ‘They are a rich source of vitamin E, an important antioxidant, and oily fish is the best source of omega 3 in the diet. Make sure you limit your intake of oily fish to two portions per week.’

Legumes are a good plant protein that has been shown to protect against ovulatory infertility, says Ms Huntriss.

She explains that they are also a rich source of folic acid and also contain iron.