Pregnancy is one of the most blissful phases and you should enjoy it wholeheartedly. But at the same time, you should be more responsible and caring towards yourself particularly in terms of diet and nutrition. Whether you are planning to conceive naturally or through IVF, for the wellbeing of your baby, you should choose your diet plan wisely. Some doctors believe that in pregnancy, you may need 350-500 extra calories particularly in your second and third trimesters. There are many hospitals in Kenya like Wings IVF Centre which not only provides the best IVF treatment in Kenya but also provides the right diet plan to the patients. There are many renowned and established doctors who are associated with this hospital and that’s why this hospital welcomes the patients with the best IVF treatment in Nairobi Kenya.
Many fertility experts believe that a poor immune system is responsible for inflammation during the pregnancy period which can lead to several other diseases. A proper diet will not only reduce the chances of inflammation but also makes an ideal environment for pregnancy. In this article, we are going to describe some foods that you must incorporate into your diet plan during pregnancy.
1. Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids:
A plethora of studies have claimed that omega-3 reduces inflammation. When you are under stress, cortisol hormone is released which inhibits the secretion of progesterone. But omega-3 boosts up progesterone and helps the embryo to grow up. Natural foods that are rich in omega-3 are walnuts, flax seeds, avocados and chia seeds. Some doctors also recommend eating omega-3 capsules (100 mg) for fertility. But you should check the capsules and consume only those which have the highest amounts of EPA and DHA.
2. Fruits and vegetables:
Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Moreover, vitamin C and E in fruits and vegetables reduce inflammation. Moreover, antioxidants will improve your overall metabolism and will also help you to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Vitamin C-rich foods and vegetables are amla, guavas, oranges, carrots, pumpkins and beets. On the other hand, you can get vitamin E from almonds and wheat germ, and B vitamins from lentils and green vegetables.
3. Good fats:
If PCOD or PCOS is one of the reasons for your infertility, then you should include some good and healthy fats into your diet. Healthy fats from coconut and cashews will improve your hormonal secretion and also, control your thyroid. If you are suffering from hypothyroid, then these fats will bring down your Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion.
4. Selenium and magnesium-rich foods:
If you have a deficiency of these two minerals, then these will impact on your thyroid and insulin levels. If your body has become insulin resistant, then you are more prone to PCOS. PCOS prevents fertilisation and implantation. So, a hormonal balance is required and for this, you need to take sufficient selenium and magnesium-rich foods. Foods like nuts, seeds and lentils are the best sources of these minerals.
5. Oestrogen-blocking food:
oestrogen dominance is another reason for infertility these days. You get oestrogen either from xenoestrogens (get from personal care items) or highly oestrogenic dairy and meats. Foods like figs are responsible for clearing excess oestrogen from your body. During your pregnancy, you can either eat two/three fresh figs a day or three round slices of dry figs.
6. Fibre:
Most of the women in pregnancy are suffering from constipation due to lack of fibre. So, you should eat plenty of fibre to minimize the risk. Wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread, wild rice, whole grain pasta, pulses like beans and lentils, fruit, and vegetables are the good sources of fibre. Moreover, eating fibre also reduces the chances of haemorrhoids in pregnancy.
7. Calcium :
Calcium is also a pivotal nutrient in pregnancy. Dairy foods like cheese, milk, and yoghurt are the prime sources of calcium. If you are a vegan, then you must intake foods like soybeans, bok choy, broccoli, collards, Chinese cabbage, okra, mustard greens, etc.
These are some food items that you should consume if you are planning for a baby. Every woman wants to enjoy her pregnancy and for this, they need some healthy diet and nutrition to maintain their health.