Does Your Diet Affect IVF Results?

Cheese is avoidable when undergoing IVF treatment. This especially holds true for soft cheeses like brie and camembert and blue-veined cheeses like Danish blue or stilton cheese. These types of cheese have an increased risk of triggering a listeria infection that can cause pregnancy complications. Though listeria is a rare condition, even a mild form of this disease could cause stillbirth or cause the baby to be born with a severe illness. However, you may have hard cheese such as parmesan or cheddar in limited quantities.

A diet rich in proteins is essential when undergoing IVF treatment. Proteins are needed by the body to release hormones and produce eggs for reproduction. A woman undergoing IVF should ideally have a minimum of 65 grams of proteins a day. For non-vegetarians, this can be in the form of eggs, chicken, meat, fish and milk, while for vegetarians, protein-rich foods include flax seeds, dairy products, nuts, soybeans and legumes.

Carbohydrates can be categorized under two heads; simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs can be easily broken down into glucose and hence may cause fluctuation of blood sugar levels and disturb the hormonal balance. Hence this type of carbohydrates should be avoided. However, complex carbohydrates are good for a woman trying to conceive a child. This is because these carbs are slow to digest and hence provide a slow, steady amount of energy. Whole grains are an example of complex carbohydrates while processed flour and white rice are examples of simple carbohydrates.

Water is essential to keep the body hydrated and to ensure proper blood circulation. A pregnant woman should drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Along with the amount of water being drunk, the temperature of the water is also important. Ideally, one should drink water at room temperature. This is because the body absorbs water most readily when it is at room temperature