If You’re Trying To Get Pregnant, You Might Want To Rethink These Foods

Some fats are good, and others, well, not so good. If you want to get pregnant, though, you’ll need to steer clear of the saturated trans fats, Mary Wirtz, MS, RDN, CSSD, a registered dietitian nutritionist tells Romper. “Trans saturated fat sources promote inflammation and are typically found in calorie-dense foods that precipitate weight gain and make it challenging to maintain a healthy weight,” she says. “Opt instead for monounsaturated fat sources, like avocado, nuts, olive oil, avocado oil.”

Yes, it might make your dessert extra sweet, but too much sugar isn’t good for you — or your future baby. “A diet pattern high in added sugar intake (soda, candy, sweets, donuts, pastries, energy drinks, etc.) increases an individual’s risk for type II diabetes, among many other health conditions,” says Wirtz. “Forego foods high in added sugars and opt for natural sugars, like fruit or starchy vegetables.” This will help keep your risk of developing diabetes lower.

When it comes to food colors, orange and green are good, while white is often not a good food choice. For example, white rice and white bread should be foods to pile less on your plate, Sarah Rueven, RD, MS, CDN, a registered dietitian and founder of Rooted Wellness tells Romper. “When it comes to carbohydrates and fertility, it’s important to think about the quality of the carbohydrates you are eating,” she says. “Refined carbohydrates are those that have been processed to remove their fiber and other important nutrients, and because they lack fiber, they quickly raise blood sugar.” While that can be scary in and of itself, a diet that is higher in refined carbs can lead to blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance, according to Rueven. “This can in turn lead to an imbalance in sex hormones and reduce chances for conception,” she says. Try swapping out some of your white foods for healthier options, such as brown rice, quinoa, farro, or whole wheat or whole grain bread.

If you thought that you were doing yourself a favor by cutting out some calories drinking low-fat or skim milk, think again. It could potentially be having an adverse effect on your fertility. A study in PubMed found a link between consuming large quantities of low-fat dairy foods and an increased risk of anovulatory infertility, which is when you don’t ovulate. “We aren’t exactly sure why low-fat dairy may increase the risk for infertility but it could be related to the effect low-fat dairy has on hormone balance,” explains Rueven. “When full-fat milk is processed to skim milk, the hormone composition of the milk changes and this change may also influence our hormone balance when we consume low-fat milk.” So if you’re planning on eating or drinking dairy, switch from low-fat to full-fat varieties.

Sure, the syrupy sweetness is tempting, but if you’re trying for a baby, forget about sipping on a soda. Researchers found that soda consumption can adversely affect fertility. “Both regular and diet soda has been linked to decreased fertility,” says Rueven “In fact, one study found that women drinking at least one soda per day had a 25% lower rate of conceiving each month compared to women not consuming soda.” If you love the fizziness of soda, you can replace it with plain or flavored seltzer water instead.

While many types of fish are recommended before and during pregnancy, there are some you will want to avoid, advises Brittany Lubeck, MS, RD, a registered dietitian. “Fish that are high in mercury, such as swordfish and king mackerel, can be harmful to a fetus,” she says. “Mercury can inhibit proper organ development and even cause brain damage in unborn babies.”

But that doesn’t mean that you should avoid fish altogether. “Fish is an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3s and micronutrients that may boost fertility,” says Rueven. “While trying to conceive, include low mercury fish and seafood in your diet regularly such as salmon, anchovies, shrimp, light canned tuna, cod, trout, and haddock.” Aim for at least two servings of low mercury fish or seafood per week to reap the benefits.

This one kind of goes without saying, but you should be backing away from that beer (and any alcohol, for that matter), when you’re TTC. “When it comes to alcohol, while a drink here and there may be okay, heavy drinking can potentially cause miscarriage or hormonal changes that could affect ovulation,” explains Lubeck. “Plus, there are known risks of drinking while pregnant, so limiting or avoiding alcohol may be best when trying to conceive in case you become pregnant before you know you are.” Even though you might miss your mojito, it’s best to start saying no to alcoholic drinks now, to prep for that future 9-month dry spell, anyway.

You’d rather them pry your latte from your latte from your cold, dead hands, but consuming that cup of joe daily could create complications when it comes time for conception. “While some amounts of caffeine are most likely safe when trying to conceive, you can drink too much of it without causing complications including miscarriage,” says Lubeck. “The current recommendation for caffeine during both pre-pregnancy and pregnancy is 200 milligrams per day, which is about two cups of coffee.” If you’re hitting up your local coffee dive craving more, you might want to start cutting back so that you can get pregnant when the time is right.

Fast food might be a friend to you during witching hour, but it’s not doing you any favors if you’re planning on another sibling for your child. “Highly processed meals and snacks may be best to limit when trying to conceive due to often high amounts of ingredients like sugar and/or trans-fat,” says Lubeck. “This may be especially important for women with irregular periods as high sugar meals can cause blood sugar and insulin spikes and cause other hormones to get thrown off balance, especially if high sugar foods are consumed often.”