According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1.5 million American women suffer from infertility–a problem most women feel ashamed of. And while better medical treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, have allowed some women to bear children while dealing with infertility, a surprising new study says there’s a better way to treat it: Simply eat a better diet.
“Establishing a healthy eating pattern and weight is a good first step for women who are looking to conceive,” says Brooke Schantz of the Loyola University Health System, who recently led a study examining the reproductive effects of following a healthy diet. “Not only will a healthy diet and lifestyle potentially help with fertility, but it also may influence fetal well-being and reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy.”
Although its role in infertility has been downplayed recently by nutritionists, Schantz says that being overweight or underweight can affect a woman’s fertility–and diets such as the Mediterranean diet can help keep a woman’s weight stable. In adittion, Schantz adds, Mediterranean diets are rich omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and monounsaturated fats–fats which are believed to improve physical and mental health.
““High content of olive oil in such diet, however, is believed to enhance the amount of serotonin, the main brain transmitter, targeted by the majority of anti-depression drugs, lowering the risk of the condition,” says Schantz.
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
Chances are if you’ve listened to the news lately, then you’ve probably heard of it: The Mediterranean diet, arguably one of the healthiest diets around. But what exactly is it?
“The Mediterranean diet traditionally includes fruits, vegetables and grains,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Grains in the Mediterranean region are typically whole grain and usually contain very few unhealthy trans fats, and bread is an important part of the diet. However, throughout the Mediterranean region, bread is eaten plain or dipped in olive oil — not eaten with butter or margarine, which contains saturated or trans fats.”
In addition, you’ll get plenty of nuts by following this diet–usually a handful of almonds or walnuts are daily fanfare for Mediterraneans–but bad fats, such as saturated fats, are rarely on the menu. But the inclusion of these healthy fats is why researchers think this diet could treat many health conditions, such as infertility.
“The focus of the Mediterranean diet isn’t on limiting total fat consumption, but rather on choosing healthier types of fat,” says the Mayo Clinic. “The Mediterranean diet discourages saturated fats and hydrogenated oils (trans fats), both of which contribute to heart disease. The Mediterranean diet features olive oil as the primary source of fat.”
So who’s the best fit for this diet? Pretty much anybody, say researchers–its health benefits extend to Americans of all age groups.
“The Mediterranean diet is a delicious and healthy way to eat,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Many people who switch to this style of eating say they’ll never eat any other way.”
Readers: Have you tried this diet before?
Sources:
Mediterranean Diet – WebMD>com
Study: Mediterranean Diet Cuts Infertility Risk – PressTV.ir
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