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We all know that incorporating more fruit into your diet is great for overall health and wellness… that’s a given! But the benefits of having more fruit go beyond that – according to a recently published study, eating fruit more regularly can also help to reduce infertility.
The study, published in the Human Reproduction journal in April 2018, involved a total of 5,598 women from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland. In this study, it was found that women who ate fruit three or more times a day increased their chances of conceiving within a shorter period of time. As compared to the participants who ate fruit one to three times a month, those who ate fruit three or more times per day took half a month less to conceive.
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According to the researchers, the women who ate the least amount of fruit increased their risk of infertility from 8% to 12% as well. Looking at this from a local context: Prudential Singapore’s 2017 Health Literacy Poll shows that 58% of respondents consume less than two servings of fruit a day. Bearing these numbers in mind, Singaporean women hoping to get pregnant will have to make conscious adjustments to their diet, and start eating more fruit.
The same study also highlighted the adverse effect of fast food on women hoping to get pregnant. Of all the participants who took part in the study, those who consumed fast food four or more times a week took almost a month longer to become pregnant. All in all, women who ate fast food four or more times a week increased their risk of infertility from 8% to 16%.
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Interestingly enough, whether the participants ate green leafy vegetables or fish did not seem to affect the time that they took to conceive. According to experts, dark leafy greens including but not limited to spinach, romaine, and arugula are particularly high in folate. This vitamin (also known as vitamin B9, or folic acid) has been proven to improve ovulation, and is one of the most important vitamins for women hoping to conceive. Fish, on the other hand, contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and are also beneficial for fertility.
Why does the study’s results (in this area!) go against other research? Author Jessica Grieger noted that for any dietary intake assessment, one needs to “use some caution regarding whether participant recall is an accurate reflection of dietary intake.” The bottom line? Although this particularly study doesn’t show any sort of link or correlation between the above two ingredients and fertility, women who are trying to get pregnant will still do well to consume these in moderation. Of course, cutting back on fast food and consuming more fruits will help as well!
Fertility consultation with BeNatural’s fertility coach, Marie Otsuka
If you and your partner would like to learn more about conceiving, come down for a 45-minute consultation with Marie Otsuka, BeNatural’s fertility coach. In this session, Marie will seek to understand the couple’s situation, and offer insights she’s gained through her 10 years of experience in working with infertile Singaporeans. Slots are limited and on a first come first serve basis; contact us here to schedule an appointment!
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