We have talked in previous posts about how avoiding sugary drinks can dramatically increase our chances of IVF success. Now a new study has revealed one reason why eating healthily and avoiding these foods is so important if you are trying to conceive.
Eating processed, sugary and burnt foods has been shown in previous studies to be associated with many health issues including cancer, asthma, eczema and severe allergic reactions, liver damage, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
It may also be the case that these foods affect fertility.
The Study
Researchers at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne took a group of women who were struggling to conceive and compared their wombs to a group of women who were fertile. They found that the infertile women had much higher levels of things called “advanced glycation end products” or “AGEs” for short.
AGEs occur naturally in our bodies in small amounts but can be consumed in larger amounts through eating processed, sugary and burnt/blackened foods.
“So what?!” I hear you ask. Well, AGEs can cause inflammation in the lining of the womb which makes it more difficult for an embryo to implant and develop. If an embryo cannot implant or develop then you will not have a successful pregnancy.
On top of this, AGEs can interfere with the development of the placenta which can lead to further complications.
If you are trying to get pregnant, naturally or with IVF, you should seriously consider removing these types of food from your diet.
Further details of the study are available here (Obesity associated advanced glycation end products within the human uterine cavity adversely impact endometrial function and embryo implantation competence. Hum Reprod. 2018 Apr 1;33(4):654-665).