Health
Women who eat a Mediterranean diet, that is, whose diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grain cereals, have fewer problems conceiving than others, believe Spanish scientists.
Studies also confirm that such a diet has a positive effect on overall health, reducing the risks of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Some experts warn that these conclusions were based more on observations than on real scientific research. The researchers examined 500 women who had trouble conceiving and 1,600 women who had at least 1 child. They asked if their diet was Mediterranean or Western.
Western diets include red meat, fast food, high-fat dairy products, potatoes, refined grains, and sugary sodas. These products had an adverse effect on conception and childbirth. It has been noted that there is no particular difference in whether women eat exclusively “Western” foods or eat them from time to time.
The picture changed when scientists looked at data on women who ate only Mediterranean food. About 17 percent of respondents who ate exclusively “Mediterranean” foods reported that they could not become pregnant, and among those who occasionally include these foods in their diet, 26 per cent had problems conceiving.
“The Mediterranean diet prevents insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Estefanía Toledo, a nutrition specialist at the University Navarra in Spain.
When insulin resistant, the body's cells have a hard time absorbing sugar from the blood. Scientists have discovered a link between insulin resistance and ovulation, the process by which an egg leaves the ovaries and can be fertilized.
Insulin has a different function in the body. It regulates the number of hormones, especially hormones that are necessary for ovulation, which is very important for fertilization. Scientists believe that the Mediterranean diet indirectly affects the ovulation process.
“Mediterranean” foods contain a huge amount of nutrients that help the body remove sugar from the blood, while using less insulin. This helps the body more easily maintain the balance of reproductive hormones.
Scientists advise all women who want to become pregnant to follow a Mediterranean diet. However, it is not yet clear whether the Mediterranean diet can help those who already have trouble conceiving.
Men should also pay attention to nutrition if they are interested in improving their chances of becoming fathers. Recent studies have confirmed that overweight men have fewer sperm cells than those who are of normal weight.
“So far, we don't know much about the effect of body composition on male fertility,” the scientists say. “But today we are studying these issues.”