If you have made up your mind to go for an IUI treatment, it’s time to prepare your body. To conceive and make it result in a successful pregnancy the body must be physically ready for it. Though the IUI diet is not something very special, it includes supplements that are needed by the mother’s body to nourish the growing embryo.
There is no magical food that can assure the success rates of an IUI treatment but eating the right food and taking the required supplements will benefit the whole body including reproductive health also. Regular exercise gives the body and mind a positive perspective on the treatment.
Below Are Tips Of Diet And Lifestyle To Prepare Yourself For An IUI Treatment
Have a Diet Plan that Boosts your IUI Treatment
Citrus Fruits
According to some research, polyamine putrescine is linked with the potential to enhance egg and semen quality. Grapefruits and oranges are rich sources of polyamine putrescine. These citrus fruits are also rich in Vitamin C.
You can have these beneficial fruits in your salads, juice, or smoothies. But remember to consult your infertility expert before taking grapefruit juice if you are on medication. It can do heavy damage if taken without consultation with the medications.
Full-fat Dairy Products
If you are a lactose-tolerant person then you have a huge option for dairy products. Success rates of IUI treatment can be increased by pastured dairy products. Dairy products are rich in saturated fat which is of huge importance to benefit fertility. Also, they are a great source of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E, K, and K2.
It is also found in research that women who take full-fat dairy products have fewer ovulation problems than those women who take low-fat dairy intakes. Full-dairy products are a good and beneficial IUI diet.
Sunflower Seeds
Roasted and unsalted sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E, an essential nutrient that increases sperm count and sperm motility in some people. Additionally, sunflower seeds are packed with folate and selenium, which are important for both male and female fertility to boost IUI treatment. Sunflower seeds are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and contain small amounts of omega-6 fatty acids.
Sunflower seeds are a delicious snack on their own, but you can also easily blend them into your favorite dishes. Try sprinkling sunflower seeds on a salad, use them in a trail mix or replace peanut butter with sunflower seed butter. You can also add a few tablespoons of sunflower butter to the smoothie, or mix it into yogurt to add more flavor and a little more nutrition.
Mature Cheese
Mature cheeses, such as cheddar, parmesan, and manchego, can improve sperm health. Mature cheese contains many polyamines. Polyamines are proteins found in animal products and plants. They also occur naturally in humans.
Research has found that polyamine can play an important role in the reproductive system. Mature cheese is especially high in polyamine putrescine, which may play a role in sperm health. Putrescine is also suspected to improve egg health, especially in women 35 and older resulting in a better IUI treatment.
Keeping the proportion of cheese in mind you can mix it with anything you like. It is rich in fats so be careful there and add it to your lunch and have it a better taste and health.
Cooked Tomatoes
Tomatoes are packed with the nutrient lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, which may help boost your fertility. Lycopene has been found and is taken for its potential role in improving male fertility. It is a potential IUI diet.
Lycopene supplements have even been studied as a treatment for male infertility. An additional study showed that 4 to 8mg of lycopene per day for 8 to 12 months, leading to improved health and increased fertility rates.
While both uncooked tomatoes and Cooked tomatoes contain lycopene, 1 cup of cooked tomatoes contains almost twice as much lycopene as 1 cup of raw tomatoes. So when you can, choose tomato recipes like tomato-based soups and stews, ketchup, and even just grilled tomatoes.
Asparagus
Asparagus is a superfood packed with nutrients. It’s low in calories, will fill you up, and give you a boost of key fertility-boosting nutrients. In 1 cup, you’ll get the full daily value of vitamin K, 60% of the daily value of folate, and more than 20% of other essential nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B, and thiamin.
When possible, get asparagus fresh or frozen. Enjoy it as a veggie or add to recipes like french fries or stir-fries. Canned asparagus, while convenient, is often high in added sodium. If you buy canned or canned produce, look for low-sodium varieties and rinse asparagus under running water before using. It has the potential to give a boost to your IUI treatment.
Lentils and Beans
Beans and lentils are an excellent source of fibre and folic acid, which are essential for maintaining a healthy hormonal balance. The lentils also contain high levels of polyamine spermidine, which can help the sperm to fertilize an egg.
Lentils and beans are also high in protein, which can help in healthier ovulation. Studies show that 5% of consumed calories derived from vegetable protein than animal protein, especially chicken and red meat, decrease the risk of infertility due to anovulation by more than 50%.
Consider replacing one or two meat meals with a lentil or bean diet. You can also try throwing beans into the salad instead of cheese or meat.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates have long been associated with fertility and birth due to the many seeds that are found in them. Although this is not a scientific reason to indulge in pomegranates, it is certainly an interesting reason. As far as science is concerned, pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants that can improve sperm quality and this makes it an idol IUI diet.
Pomegranate seeds are themselves delicious to be taken on their own. Also, they are healthy snacks and can be taken as great icing for yogurt, oatmeal, and even salads and bowls with quinoa.
Egg Yolks
The yolk provides almost all of the egg’s iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12. Also, they are rich in 100% of the egg’s vitamin A. Egg yolk obtained from pasture-raised chickens is also highly rich in the fertility-boosting omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K2.
Another good reason to eat eggs: It’s an inexpensive source of lean protein that is good for fertility in both men and women leading to higher success rates of IUI treatment. Eggs also contain choline, which may reduce the risk of certain birth defects.
In the past, egg yolks had a bad reputation, mainly due to concerns about dietary cholesterol. Recently, however, nutritionists have embraced yellow for its nutrient density and a healthy balance of protein and fat. Eggs are extremely versatile. Embrace the whole egg, including the yolk, whether it’s poached, scrambled, or fried.
Walnut
Walnuts are a very rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This is part of what led researchers to wonder if they could promote fertility.
A small handful of nuts makes a great afternoon snack. Or you can try adding nuts to a chicken salad, oatmeal, or even a little ice cream for a nutritious crunch.
Beet
Beets and their greens are underrated vegetables. Beets are known to improve blood flow to the uterus to help in the implantation of the embryo. Eating a diet rich in radishes during infertility treatment is especially helpful. That’s why they should be added to the fertility foods list, even if you’re not undergoing IUI treatment.
They are also quite simple to prepare. All you need to do is treat them like potatoes: Wash and scrub them, then season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap a whole one in tin foil and bake at 400℉ for about an hour, until tender, or shorten the time by cutting them into small pieces. Then, once they’re cooked, rub the skin with your thumbs and mix with some olive oil for a scrumptious salad. For an extra boost, you can also add some sweet potatoes to this salad.
Pineapple
There is a widely held belief that eating pineapple for five days after ovulation or IVF and IUI treatment will help with implantation.
That said, there are other reasons to enjoy pineapple when trying to conceive. Pineapple is a rich source of vitamin C. A 1-cup serving will give you 46% of your recommended daily value. Low levels of vitamin C have been linked to polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).
Pineapple also contains bromelain, a natural enzyme that has an anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effect. Bromelain boosts the immune system to walk away from an inflammatory state. Inflammatory foods can hamper your fertility, and chronic inflammation can encourage the body to suppress ovulation.
This is a tropical fruit, choose fresh pineapples whenever possible, as most of the bromelain in canned pineapples is destroyed due to the heat used in the canning process. Eat it on its own or added to a salad or even grilled.
Cinnamon
Taking cinnamon supplements can help trigger irregular menstrual cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS), a common cause of female infertility.
In a small but interesting study, women with PCOS reported almost twice the number of periods when taking a daily cinnamon supplement than women receiving a placebo. And as it is said that more ovulatory regular cycles mean more chances of conceiving.
Sprinkle cinnamon on oatmeal in the morning, on top of your yogurt or tea or coffee. Spices can also be taken as supplements, but talk to your infertility expert before taking a new supplement.
Salmon
Salmon is on every delicious seafood list, fertility-focused or not. And for good reason, salmon is a rich source of essential fatty acids and omega-3s, which have been shown to boost fertility in men and women.
It is also a very good source of vitamin D and selenium. Selenium is an essential vitamin for healthy sperm. Low vitamin D levels appear to be associated with fertility in poor men and women.
Salmon is one of the best IUI diets to get the daily recommended value of vitamin D. Just 3 ounces of smoked salmon will give you 97% of the recommended daily value for vitamin D.
When you are trying to conceive and also during pregnancy you should be careful about the mercury level in the fish. Invest in wild-caught rather than farm-raised salmon, when possible, to avoid mercury contamination, antibiotics, and toxic food dyes.
Oyster
Oysters appear on most fertility food lists. They contain many fertility-enhancing nutrients. A serving of six raw oysters contains just 139 calories, but all of these are important sources of vitamins and minerals that boost the IUI treatment. Many people are afraid of preparing oysters, but you don’t have to. At home also you can make this dish quite easily. The healthiest option is raw, but you can also enjoy them grilled.
Maintain A Healthy Body Weight
Being overweight or underweight can disrupt hormone production, interrupt normal menstrual cycles, and interfere with ovulation and fertility treatments like IUI treatment, and others.
Research indicates that obesity negatively impacts fertility. A recent study on fertility and infertility found that miscarriage rates increased on one hand and the other pregnancy and live birth rates decreased with increasing body mass index.
Obese women need higher doses of medications during treatment, which puts them at a higher risk of side effects and multiple births. Patients can try to cleanse their diet, exercise every day, drink plenty of water. This will help them to bring their BMI at a normal rate which in turn will help in boosting the success rate of IUI treatment.
Losing weight has been shown to improve fertility and may reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as premature labor, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and some birth defects.
Remain Active
Mild physical activity is best when trying to conceive. If you are obese, studies show that regular physical activity increases your chances of conceiving. It is recommended that you return to exercise slowly. Starting a demanding exercise routine when embarking on fertility treatment, such as IUI treatment, is not a good idea.
If you are underweight or normal weight, too much intense activity can increase the time you need to conceive. If the patient runs enough to lead to irregular menstrual cycles, it is recommended that she reduce the amount of time she exercises or switches to lower impact activity.
Mild low-impact exercise, especially during stimulation, is fine. During training, one should be able to walk so that not too much blood and oxygen is drained from the uterus.
Because exercise relieves stress in many women, it is not advised to tell them to stop. The best thing is to allow patients to continue their normal activities, but nothing to the extreme. The goal should be to find the right balance to optimize reproductive functions. Generally, 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise is recommended most of the day of the week.
Remain Calm and Relaxed
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that stress can reduce your chances of getting pregnant even after infertility treatments like IUI treatment, IVF, ZIFT, and others. Even the stress you experience while struggling with infertility can prevent you from getting pregnant and trigger a miscarriage. Discover what helps you get rid of stress and do it regularly. Common stress relievers include taking long walks, biking, doing yoga every day, or joining a support group.
A support group is a group of people who have gone through the same problems that you may be facing at the moment. They have overcome it and now they devote their time and experience to help those who are going through the same and face challenges.
Consume Healthy Fats
Eat healthy vegetable fats in moderation. Avocados, nuts, olive oil, and grape seed oil have the potential to reduce inflammation in the body, which helps promote regular ovulation and boost fertility. Some good fats can even assist women who are struggling with infertility for a long time. Studies have shown that consuming a certain amount of monounsaturated fat in the form of avocados during the IVF cycle and also in the IUI treatment cycle increased the success rate by many times, unlike women who did not include good vegetable fats in their IUI diet.
Eat more and more healthy unsaturated fats and avoid all trans fats. Trans fats increase insulin resistance. Insulin helps move glucose from the bloodstream to cells; resistance means it is more difficult to move glucose around the cells. The pancreas continues to pump more insulin anyway, and the result is more insulin into your bloodstream. High levels of insulin cause many metabolic disorders that affect ovulation, so they should be avoided on a conception diet.
A person must follow a balanced diet during IUI treatment to boost the chances of its success. Consult a good infertility expert who can guide you on this. Subhag infertility clinic is a very trusted name in this field.
