Trying to Get Pregnant? Stop Overeating As It Leads to Infertility (Image Credits: iStock)
Infertility is a complex issue, and so are its causes. According to experts, it is important to maintain a body mass index or BMI - a weight-to-height ratio within the recommended range for optimum fertility in both men and women. Extremes of BMI can impact the fertility potential of a woman as well as a man.
Also, eating too much or overeating is one of the most important factors that most people do not realise causes infertility. “One must try and eat a balance of all the food groups so as to achieve good physical health. Overeating on a regular basis can have a detrimental effect on all the systems of the body, starting from the dental health to the reproductive potential,” Dr. Kinjal Shah, obstetrician and gynaecologist at Saifee Hospital, told Times Now.
How does overeating lower your chances of getting pregnant?
According to Dr. Shah, getting overweight or obese as a result of eating too much over a regular period of time causes disruption and an imbalance of hormones that are released from your brain. The axis sending the signals from the brain to the reproductive organs gets disturbed. “Many conditions like metabolic syndrome/PCOS can then arise. These conditions can affect the timing of the release of the egg, impacting fertility negatively,” she said.
“With increasingly more lifestyles of overeating becoming common because of stress, emotional overeating, or social gatherings, it is imperative to understand how food habits could influence fertility rates,” added Dr. Monika Jani, gynaecologist and obstetrician, Bhailal Amin General Hospital.
According to Dr. Jani, there is a strong relationship between overeating and sterility, which includes:
Obesity and endocrine imbalance
The presence of excess body fat can disturb hormone equilibrium, which leads to both males and females becoming sterile. In women, excess fat tissue causes hyperestrogenia, which leads to irregular menstrual cycles and diseases like PCOS - a leading cause of infertility with no treatment.
In men, obesity down-regulates testosterone and up-regulates estrogen levels, resulting in loss of sperm count.
Fertility and insulin resistance
Too much eating of junk foods with high levels of refined carbohydrates and sugar leads to insulin resistance, which highly predicts PCOS. Insulin resistance also disrupts ovarian function, frequently causing anovulation, and thus conception is more difficult to attain.
Gut health and inflammation
Your gut microbiome is critical for metabolism and hormone balance. Excessive use of processed foods upsets gut bacteria, which causes chronic inflammation and metabolic disease, which harms reproductive health.
Heart health and fertility
Excessive indulgence in processed and junk food can cause high blood pressure, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, and poor circulation—all of which compromise the blood supply to reproductive organs—deteriorating egg quality in women and sperm production in men.
Can you reverse infertility through lifestyle changes?
According to experts, most fertility issues can be reversed with the help of a good lifestyle and a healthy diet. Eating a seasonal, fresh, and well-balanced diet can make you have a healthy weight along with massive improvement in reproductive function. So, make sure to:
- Exercise regularly
- Drink lots of water
- Eat sensibly
- Do stress management
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