Are you overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information out there when it comes to fertility
and nutrition? It's easy to get lost in a sea of myths and misconceptions,
making it challenging to separate fact from fiction. But don't worry,
we've got you covered! In this video, we're going to dive into the four essential truths
about fertility nutrition that are backed by solid research. So sit back, relax,
and let's uncover the truth about fertility nutrition!
Hi, my name is Melanie McGrice and I'm a fertility and prenatal dietitian.
Great nutrition is a game changer when it comes to your fertility! In this video, I'm going to
share 4 truths you should know about how what you eat will impact your fertility.... Let's dive in!
Truth number one: the health of your embryo will program your child's future health.
An embryo (aka, your baby) is made by combining an egg and sperm (sounds so simple doesn't it?!).
The egg and sperm contain the genetic code and materials to make your baby, so the health of
these cells used to make the embryo can have lifelong effects on the health of your baby.
Think of it like building a book case.... If you're building it from rusty nails and old
pieces of wood, it's going to be a pretty shabby bookcase. You may paint it, but it won't take long
for the quality of the wood underneath to appear. That's why if you possibly can, I highly recommend
optimising the nutrition of both the sperm provider and egg provider before conception,
whether you be conceiving naturally, undertaking IVF or freezing your eggs.
Which leads me to truth number two: it's not just a woman who needs to optimise
their diet for fertility. Men provide half of the genetic code so they need to optimise
their nutrition before conception too. For example research suggests a link between
alcohol intake by men prior to conception and a higher risk of ADHD in children.
Truth number three: there's no one size, fits all when it comes to fertility nutrition.
Although there's general fertility guidelines, everyone should receive personally tailored
advice when trying to conceive. I always say, if I saw ten clients for fertility in a day,
every single one would walk out with different strategies and a different meal plan! We're all
unique! Does it really make sense for you to eat the same diet as your best friend?
Maybe you have a gene mutation which affects your ability to metabolise a particular nutrient,
maybe you have allergies to multiple foods that are recommended for fertility or you run
each day and require more calories? We all have different lifestyles,
cultural backgrounds and health histories and a comprehensive nutrition assessment takes into
consideration all the different aspects that could be impacting your fertility.
Truth number four: a specialist fertility dietitian is the best person to see to get
fertility nutrition advice. This is absolutely true. Dietitian's who specialise in fertility
nutrition undergo extensive training in this area, can assess your unique nutritional
needs and customize a plan just for you. At an appointment with one of our dietitians you can
expect a comprehensive nutrition assessment to understand your fertility history,
medical history, supplements, physical activity, lifestyle and diet. We then use
this information to tailor a plan to optimise your personal nutrition fertility needs.
There are so many myths and truths about nutrition for fertility with many statements
needing to be discussed more thoroughly. If you have any questions about any of the
truths I talked about today, or perhaps you're wanting clarification on something you've read
on the internet, feel free to leave a comment below. To get you started, as my gift to you,
feel free to download my free fertility meal plan. Just go to melaniemcgrice.com/fertility.
I look forward to catching up with you in my next video on Nourish!