Whether you agree or not, keto diet had gained a reputation of being more than just a weight loss diet. Studies have suggested that keto diet has anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing effects. The diet can also help ease headaches.
The list doesn’t end here as people have been claiming that keto diet has helped them in conceiving. Yes, you read that right. Given that being overweight or obese can reduce your chances of getting pregnant or staying pregnant (excess weight is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage), overweight women who want to have a baby can try keto diet. Yes, keto can help you and your partner in a number of ways to get pregnant.
Your weight can affect body weight, hormones and ovulationA ketogenic diet can improve body weight and thus help women who do not ovulate, release an egg including those with PCOS. PCOS is a metabolic and hormonal disorder that can cause infertility in women.
Along with losing weight, a ketogenic diet can also help rebalance hormones in women suffering from PCOS.
The studyA small study published in October 2018 in the Journal AACE Clinical Case Reports, studied four overweight women with PCOS who were trying to conceive followed ketogenic diet. The progress of these women was monitored monthly.
The resultsWithin six months, all four women lost weight and resumed their regular menstruation (all these women had irregular periods before they started the diet). Two out of four women conceived spontaneously without requiring any ovulation induction.
Ketogenic diet can improve sperm qualityPoor diet and excess weight can affect men’s fertility too. A diet filled with refined carbohydrates and sugar is associated with poor sperm health, negatively impacting sperm motility, morphology (shape) and shape count. And even if a woman is super-fertile she will have trouble in getting pregnant if her partner doesn’t have enough good quality sperm. Diet rich in healthy fats and omega 3 has been shown to improve sperm health.
VerdictThough keto diet may indeed help a woman get pregnant by making her lose weight and improving the sperm quality in men, it would be best to use keto as to kick start a new health routine and lose weight before you try to conceive.
This is because your body should not be in a state of ketosis around your conception. As for healthy conception and pregnancy, it’s important to eat enough nutrient-dense foods rather than just restricting calories. Just because something is keto doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician's advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.
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