Does Caffeine Affect Infertility?

by Christine Smith

Their is many things a couple does and prepares for when trying to get pregnant. This is even more so for couples that are having fertility problems, always trying to find different was to keep them healthy in order to finally conceive. They may even find themselves asking if caffeine affects infertility.

Does Caffeine Affect Infertility?

The short answer is possibly. Excessive amounts of caffeine have been shown to affect a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. However this number is different depending on the study you look at. It seems to range between three hundred and five hundred milligrams a day. This is a very high amount depending on what you drink. For most sodas this means nine to twelve sodas a day depending on the number you look at. That is why it is important to keep the number low. Studies have even shown that consuming more than two hundred milligrams of caffeine per day increase a woman's chances of miscarriage. This means that if you finally do get pregnant but take massive amounts of caffeine, you could just be leading yourself to more heartache. That is why it is so important to watch the amount of caffeine you consume and cut back on this number. You and your partner can even do this together.

Decrease Caffeine Consumption to Increase Your Chance of Conceiving

There are things you can do to help cut most of the caffeine (if not all) out of your diet.

1. Switching from normal coffee to decaf is an easy way to cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume every day. This does not mean that they do not have any caffeine in them, just that it is much less, usually only about a tenth the amount of caffeine as the regular versions.

2. Decaf teas and even sodas. This may be very hard at first, which is why it is a good idea to do this gradually or you will more than likely suffer from headaches and feelings of immense fatigue. You can do half regular coffee and half decaf the next time you make or buy a cup of coffee.

3. If you are a big energy drink consumer to switch to some other form of caffeine. Energy drinks not only have extreme amounts of caffeine, they also have many other components in them, most of which the effects on fertility are still unknown.

4. If you are a tea drinker it is even a good idea to start off by just letting your tea bag sit in the water and steep for a minute rather than five minutes. This will make for a weaker tea, which also means less caffeine.

Caffeine does affect infertility though the science behind why and at what amounts is still being researched. This is why it is important to reduce or cut caffeine out of your diet. It may be hard at first since it is in many of the different drinks we consume and any foods with chocolate, but if you and your partner work on this together you can accomplish this goal to get you one step closer to getting pregnant like you are trying to do.

About the Author:

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Learning About Low Pregnancy Weight

by Bob Brendon

Are you planning of getting a baby? If you are, then you should also be thinking about low pregnancy weight. Although most females nowadays are very concerned about their weight, there are still those who don't. Still, a female should always worry about their weight during pregnancy.

Study shows that during pregnancy, obese women are highly at risk. Not only is miscarriage a possibility but the occurrence of gestational diabetes is also looming. Once gestational diabetes is diagnosed, this could affect the child even after birth. Hence, low pregnancy weight is a very important consideration for women who are currently in the family way.

Now, for those who would like to lose a few pounds and are already pregnant, it's not ideal to automatically go on a diet. Unlike typical diet methods, pregnant women should be more careful when trying to lose weight. This is because a drastic change in weight can affect the baby negatively. Plus, it's important to still be able to supply the necessary nutrients for your child even while losing weight. Following are some things that pregnant women could do when trying to lose weight.

No to skipping meals Meal skipping is definitely a bad option. The way to both provide and lose weight is to make sure that you get a balance diet. You should be eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed rations.

Exercises High intensity workouts should be avoided as much as possible. For pregnant women, light exercises such as walking or swimming is enough. You should be able to recognize your limits and take a rest as soon as you are tired. Keep hydrated using water.

Consult a Nutritionist It's important to first consult a nutritionist before going for any diet. After all, your ideal weight would be dependent on a number of factors. A nutritionist would be the ideal person to help you plan a diet that would keep you healthy. Of course, asking your doctor's help is also important.

Your Diet Rations that should be eaten by pregnant women include non-starch vegetables. It prevents you from eating the occasional snacks plus it is high in fiber and other essential minerals. Berries and melons are also good options since they are natural anti-oxidants. However, coffee is not included in the number so you might want to remove it from your daily rations.

Weight loss pill are something you should never try out. Make sure that you lose weight via natural methods and not through weight loss pills since they can be very harmful.

Always heed any weight loss tips given by your doctor. After all, your child's health would depend on you. As of now, the baby is protected by your immune system and thus you must keep it healthy.

About the Author:

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Baby on Board: The Need for Healthy Diet Before and During Pregnancy

by Jim Duffy

Far too many women have stood in the mirror cursing their genetics, most specifically their mothers, for their chubby thighs, their ample hips or flabby tummies. Studies have shown that these women may not have been too far off after all. Some of the findings of these studies include:

- A high-calorie diet consumed during pregnancy or breastfeeding may lead to childhood obesity and the associated health risks. (Science News: May 13, 2005)

- A high-fat diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to the early onset of puberty, which can also contribute to childhood obesity. (Science News: June 17, 2008)

- A poor diet may program a growing embryo to develop cardiovascular disease later in life. (Science News: May 12, 2005)

There are many things that are suggested to get the pregnancy and growing baby on the right and healthiest track. These tips include making sure that the overall nutrition of the mother (her protein intake and the level of fat in the diet) are at the right levels so that the baby's growth is optimal. However, additional studies show that it might be the time just before conception that is even more important to the health of the child both while in the womb and for his lifetime after birth. For instance, while it is known that diabetic mothers often have a harder time during pregnancy and birth, the effects may be more dire than previously believed.

Gestational diabetes, long thought to be merely a temporary condition of pregnancy, is now thought to be a precursor to diabetes that may appear five or ten years after the pregnancy has ended. Women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to have larger babies and serious health conditions. These babies are also more likely to develop diabetes themselves.

It has also been advised that women who are not getting enough vitamins in their diet before becoming pregnant may expose their babies to deficiencies and health risks. For instance, women who do not have enough vitamin B12 or folic acid had babies that were fatter, were more likely to become insulin resistant and were also more likely to have high blood pressure by the time they had reached middle age. (Source: Science News: July 22, 2009)

It is known that if there is not enough protein or the wrong kind of protein in the diet, the body will continually seek out food sources until the right levels are reached, regardless of the additional calories. (Source: Massey University 2009) However, studies have shown that low protein intake during early conception (while the egg is still dividing) leads to abnormal growth, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure. and nervous behavior in the young. In the study, conducted with mice, the offspring of those who had low protein intake grew bigger, extracting as much nutrients as they could as compensation. (Source: Science News: July 22, 2009)

The diet that many women follow is not healthy for their own bodies let alone a growing fetus. Even women who are overweight at the start of their pregnancy need to make sure that they are getting the right number of calories in their diet as well as all of the right nutrients, with both the macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) being important for their best health. The average adult may only need .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight to stay healthy, but a pregnant woman's needs are higher. Protein needs during pregnancy are a minimum of 60 grams, more for a woman who is carrying twins, and is important from the very start, even before the pregnancy is discovered. (Source: Medio Consult Nutrition Service)

Diane is pregnant and overweight. At first, she was overjoyed because like so many others before her, she felt that it did not matter if she gained more weight or if she lived on little greasy burgers and other bad foods. What she found out after her first prenatal diet scared her to death though, and she immediately started trying to follow a smarter eating plan.

While studies have shown that the damage may have already been done, she is going to do what she can to minimize any further health damage that she is doing not only to her own body but to the growing child inside of her. She knows that she needs to be careful not only to keep from gaining extreme amounts of weight but to make sure that she is getting all of the nutrients that she and the baby needs. She works with a nutritionist so that she is getting the right foods without falling victim to the fads, the trendy diets, and the scams that are so prevalent.

While most people should be getting the majority of their nutrition from a healthy and balanced diet, there is a chance that they are not getting enough of one food or food group, leaving them open for a nutritional deficiency that can increase their risk of offspring who will face ill health later in life. Poor diet may also make it impossible to keep a pregnancy on track and may increase the risk of miscarriage and maternal ill health.

Using a protein supplement can be beneficial and should be discussed with the woman's doctor before she begins a pregnancy, especially if there are any concerns that the woman's diet is deficient in any area. Protein supplements like Profect and the all-natural version, Proasis, can be very beneficial to the diet of both men and women for a number of reasons. Both Profect and Proasis are from Protica and have a full 25 grams of protein in a single serving, which also has 100% of the RDI of vitamin C and 10 % of the vitamin B complex. Profect and Proasis have zero fats and zero carbohydrates and only 100 calories, making them a good between-meal snack.

In addition, pregnant women who are plagued by morning sickness may have less nausea if they do not allow their stomachs to be completely empty for long periods of time. The longest time that you go without eating is typically overnight, which is why most women are sick when they first wake up. To combat this, having a small snack, preferably one that is high in protein, before getting out of bed can be very helpful. Because Profect is heat stable, it can be kept in the bedside table and consumed before moving around. It can also be used as is or mixed with other foods or beverages to suit personal tastes.

Profect and Proasis are available in a number of different sizes for convenience, including a single serving size which is less than three ounces total. Proasis, because it is all-natural, may be a better choice for anyone who has food allergies or intolerances which can make it hard to find the healthy foods that are needed during pregnancy.

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for renal care patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright