Gestational Carrier
Intended Parents
Surrogacy
Surrogate Mother
What is a Pro-fertility Diet?
Surprisingly, following a pro-fertility diet is simpler than you may think. The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a plant-rich, whole foods diet with less ultra-processed foods and more vegetables and fruits for women of reproductive age.
A plant-rich, whole foods diet reduces insulin resistance, central obesity, and the risk of chronic disease. However, it does not matter if your preferred diet is vegetarian, Mediterranean, low glycemic, lactose-free, etc., as long as you follow the basic “low-high” guideline of low intake of processed foods and high intake of fruits and vegetables.
What are the Best Foods to Eat Right Now?
Start with a minimum of five servings of fruits or vegetables per day.
Add some orange slices with breakfast, apple slices with lunch, and some grapes as an afternoon snack. You could have a salad at lunch with some lettuce and chopped veggies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, or add those veggies to your sandwich. You could also add some fresh or frozen vegetables at dinner, such as broccoli, carrots, or spinach.
Try eating a new fruit or vegetable you have never eaten before. Look on the internet for ideas on how to prepare and eat it. You may even find a new, healthy food that you want to add to your regular eating routine.
Just adding those extra servings of fruits and vegetables to your current eating plan will dramatically improve your diet and your fertility health.
Add protein-rich and whole-grain, minimally processed foods.
Foods rich in protein and essential fats such as lean chicken, turkey, beef, raw nuts, beans, legumes, cheese, milk, or eggs, and whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and whole-grain bread, tortillas, and pasta are excellent choices for fertility health.
Minimally processed means the food is in its natural, or nearly natural, state with the vitamins and minerals still intact. Generally, processed foods have added salt, oil, sugar, or other substances. So, the fewer ingredients, the better.
What are the Foods to Avoid?
Avoid ultra-processed foods.
By eliminating foods that are ultra-processed, you create a healthier environment for a baby to grow by eliminating harmful chemicals, additives, and preservatives.
What does ultra-processed mean?
Ultra-processed foods contain many added ingredients. Examples are:
· Soft drinks
· Chips
· Candy
· Ice cream
· Sweetened breakfast cereals
· Packaged soups
· Chicken nuggets
· Hotdogs
· Fries
Make some simple food swaps to upgrade your diet quickly.
Following a pro-fertility diet doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite foods. It might just mean swapping out some of your ultra-processed, regular foods for less-processed, healthier versions.
You can replace fried chicken with a fresh roasted chicken from the grocery deli. Sparkling water flavored with fresh fruit juice can replace soda and energy drinks. Oatmeal with fruit and honey can replace sweetened breakfast cereals.
Replace eating out or take-out with home-cooked food.
Replacing restaurant, fast food, or pre-packaged frozen dinners with home-cooked food, even a few meals per week, can improve your health and the baby’s health.
Research shows that eating home-cooked meals more frequently–even as little as five times per week–was associated with improved diet quality and better health. What are the benefits of home cooking?
· Fresher ingredients
· No preservatives, chemicals, or additives
· Less salt, sugar, and fat
· Smaller portions
· More vegetables and fiber
Remember, frozen fruits and vegetables are great choices because they are quick and easy to prepare and are just as healthy as fresh versions.
Improve your fertility health and start preparing for your surrogacy experience today.
Just add fruits and vegetables daily, replace ultra-processed foods with minimally processed whole foods, and prepare one or more meals a day at home.
Those who choose to donate their time and maintain their health during a pregnancy are contributing to a life-changing event that wouldn’t be possible without them. Volunteering to support families in need also plays a valuable role in the surrogacy process.
Heart of Surrogacy is an agency that helps make parenthood a reality by providing helpful resources and information along the journey. You can contact us anytime to create a profile or call us at 813-280-6500 to assist you.
Our agency matches you with families who are grateful for the opportunity to become parents of a biological child. A conversation with a professional at our agency can get you started.
Find out more about surrogacy and changes experienced since the COVID pandemic began. Your health is a priority as you prepare to go through medical procedures to become pregnant, during gestation, and after the birth.
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Internal Links: https://hos.heartofsurrogacy.com/changes-in-processes-at-surrogacy-agencies-in-a-covid-19-world/
https://hos.heartofsurrogacy.com/what-is-a-gestational-carrier-or-surrogate/
https://hos.heartofsurrogacy.com/expectations-of-a-surrogate-mother/
Keywords: become a surrogate, surrogate pregnancy
Sources:
ASRM webinar, June 8, 2021
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, Jan 9 2020, blog
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, August 2017
