Ask Shannon: Fitness & Nutrition Q & A at Her Active Life

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Ask Shannon: Fitness & Nutrition Q & A

Posted May 29, 2008 at 01:00 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Her Health, Her Motivation, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating

With years of training under her belt, resident fitness and nutrition expert Shannon Clark is ready to help you on your way to a healthy, informed lifestyle. Got a question? her your inquiries, and be sure to check back every week for the latest Q&A.

Q: I’m currently trying to get pregnant and was wondering if you know of any foods that are good to be eating at this time? I’ve been trying for the last four months without any luck so was thinking maybe there was something I could be doing diet-wise that would speed along this seemingly trying process.
Any tips would be great!

A: Congrats on trying to get pregnant! Trying for a baby is an exciting, albeit frustrating at times, process in any woman’s life. That said, you definitely need to be taking care of your health at this point, both physically and psychologically as it will have an effect on your ability to conceive.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you are not underweight. Often this is one issue that some women have, particularly those who are very into fitness and trying to stay lean. The problem with being lean is that even though it may look aesthetically pleasing, it can make it much harder for you to conceive.

The female body needs so much body fat in order to properly produce the hormones that are associated with reproduction so when the body fat gets too low, problems will occur.

So, your first step is to monitor your total calorie intake. Make sure you are consuming maintenance values at the bare minimum, potentially more if you are already on the thin side (to promote a small weight gain which could help you conceive). Obviously if you are of a healthy weight you don’t want to start gaining weight prematurely before becoming pregnant because being overweight in itself can also pose problems with conception.

Next, have a look at your specific dietary choices. Good foods to include are:

Olive Oil – this is a terrific source of healthy fats, which again helps to promote proper hormonal regulation in the body and keeps the body responding to insulin in the proper manner.

Decaffeinated beverages – it’s important to maintain adequate hydration during this time but you should be avoiding beverages that contain a great deal of caffeine. While caffeine intake is a highly debated topic when it comes to pregnancy as to whether or not it should be consumed, if you are consuming more than one cup of coffee a day (or any other caffeinated beverages), you may want to
switch to decaf.

Orange Juice – folate is one of the most critical nutrients you’ll need in your dieting during this time so being sure to consume foods rich in folate is essential. Orange juice will bring you one step closer to meeting your needs, as well supply you with a good source of vitamin C.

Buckwheat – finally the last food you should look into consuming is buckwheat. Women who have the condition known as D-chiro-inosital (dCl), show a decrease insulin levels by 33% and three times the rate of ovulation. This dCl compound is also contained in buckwheat, thus making it a daily part of your diet will offer these benefits.

So, I’d suggest having a look through your diet and trying to make these a regular part of it. Doing so should increase the chances that soon enough you’ll be welcoming another addition to your family into your life.