How Does Sugar Intake Impact Fertility?

Are you a dessert lover?

Well, we all love sweets right?

The extreme consumption of any food can lead to an unwanted outcome, however. Even though most couples who face infertility issues know quite a bit about their diet, nutrition is a big mystery. 

Research has found that high sugar consumption affects the fertility of both males and females.

Overview:

In half of the cases, couples keep trying to find a magic ingredient in their diet to make pregnancy easier. Even so, every food habit can affect fertility, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman.

In order to develop healthy sperm and eggs, every micronutrient is essential.

Coming back to sugars, their consumption can contribute to a variety of health issues. Several complications caused by High sugar consumption are known, such as weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but a lesser-known effect is its effect on male and female fertility.

Find Out How Sugar Intake Is Associated With Infertility Issues In Women And Men:

Both eggs and sperm must be healthy for a successful pregnancy, whether it is natural or produced through IVF. In today’s world, sugar consumption has become the biggest threat to good health.

For many years, sugar and fertility have been discussed. Several studies prove the validity of the debate, so let’s take a closer look at them.

• According to a Harvard University study published in 2018, sugary drinks negatively impact fertility. A total of 3,828 samples were taken from females and 1,045 samples were taken from males in this case study. According to the findings of the study, sugary drinks reduce the chances of conception both in males and females. 
• Researchers at National Health Science (NHS), UK, have revealed that sugar intake should be limited to no more than 5% of total calories consumed. 
• According to a research-based meeting conducted by the Assisted Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 2015, the blastocyte formation rate improved by 45% for IVF patients who redesigned their diet and switched to low-carbohydrate and high-protein foods.

As well, ASRM found a significant improvement in clinical pregnancy rates of 17% to 83% for couples who avoided sugar intake.

• Here are some results from Boston University that might convince you if the former information is not enough. Women’s fertility drops by one-fourth and men’s fertility drop by one-third after consuming one sugary drink daily.

Infertility among males and females has been linked to sugar consumption in several studies; others support the same idea. But still, someone argues that sugar consumption does not contribute to infertility among women and men.

However, there is no problem with healthy sugar consumption; only saturated sugars or unhealthy sugars are harmful.

Identifying Healthy Sugars vs. Unhealthy Sugars:

• Healthy or Natural Sugars: Healthy sugars are referred to as natural sweetening agents that are present in fruits and vegetables like beetroot, sweet potato, carrots, grapes, mango, berries, and more.

Natural sugar should be consumed whenever you desire it.

Added Tip: Fruit juices do not contain any nutritional value, so opt for raw fruits instead of juices.

• Unhealthy or Saturated Sugars: As soon as the sugar in the food is added, it turns into saturated fat, which is harmful for consumption. Whenever your food contains more than 5g of sugar per 100g, it has higher sugar levels. In the process of trying to conceive, it is not best to consume these foods.

Added Tip: Sugar intake should be controlled by both male and female partners in order to prevent infertility. Whether you choose to become pregnant naturally or through IVF, your dietary habits are important.

How Does Sugar Intake Impact Fertility?

Blood sugar levels lower than normal or higher than normal adversely affect fertility. Let’s continue reading to discover how fluctuating sugar levels affect fertility levels.

• Lower Blood Sugar and Fertility: When blood sugar levels are low, stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released, which further alters the body’s response to progesterone. Then progesterone disturbances can seriously interfere with the menstrual cycle, resulting in pregnancy complications.

We can summarize the situation by saying that low blood sugar levels significantly affect female fertility and can, in rare cases, lead to female infertility.

• Higher Blood Sugar and Fertility: Increasing blood sugar levels can result in a higher insulin release in the body, this, in some situations, leads to insulin receptors becoming desensitized. When an individual has insulin resistance in the body, eggs in the female and sperm in the male are affected. 

It is also linked to weight gain and a variety of other health problems if you consume too much sugar. So, limit your sugar intake.

Is There Anything You Can Eat to Reduce Your Sugar Cravings?

No one can eliminate sugar intake, but limiting portions can help. The best option whenever you want to consume sugar is to consume natural sugar, such as fruits, dried fruits, and vegetables. 

Some yummy or healthy options to satisfy your sugar cravings include figs, dates, berries, raisins, and chia seeds. 

In terms of saturated sugars, you should restrict your daily intake, if you want to consume take them once a week.

Added Tip: Try not to consume too much sugar when you drink tea and coffee.

Final Words:

Taking the time, effort, and dedication to parenthood is a blessing that cannot be compared to anything else. Further, shifting to a healthier lifestyle not only helps with fertility but is good for overall health. 

In case you have been trying for pregnancy for a long time and still haven’t been able to conceive, please consult a fertility specialist.

Hegde Fertility is the leading infertility treatment network in Hyderabad, with doctors with over years of experience and with a high success rate. So, before you lose hope, take a chance.

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