Fatty foods increase fertility, correct or not?

One of the factors that affect a woman's fertility is the percentage of fat in her body. Too little body fat can cause menstruation to stop so that fertility will also decrease. If so, do women have to eat lots of fatty foods to increase their fertility?

Effect of fat percentage on fertility

The female body has two main reproductive hormones, one of which is estrogen. Estrogen functions in the maturation of female reproductive organs, especially for breast development, pubic hair growth, and the menstrual cycle.

Most of the estrogen produced by the ovaries, which are a pair of glands in the reproductive organs that also produce eggs.

Apart from the ovaries, this hormone is also produced by fat cells and the adrenal glands found in the kidneys.

The amount of the hormone estrogen changes throughout the menstrual cycle. The production of the hormone estrogen reaches its peak in the middle of the cycle, then decreases during menstruation. The production of this hormone stops completely when you experience menopause.

Fatty foods do not directly increase fertility. However, fat is the raw material for forming estrogen. If you are deficient in fat, your body can't produce enough of the estrogen needed for a normal menstrual cycle.

Launch page Hormone Health Network, the low amount of estrogen can reduce the frequency of menstruation, and even stop it altogether. Lack of estrogen can also trigger menopause-like symptoms, such as:

A sensation of warmth or heat in the body (hot flashes)
Sleep disturbance
Decreased sexual desire
The vagina dries up
Change mood suddenly (mood swing)

Lack of estrogen also inhibits ovulation, which is the process of releasing eggs from the ovaries. If ovulation does not occur, sperm cannot fertilize an egg. As a result, the fertility rate decreases and pregnancy becomes more difficult.

Fatty foods that help increase fertility

Eating fatty foods provides fertility benefits. Adequate fat intake supports ovulation so that fertilization can occur. This is why you need to get fat intake in order to have a pregnancy.

However, you still have to pay attention to the type of fat consumed. Types of fat that can help fertility are unsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids.

Unsaturated fats are healthy fats that can lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and are good for heart health.

Fatty foods of this type can also increase estrogen production so that it is beneficial for fertility.

Here are some food ingredients rich in unsaturated fats to increase fertility:

Salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel and anchovies.
Avocado, either fresh or in oil form.
Walnuts, pistachios, pecans, and almonds.
Olives and their oil.
Canola oil, corn oil, and soybean oil.
Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and seeds flax.
Chicken eggs and meat.
Dark chocolate.

Fatty foods that need to be avoided

On the other hand, there are also types of fats that can inhibit your fertility, namely saturated fats and trans fats. Both are widely available in processed food products, junk food, some types of margarine, and high-sugar food products.

Instead of increasing fertility, these fatty foods actually have the opposite effect. A diet high in trans fats can trigger insulin resistance, which is a decrease in the body's response to the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar.

Insulin resistance then causes various metabolic disorders, including inhibiting ovulation. The impact is that ovulation does not occur, as well as menstruation, conception, and pregnancy.

Fatty foods can indeed increase fertility, but the fats in question are unsaturated fats that are healthy for the body. Limit your consumption of saturated fats and trans fats because they are actually bad for fertility.

Apart from fat, also supplement your daily intake with carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals. Make sure all of them are included in the daily menu because your body needs a variety of these nutrients to support pregnancy.

If you are in doubt about the right food composition for your fertility, please consult a doctor or nutritionist, yes!