Food To Help Get Pregnant: Don't Eat These 7 Things When Attempting To Conceive

Raising a child is a cherished experience for most people but getting pregnant can be a difficult task. One way that may increase a woman's chances of conceiving is changing up a diet.

Below are seven foods a woman should avoid if she's trying to get pregnant.

1. Fish high in mercury

Although seafood is delicious with a good portion of omega-3s it is known to be high in mercury. Some fish that should be avoided while trying to conceive are swordfish, ahi tuna, lox, and shark. Mercury could build up in your body and stay there for more than a year which is not ideal when you are attempting to get pregnant.

2. Caffeine

Although you don’t have to lay off coffee or your favorite soda completely, it is advised that you don’t consume more than 200mg of caffeine a day. Not only can it cause fertility problems but caffeine has also been linked to an increased risk of miscarriages and mothers delivering babies with low birth weights.

3. Soy

Tofu can be so delicious when made correctly but women trying to conceive should avoid it around the time of ovulation. Soy contains the compounds, isoflavones which can sabotage the sperm as they swim through the female reproductive tract to fertilize the egg.

4. Foods that may contain listeria

Listeria is a bacteria that not only causes severe illnesses but it has also been linked to an increased risk of miscarriages. Cheeses that are soft and ripened like brie, some goat cheese and camembert should be avoided while trying to conceive. Unpasteurized dairy products, blue-veined cheeses and any type of pâté should be excluded from your regular diet, as well.

​5. Alcohol

Excessive drinking while trying to conceive is not encouraged and has been linked to lack of ovulation. It can also make your progesterone and estrogen levels abnormal. Keep your drinking habit under two alcoholic beverages a day.

6. Bacon

Processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs and hamburgers can lower semen quality. “Processed meat was associated with lower sperm concentration and morphology,” lead researcher Dr. Myriam Afeiche, of Harvard University’s Department of Nutrition, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post.

7. Trans Fats

Anything that has been labeled hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated increases your risk of fertility problems. Breakfast cereals, candy, pancake mixes, salad dressings and popular soups like Ramen noodles are on the list of trans fat foods you should avoid while trying to conceive.