Nutrition and fertility – figure out your cravings

This Pandemic has indeed changed everyone’s lifestyle. Now many of us are at home 24/7 people have been asking why they want to eat all the time. The shift from going out and ordering from out whenever we want to be inside home most of the time takes quite an adjustment. As we get to grips with a new routine, working from home or tackling a list of DIY jobs, some people might have noticed that they are eating more. 

Sometimes we just keep heading towards the fridge may be boredom or just the novelty of being at home with food within easy reach, there are other physiological reasons we may seek out a quick snack fix. For many of us this time is also stressful as we try to make sense of the situation we are in and what it means for our future. 

Food is more than calories. It’s information. The body is a wonderful machine, constantly sending us signs and signals about the information (or nutrients) it needs to function at its best. 

In this blog we will see how cravings may be a sign of stress hormone imbalance and how this may also affect your fertility and makes it difficult to conceive naturally. 

Cravings for sweet things: 

When we are stressed our body reacts or fight to run away from the stress. Our adrenal glands produce stress hormones which (among other things) signal that we need a quick

source of glucose our body’s main source of fuel so we go for whatever is readily available. 

Eating something high-sugar that is also high in fat like donuts, chocolate, cake, biscuits and mithai’s; this triggers the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of reward and satisfaction. By falling into this trap, we train our brain to think ‘you need to eat this to help you feel better’. 

Using these foods to regulate our mood and lower our stress is a short term fix. In the long run, it just sends us on a roller coaster with our energy, our mood, stress levels and sleep. 

In contrast, when we have a steady release of glucose into the blood stream throughout the day via slow releasing carbohydrate foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, pulses and beans, and protein we’re productive, sharp, and full of energy as well as being nourished and supporting our stress response. 

When we are stressed our adrenal glands produce stress hormones which signal that we need a quick source of glucose and more glucose in the body means that you are slowly moving towards diabetes which ultimately affects your chances of conceiving or causing male infertility too. 

Craving for salty or fried food:

If sugar doesn’t do it for you, reaching for savoury, salty foods – crisps, salted nuts, cheese and pakoras – may also be a sign that your adrenal glands are under strain and, similar to sugar, that hankering for salt could be attributed to stress. 

The adrenal glands are also responsible for making hormones that regulate blood pressure by controlling fluid levels and electrolyte balance in the body. 

Chronic stress may impair adrenal gland production of these hormones which may result in low blood pressure and cravings for salty foods. If you experience these symptoms along with fatigue, excessive thirst, headaches and nausea, it is worth a trip to your doctor. 

Stress and fertility: 

Stress has an effect on fertility too – Women with high levels of stress were 29% less likely to get pregnant each month than those women with lower levels. Stress is not a good reason to treat oneself to a burger or chocolate or truck loads of ice cream. In fact, consuming high fat foods is more likely to lead to weight gain. Also, when we are stressed, we also may be more likely to drive through the fast food place, rather than taking the time and mental energy to plan and cook a meal. 

Stress is one of the major causes of obesity and even weight gain in today’s fast paced life. In fact, stress even makes it very difficult to produce optimum results if you are attempting to lose weight. Stress puts the body in ‘fight or flight’ mode from an evolutionary perspective and activates the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to the production of fat promoting hormones viz cortisol and insulin that leads to weight gain. It also disrupts body’s hunger regulating hormones causing one to eat more. 

For men, persistently high cortisol levels resulting from long term stress may decrease testosterone levels, which may result in decreased sperm health and count. 

If you would like to find out more about how lifestyle and nutrition can support you in managing your stress levels and helps you in boosting your fertility please get in touch today with our Mother’s Lap IVF Centre staff. You can call us on +91 9205268976 and you can also visit our Facebook page and website: https://www.motherslapivf.com/ for more information. We are here to help you becoming parents.