By Dr. Shilpa Haresh, IVF Speciality

Nutrition and dietary changes are one of the many lifestyle guidelines issued by doctors for couples undergoing IVF. However, eating the right kind of food does not guarantee greater success rate but leads to healthy eggs and creates a conducive environment. With the help of our IFV experts, we have prepared a guide of what you should eat and what you should avoid -

Foods you should eat:

1. Plenty of water- It is a known fact that the human body is made up of 70 percent of water. Hence, it is essential to drink at least 8 glasses of water or its equivalent liters to avoid dehydration.
2. Monosaturated fats- These type of fats are required by the body and hence its quantity should be increased. Rich sources of monosaturated fats include avocado, walnuts and certain types of fish.
3. Food rich in zinc- Zinc is one of the essential nutrients required by the body. Therefore, it is recommended to take at least 20 mg of zinc every day. Zinc-rich food includes nuts, whole grains, lean meats, beans, and potatoes.
4. Proteins- It is advised to consume at least 65 grams of protein each day. Include eggs, flax seeds, fish, soya beans and legumes for your daily dose of protein.

Foods to avoid:

1. Cheese-There are certain cheeses that one should avoid during pregnancy and IVF procedure. Soft cheeses like brie, goat, camembert and blue cheese should be avoided. They generally carry a risk of causing listeria infections.
2. Coffee/Tea- Although drinking coffee/tea may not directly affect your chance of getting pregnant but you should limit it 1 to 2 cups of coffee each day or the occasional intake.
3. Allergic Foods- Foods that you are allergic to are best avoided during the cycle of IVF treatment. If you are lactose intolerant, then it’s best to avoid milk or dairy products.
4. Raw foods- Raw foods are any type of food that is not cooked or involves partial cooking like sushi, eggnog, cookie batter. Therefore, it is advised to not include them in your diet.
5. Alcoholic beverages- It is one of the items that should be avoided during pregnancy as it can result in fetus impairment and dysfunction in the ovaries. Therefore, it is better to avoid them during IVF treatment.

It is important to have whole and organic food in your diet and avoid all the processed and refined sugar foods during the IVF process.