The Right Fat Can Improve Your IVF Success

If you are health conscious you try to avoid all types of fats. After all, fat is bad, right? It damages your waistline, heart, and overall health. But you should not fear fat. Not all fats are created equal nor are they necessarily “evil.” In fact, when it comes to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment success, fat may be your best friend.

Take a look at this recent study published in European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that involved 147 women who underwent an IVF procedure. The ones with the highest intake of healthy mono- and poly-unsaturated fats—found in salmon, olive oil, nuts, avocado, and seeds such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and sesame seeds—had 11.6 mature eggs to be retrieved. In comparison, the women with the highest intake of saturated fats, like those found in butter and processed meats, had 9.3 mature eggs. (Having more mature eggs can mean more embryos to choose for fresh transfer, particularly among women who have poor ovarian stimulation response.) The difference was enough to significantly change the success rate of the IVF treatment outcome.

Likewise, the women who had the highest intake of the healthy fats had a 3.45 times greater odds of a live birth than the ones who had a higher intake of saturated fats. The study’s authors also noted that the metabolic response of fats varies according to the type. In fact, there’s evidence that high saturated fat intake increases inflammatory compounds and impair insulin response—two issues related to many chronic diseases.

Fertility Boosting Breakfast 
An easy way to make sure that you nourish your body with pro fertility healthy fats is to have a breakfast smoothie. But don’t buy into the bottled beverages at your grocery store. They are high in sugar and calories and low in protein and good fats. Instead, make your own. Here is a great fertility-boosting smoothie with the right balance of nutrients and calories.

Creamy Green Berry Smoothie
1/2	Each	Avocado, small (or use ¼ cup of fresh coconut – flesh)	90.0
1	large handful	Spinach, raw	14.0
3/4	Cup	Blueberries, frozen	62.5
1	cup, sliced	Strawberries, frozen	53.0
1	Tablespoon	Seeds, flaxseed, ground	64.0
1 1/2	Cups	Almond milk, unsweetened	75.0
		TOTALS	358.5