Keto Diet for Fertility and Health
By Shannon Traphagen
With famous sayings like, “You are what you eat,” and “Let food be thy medicine,” it shouldn’t come as a surprise that certain foods can also help to increase fertility. Dr. Robert Kiltz, a reproductive endocrinologist and founder and director of CNY Fertility, says, “Our diet is the single greatest factor we have control over that can radically increase the odds of conception and pregnancy.”
Dr. Kiltz believes that whether you’re trying to get pregnant the old-fashioned way, or are undergoing fertility treatments including artificial insemination or IVF, consuming a fertility-enhancing diet can help increase sperm and egg quality, and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. While eating a high-fat diet goes against most of what medical professionals are taught in school, he emphasizes that fat provides key building blocks for every cell in the body and optimizes overall wellness!
“Diets like the ketogenic diet can contribute greatly to reducing inflammation that causes a whole host of illnesses, along with improving fertility,” says Dr. Kiltz. “The keto diet is sufficiently high in fat and low in carbs and proteins to force the body to rely on fat for energy. It includes eating mostly non-starchy vegetables, a reasonable portion of meat and fish, especially salmon, and a liberal amount of healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, avocado oil, bacon, grass-fed butter, MCT oil, and condiments made from these oils.”
In a recent Harvard Medical School article by Marcelo Campos, M.D., Ketogenic Diet: Is the Ultimate Low Carb Diet Good for You? Dr. Campos points to solid evidence showing that a ketogenic diet reduces seizures in children, sometimes as effectively as medication. Dr. Campos says, “Because of these neuroprotective effects, questions have been raised about the possible benefits for other brain disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, autism, and even brain cancer. However, there are no human studies to support recommending ketosis to treat these conditions.”
“Other benefits of a keto diet include balancing out hormones, reducing appetite, reduced triglycerides, and increasing levels of good HDL. However, the biggest driving factor is reducing inflammation. Studies show that fatty acid intake reduces key markers for inflammation and inflammatory responses and helps protect against autoimmune disease. Ultimately, it’s our diet that can help or harm us, both for wellbeing and for fertility,” says Dr. Kiltz.
Robert Kiltz, M.D. is Founder and Director of CNY Fertility, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Fellowship trained and Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He has special interest and training in advanced reproductive technologies, laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, gynecology, endometriosis and recurrent pregnancy loss, and assists and consults with clients from around the world in all areas of reproductive health and fertility.
CNY Fertility is currently offering a discount for major treatments to aide in economic efforts of the pandemic. Contact CNY at 844-315-2229 to learn more. Visit www.cnyfertility.com. Follow CNY Fertility on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
