Fast food vs. the baby

Have you ever tried to play sports while on a diet of greasy fries and burgers? The experience probably wasn’t great. Pregnancy requires us to be even more physically fit than a regular exercise routine does. But this isn’t even about the strength of your body, new research shows that fast food (like any unhealthy food) can completely prevent conception.

The first reason is cholesterol. At the University of Buffalo in New York, scientists investigated couples who, despite the absence of serious diseases, couldn’t seem to conceive. In most cases, they found elevated cholesterol levels. Even if the male half of the pair didn’t indulge in fatty foods, the couple still had difficulties with conception. As a rule, increased cholesterol in the blood is hard to notice (except when it causes a heart attack), so it’s best to try to keep your cholesterol down by controlling your diet.

The second reason has to do with phthalates: chemicals which are most often used in the manufacturing of cheap soap and plastic. Scientists have discovered that fast food lovers collect enormous amounts of this substance in their bodies. This is probably due to the cooking process, when food often comes in contact with poor-quality plastic (like on conveyor belts), phthalates are transferred to the food. Phthalate accumulation in the body can lead to cancer, diabetes, and problems with conception. The latter is especially true for future daddies: phthalate molecules are similar to female hormones in their structure, and in the male body they significantly reduce the level of testosterone. So think carefully: are you really lovin’ it?