Well, a new study reveals that you can increase your chance of conceiving and giving birth if you eliminate some or all of six risk factors: an unhealthy BMI, an unhealthy diet, nonuse of folic acid supplements, smoking, alcohol intake (more than one drink a week), and being an older age.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that the more risk factors you eliminate, the greater your chance of conceiving and carrying full term, and if you have only one or none of them, you reduce your risk of non-conception by 34%.
So if you're struggling to have a child, write down which risk factors apply to you. Then make a plan to eliminate them.
1. Talk to your doctor about how to get started.
2. For additional help with healthy eating go to myplate.gov and read "What to Eat When."
3. For weight loss, consider a healthy eating plan and emotional support from groups like Overeaters Anonymous and Weight Watchers, and adopt a plan to increase your metabolic rate by walking 10,000 steps a day and doing core resistance training.
4. For help with smoking, check out www.smokefree.gov. To overcome alcohol abuse, consider an AA meeting and call SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-435.
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Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow." Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@GreatAgeReboot.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2023 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
