Trying To Get Pregnant? Don't Eat Too Much Protein

Low-carb, high-protein diets are all the rage these days, but they might not be the best option for women hoping to become pregnant.

A diet moderately high in protein could reduce a woman's chances of conceiving, according to a study presented Monday at a conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Researchers from the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in Englewood, Colo., found that a diet containing 25 percent protein disrupted the normal genetic imprinting pattern in mice embryos at a very early stage in their development. It also hindered embryo implantation in the womb.

"Although our investigations were conducted in mice, our data may have implications for diet and reproduction in humans," said Dr. David Gardner, the study's lead researcher.

The average American diet consists of 14 percent protein, according to the American Heart Association.