5 Foods That Fight Fertility

Cold food. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cold or raw foods and beverages are depleting. “During conception and pregnancy, we want to expand,” says Randine Lewis, PhD, author of The Infertility Cure (Little, Brown, and Company, 2005). “Cold constricts; it’s a universal law.” Best advice: Lightly steam vegetables, eat salads and raw foods in moderation, and drink liquids at room temperature.

Trans fats. These harmful fatty acids, found in margarine, processed foods, and commercial baked goods, dramatically increase the risk of infertility, even in small amounts. A recent study shows that women who ate 2 percent of their daily calories in the form of trans fats had a 73 percent greater risk of infertility. Best advice: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods, and avoid any foods that contain hydrogenated oils.

Coffee. Your morning cup of joe—even decaf—causes the body to release stress hormones that interfere with conception, Lewis says. Best advice: Need a caffeine fix? Try green or black tea. In one study, women who drank half a cup of tea a day doubled their chances of conceiving.

Wheat. Even if you’re not gluten-sensitive, wheat can cause a mild inflammatory response and creates blood sugar imbalances that can lead to hormonal fluctuations and interfere with conception. Best advice: Limit wheat to one serving a day—a slice of bread or four crackers—and focus on gluten-free grains like rice, quinoa, corn, buckwheat, and millet.

Alcoholic beverages. “Alcohol is very energizing and excessively heating, and affects estrogen production,” says Jill Blakeway, LAc, author of Making Babies (Little, Brown, and Company, 2008). It’s also dehydrating, and the resulting loss of water in the body can reduce semen volume and make cervical mucous too thick. Best advice: Stick to sparkling water, herbal teas, and other alcohol-free beverages.