Nutrition For Fertility

It’s difficult knowing what to believe when there’s so much information out there regarding diet and fertility. Let Pulling Down the Moon’s experts demystify the nutrition maze with their one-on-one consults and group classes. PDtM nutrition consults are available in person or by phone anywhere in the country

Is There a Fertility Diet?

There is so much information about diet and fertility out in the "TTC world" (trying to conceive) that it is difficult to know what to believe. Should you cut out sugar if you are trying to conceive? What about wheat gluten? Alcohol? Caffeine? What about supplements? High protein? Low fat?

We do know that women who are closer to their healthy body weight have better odds of conception than women who are over or under their ideal weight. In addition, there is evidence that conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and yeast overgrowth, which may negatively impact fertility, can be treated with dietary modification. While "dieting" is not advisable when you are trying to conceive (unless recommended by your physician), it is possible to make changes to your diet to maximize nutrient intake, improve mood and energy levels and avoid the creeping weight gain that some women experience during fertility treatment.

At Pulling Down the Moon®, we also know that many of our patients are working with holistic practitioners who have made dietary recommendations consistent with their particular holistic discipline. Our nutritionist can help you ensure that your new eating plan is balanced, provides adequate calorie and nutrient intake, and help you with meal ideas and snack tips to make it easier to stick with your plan.

Pulling Down the Moon's Nutritional Consults are integrative and specialized — that is, they combine the latest in science-based nutrition with teachings and techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), yoga and other holistic disciplines. Through these programs you will learn more than just healthy eating habits and ideas, you will learn ways in which to control the stresses and anxieties that exist in everyday life. You may even feel that sense of satisfaction that comes from celebrating the "now:" the time in which you get to focus fully on yourself and your own well-being, before the days when "baby" will come first.

Common Questions

Q: My husband and I have been trying to conceive for almost four years, and tried Clomid and Artificial Insemination and have had no luck. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries and told that a weight loss might help our chances and that I need to loose at least 30 lbs before trying IVF. Can you give me any advise on what diets/Exercises woman with PCOS have the best response to?
A: Absolutely does weight impact your chances of conception, and weight loss has a very healing and beneficial effect on PCOS. In fact, our patients with PCOS who are annovulatory have, after implementing our nutrition protocols, begun having normal, regular periods on their own! The best diet is a low-glycemic approach, focusing on foods that keep blood sugar balanced, as we know high insulin levels are directly related to abnormal hormone levels in PCOS. Any exercise is good exercise, but when trying to conceive, not all workouts are created equal. Yoga would be the recommendation of choice.

Q: Are there any foods I should absolutely avoid if I am trying to conceive?
A: Yes! Of course, there is the obvious one that no Starbucks-loving woman likes to hear – and that is caffeine. Studies show that even 300mg daily (the amount in one cup of coffee) can decrease your chances of conception. Alcohol is another one that should be eliminated completely when trying to conceive. In addition, high fat foods and refined sugars/processed foods are minimally nutritious and often add extra pounds that can impact fertility. New studies are also showing that even the types of fats we eat contribute to how well an egg can fertilize and influence our conception rates. Although these are general guidelines, women with specific reproductive disorders such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome each have specific foods that will improve their condition – as well as foods that can sabotage the healing process.

Q: What is unique about Pulling Down the Moon’s fertility-focused nutrition?
A: Unique to Pulling Down the Moon is a nutritional program focused solely on enhancing one’s fertility. Our nutritionists are specifically trained in how foods and nutrients affect our reproductive systems. Although there is not a specific one-size-fits-all fertility diet, there is an abundance of research on specific vitamins, minerals, and foods that are proven to enhance ones chances of conception. We have combined all this research to create a program that recognizes and addresses nutritional deficiencies that may sabotage your reproductive health. We also know that women closer to their healthy body weight have better odds of conception than women who are over or underweight. Our programs help women reach their healthy weight while not depriving them of important calories and nutrients necessary for conception.

Q: My husband has low sperm count, quality, and motility. Can what he eats change those parameters?
A: Absolutely! It takes two to have a baby, and if a couple is dealing with male factor fertility when trying to conceive, know there are many nutritional changes that can positively influence all aspects of sperm count and quality. Our nutritionists recommend specific supplements to enhance male fertility as well as dietary modifications that have proven to be extremely effective.

Q: What should I expect at my nutritional consultation and how many times do I have to be seen?
A: An initial nutritional consultation is a one-hour evaluation of your health and nutritional lifestyle. A detailed history will be taken as well as a dietary assessment and even evaluation of any current supplements. Based on each individual consultation, recommendations will be made on an individual basis. Each patient leaves with a packet of information on fertility, food choices, specific dietary modifications for that individual, and even healing foods for your specific health condition. Although we focus on fertility, we also address other reproductive disorders, digestive problems.