Fertility, Diet, and Acupuncture

Our patients seeking acupuncture treatment for fertility are often especially aware of their diets and are more dedicated than the average person to creating a healthy body and taking charge of their own health -- not only to increase their chances of conceiving, but also to provide the best possible environment for their soon-to-be growing baby to thrive in. In their quest for optimal health, our patients often turn to us for dietary advice. Though everyone has unique needs and a food plan should be tailored to the individual, below are some general guidelines we recommend that you follow.

We highly recommend that you cut out (or at least avoid as much as possible) all refined sugar and flour products (bread, pasta, cakes, pastries, etc.). Get your carbs primarily from whole grains, such as quinoa, millet, and buckwheat or brown rice.

Make sure you get enough protein in your diet. Include small to moderate amounts of meat if you can, such as chicken, turkey, buffalo or grass-fed beef. Be sure to choose meats that have been raised organically, without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. This is really important, as it affects not only your overall health, but your fertility in particular.

When you buy eggs, look for eggs from chicken that were raised free-range (i.e. no cages + outdoor access -- beware that "cage-free" doesn't necessarily mean the hens have access to the outdoors), raised on organic feed, and, ideally, with a diet high in Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Eat plenty of vegetables and a little bit of fruit. Fruit is great for its vitamin content. Since it is high in sugars, however, we recommend keeping it in moderation.

Eat both fruits and vegetables of a variety of colors to ensure getting a bredth of vitamins and nutrients.

Drink plenty of water - ideally away from mealtimes. Stop drinking water about a half hour before your meals and wait to resume drinking liquids until about an hour after you have eaten, as water will dilute your digestive juices and can lead to food sitting in your stomach longer than necessary without being digested properly. This can, in turn, result in digestive discomfort, gas, and bloating.

We recommend taking a daily, high-quality multivitamin, as well as a high-quality fish oil and probiotic supplement.

(Our favorite brands include Floradix for vitamins - the liquid form makes it easy for the body to assimilate -, Nordic Naturals for the fish oil, and HMF Forte from Genestra Brands/Seroyal for the probiotic.)

Avoid dairy in large quantities, as it produces dampness in the body, which, in turn, can affect your fertility. Butter is ok, as are yogurt and kefir (a fermented dairy product high in beneficial probiotics), though we suggest you keep milk, cream, and cheese to a minimum.

Small amounts of red meat (buffalo and grass-fed beef are great!), as well as beets and lots of leafy greens will help to nourish your blood. Whole grains will nourish your Qi.

We also suggest that you use sea salt, rather than the industrially produced table salt to season your foods, as the latter is quite toxic to our bodies. Watch out for excess salt in prepared food items. Salt is crucial to our bodies, but it needs to be the "good" kind, which helps to flush toxins out of our system, rather than causing our bodies to retain more toxins. A great way to get more natural salty flavor in your diet is by adding seaweed to your dishes. Nori, Hijiki, Arama, Dulse etc. are great additions to your meals and add extra flavor

While you eat, avoid sensory overstimulation and emotionally charged topics of conversations. Give as much focus and attention to your food as you can, noticing the flavor and texture of what you eat and chewing every bite thoroughly. Remember that digestion begins in the mouth, and thorough chewing will give the enzymes in your saliva a chance to pre-digest the food before it enters your stomach.

With this kind of a base diet, plus herbs we may recommend, which will be tailored to your individual constitution and needs, as well as regular acupuncture treatments, you will be in excellent shape to conceive and carry a healthy baby to term!