WHY NO DAIRY? WHY NO WHEAT?
Because the reporter questioned it, I thought I would address it. Why is wheat and dairy prohibited on our diet when trying to conceive?
The arguments I have for taking either out of the diet are similar for both. Let’s start with wheat. There are a few reasons it’s off the list.
- It’s hard to digest. When trying to conceive, we want to ease the work of our digestion—which is the most labor-intensive function in the body—so as to have more energy available to nourish and heal other parts of the body, particularly our reproductive system.
- A high percentage of people have a sensitivity to wheat and don’t even know it. This can lead to a host of problems, such as bloating, inflammation, fatigue. It can also affect thyroid function, which is important for fertility. It also means your body is working even harder to digest this food, and again, we want to ease the work of our digestion when trying to conceive.
- Wheat can have a more acidic effect on the body when we need to maintain a more alkaline pH balance for health and fertility.
I offer similar reasons to stay off dairy:
- Dairy unquestionably is hard to digest. (http://fertilekitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/dairy)
- Many adults are unable to process lactose, the sugar in milk, making it even harder on our bodies. Others still have a sensitivity to lactose.
- Finally, there are a number of studies that link dairy to fertility issues, and for me that’s enough. Why take a chance?
Everyone is different and reacts differently to various types of foods. The guidelines we offer in our book are just that: guidelines. Our guidelines are backed by research and are what worked for us; but nevertheless I believe it’s important to choose for yourself what makes sense to you to follow.
I also feel that if there is any chance a food item will cause an issue with fertility, just take it off the list, no questions. Why take any chances? Our time is so limited. Why not do all you can to optimize your fertility. Why not be able to say you did everything you could? That was important to me.
Here are some links:
http://shrinkingfibroids.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-avoid-wheat.html
Second link no longer valid.
ARCHIVED COMMENTS on this post:
Feb. 25, 2010 from V:
Cindy,your blog is a lovely resource!
While following a fertility-friendly diet,would it be ok to consume less wheat instead of cutting it out all together?
Thanks!
Feb. 28, 2010 from Cindy (Author):
Hi, V –
I recommend cutting it out all together. One natural medicine doctor called it “velcro on the gut” in reference to how difficult it is to digest. Plus, most people are sensitive to it, which makes it even more stressful for your body. I know it can be difficult to give up, given that seemingly everything contains some wheat. Luckily, today there are a number of non-wheat products (crackers, breads, pasta, and more) available at your local health food store or Whole Foods Market. These products use alternative grains such as brown rice, quinoa, Kamut(tm). For a starter list of such products, you can visit the RESOURCES page of our website (www.fertilekitchen.com).
If you feel you absolutely must have some wheat on occasion, I would do this: I would get tested to find out if you’re sensitive to wheat. If so, then you’ll need to stay away from it. If not, then I would first stay away from wheat for at least the first two to three weeks to “get it out of your system” and get into a new habit. (You may find after that you don’t have cravings for it anymore!) After that I would allow wheat only on occasion(maybe once or twice a week). But it’s better to keep it off your list while trying to conceive. I wish you all the best!