Stocking a Fertility Fridge

Say yes to…

Celery! Juice it, snack on it, dice it and throw it in your lentil soup — celery is a good source of folic acid, healthy for you and your developing baby.
Goji berries! For a natural aphrodisiac, mix goji berries in with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and almonds for an injection of zinc, magnesium and vitamin E. Oysters, cloves, and basil are other foods that enhance randy-ness.
Raw Honey! Sugar depresses the immune system and depletes the body of minerals. Use sweeteners sparingly, and when doing so, stick with raw honey, which is rich in iron and B vitamins.

Say no to…

Alcohol: Alcohol has played a big role in many (accidental) conceptions. Still, it’s better to be a teetotaler when trying to get pregnant. Alcohol is acidic and it can impair ovulation.

Peas: As a green vegetable, you’d think peas would be a healthy addition to a fertility diet, but peas contain a natural contraceptive that’s more than a moutheful: m-xylohydroquinone. So skip ‘em (you still have to eat your broccoli though, and spinach, and kale, and beets…).

Soybean Oil: Check the labels of the salad dressing in the health food stores — most contain soybean oil, which can inhibit fertility.

Adapted from The Fertile Female by Julia Indichova (Adell Press, April 2007)