The Ancestral Fertility Diet posts have been the most popular posts here on Raw Milk and Recipes. So this in-depth Q&A is aimed to answer any questions you may have after reading Parts 1 and 2. However, if you have not read Parts 1 and 2 of the fertility diet please be sure to do so, as the contents of this Q&A will likely require further explanation. Click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2. Now we can get started by answering the top 5 questions that have been received involving the ancestral fertility diet.
Question #1: “Why do I need to go on a fertility diet if I have no evidence of infertility?”
Answer: This is such a great question to start off this post. A fertility diet is incredibly important, even if you have never tried to conceive before and have no idea if you will have fertility issues. For example, I began the ancestral fertility diet one year before trying to conceive. I had no evidence of fertility issues. But infertility is not the only reason we should all go on a fertility diet. A fertility diet is rich in the vitamins and minerals necessary to create the highest quality eggs and sperm of both the mother and father. So this high quality will lead to a baby with potentially fewer genetic disorders, a mother with an easier pregnancy, an easier natural childbirth and a child with fewer health risks. Therefore, an ancestral fertility diet is essential for all mothers and fathers to be.
Question #2: “Why are couples struggling with infertility today?”
Answer: If you are here because you are struggling with infertility, you are not alone. More than 1 in 6 couples today are infertile. And that number is drastically on the rise. We are 3 generations away from extinction. Yes that’s correct. Our birth rates are so low they will be 1.5 by 2050. This means that there will be only 1.5 children born per woman. This is nowhere near enough to just maintain our current population, you would need 2 children born per woman. So there are 2 factors that have caused this historical phenomenon. First, woman are having less children by choice. Thanks to feminism, contraceptives and modern social influences, women are choosing to forgo having children all together. Second, our modern diet and lifestyle have led us to poor health and malnutrition despite obesity and an abundance of food. And as we know, nutrition and fertility are intrinsically linked.
Question #3: “Where does the ancestral fertility diet come from?”
Answer: The ancestral fertility diet is a summation of all my research done on fertility and nutrition. It is largely based on the works of Dr. Weston A. Price. And if you have not read his book ‘Nutrition & Physical Degeneration’ grab a copy by clicking here and check it out. Dr. Price was a dentist who traveled to the world’s remaining primitive cultures in the 1930s. His goal was to determine why these primitive cultures had no evidence of dental decay whereas western cultures were experiencing rapid decay and decline. What he discovered was the significance of ancestral eating, proper food preparation and the importance of fertility foods to not only perpetuate the species, but to create children with fewer health issues, beautiful facial structure and physical strength.
Question #4: “Can you sum up the ancestral fertility diet?”
Answer: There are so many important factors to the diet that should not be overlooked. But if I had to sum it up I would say to focus heavily on a diet that is nutrient dense. For example, consume foods with the highest amount of vitamins and minerals per bite. So this would include foods such as organ meats (liver, heart, kidney), pasture-raised eggs, raw dairy, grass-fed meat on the bone, seafood, fermented vegetables and grains, bone broth and fruit. I would also add in supplements such as collagen, mineral drops, cod liver oil, electrolytes and salt. (See below for my recommended supplements).
Now there are 2 main foods to avoid as much as possible; sugar and seed oils. Natural sugars from fruit, honey and maple syrup for example are fine in moderation. But avoid anything processed with cane sugar or seed oils. Read every ingredient label carefully. And if possible, cook all meals from scratch. Limit going out to eat and stop buying pre-made food from the grocery. I find it helps to just stick to the perimeter of the grocery store, this is where the healthiest foods are. Nothing in a box. And better yet, shop local and shop organic.
Question #5: “What books or further info can you recommend?”
Answer: There are 5 books I would highly recommend if you are looking for more information on the ancestral fertility diet. I have these listed below. And these books are full of in depth scientific research on nutrition, fertility, ancestral eating and more. I read all of these prior to conceiving and I truly believe they changed my life. In addition, I would recommend checking out the Weston A. Price Foundation website by clicking here. They have tons of great info on fertility foods, pregnancy diets and nourishing children. Lastly, if you’re interested in podcasts, one of my favorites on nutrition is called Peak Human. It’s worth a listen, not particularly for fertility but it is full of great episodes on ancestral eating.
- Nutrition & Physical Degeneration– Dr. Weston A. Price
- Deep Nutrition– Dr. Catherine Shanahan
- Beautiful Babies– Kristen Michaelis
- Real Food for Pregnancy– Lily Nichols
- Nourishing Traditions– Sally Fallon
Conclusion
I truly hope these answers help you on your fertility journey. As always, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any further questions. Or send me a message over on instagram @rawmilkandrecipes. Thank you for reading all 3 parts to this series. It is my greatest hope that this helps even just one person receive the baby of their dreams.
Supplements: Click on each one to purchase or view.
- Cod liver oil
- Collagen
- Electroyte balance
- Magnesium spray
- Redmond real salt
- Grass-fed liver capsules
If you would like to read Parts 1 and 2 of the fertility diet, click below to access the Motherhood archives.
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