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Expert Q&A

	By Melanie Wilson Vegetarian Cooking and Lifestyle Expert

I am a healthy 24-year-old female who has been trying to conceive for the past 10 months. I am now very worried because I have been told by a friend that being a vegetarian for the past 12 years could have damaged my reproductive system. I have always taken vitamins and have been taking foilc acid for the past two months.

There are many myths concerning a vegetarian diet, but the truth is that there is no evidence to show that a woman's fertility is affected simply by being vegetarian. In fact, one thing you may have going for you is that vegetarian women tend to eat more folate, which is essential for the growing fetus even before you know you're pregnant. You're taking folate vitamins, so that's not a concern. A woman's diet can have an effect on her fertility, but eating enough calories from a wide variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes will ensure that you are meeting all the nutritional requirements of a woman trying to conceive a baby. There is no need to avoid soy, but some evidence suggests limiting your intake to three servings per day, including soymilk, tofu and other soy products.

The American Dietetic Association states that a well-balanced vegetarian or vegan diet is appropriate for women in all stages of life. All women should become knowledgeable about their body's cycles, and learning to recognize your fertility signs will probably do more for you than changing your diet. I recommend several books: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Weschler and Becoming Vegetarian by Melina and Davis (Becoming Vegan by the same authors if you are vegan).

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