I have been trying to get pregnant for four months, but so far I’ve been unsuccessful, I drink about 5 cups of instant coffee a day and about 5 cups a tea, my doctor suggested that I cut down on this, but surely this cannot be interfering with my fertility?

There is growing evidence to show that caffeine, particularly in the form of coffee, decreases fertility. One study showed that drinking as little as one cup of coffee a day can halve your chances of conceiving.

Colas, coffee, chocolate and black teas, amongst other things also contain caffeine so should be limited too. Coffee can deprive the body of important nutrients which are important for fertility. Try weaning yourself off them gradually over the course of a week to ten days to minimize withdrawal symptoms, and replacing them with herbal teas, dandelion coffee (which is caffeine free) vegetable juices, and fruit juices. Fruit juices should be diluted at least 50% with water.

There are many other things you can do to ensure you are in the best health possible before you conceive. Ensure you eat a wide range of fresh organic natural foods, fruit, vegetables, lean meats, wild fish, nuts and seeds. Although your letter doesn’t say you age, it is recommended that women under 30 should generally try to get pregnant on their own for 1 year before seeking testing.

The department of health changed its weaning advice from 4 months to 6 months in December 2003 to come in line with the world health organisation. It is my belief that children shouldn't been weaned until they are at least 6 months of age. Research has shown that babies’ digestive systems are very slow to develop and the enzymes that are required to digest food do not develop until the baby is 6 months old. Babies also have very thin gut lining and if a baby is weaned before the enzymes are present, undigested food could seep through the intestinal lining and enter the blood putting your baby at an increased risk of developing allergies, intolerance's and other such problems, such as a weaker immune system. After 6 months, babies make their own secretory IgA, which coats the intestine and stops the absorption of foreign substances through the intestinal mucous. At this age babies also develop the reflex of sucking and chewing simultaneous which will help them taste the food.

As published in South Wales Evening Post

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