Lifestyle Food/Drink Changes – Part Two

As I lay sick on the couch with the flu, I’m wondering if its because my body is in shock from everything I have give up over the past week.

Ok. I kid. I know that’s not true. A little irony, maybe! At least the thought of Diet Dr. Pepper or a glass of wine is not at all tempting.

So far this week everything went well! No caffeine, alcohol or artificial sweetener.

There are two other things I’ve give up this week

Gluten – I don’t eat a ton of gluten, but wanted to stop eating what I did. There have been links to gluten and infertility and thought it’s one more small change I can make. I have never enjoyed bread or found it tempting. Honestly, I think it’s boring, but below are some things that I have had to give up.

Cereal – Kashi and Fiber one – I’m so sad to stop eating cereal. I have been eating these brands for years and years and I look forward to having cereal right when I wake up. I eat it the morning, as a snack and at night with yogurt or cottage cheese. I’m so sad to give this up.

Triscuits – I usually eat these as a snack, with cottage cheese, peanut butter or cheese

Whole wheat, low fat, high fiber tortillas – I love the taste of a healthy tortilla. Use these for Mexican food a lot or even just eat them plain

100 calorie sandwich thins – I realize I just said I don’t eat bread, but I do use these every once in awhile to make quick pizzas during the week. When I make a large pizza from scratch (weekends) I was already using a gluten free crust so I’m in the clear there.

Those are the gluten products I have given up. I’m not worried about cross contamination such as in many cans (black beans, etc) or the debatable trace of gluten that oats might have.

Refined Sugar – As I said in my last post, I am a health freak. I eat a ton of veggies, fruits, crave protein and steer away from processed food. I do enjoy candy and am tempted at the office when it’s on co-workers’ desks. Also, one of my favorite things to do is bake in the kitchen! But, in conjunction with the gluten and other things I’m staying away from I’ve added sugar to the list. Again, for me most of the time it’s hard candy or raw cake batter, yum!

I’m still trying to get a feel for where C.J. stands on all this, but as much as it means to me and know the impact of what we put in our mouth affects our health, I will not push anything on him and want him to make those changes himself. There too is a direct link between eating gluten, sugar, etc and the affect on sperm.

If you are interested in the link between gluten and infertility there are a ton of articles on the internet. The problem with gluten is that so many people have an allergy, but go undiagnosed. I don’t know if I’m allergic or have a sensitivity, but in the slight chance I do it’s worth forgoing the gluten to help increase the chance of fertility and carrying a baby to full term.