Caffeinated foods and drinks - if you really can't do without your morning cuppa, I would recommend trying to switch coffee products for tea as a starter. Tea as a rule normally contains a quarter to half the amount of caffeine than most coffee-based products. Tea also contains several chemical compounds such as aromatic polyphenol and hypoxanthine that may have some benefits for fertility. Having stated this, it is still warranted to keep caffeine intake to very moderate amounts. Caffeine can also be in various medications, stimulants like No-Doz, weight loss pills, and herbs such as guarana and kola nut. Check product packaging details to verify caffeine content. Also back-off milk /dairy products as much as possible!

Lunch meat products - many of these foods contain nitrates and nitrites which are linked to increasing certain cancer growth.

Food additives and preservatives - Monosodium glutamine (MSG) and BHA are well known for causing sensitivity reactions and affect body hormone activity and receptability. Hormones such as oestrogen can be particularly imbalanced, which can reduce fertility and/or foetal development. MSG is found as an additive in a lot of foods such as Chinese takeaways, flavoured chips (crisps), meat seasoning and packaged soups.

Peas and soybean products - can potentially have an effect on fertility as these foods contain phyto-oestrogens. Phyto-oestrogen-containing foods have been extensively studied and are proven to exert numerous health benefits particularly for menopause symptoms and on hormone-dependant cancers, but in excessive amounts these phyto-oestrogen foods exert oestrogen-mimicking-like effects that can be undesirable when trying to fall pregnant. These foods can possibly unbalance other reproductive hormone levels. Peas contain a natural chemical called m-xylohydroquinone, which has been shown in studies to exert a contraceptive effect and can reduce sperm production. Also check on product packaging as these foods can be hidden or are major components of other food preparation.

Peanuts and spinach - excessive intake of these foods can possibly reduce body calcium levels, which in turn can affect other nutrient balances and your baby's growth.

Sweets, soft drinks and refined-sugar products - excessive intake of these items can contribute to blood sugar fluctuation problems such as hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which in turn can affect other reproductive hormone levels. Sugar leaches the body of precious vitamins and minerals due to its effect on the body's acidity (ph balance) and increased demand on the detoxification and elimination systems. Every organ in the body can be affected by sugar.

Saturated fats - excessive saturated fat consumption needs no great explanation about its negative effects on health and wellbeing. We have all heard how it can contribute to conditions such as: obesity, heart disease, cancer and oestrogen overload. Particularly try to avoid fried food and coconut oil.

Rare red meats - uncooked meats can carry contaminates and viruses such as toxoplasmosis that can potentially affect the health of baby during gestation.