TTC, acupuncture, and TF

[knittinanny]

I’m going to be doing IVF in a few months and I’ve just started going to an acupuncturist. I’ve been mostly TF for about a year, though recently I’ve been slipping some. I can totally feel the difference and I’m trying to get back on the wagon. We eat a fair amount of butter (on any food that I can reasonably put it on, plus use it for cooking eggs, etc). The acupuncturist said I have ‘damp’ and to cut out butter, and to cut back on cheese. She said other dairy was ok so long as it was fermented.

I’m not sure what to do. We could use more coconut oil, I guess, though it’s much easier and cheaper for me to find good butter. Should I cut back on butter and cheese? 80% of the cheese we eat is raw/unpasteurized. The butter is from grass-fed cows though I’m pretty sure it’s pasteurized. I don’t know where to buy anything better.

Also – we don’t eat as much meat as we should and I’m trying to increase our intake. I’ve done some reading on acupuncture sites that says beef and lamb are bad when TTC because they make the system acidic. Thoughts?

[honeysesame]

my thoughts: butter and cheese-- dairy in general really-- are thought to make the system more damp, which can affect fertility. my opinion is this is somewhat balanced out if one is eating raw and/or cultured dairy products, and definitely try not to have them *cold*. i always warm up my milk or yogurt just a bit, and often add cardamom to try to even it out a bit. i guess the exception would be not to cook your cheese or butter, but try to get it room temp. if you can keep doing lots of fermented and probiotics (nothing cold) that should also help. that being said, you may still want to cut back (or cut out) for a while, and see if it makes a difference. as for beef and lamb, i think there is a difference of opinion. it *can* create more "stagnation" which can affect fertility, but it can also be nourishing to the "blood" and "yang" which can help fertility. i think, use moderation with everything and listen to your body. what about doing one tablespoon apple cider vinegar w/ one tablespoon honey in warm water once or twice a day to help keep things moving and not too damp? this can also be helpful for fertility. i assume you're doing herbs and things too, which can really help! good luck!!