How It Works

ParentsFirstChoice

"It may be possible that the concentration of certain ions in specific body tissues can be altered.  This is so because tissues are made up of cells that have structures called 'receptors'. The activity of many of these receptors is influenced by changes in the ionic concentrations of the surrounding bodily environment.

For example, large concentrations of sodium ions in the body tend to 'excite' receptors.  In their excited state, the receptors will grab on to almost any kind of ion that 'interests' them.  Receptors that will accept potassium, by the way, will also accept calcium and magnesium.  So if calcium and magnesium ions are significantly outnumbered by potassium, the receptors are much more likely to grab on to the potassium.

Thus, by increasing sodium and potassium in the diet, the local environment in which sperm meets egg may be richer in potassium-and thereby enhance the fertilization of the egg by the male Y-bearing sperm.  The child in this case is more likely to be a boy.

The opposite approach to eating may lead to an opposite result:  Low concentrations of sodium ions in the body tend to diminish receptor activity.  By also reducing the amount of potassium and increasing the amounts of calcium and magnesium in the diet, the ions that are grabbed by the receptors will tend to be those of calcium and magnesium.

In this case, the region where fertilization takes place may be poorer in potassium, thereby giving the female X-bearing sperm a better chance of penetrating the egg.  Thus, the child would more likely be a girl.

How a diet can influence the gender of a baby is not understood. For one thing the manipulation of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium intake within normal dietary ranges is known to have little effect on the overall concentrations of these elements in the body.  The reason for this is that the body has many mechanisms for stabilizing these concentrations in response to ordinary variations in what a person eats.  Any attempt to change these overall concentrations by severely unbalancing the diet would involve grave health risks-we're not talking about such a radical approach to eating habits." (Langendoen, S. "The Preconception Gender Diet." Evans, Inc., (1982).l

Our concentration is the ratio of these ions which determine the sex of a baby.

What can be modified:

• modification of the cervical fluid, making it more suitable  for one or the other type sperm
• modification of the tubal environment, speeding or incapacitating  the X- or Y-bearing sperm
• modification  of the zona facilitating the penetrability of the male- or female sperm