Can Peas & Pea Protein Make You “Infertile?”
As far I’m concerned nothing can make you “infertile” as long as you’re alive. But when trying to conceive, peas can indeed interfere with your ability to get pregnant.
When I first included peas among the “no foods” in The Fertile Female (page 211) it caused quite a stir among readers in the baby making world. But for a while now no one has paid much attention to the little known fact that peas contain m-Xylohydroquinone, a natural contraceptive.
In the recent years pea protein powders have become all the rage among health enthusiasts as an alternative to dairy and soy products.
What prompted revisiting the peas and fertility conundrum is the growing number of clients who tell that their naturopaths, nutritionists and even one “holistically minded” fertility specialist has advised them to substitute cows milk for a plant based milk with peas as a key ingredient.
Here is what you want know:
The research that showed the contraceptive nature of peas was done using the common field pea (Pisum Sativum). It was cheap and protein rich. All varieties of peas (snow peas, black-eyed peas, yellow split peas) are cultivars of Pisum Sativum.
What’s important for the baby making world is that the contraceptive effect of m-xylohydroquinone applies to both females and males.
Most of the research with studies titles Pisum Sativum: M-Xylohydroquinone as Oral Contraceptive was done in the 1950’s and then abandoned because it was not a fully reliable method of contraception.
But the fact remains that m- m-xylohydroquinone is not a substance you want to have anything do with when pregnancy is what you’re after.
Bottom Line:
Perhaps an occasional bowl of pea soup might not do much harm to your baby making, but why ingest anything that would lower your chances of a full term pregnancy. And you certainly want to STAY AWAY from anything packed with pea protein.
Thankfully, even if you’re a vegetarian (maybe something to reconsider if pregnancy continues to elude you) there are plenty of robust sources of protein without having to resort to a pregnancy blocker.
Roasted Beets
- 3 Med-Large Beets
- 1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon Rosemary leaves (Fresh if Available)
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper (to taste)
Peel and Cut Beets into 1/2 inch cubes.
Toss in Olive Oil, Garlic, Rosemary, Salt and Pepper
Roast on Tray at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Sautéed Beet Greens
- 8 – 10 Beet Green leaves (4 – 6 cups after dicing)
- 1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon minced Ginger
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- pinch Cayenne
- Soy Sauce (Tamari)
Wash and Cut Greens into 1 inch squares
Add Oil Garlic and Ginger to Hot Saute pan
Add Greens, stir and cover for 1 minute
Uncover and add Cayenne and Soy Sauce or Tamari, stir and cover for another 1-3 minutes.
Cooking time will vary depending on the quantity of Greens and the heat source.
