Diet to conceive a boy: Alkaline foods may boost your chances

Your preconception diet may influence your baby’s sex. Discover dietary tips and alkaline foods as part of a diet to conceive a boy, supporting conditions that favor Y-chromosome (male) sperm.

How to have a boy? Can you influence the outcome?

It does seem that male sperm prefer an alkaline vaginal environment, which is where the correlation between diet and gender selection comes in. A more alkaline environment is better for the faster male sperm and a baby boy is conceived.

The Shettles Method: Ways to have a boy

The Shettles method claims that intercourse occurring as close as possible to ovulation increases the likelihood of conceiving a boy.

This idea is based on the belief that sperm carrying the Y chromosome (male sperm) swim faster, perform better in more alkaline environments, and have shorter lifespans than sperm carrying the X chromosome.

Foods to eat to get pregnant with a boy 

Some traditional beliefs around foods to eat to get pregnant with a boy focus on overall eating patterns rather than single “magic” ingredients.

Although scientific support is limited, folklore suggests that eating more potassium-rich and alkaline-forming foods—such as bananas, spinach, and fish—while reducing dairy intake may increase the chances of conceiving a boy.

The theory is that these dietary choices could create a slightly more alkaline environment in the body, which may favor sperm carrying the Y chromosome.

A small study published in 2008 also found an association between higher calorie intake in the days leading up to conception and an increased likelihood of having a boy.

Researchers proposed an evolutionary explanation: male fetuses tend to grow faster and place higher energy demands on the mother, so a well-nourished body may be more likely to sustain a male pregnancy.

Alkaline diet to conceive a boy naturally

1. Most fruits and vegetables
2. Potassium-rich foods such as bananas
3. Fresh juices, especially lemon and lime juice
4. Sprouts
5. Certain grains: Amaranth, Buckwheat, Brown Rice, Millet, Quinoa
6. Beans, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, and Tofu
7. Green & Herbal Tea
8. Some nuts and seeds

Gender selection diet: Alkaline foods to conceive a baby boy

By incorporating more alkaline-rich foods, like bananas, fruits & vegetables, pulses, sprouts, fresh juices and some nuts & seeds in your diet, you may naturally influence the gender of your baby — a concept known as the gender selection diet.

Alkaline diet for baby boy

Note: More research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of these suggestions.

Heard about “girl diets”? Read our guide on diet and baby gender.