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Cod Liver Oil to supply 20,000 IU vitamin A and 2000 IU vitamin D per day, which is provided by 2 teaspoons high vitamin cod liver oil (Green Pasture brand).
1 quart (or 32 ounces) whole milk daily, preferably raw and from pasture-fed cows (learn more about raw milk on our website A Campaign for Real Milk,
4 tablespoons butter daily, preferably from pasture-fed cows
2 or more eggs daily, preferably from pastured chickens
Additional egg yolks daily, added to smoothies, salad dressings, scrambled eggs, etc.
3-4 ounces fresh liver, once or twice per week (If you have been told to avoid liver for fear of getting “too much Vitamin A,” be sure to read Vitamin A Saga)
Fresh seafood, 2-4 times per week, particularly wild salmon, shellfish and fish eggs
Fresh beef or lamb daily, always consumed with the fat
Oily fish or lard daily, for vitamin D
2 tablespoons coconut oil daily, used in cooking or smoothies, etc.
Lacto-fermented condiments and beverages
Bone broths used in soups, stews and sauces
Fresh vegetables and fruits
AVOID:
- Trans fatty acids (e.g., hydrogenated oils)
- Junk foods
- Commercial fried foods
- Sugar
- White flour
- Soft drinks
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Drugs (even prescription drugs)
IMPORTANT WARNING: Cod liver oil contains substantial levels of omega-3 EPA, which can cause numerous health problems, such as hemorrhaging during the birth process, if not balanced by arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in liver, egg yolks and meat fats. Please do not add cod liver oil to a diet that is deficient in these important animal foods. It is important to follow our diet for pregnant mothers in its entirety, not just selected parts of it.
, which is provided by 2 teaspoons high vitamin cod liver oil (Green Pasture brand).
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What is 20,000 IU in terms of teaspoons? Thanks!
20,000 IU is equal to 4 tsp of normal cod liver oil or 2 tsp of the high concentrated stuff.
What if you have trouble absorbing fats during nursing?
You can try adding ox bile to digest fats, and adding vinegar to water and drinking it. Also, I think it’s possible to absorb some of the nutrients through the skin, so rubbing cod liver oil topically could help. I vuagly remember reading a study last year saying A and D was absorbed topically.
Hello
If your not following the specific diet for pregnant women can you still take FCLO with Butter Oil???
Thank You
Yes, that’s fine.
I think that this is similar to my question but would just want to clarify: The Green Pastuers “Blue Ice Royal Butter Oil / Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend” capsules are the right blend/ratio of Omega 3’s to 6’s to avoid the risks of an imbalance? I am pregnant and would like to use this product if that is the case. I do eat a lot of the foods on the weston a. price diet list, but I am not perfect about it so I want to make sure I am consuming the right ratios here in this product to avoid any risks. Thank you!!!
I too am interested to know.
I am interested in your reply as well. I take unflavored FCLO daily and am nursing. I do not get as much liver in my diet as recommended, but we are really putting forth an effort. 🙂
I’m interested to know as well if The Green Pastuers “Blue Ice Royal Butter Oil / Fermented Cod Liver Oil Blend” capsules are the right blend/ratio of Omega 3’s to 6’s to avoid the risks of an imbalance during pregnancy. Thanks!
Did anyone get a response to this about the balance between Omega 3s to 6s and pregnancy?
Interested in this answer as well please
I’m also wondering if there’s an answer for this question??
Hi I live in Canada where raw milk is illegal. But Its possible to import raw camel milk (which is also easier to digest for those with dairy intolerance). Do you have any information as to whether this is a suitable alternative to raw cow milk ?
You can do a cow share program in Canada. Where do you live?
Hi, i too can’t get raw milk in Canada. I live in Winnipeg Manitoba.
I’m in Nova Scotia
Ever find anywhere in NS? I’m in Dartmouth.
Any ideas on this in 2021?
I am in BC and part of a herd share.
I’m in Alberta and can’t find a cow share program which offers grass fed raw milk. Been searching since 2017.
raw milk is sold here but it has to be labelled not for human consumption.
it is labelled for pet use only.
my intolerance for dairy comes from the pasteurization, i have no issues with raw milk.
Could you take liver in capsules instead? I CANNOT eat it. It makes me gag/throw up because of the taste and smell.
Same with seafood. I am not a picky eater otherwise. I just cannot do sea food or organ meats because they stink so bad. Even when fresh.
Hi I’ve heard that you can take liver capsules. Just be sure it’s from grass fed healthy cows. The brands that offer that will say it on the label. I hope that helps
What cut’s of beef are best and how much should you try to consume each day
Is chicken liver pate allowed for pregnant women?
I’m curious about this question as well.
Pate is fine.
Pate is on the list of prepared, refrigerated foods that are not recommended due to the risk of listeria. If you make it freshly, you could surely get by with it.
Of course !
What about trying to conceive – is it advised to start following this before pregnancy?
Yes! A lot of the traditional people studied by Dr. Price would start a diet like this at least six months prior to conception.
What about if sensitive to eggs, coconut, and dairy (headaches, gas, bloating). 🙁
We would suggest a gut-healing diet, heavy in bone broth and meat stock, as well as ghee, 24-hour cultured yogurt, and as recommended in Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride’s book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome. Learn more here
i am allergic to cooked Eggs, i have no issues with raw eggs.
i consume them in smoothies.
I am in my second trimester and want to follow this diet but I have a dairy intolerance (no matter the form). Any recommendations?
I’m trying to follow this diet in it’s entirety though I have some questions. I don’t have access to raw milk and am very sensitive to pastures milk. Is the milk recommendation for the cholesterol, calcium, fat, vitamin D or all the above? Any suggestions on a substitute for raw milk? Also, I don’t have access to 3-4oz of liver a week so I am considering buying the desicated liver powder. Does the liver powder contain the needed ARA omga 6 to balance out the cod liver oil intake?
Lastly, can grass fed buffalo be eaten in place of beef or lamb?
I’m pregnant and want to make sure I balance my omega 6 with the omega 3 in the cod liver oil. I’m new to this so snt advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
If you are pregnant, you will need a very good source of calcium. Can you eat raw cheese? Liver powder would be fine. Make sure you are eating lots of butter to get your ARA. Yes, you can eat buffalo. But it is lean, so cook it in lard or make a cream sauce for it. If you take the cod liver oil in the context of our diet, you will have the balance between omega 3 & 6.
Is almond milk a good alternative for raw milk in this diet?
Like home made almond milk? Not store bought.
No, the nutrition in almond milk is very different.
Thank you for your reply Tim. I can get raw cheese. Do you know about how much I should eat a day? If not that’s ok. Also, do you think that drinking chicken bone broth is a good replacement for raw milk?
Thank you again, your advice is really helpful.
Chicken broth is a great source of minerals. By itself it won’t replace milk but if you are doing raw cheese also then you should be doing well. We don’t really have any formulas for food – eat as much as you want.
I cannot got raw dairy in any way. What do I do?
I had been following this diet as my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. But a couple months ago my doctor (functional medicine/naturopathic doctor) ran an allergy test on my because my hormone levels were still way off. Found out that I am allergic (at least temporarily) to dairy (severely allergic to cow and goats milk), eggs, and beef (in addition to several other things). Cutting out those foods has helped some of my hormones to stabilize but I am wondering if I am deficient in some of the key nutrients provided by these foods. Is there an “allergen friendly” version of this list that might help me?
Hey Megan – can you have fermented dairy?
Hello, I’m not sure if I’m commenting in the right place…I currently am breastfeeding my 19 month old and am hoping to try and get pregnant again after her 2nd birthday. I don’t plan to wean her until she’s 2. If I’m following this eating plan, will I have enough stored nutrients for another healthy pregnancy 6 months from now or do I need a break after weaning my first born before trying to get pregnant again? Can one breastfeed while pregnant and provide enough nutrients to the fetus, toddler, and have some left over for the mom??
Congratulations on still nursing your baby at 19 months – something that perhaps most women today are unable to do. It is impossible to know by reading someone’s comment whether or not they will be ready to have another child. The modern lifestyle has caused women as well as men to grow physically far inferior to their ancestors, as evidenced in the body structures of people around the world as researched by Dr. Weston A. Price, and so modern women have a much decreased ability to give birth and nurse successfully. The proper diet shown above is the best a woman can do to ensure she has the greatest chances of her baby and herself having excellent health and growth. If she did not eat well and grow properly throughout her life, her physical inferiorities may or may not pose a problem. For example, correct diet will not fix hips that were unable to widen properly during her teenage years due to malnutrition. And it won’t fix damage done to the eggs she was born with (a baby girl already contains all the eggs of her potential future children.) But it will give her cells the supplies they need for building a solid baby, and it will give her the nutrition she needs for maintaining her health.
Indeed Ruth, your assertions are correct, and scary at the same time! I was brought up on a highly processed, low-fat and nutrient-deficient diet, and it shows. Fortunately, I had no trouble conceiving or carrying children. But while I switched to a “whole foods” diet as a young woman, it wasn’t until my 7th child that I had found, and adopted, a WAP-friendly diet. From that point forward I focused on including all of the right things in my diet, including cod liver oil and raw milk. Our 8th child came too soon after the 7th, but she was (and is) very robust; the dietary emphasis certainly can work for the next generation, at least to a very large degree! Our family is now working on a 3rd generation of WAP babies, and they are doing well!
I too don’t consume very much dairy and would like to know some alternatives? Thank you!
What is the source of folate in this diet? Is the liver a substantial enough daily source or is this mostly needing to come from leafy greens? Thank you so much
Oh honey! Anyone that thinks they can get these essential nutrients from plants is mistaken. Beef Liver is the highest source of folate by weight. Eggs are good too.
Dark leafy greens (cooked) and properly prepared lentils are great sources of folate to include.
4 oz of beef liver only contains about half the daily amount of folate needed while supplying 1200% of copper. And copper is retained during pregnancy (it was causing me severe anxiety so I had to switch to chicken liver and cut out everything copper rich for several months).
Hi. Wanted to add to ur comment. I also had extremely high levels of copper during and after pregnancy. I fixed it by adding liver pills and a good source of whole food vitamin c to my diet. When your body can’t process the copper it’s missing primarily vitamin a (which liver provides) and vitamin c (from a whole food source like juice or green peppers). I fixed my copper levels from almost 300 down to “normal” levels within 2 months once I learned this.
What is your recommendation for the amount of protein a pregnant mom should have daily?
Hi Sharon,
I was reading on the Wellness Mama blog that 80 grams of protein daily is recommended for pregnant women. That’s what I’m trying to get in!
Forgot to add that the Wellness Mama follows this diet–weston price–when she is pregnant!
Is it okay to consume Kalona Supernatural VAT pasteurized milk if I can’t get access to raw milk? Is there any fish oil you recommend besides the fermented cod liver oil?
No, if you can’t get raw milk, then do the liver-based formula. We don’t recommend fish oil, only fish liver oil. There are other recommendations besides the fermented on our website, in the cod liver oil section
Any suggestions for a nursing mom of a 2 year old? We are grain, dairy and sugar free because of allergies. What can we use instead? Thanks so much!
Use the liver-based formula.
I don’t think Audrey, or Nissah above, is asking about what to feed their babies, but about what to feed themselves. I’m assuming they are nursing, since this is an article about a diet for “pregnant and nursing mothers.” I am also interested to know about allergy-friendly alternatives to raw milk, wheat, eggs, etc., from a WAPF perspective. I ate lots of raw dairy, eggs, real sourdough, etc., during pregnancy, but my 2 month old son is intolerant of many things in my breast milk, and I’ve had to cut them out of my diet while I nurse him. I would love some advice on this, as I am sure the women above would.
Raw Guernsey or Jersey milk are primarily comprised of a different protein (A2) than than the pasteurized / dead milk that causes lactose intolerance. Before forfeiting milk I recommend sourcing that and trying it. Near New York City there is a direct farm source who delivers, called Udder Milk.
I have some concerns regarding the Weston Price diet. I myself am allergic to fish, my son is allergic to dairy, soy and shellfish. I’m wondering if cod liver oil or algae omega would be a good substitute? Also, I was planning on trying to refrain from dairy and shellfish with this pregnancy in hopes of reducing the chances of allergies my first son presently has. Any suggestions or knowledge related to these topics? Many thanks!
I had some of the same concerns. My naturopath does the Carroll food sensitivity testing & assured me that allergies are genetic. They won’t just happen in pregnancy because of what the mother is eating. He also let me know that we could test the newborn upon birth so as not to guess w/ an elimination diet
Allergies mostly stem from leaky gut/poor gut issues. When the gut is healed the allergies clear up. Following the GAPS protocol helps to heal the gut.
If you’re allergic to fish, be careful about cod liver oil, because cod is a fish.
Indeed, if one is truly allergic to fish we would recommend proceeding with caution, perhaps trying just a quarter tsp. at a time to see what happens.
How many FCLO capsules do you recommend during pregnacy? What is a good alternative to liver? I noticed a comment above re: Kalona Supernatural VAT milk , yogurt, ect– isn’t that a good alternative if unable to do raw?
Thanks!
Also, is there concern for mercury and other contaminants in FCLO? I tried to connect to your link for recommneded brands, but it did not link me. Is green pastures blue ice FCLO capsules a good option?
Thanks in advance for your response to my two posts!
There is no concern for mercury in FCLO and capsules are a good option.
Does anyone know what the equivalent of Green Pasture’s brand of capsules are for the 20,000 IU etc? or 2 teaspoons? The capsules do not say really what the proper amount to take is. (Im taking the Fermented Cod liver Oil and High Vitamin Butter Oil combo capsules.
Thanks!
20 capsules (http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/cod-liver-oil-basics-and-recommendations/#brands)
Hi- there are 120 capsules in a bottle, so this serving would mean the bottle lasts for about 6 days. At the price green pastures offers, this is a bit steep. I did see that the liquid non-capsules is a bit cheaper and would last about 24 days with a 2 tsp daily serving. My question is, what is the quantity of grass fed butter that I would need to eat daily to balance the Omega 3 to 6 ratio and avoid risk? I would like clarity on what to pair with this 2tsp daily serving of FCOL to ensure I am ingesting safe ratios.
Very late reaction, but might be helpful to others. I would keep the same ratio as the FCLO/Butter Oil capsules have. That is 2:1. Meaning you take 2 tsp of fermented cod liver oil and 1 tsp of high vitamin butter oil.
Do you think that a diet like this would benefit women who are hormonally imbalanced?
Do you think this would lead to benefits such as period regularity, acne clearing and brain fog?
Thank you for any help you can offer!
I saw this question above and am curious as well. Can I have chicken liver pate during pregnancy? I know the liver is recommended, but how about it in a pate? Thank you!!
Pate is fine.
Does this food list assume that women are not taking pre-natal vitamins? I plan on taking a raw, food-based pre-natal vitamin. If I stick to this diet and take the vitamin, is that an overload?
This does not assume pre-natal vitamins. It would not be easy to make any comment on overloads without knowing more detail than can be done in web comments but we think that any problem would more likely be due to vitamins than food.
Hi, can you pls be very clear on exactly what would need to be taken in conjunction with the cod liver oil to balance the right ratio of Omega 3 and 6? For instance, If I take the recommended dosage of FCOL and 2 raw pastured organic egg yolks daily, would this offer the right balance of 3’s to 6’s in my daily diet to avoid any potential risks?
For those who are allergic to eggs and dairy, are there are changes to the diet? (More of anything else?)
Was planning on following this diet except the liver or organs can I substitute the liver for Dr Rons freeze dried raw liver from new Zealand and 6 caps are equivalent to 1 ounce of liver. Also wanted to know if I could take his doc’s best multi just to for reassurance (no vitamin A or d) and he designed it to be taken with cod liver oil. I am planning pregnancy number 2..not yet pregnant…Thanks
Hello – thank you for this conversion! I had been wondering how many capsules to take to match the 3-4 oz 2x week of food form liver.
Are you saying 6 caps is equal to a one ounce piece of wet food liver? So then to match 3-4 oz of food liver yiu’d need to take 18-24 capsules?! Just checking my math before taking so many!
I would like to know what I can do to either get liver down or replace it… There are many things that I dont really like that I can make myself eat but liver I just cant stomach. What can I do?
I individually freeze raw pastured chicken livers. I drop one frozen liver in spicy V8, let it thaw in the fridge a few hours, and then blend with my stick blender. I add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. It is an odd drink, but that’s what has worked for me.
Best wishes!
I too hate liver. So I cook it, chop it into tiny pieces, and then freeze it. Everytime I make something with ground meat, I add a small handful. It mixes right in and you wont taste it.
Can I substitute raw goat’s milk for cow’s milk?
To ingest liver in an in-offensive way, try freezing it and grating off pieces. These can be swallwed in frozen form (cooked first and then frozen) or they can be frozen raw and then grated off and added to soups, sauces, casseroles etc… They are so fine they will be cooked in no time, and are usually not a problem in these small sizes. Hope that helps!
hi, can you or others share their method for grating the liver after they’ve frozen it? do you use a food processor or a hand grater? i tried to do a hand grater but it just turned into a mess. thanks!
No access to raw dairy? How much cheese to replace if I can find that.
If not… what to do?
What about processed organiz yoghurt?
What about enzyme supplements FROM MILK?
As much cheese as you want – your body can best answer that question. Plain organic yogurt is also very good.
I can tolerate plain 5% yogurt but not cream cheeses or eggs (or chicken really). I am prepping my body with animal fats and protains and taking Naturelo prenatals. I wish eggs didn’t give me migraines. Any other suggestion to offset the Omega 3s?
Does anyone know how much liver powder (Radiant Life) to give a one year old? Adult portion is 1.5 tsp. Thanks.
Can raw goat milk replace raw cow milk?
Thanks!
Yes it can.
I am making pate from chicken liver and I’m not sure if the chickens are pastured. Likely not as I live in Singapore and I think most chickens are not pastured. Is this still good for me? I also try to eat 2 eggs a day even though they are not free range. I can’t get raw milk or cream easily here either and have small amounts of pasterised homogenised milk on my oats. Is it better that I don’t have any milk?
Hi! Do you still live in Singapore?
I’ve found that the Organic Grocers sells ethically raised chicken and chicken liver. Sometimes they sell non homogenized milk pasteurized at a low temp (B-d Dairy). It’s very expensive but it’s the best I’ve found so far. They also sell grass fed beef. I’ve found RedMart is now selling grass fed beef and lamb too.
I found raw cow’s milk from Viknesh Dairy Farm. It’s not pasteurised or homogenised as the picture states on their website. I’ve texted them about the cow’s diet and he said they are 60% grass, 40% grains. To order, just text them. Min 5 litres for delivery. They deliver twice a week, depending on location. Sometimes I’ll make raw cream cheese from it cuz I’ve never seen grass fed cream cheese. Grass fed butter is easy (Anchor!).
They do recommend you bring the raw milk to a simmer to pasteurise but that would defeat the purpose of getting it raw!
I read in the Nourishing Traditions book that if you can’t get raw milk, the next best is pasteurised grass fed cow’s milk. Marigold (the black/white print, not HL) or Cowhead is my go-to for my hubby who doesn’t like raw milk cuz it separates and seems thinner than pasteurised.
You can get local free range eggs from some NTUC Finest and Cold Storage, under the brand Freedom Range. I now notice Chew’s has cage-free eggs so I’ve been buying that. Haven’t verified with them if they’re free range. Its 6 for $3 something.
I get my free range chicken and liver from The Fishwives (they said the chicken is halal) and grass fed beef from Giant (Argyle brand). I find it hard to get halal grass fed beef bones though for making stock… Only found short ribs which is expensive. if anyone has ideas, do let me know!
I don’t have acess to raw milk. I’ve been looking on amazon.ca and I can buy organic grass fed whey protein powder that is processed at a low heat. Worthwhile or a waste? Thank you.
We really can’t recommend protein powders, even organic ones.
What are the main issues w protein powders? Is it the heat used to make it?
Hello! Im 2 months pregnant and recently ordered fermented cod liver oil after reading its benefits while pregnant and didn’t know abut the risk of taking if not balanced by arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in liver, egg yolks and meat fats. I have a few questions:
1- Could you please explain me shortly what ARA is?
2- If I eat 2 eggs a day, butter and coconut oil (2tbs a day of each), not much beef for now ( twice a week maybe) since I feel very gross out now that I have nausea and afternoon sickness. I will start consuming organic chicken liver twice a week (as pate since is the only way I can eat it ), would this be good enough to balance the amount of omega-6 fatty acid so I could start taking fermented cod liver oil?
3- is it ok to eat duck liver instead of chicken?
Thank you so much for all your information.
If you take the butter oil/cod liver oil combo do you need to worry about following this diet so closely? I definitely don’t consume this much dairy or meat although it is pasture fed, organic and raw. 30 weeks pregnant.
Reply from Sally:
You still should do our diet for pregnant women. You especially need raw whole dairy–like cheese–and liver, egg yolks, fermented foods, broth, etc. You need the nutrients from a variety of foods.
Any pregnant woman should really focus on getting adequate protein. 100 grams a day (33 grams in 3 meals) is a good average. Meats from ruminant animals are great with the fat. Fish for sure! Chicken with the skin on. This will help with nausea. “Morning Sickness” IS Hypoglycemia. So get off the carb rollercoaster 🎢 and eat fat and protein to balance your blood sugar levels.
I have been on a similar diet for many months before getting pregnant. I eat very low sugar/carbs and lots of pastured meats and eggs, liver, tons of grass fed butter, and wild caught fish and salmon eggs. I still have terrible morning sickness despite being off the “carb rollercoaster.”
Also is it beneficial to also take evening primrose oils or is this too much or not recommend?
I have an egg sensitivity, what would you substitute the eggs for as I’m unable to consume (as much as id like to) 2+ eggs a day. I can consume eggs it just wouldn’t work out well if i were to have that many everyday. Thanks
Hi there, how can someone modify the diet to accommodate the fact that they’re vegetarian but can eat eggs dairy and fish?
The vital nutrients found in animal foods are what this diet is all about. There are really no vegetarian substitutes.
I feel sick if I eat that much fat. In the first trimester, it would be hard to imagine eating that much food.
I totally get this! Sometimes your body needs time to get used to digesting more fat if it’s used to a low-fat diet. Try herbal bitters (also known as Swedish bitters) taken 20 minutes before you eat to aid in the digestion of fats. Keep in mind that the fats listed above are HEALTHY and your body needs them. If you are thinking of how deep-fried foods or fatty junk foods make you feel ill, keep in mind that those are usually made with processed, BAD fats and should be avoided.
Hi, I’m keen to follow your diet,
but I don’t have access to cod-liver oil made of real cod.
I want to fall pregnant 2 months from now.
Here in South Africa, we just power-load on ox-liver.
But, I have access to pastured everything.
What can substitute the cod liver oil?
Please help! My daughter’s firstborn is dairy allergic. It took her months to figure out the connection and she then discontinued dairy in her diet while breastfeeding. In the two years following she has implemented many W.P. dietary principals but her second baby appears to also be dairy allergic. The two year old continues to react to raw cow and goat milk. She needs to discontinue dairy while breastfeeding, but the last time she did her milk supply immediately diminished. What can we add to her diet to help her maintain an adequate and nourishing breast milk supply. Your help is greatly needed and appreciated.
Claudia SHine
Claudia and Cat, I realize these comments were several years ago but did you ever receive a response to your questions? Or did you figure out what to do? I’m in the same position where my 3rd born is super sensitive to my browser I’ll just as my 2nd born was. We just assume it’s a dairy intolerance though while pregnant with my 3rd I started implementing raw milk into my diet. I had been 100% consistent with it but for the most part I have been minus a few times of drinking almond milk. Could it also be the cheeses causing issues? That is one thing I have not been good about choosing raw. I am desperate to continue breastfeeding my son but cannot when he is in so much pain from gain . Please help!
Exactly to what @claudia said. So many babies now have a Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (my baby also has intolerances to wheat, eggs, nuts, some meats, and coconut in addition to dairy and soy). Most babies outgrow this by 1 year, but in the meantime what do you recommend–feeding a baby an amino-acid based hypoallergenic formula made up of 65% corn syrup solids, or sticking with breastfeeding and an elimination diet?
I’m also in the position that Claudia and Cat are in with my two month old son – he has Milk Soy Protein Intolerance, and he is also sensitive to wheat/gluten, and potentially eggs (this, despite the fact that I ate a WAPF diet religiously for 5 years before getting pregnant, including lots of fermented and probiotic rich foods, and am in excellent health). It would be wonderful to know WAPF’s perspective on the most nutritious alternatives to common allergenic foods.
I don’t eat beef or drink milk. Are there any alternatives? I do eat other dairy products (cheese, yogurt)
I’m wondering if this is a ‘general guideline’ for the amounts of everything. I’m pregnant with my second child right now and I am a small person (5’2″, 100lbs normally) and I would have a seriously hard time eating even half of what is recommended here within a day. Please let me know!
You can scale it down to what you can handle.
(This is in response to scaling down the diet to “what you can handle”.) So would everything need to be proportionally scaled? What would a scaled version look like—like, the ABSOLUTE minimums? Would taking Green Pasture CLO/Concentrated Butter mean I wouldn’t need to do the 4tbsp butter per day?
Because beef and fish and soup and grains and a quart of milk all in one day would mean I’d need a personal chef or would have to be eating all the time!!
Also, if I replace raw milk with plain organic (not raw) yogurt, am I supposed to eat a whole quart of that per day??
Lastly, my prenatal vitamins have vitamins A, D, and K. I’m not worried of overdosing on A or D, but the vitamins have 120mcg of K. Would the Green Pasture CLO/Concentrated Butter give too much vitamin K?
Most mothers for the last 100 years have not had access to the information on this page and everything turned out fine. Human bodies are designed with a lot of flexibility. If you turn eating into an advanced science project, you’re overthinking it. We can’t give anyone exact, detailed formulas because everyone is different. If you do the best you can with this info, you will be way ahead of the pack.
This is the best comment ever, thank you for peace of mind!!
I did lots of raw milk before I became pregnant. Now in 21 weeks and working it back into my diet because I have been struggling with anemia this pregnancy and told the calcium in milk inhibits it. So I’ve been taking whole food iron pills and working back in my raw goats milk. Could I take about a half ounce of liver daily? Because I need to work on getting my iron up and the pills only help so much. And I’m really trying to keep up with the rest of the diet though whole eggs bother me If I eat them to much so sometimes I just do yolks… is that Ok?
I am in my first trimester of pregnancy and have been taking Green Pastures Blue Ice Royal FCLO/High vitamin butter oil daily as well as Radiant Life Dessicated Liver Capsules (6 capsules per day) in addition to my prenatal Garden of Life Raw Prenatal (which has beta-carotene as it’s source of vitamin A). I am concerned that I have been taking too much Vitamin A. But then did some reading that suggested it would take a long time to get to a dangerous level. Does anyone have any thoughts?
Hi Megan I don’t have any answers but I’m wondering if your baby was born healthy?
Hi, i hope to hear back from you soon! i just found out im pregnant and i have a few questions! is Kombucha ok to drink?! im taking the fermented cod liver oil/ butter oil just 1/2 tsp a day. is that enough and is that ok or should i just take regular cod liver oil? i have access to raw local cow milk. i’ve drank some already while pregnant, is it alright to drink throughout my pregnancy even though some think thats so wrong? my toddler is 21 months and still breastfeeding. will my supply decrease? will he wean on his own since my hormones will change now that im pregnant? is it recommended by the WAPF that nursing mothers stop breastfeeding before second baby is born? I had high blood pressure 39 weeks with my first pregnancy and had to be induced:( preeclamsia. very scary. any good tips for keeping my BP at a normal rate this time? since then i’ve changed over to eating as weston a price / nourishing traditions recommends but i find it hard to do in this food processed world. any adivce/ tips you can give me on any of these topics i would appreciate so much. IM 28 years old 130 pounds and really want to make sure i get the nutrition i need. i wish i knew what i know now when i got pregnant the first time. thank you, Rebecca
For blood pressure control check out the Dr. Brewer pregnancy diet. Make a few modifications to make it compatible with WAPF diet.
I just found out I am pregnant. I have some long-standing health issues that make me high-risk. I want to ensure my baby gets all the nutrients he needs to be healthy, but I have a life-long milk protein allergy (was even allergic to breastfeeding milk). How can I modify this to be dairy-free and still meet the baby’s (and my own) needs?
I think the response is usually to use liberal amounts of bone broth, fish with bones in like sardines, leafy greens, all for calcium and minerals, and ghee if you can, or other healthy animal fats.
I find it irritating that there are never any replies to the food intolerance questions. every other question is answered but those
My thoughts exactly. Everything in this diet is egg, dairy and fish-based. What are those of us suppose to do who have an allergy to these things?! Or for those of us who live where it is illegal for farmers to sell raw dairy products…what are we to consume if we can’t find raw dairy?!
I’m hoping to get pregnant within the next six months. I have seen fish roe and caviar mentioned numerous times and listed as a vital part the pregnancy diet. I am looking at a company that sells wild caught salmon roe from Alaska. Is listeria or parasites a real concern with the fish eggs?I’m guessing the recommendations are for unpasteurized fish eggs, so can I eat them with no worry now and throughout pregnancy and if so how much and how often? Thanks
From Sally: When fish eggs are made into caviar, they are fermented with salt, so they should be very safe.
Can we substitute the raw cow milk for raw goats milk kefir? Completely raw milk leaves me a bit too bloated.
Should I still take the cod liver oil if I eating every week 8 oz calf liver and 12 oz sardines?
(I’m also taking 560 mg DHA supplement daily).
I would really appreciate your response, Tim.
Thanks!
Any substitute for FCLO? I used to take it but it made me very ill. Turns out I’m allergic to cod. I eat everything else on the diet though – would the lack of FCLO lead to imbalances?
Thanks!
There’s not been a clear answer from all the questions about FCLO/butter oil. How much servings do you need of that combo? How much butter do you need to still eat if your taking that combo?
I’m wondering if it is recommended to eat chicken or other types of animals (pig/duck/etc.) that aren’t on the list (the list above has beef/lamb/seafood)? Thank you!
From Sally:
Yes, these are all good foods–and always eat with the fat.
Is there a danger in eating canned fish such as sardines, salmon, and tuna? Does canning cancel all nutrition?
From Sally,
No, these are good foods–use our Shopping Guide for the best brands.
Cal, we believe that generally the benefits outweigh the risks of consuming these foods. Canning does not destroy the nutrition in these foods. However, when canning vegetables and fruits much of the vitamin content is destroyed, but not the minerals. If consumed with other foods such as butter, olive oil, and animal based fats and proteins, this is largely mitigated.
Hi, i’m just wondering where the folic acid comes from the above foods listed or should i take a folic acid supplement?
Not yet pregnant but planning our second and want to be sure what to eat as i didn’t follow this diet with my first.
Thankyou
Lindsey, folic acid is the synthetic form of the natural vitamin folate. According to the USDA food data base liver has 588 mg of folate per 100 g, whereas spinach only has 146 mg for the same 100 g of food. So you’d have to eat about four times the leafy greens to get as much folate as liver.
Some people do not metabolize folic acid, natural folate is much better.
Dear Tim, Sally, or whomever can help me: I am a breastfeeding mom to a 6 week old baby. I have a lot of weight/fat to lose and I would like it to be slow, gradual, and sustainable. I am cutting back on sugars and breads, eating lots of fat, and moderate protein. I am tracking my food so that I can be aware of my macro ratios and overall calories.
Can anyone help me determine the optimal ratios of macronutrient while breastfeeding for gradual weight loss? What percentage of protein, carbs, fat, or approximate number of grams? I obviously won’t be doing “low carb” or “keto” but need some help optimizing my diet. The way I naturally eat it’s about 50% fat, 35% carbs, 15% protein. Is this a recipe for weight gain? Thanks!
There is no magic formula for percentages, as needs are as individual as you are. However, considering that you have excess weight to lose, *and* a baby to produce milk for, I would strongly suggest that you have your proportion of carbs to protein fairly backwards. You may want to move more towards something like this: 40% fats, 30% protein, and 30% carbs (mostly in the form of vegetables, with about 10% of that being grains). But again, this is not a hard and fast rule and is an educated, and experienced, guess. Babies do need lots of those good quality fats and the nutrients they carry, and the fats help in the utilization of minerals and proteins. Slather lots of butter or ghee on your lightly steamed broccoli, Caesar Salad dressing on your mixed green salads (loaded also with soft-boiled egg, cheeses, nuts, etc.), and enjoy some Panna Cotta made from fresh cream and a little bit of honey or maple syrup and topped with fresh berries. And to lose, it will help if you do not eat within a few hours of bedtime, but make sure you do drink lots of herbal tea and water in the evening.
I am sensitive to eggs (have a slight allergy), but I know they’re so nutritious and important. Is there any good substitute?
Often if you are sensitive to egg it is the egg white, not the egg yolk. Fortunately most of the nutrition is in the yolk. Try only eating the yolks and see if that helps. You will be missing out on some protein by avoiding the white, but that is easily replaced in healthy meats.
What do you do if your allergic to milk???
I have severe sinus and asthma allergies when I drink cows milk, yogurt, or cheese.
I am currently breast feeding. What other options do I have? I cannot tolerate any mammal dairy.
Hello,
I started eating this diet about 3 months ago in order to prepare my body for a healthy pregnancy; however, I’ve gained quite a bit of weight since I started it!
I’ve been following the recommendations very closely: 2 tsp FCLO from Green Pastures everyday, about 2 cups of raw milk a day, a couple of tablespoons of raw butter a day, 2 eggs plus 3 egg yolks per day, liver occasionally, wild salmon about once a week, beef almost daily, 2 tbsp coconut oil daily, bone broths often, grains only that are soaked (occasionally), fresh fruit and veggies, no sugar or junk food at all. All of the dairy I eat is raw and from 100% grass fed cows. Same with the beef. Eggs are pastured, chicken is organic, fish is wild.
I’m really not sure what I’m doing wrong. I do feel as though I’m eating A LOT of food everyday, but I’m almost forcing myself to do this based on the guidelines. I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable in my body due to the weight gain. And no, I’m not pregnant yet. We’re just starting to try, but it hasn’t happened just yet. I’m afraid that at this rate I will gain way too much during pregnancy.
I would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks.
For future pregnancies, and just in general-
1. Do not “force” yourself to eat this way in any amounts. Eat until you are SATISFIED, meaning you can still get up and move around without feeling heavy. If you can’t take another bite of food, you’ve overdone it.
and
2. This is a big one. You should be exercising if you physically are capable of it. Walking, breathing, taking one flight of stairs, etc.. these are not exercise. Doing something somewhat challenging for around 20 to 30 minutes a day is exercise. It could be walking up a hill at fast pace for 20-30 minutes or more. It could be skip rope (if not pregnant), or hiit, or strength training. Living a sedentary lifestyle, even if your diet is on point, is a recipe for disaster. Your body needs to get the blood flowing and be challenged (at a moderate intensity level) on a regular basis.
I just started cod liver oil. I am taking Garden of Life prenatal, which also has 15,000 daily dose of Vitamin A (beta carotene) and 4200 daily dose of Vitamin D…should I stop taking the cod liver oil? Or stop the prenatal? I am always either pregnant/nursing, and do not follow this diet yet. I just started the cod liver oil.
Thank you!
We generally recommend cod liver oil over any other supplement for vitamin A & D.
If I cannot get an adequate amount of butter in my diet, can I substitute with Green Pasture’s butter oil?
Has anyone experienced weight gain when implementing this diet, before getting pregnant?
So oftentimes your body is putting on healing weight, because it’s freaking out and needs those nutrients that it wasn’t getting prior. You’ll either adjust within a few weeks/months (however badly your body is scrambling to stock up on nutrients) and look much healthier than prior to starting the diet, or you’ll need to ease back a little on the fats. Even if you look a little chunky, you’ll probably be very healthy, and probably have a much better chance at conception and a lot of nutrient stores. I was drinking a lot of raw milk and eggs and eating tallow the year before I got married/pregnant. I got pregnant on the first try, then was REALLY glad I had those nutrient stores to carry me through the first trimester when your hormones are going crazy, you’re easily dehydrated, things can stop seeming appetizing fast, and you’re always gagging on excess saliva. A lot of people have theories about morning sickness meaning you’re doing something wrong, but there are also people out there with great nutrition and minerals, eating raw oysters, drinking raw milk, etc, etc, with perfect bloodwork and they still experience discomfort. Focus on if your body feels like it’s craving these things and is happily satisfied rather than weight gain. You’ll either look better than before or just end up in really good health and it’ll be ok.
Hi there, would raw goats milk be okay for milk requirement?
Raw milk is hard to find. Can I make my own homemade yogurt instead and eat 32 oz? Is that equivalent?
32 oz whole, organic whole milk made into yogurt = 32 oz raw milk?
Is there a substitute for someone with an egg allergy?
Will raw goat’s milk work? We have goats
We also have pastured, grass fed lamb liver and liver from clean fed hogs we raise ourselves, can that be used?
I am trying to help a pregnant gal with nourishing herself and her pre-born baby properly.
She wrote this in response to my post of this article:
“Can’t consume fats til I have baby. I seem to have gallbladder trouble with each pregnancy. Fats and dairy are no nos.
I have found that a lot of high-fat items result in me throwing up my food and getting incredibly ill so I have to be very careful.”
She is 13 weeks along. Suggestions? Recommendations?
Can you please advise on the substitutes for dairy intolerance… whey protein sends me into anaphylactic shock… dairy/lactose causes a great deal of pain. Coconut? Coconut kefir? Ghee can be tolerated in small small doses
Would love some input please in kidney and urinary support…..1st trimester of 4th pregnancy and I am already feeling uncomfortable…some tightness in kidneys, some low cramping😰
Have also had kidney stones with past baby, so I am very anxious about this all over again!!!
This sounds like me! Have you learned anything over the years?
This is helpful. Thank you!
I am wondering about making organic whole milk yogurt, since raw milk is hard to find. Can I make my own homemade yogurt instead and eat 32 oz? Is that equivalent?
32 oz whole, organic whole milk made into yogurt = 32 oz raw milk?
For a nursing mother with a baby that is fed cod liver oil starting at 4 month old, should the mother continue to supplement with the increased dose of cod liver oil, or should she go back to the smaller dose recommended for women that are not pregnant and not breast feeding?
I just quit being vegan after 7 years and am having issues enjoying meat. I really want to include liver in my diet to prepare for pregnancy. What tips do you have to make liver more enjoyable or less noticeable?
Hello,why did you quit?(just curious,you don’t have to answer) I normally mix mine with minced beef for my daughter, she does’t like it. Try making a liver pate and add flavours that can cover it up.
I am nursing a 10 month old and wanting to prepare my body for a second child, so this has been very helpful. However, extreme distance and expense in my area make drinking this quantity of raw milk really impossible for me. To this point I have attempted to consume most of my milk (probably half of what is recommended here) in the form of homemade yogurt and kefir, hoping this will somewhat “make up for” not having the raw milk. Is this an acceptable compromise? I read an article on this site that basically stated it was better to drink no milk than to choose conventional, but I noticed here that the guidelines only state “preferably” – which makes me think it would still be beneficial for me to continue drinking/eating milk, especially as yogurt of kefir. Could you give any thoughts? Thank you ever so much.
Abigail, this is perfectly acceptable. If you are needing to put on body fat, which is the difference is in carbohydrate between raw/uncultured and raw/cultured lay, you might just want to increase calorie intake overall.
Hello,
I may possibly be pregnant. I have been drinking raw milk for a few months now. Do I have to drink exactly a quart a day? I pay $7 a gallon and I am not sure if I can afford to double it. I have been having grass fed meat and I am adding liver more to my diet. Does everything in this list need to be exact? I was pregnant in 2015 and had a miscarriage and haven’t been pregnant since, but not from lack of trying. I was following the SAD diet back then so I don’t know if that could’ve contributed to it. I just don’t want it to happen again. If I should stay to this quite closely I think I can figure out something. Just would like a bit of advice.
Ruth, first, congratulations on your pregnancy! This is a wonderful time of anticipation and joy, I hope you won’t be too anxious to enjoy it.
It sounds like you are moving in the right direction with your diet, and you won’t regret it! In answer to your question, every individual’s needs are different, but a quart a day of rich, whole raw milk is a wonderful means of acquiring many of the nutrients your growing baby needs, while protecting your own body’s increased nutritional needs as well. And don’t forget the cod liver and butter oils as well!
Some reading this will also wish they could purchase raw milk for $7/gallon, as many pay as much as $18! We have a herd share agreement in Virginia which entitles our family to our gallons at $10.50 each. So, maybe don’t worry so much about increasing your raw milk intake!
All the best to you and your little babe!
I want to make sure raw unpasteurized kefir is safe during pregnancy?
A lot of people say to avoid it as it can have harmful bacteria.
Please advise, thank you!
Hi I have been trying to follow the WAPF diet since the birth of my daughter almost a year ago. I wasn’t on it prior to her birth but ate very well. I am in the early stages of my second pregnancy and wondered how many teaspoons I should take of the Green Pastures Royal Blend of High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil & Butter oil as that’s what we have at home. Thanks x
Hello Gina, we are hesitant to make concrete recommendations on the intake of nutrients as all individuals vary, but we might suggest from 1-2 tsp/day of this product. Definitely too much of a good thing is still too much, so please be cautious about taking more of this super-potent, important food!
I’m 5 weeks pregnant, still nursing my 14 months old son who has a cow’s milk protein allergy. I tried to introduce it very slowly at one year (with raw milk kefir – first me and then him) but he reacted quite badly after 3 weeks (diarrhea). So I’m back to no dairy cow’s product myself except a tiny bit of goat or sheep cheese in the morning.
I’ve been following the great book “super nutrition for baby” for the food introduction, cooking everything myself (organic) and giving bone broth (perhaps not enough…)
Should I gently wean him (and give almond milk ?) or should I continue breastfeeding?
I have a 6 month old. I am still breast feeding. I follow a diet similar to the one mentioned here but I’ve had an occasional food item on the “Avoid list” like fried food and sugar. Are there suggestions address these dietary mistakes? My goal is to improve my diet now that I have read about what is recommended. Thank you!
I was looking for diet tips like this from few days for my Younger sister, & It’s very useful for any nursing & Pregnant mom like my sister, Thank you very much for sharing such a useful Article.!
I have heard this is a good diet plan, but as I’ve read through it I’m not sure how it will work for me. I have mild dairy allergies and drinking milk makes me have horrible mucus, I immediately get a cold and runny nose if I have much at a time.
What if I can’t afford the milk? Could I replace it with grass fed cheese? 3.5 oz of cheese equals approximately 1 quart of milk gallon.
Thank you.
I am following the diet prescribed above. I also read Nourishing Traditions for Baby and Child Care. I do not eat any grains and very few vegetables. This diet is therefore very low carb and puts me in ketosis often. Is there any evidence from the cultures that Dr. Price observed which indicates pregnant women need more carbs during pregnancy? I have seen people say that pregnant women crave more carbs during pregnancy and might need them for healthy baby growth. (People point to a mouse study showing ketogenic mothers had babies with affected organ sizes and some point to the fact that you need carbs/insulin for a healthy thyroid). Do you have thoughts? Did the cultures Dr. Price observed increase carbs for pregnant women? Thanks!
There are a few woman who have had children following a zero carb carnivore diet and report a positive experience, you could look into that if you like. But can you have honey? A few tablespoons of honey in a big glass of tea can give quite a few carbs, and milk is a source of carbs. Listen to your body, if you need carbs, then find a way to eat them. I know you said you don’t eat grains, but I have found overcooked white rice, fermented with a bit of yogurt, and eaten with a porridge to be an easier way to digest grains, mashed potatoes also taste great prepared that way.
I want to follow this diet as I am preparing for pregnancy, but I have very limited access to raw milk. Would it be an acceptable alternative to eat raw cheese and drink non-homogenized milk or kefir?
Yes, if there is not raw, grass-fed milk available, raw milk cheeses (again, from grazing animals), kefir and whole milk yogurt are good sources for the nutrients in fresh milk.
Can I continue eating meat and fish raw or just barely cooked during pregnancy?
Is there a good ARA supplement? I hemorrhaged after my last birth, badly and I’m not sure why. I’d like to supplement with ARA since I don’t absorb nutrients well from food due to damaged stomach and intestines.
Hello, I live in London UK and I just discovered I am pregnant. I eat nutrient dense food but I am looking to follow WP diet during pregnancy, my levels of vit D are low and now we can not get ANY vit D from the sun until February. Will this dieat take care of my baby and my vit D requirements?
There is this brand of supplements which supposedly are not synthetic but from food, are these ones ok for vit D?
https://www.togetherhealth.co.uk/products/vegan-vitamin-d3?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuZDtBRDvARIsAPXFx3DjJBKRFzUrKMqzyyrmS7Xl7D5lKYJi9r4vapFwDCmQODyVLrAwGMQaAjuqEALw_wcB
Thanks!
The vitamin D comes from the FCLO.
The amount of FCLO you recommend is 2 tsp while the bottle of FCLO says a serving is 1/2 tsp. I didn’t see an option for high vitamin FCLO on Green Pastures website so I just have the regular one. Do you still recommend taking 2 tsp?
Also, I don’t eat lard and trying to choke down small oily fish everyday sounds difficult and like I’ll be gagging. Any alternatives??
Thanks
I currently have this same question… wish someone would’ve answered this!
What about listeria? I’ve been consuming raw dairy products for about 6 months with no problems at all but now I’m newly pregnant and I’m scared because of things I read on the internet.
I’m pregnant with my second and currently on Full Gaps. My question is how much beef or lamb should I be eating EVERY DAY!? Like, what is the serving size? If I get a roast and make a stew and ate a bowl every day, would that count? Do I need to legit eat my 8oz steak and 2 eggs every morning for breakfast and fish 4 dinners in the week and liver on Sundays??
Thanks for the valuable information. Some of them were unknown. Keep your article flooded with such true information
So just to make sure I understand everything; no vitamins or supplements other than FLCO? I’m not big on grains or legumes but drink lots of raw milk, kefir, homemade yogurt and pasture raised duck eggs. I do like chia and flax seeds though. Without other grains and legumes how to make sure I get enough folate?
Ever since I had my son 5 yrs ago, my hormones have been out of whack. I get a period every 3 months or so. I breastfed him until he was 30 months old. Would this diet help regulate my cycles and prepare for conception?
Is raw salmon safe to eat during pregnancy
Can I take cod liver oil with high quality grass fed beef liver capsules instead of actual liver?
HI,
Can anyone offer any advice – I am breastfeeding my 4 month old daughter but she is sensitive to dairy, to the point of refusing the breast if I consume it. We were drinking raw milk but had to switch the pasteurised as our local raw milk supplier found listeria in their milk, so I’m not able to have the raw milk formula as a ‘back up’ to breastfeeding – and thus must do all I can to breastfeed successfully.
Would anyone have any advice on what I can consume to make up for the lack of dairy? I have only cut it out as an absolute last resort, and worry about lacking in calcium, vitamin D and fats. Any advice would be so much appreciated.
There are so many actually “traditional” foods and herbs specifically for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding around the world that can have amazing benefits for both mother and baby(ies). Even though there is some overlap between those foods and the WAPF diet, it would be so much more helpful if they did more research to include these truly traditional pregnancy foods as well instead of just recycling the same old information about egg yolks.
What kind of oily fish for vitamin D do you recommend?
I am two months into my first pregnancy. After listening to the Wise Traditions podcast on this topic I have become concerned that I have not done enough to prepare pre-conception. It sounded like sally was saying that once you conceive it’s sort of too late re: prenatal vitamins/vitamin A etc..If I start following this diet now, can it still do good? or is it too late because the heart has already formed etc? I ate decently before, all organic whole foods, no junk/processed food but had been drinking wine and coffee before I knew I was pregnant and im just concerned as this was a surprise pregnancy. I intend to pick up some liver raw milk etc at the market this week… just looking for a little reassurance I guess.
Hi BK,
I am currently studying for my Master’s in Nutrition and Functional Medicine, and I can assuredly say it is NEVER too late to pick up a nourishing diet for you and your baby! Knowing the transformative processes that can take place for GROWN ADULTS while following a nutrient-dense diet is just one attestation that nutrition is capable of so much in our lives at any stage. This is especially true during the rapid growth of a baby, toddler, child, teenager, etc.— so no, you are not too late, not even close, even at (now) four-ish months of pregnancy.
I’d also like to add that while I think this diet protocol offers sound advice, it is a bit too prescriptive and I see that people are freaking out (what if I can’t eat x? What if I can’t tolerate y?). There are AMAZING, NOURISHING foods on this earth and this small sample of nutrient-dense foods is not THE only way to go.
And most of all, don’t stress! Your baby will be happy to have a calm environment 🙂
Take care,
Torill
Is this diet appropriate for people of African descent?
Is there any reason pregnant women should avoid undercooked eggs? Such as sunny-side-up or soft-boiled eggs?
If they are from a trusted local source they should be fine.
Can we eat smaller amounts of the listed foods for smaller individuals? I am 5 foot 2 and with the added fat my appetite can hardly handle the required foods. Additionally, I don’t know if I can handle the 500 calorie surplus for the year I want to prepare for pregnancy. Maybe when pregnant it will be easier but the preconception period is a struggle.
How do we get around the issue of listeria risk in raw liver? I definitely wasn’t scared to do the raw liver while I was not pregnant, but the risk just feels different knowing I could harm my baby now and my husband isn’t on board…
Hi Sally, I’m living in Australia and don’t have access (or the budget) to buy raw milk or raw/unpasteurised cheese. The best thing I see on the shelves is unhomogenised milk. What would you suggest are good alternatives in the diet if milk, cheese, cream, buttermilk are all pasteurised?
From Sally Fallon Morell: I think pasteurized cheese and pasteurized cream are OK, but would not use pasteurized milk–the whey proteins in milk are so fragile.
Hi, I was wondering why no caffeine? I don’t understand the problem with it. Also, since I cannot get raw milk until spring, how would low heat pasteurized and non homogenized grass fed milk measure up? or should I beg that farmer to let me buy his raw milk because I am pregnant?
Has anyone created a sample meal plan that works for this diet? We just found out we are expecting and are working on trying to create a meal plan to keep ourselves accountable, especially as the months go by
What would you suggest in place of cow’s milk? I am currently 11 weeks pregnant and have always had difficulty digesting dairy. We get local raw milk from pasture raised Jersey cows. Whenever I drink the milk, I get a sour stomach a constipation. I did the GAPS diet for 6 months and that helped with some food sensitives I was having but hasn’t resolved the milk issue yet.
From Sally: You need some source of calcium. . . does raw cheese work for you?
Hello ! I am pregnant and want to take the Royal Blend (cod liver oil and concentrated butter oil) in capsules, how much capsules should I take a day ? I saw somewhere on the site 20 capsules but it seems really a lot ! Thanks
Taking the capsules is expensive because it does take a lot to get the recommended amount.
Hi! Can I also use this diet I to boost my fertility as a woman? I couldn’t find a separate blog post about fertility diet for women, only for men 🙂
I’m currently in my 5th month of pregnancy and experiencing heartburn, which I’m told is normal due to the compression of the stomach. Is this true, and if so, is there anything that can be done to minimize or help treat it?
I have no gallbladder… how to eat more fats?
I have a good spice for raw milk and I drink a few cups daily, but the way the pick up schedule works with my farm I sometimes can’t access it for 1-2 weeks at a time (and can’t really afford to buy enough to keep a freezer stash). My grocery store sells a local A2A2 “minimally pasteurized” creamline (non homogenized) whole milk in glass bottles. To me it tastes almost the same as raw milk and I can tell it’s way better than anything else I can find in the grocery store. I know it’s not the same and definitely a lower quality product, but would you saw it’s adequate to drink some of this milk when I can’t access raw for a couple weeks? It seems to satisfy my cravings and fill a gap in my nutrition if I didn’t drink any milk. I also try to eat raw goat milk cheddar but the store I get it from is hard to get to so I don’t always have that either.
I am also curious about pork, I’ve been eating a lot of bacon and good quality hard salami. I know this isn’t on the list of foods but is it still good to eat? I use the bacon fat to for cooking other foods.
Bacon is good and bacon fat is excellent for cooking.
Is 32 oz of raw milk every single day the recommendation — one a 3/4 gallons each week? That seems like SO much milk! I’m open to it – I just want to verify that I’m not taking it to mean each day, when you mean a few times a week like the liver. Thank you!
I want to make sure raw unpasteurized kefir is safe during pregnancy?
A lot of people say to avoid it as it can have harmful bacteria.
Please advise, thank you
WAPF: first of all, Blessed Pascha.
Second of all, I really feel that it’s within your best interest, given so much of the controversy surrounding FCLO, to disclose at least a ballpark amount of vitamin K necessary to render it not harmful to the body. People then can do their own research as to how much vitamin K is in the specific variable-dependent animal products they consume within a day.
A lot of people here are not just experimenting on themselves, but their children or unborn children are currently at stake. I feel it is worth it for you to do this, because it would both improve your reputation and negate some of the ambiguity related to all the disclaimers and warnings. You have people with medical degrees and licenses, you do have the qualifications to start delving further into these areas of confusion for people.
If there is already an article explicitly walking people through the amount of vitamin k they should be aiming for, please forgive me and please link it.
As for people with intolerances, or that for religious reasons are required to be vegan for certain times during the year: I’m assuming during vegan periods, FCLO ingestion is to be stopped, and people should not be ingesting FCLO until their intolerances are fixed through GAPS diet or something similar that addresses gut flora.
Thanks,
Sasha
Hi, I read in the Weston price pregnancy pdf that it recommends standard process catalyn and standard process b12 folate, but this article states not to take any supplements except cod liver, is ok to that standard process supplements or not?
What if you cannot make yourself eat fish or liver? They both make me throw up because of the smell and I personally find it repulsive taste and smell wise. Not so much mentally. I am not pregnant but breastfeeding a 15month old who is quite tall.
I eat everything else on the list. Just not sea food or liver.
You could try desiccated liver pills.
I managed to get hold of a lot of raw colostrum – assume I am ok to drink this pregnant? I have never had the fresh stuff before but have been drinking raw milk for years.
Wondering if I take a beef liver capsule daily if I’d still be safe taking cod liver oil daily as well? Or does it need to be raw beef liver to balance the omegas? Any substitutes for CLO if not consuming raw liver 2-3x per week? We eat beef, chicken, lamb and venison- no pork. Thanks!
From Sally – Yes, you can take a beef liver capsule and still take clo–clo provides vitamin D, which beef liver does not have. The best liver is poultry liver because it contains a balance of A, D and K2.
I’m taking a prescription for my hypothyroidism, levothyroxine. 75 mcg. Is this healthy for breastfeeding my baby?
Hello, I am confused about the raw milk – I have been told to avoid all raw dairy products while pregnant as they could contain bacteria that could damage the baby.
Do you mean to consume the raw milk hot after you have boiled it? And for how long do you need to heat it?
Thank you so much !
Hello there. I’ve been using multi organ capsules to alternate with beef liver capsules. Will these be sufficient for the ARA needed to combine with cod liver oil while pregnant? The organs are liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, spleen, and thymus- all bovine except the thymus, which is ovine.
I started to follow this diet as well as possible (I had a hard time doing so) during my second pregnancy. During the first, I only ate partly organic, I ate bread, cereals and even cake/pie, … My daughter (3y) is absolutely healthy, straight beautiful teeth, but my son (8mo), who came a little more than 2 years later seems really malnourished. I know it’s hard to be sure when there are so many variables, but is there any possibility the cause would be breastfeeding my daughter during my pregnancy?
Does anyone know if eating your placenta is harmful?
Hi. I’m trying to conceive and have been following the WAPD. I’m taking high vitamin FCLO daily and eating lots of tallow,butter,grass fed beef,pasture eggs, good salt, yogurt, saleds,chicken, sauerkraut plus chicken livers 2x a week and will soon be joining a herd share for raw milk. My problem is I am a migraine sufferer and I believe the chicken livers are trigger for me, which I am just figuring out. Most likely the tyramine. Is there something I can eat that would make up for the chicken liver? I don’t want to take a pre natal. Thanks!
Hello. I’ve been doing most of the recommendations above, but the cod liver oil as I gag and sometimes vomit after taking it (I’ve got the Rosita cod liver oil liquid).
Is there anything else with as high a level of Vit A? I’m now 33w pregnant.
I’m not brave enough to eat raw liver! Is there any recommended brand of liver capsules in Europe?
Yes!! I’m in the Netherlands. I love RealRoots, modern native, nutriest, Nordic kings or Plent’s liver capsules. We have lots of optiens in Europe!!
Is it ok to take the fullwell prenatal (which contains vitamin A as retinyl palmitate & Beta-carotene – 1500 mcg) along with cod liver oil?
The book ‘Real Food for Pregnancy’ recommends the fullwell prenatal.
Thank you!!
My midwife wants to to take 500mg of Metformin in the evenings to control my blood sugar. I don’t know what to do. I eat a pretty health WAPF diet, I’m kind of baffled that my fasting levels are high. Do I go strict keto or do the meds?! 46% of mothers who go on metformin end up needing insulin anyway! I’m nervous that my baby is getting big! I’m 35 weeks pregnant. I could use some ancestral advice!
Look at Lily Nichols’ info on blood sugar and pregnancy. Limit carbs and eat plenty of fats…eat lots of small meals. Make sure you are moving freely during labor so baby and body can work together in the case that baby is big. You can do this!
I CANNOT stress enough how important it is to balance the Omega 3’s with ARA 6’s. With my 2nd baby, I was a recovering vegan and started taking CLO religiously (at the recommendation of my midwife) up until the day I gave birth. I was not eating the recommended meats/fats. Before I delivered the placenta I had a pretty serious hemorrhage at my home birth. I did adjust my diet appropriately in the subsequent pregnancies and went on to birth 2 more big healthy babies (9.5lb and 8.5lb) with zero issues and no midwife. Thank you WAPF for the guidance!
I have an aversion to beef, and every time I’ve eaten it this pregnancy I’ve thrown up, but I can manage chicken and pork. Would substituting pork or chicken balance with the rest of the diet? I’m thinking of the caution about omega 3s and 6s being in balance. Also does freeze dried liver work instead of fresh? Generally I would love to see what you guys have to say about how to deal with aversions and morning sickness in pregnancy.
is it good to avoid the grains ? We are following the GAPS protocol and I feel a little insecure, if it is enough, or if my body will be missing the grains? sometimes I crave for good soutdough bread or a warm bowl of oatmeal..
Is kombucha safe for breastfeeding mums? As it contains a bit of alcohol… thanks