Male gametes can contain either the x or y chromosome.  The female always supplies the x chromosome.  When these chromosomes combine, xx produces a female offspring, while xy produces male, so the male’s contribution ultimately determines gender.  This is basic human genetics, the female has very little, if anything, to do with it.

As far as folklore goes, in times past, if the male is
stressed and/or on a crummy diet, drinks, smokes a lot, etc, he is supposedly much more
likely to contribute y chromosomes.  Healthy
lifestyle and a good diet supposedly will favor the x chromosome.

If true, this, to me, seems like a useful genetic
adaptation.  In times of low or poor food, difficult conditions, etc, reproduction will favor more males being born
to increase the food supply and perhaps fend off danger.  In times of safety and plenty, reproduction
will favor birthing more females, which allows for the population to expand.

The article presents this possible gender-determination effect
completely backwards, both genetically and adaptively.  Not to say they are entirely wrong, just that
there is little there to support their contention, other than yet another “study”.  However, these days, with all the estrogen analogs
floating around the environment and food supply, I would think birthing males
would become increasingly difficult, regardless of diet.

Nature always balances things. All cultures/countries end up with about a 50/50 ratio regardless of diet or available food.

"Mom's Diet May Influence Baby's Gender ".


I really do hate to say this, but to ME this article really is a crock a - - - -..Either it does, or it don't have an influence, saying it  MAY, well what good does that do to me, or anyone else, all this leads me to believe is what i been saying all along about some of these useless studies, yes they are just plain that USELESS, POINTLESS and the monies and time spent, could have been invested elsewhere, where it could have made much more of a difference......Sorry  i'll let good old mother nature decide for me..........

Interesting, but probably a non useful study if they didn't look at numbers of miscarriages and other factors.  I know there's a preponderance of boys in miscarriages, and it seems a nutritionally sound woman would miscarry less.

I can say that I did crave lots of red meat, protein, and vegetables with my boy.  With my girl, I was so sick my diet was horrible till 20 weeks (I just ate what ever I could stomach, which was never protein).

In both cases, I was "watching my weight" before the pregnancies.