An old Chinese saying goes, "Sour for boys, spicy for girls," suggesting maternal diet influences baby gender. A similar South African belief—"salty for boys, sweet for girls"—has recently gained scientific validation. South African researchers report that consuming red meat and salty fast food may increase the likelihood of having a boy, while eating chocolate may favor having a girl.
One experiment found that when consuming polysaccharide-rich foods, offspring were predominantly female;while maintaining normal blood sugar levels resulted in roughly equal male-female ratios. Experts indicate these findings are equally applicable to humans.
Researchers explain that a child's gender is determined by a specific chromosome in the sperm: the X chromosome produces girls, and the Y chromosome produces boys. A male's diet can alter the ratio of X- or Y-chromosome-carrying sperm.Additionally, diet influences the uterine environment, making it more favorable for sperm carrying either the X or Y chromosome.
Based on the latest research, the likelihood that diet affects human sex ratios has significantly increased.