Since it made the headlines in Newsweek and the New York Times, a book called "The Fertility Diet" has been creating a buzz.

It was written by doctors at Harvard Medical School who studied more than 18,000 women who were taking part in the Nurses Health Study (ongoing since 1976). Their research has revealed a link between a healthier diet and an increased chance of fertility.

While this isn't a new concept, some of the authors' specific diet recommendations are. (And let me say right up front that some have criticized the book as being gimmicky. From what I've seen, however, both the researchers and the cited research look good.)

First, it should be noted that the diet recommendations in "The Fertility Diet" are not aimed at every woman with infertility. Its recommendations are only for those women with ovulatory infertility, a disorder that causes irregular ovulation and affects about 25 percent of women with infertility.

The authors focus on the three main components in most diets: carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

Carbohydrates. The book states that the key here is not the total amount of carbs you consume but the type of carbs. Carbs that digest more slowly (those rich in fiber, such as whole grains) apparently boost fertility more than do those that are quickly digested (white starches and sweets). This, the authors state, is due to changes in a woman's glucose, insulin, and hormones that ultimately can affect ovulation.

Fats. Again, it boils down to the type of fat you eat, not the total amount of fat. (With the caveat, of course, that you can't overdo the fat, since this will increase your weight, which can decrease fertility.)

Trans fats were associated with infertility. Replacing trans fats with unsaturated fats (such as oils, margarine, olives, nuts, seeds, avocados, and peanut butter) decreases insulin resistance and inflammation, and can help jumpstart ovulation.

Protein. Replacing animal protein with plant-based proteins (such as legumes, soy, and nuts) was also found to improve fertility. However, those women who ate greater amounts of protein in general struggled more with infertility than did those who ate less total protein.

Full-fat dairy products. Surprisingly, the authors recommend including one to two daily servings of full-fat dairy products (whole milk and regular cheese. The authors state that removing fat from milk radically changes the balance of sex hormones in that milk, in such a way that could tip the scales against ovulation and conception. Further, the proteins added to make skim and low-fat milk look and taste creamier push the milk's balance of hormones even further off-kilter.

The researchers also stress that a woman should have a healthy body weight when trying to conceive. Being too thin or too heavy can adversely alter the hormones in your body so that ovulation is disrupted. The authors include their recommendations for regular physical activity of 30 minutes of exercise every day.

What's your take on "The Fertility Diet?"