by Francesca | Jun 23, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
This is part two of a two-part article. See part 1 here.
We began our discussion of natural pregnancy by considering how to choose a medical provider. We then touched upon which ultrasounds and scans are necessary, as well as things to consider when conceiving later in life. You’re probably not surprised to learn that there is much more to the topic.
Preventing Group B Strep (GBS) Infection
Approximately 25% of women carry a bacteria called Group B Strep (GBS), which lives in the vagina or rectum. When pregnant, there is potential for the mother to pass the disease to the newborn during delivery. 1 in 2,000 babies will be affected, which can create serious or life-threatening complications.
Screening for GBS takes place between weeks 35 to 37.
Today’s conventional modern approach to medicine consists of giving women intravenous antibiotics that kill the B strep bacteria in the birth canal if they test positive. The antibiotics do kill the GBS bacteria. Unfortunately, the drug can’t single out only harmful bacteria. It effectively kills all bacteria in the birth canal. This removes essential bacteria designed to boost your baby’s immune system, help absorb nutrients, promote good digestive health, and produce vitamins.
In a natural approach to pregnancy, I recommend beginning to inoculate the birth canal with probiotics at week 30. This can be done by upping consumption of fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and by adding raw garlic to the diet.
Should a client test positive for GBS, I have herbal protocol to rid the body of the bacterial infection without completely compromising gut and vaginal flora. Every protocol for GBS is followed by a flora restoring phase.
Request the initial screening between weeks 32-35, so you have time for a retest if you do test positive.
Addressing Gestational Diabetes
Your baby doesn’t run on the typical three meals a day schedule we all are accustomed to. Instead, your baby will pull nutrients from the body throughout the entire day and night. To prepare for this, your body goes through a natural metabolic shift, which includes some level of insulin resistance. The alteration ensures that there are enough nutrients for the baby through long periods when you can’t eat, at night, for example.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that 9.2% of pregnant women suffer from gestational diabetes. Often, these women had no blood sugar issues prior to pregnancy.
There are ways to prevent and minimize the impact of gestational diabetes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, it’s essential to work with a nutritionist to create and implement a diet that helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
For more information on gestational diabetes, check out my five-part series covering everything from testing to measuring your levels to managing with diet.
Creating a Nutrient-Rich Environment
Your baby is built from the food you eat, digest and assimilate.
Take a moment to consider this. Can you name all the ingredients from the foods you’ve eaten recently? If you were to read the labels, would you be able to pronounce every ingredient?
Your baby is nourished by the foods you eat and is, unfortunately, exposed to everything, toxins and all. It’s important to ensure that you are giving your baby the most nourishing elements from which to grow. This means eliminating highly processed foods, trans fatty acids, man made concoctions, and introducing clean, unprocessed, organic foods.
Here I outline different diet adjustments to make when working to increase fertility. Luckily, they are the same guidelines that you can follow when nourishing your unborn baby.
Exercising, Resting, and Managing Stress
Exercise is a crucial component of a healthy pregnancy.
Women who regularly exercise prior to pregnancy can continue with their pre-pregnancy workout routines, adjusting the intensity to what feels comfortable. If you’re new to exercise, start slowly and build according to your midwife’s recommendations. It is also important to choose an activity that you enjoy, so that working out does not become a burden.
Meditation is a fantastic tool during pregnancy, which gives you the ability to quiet your mind, opening an opportunity to listen to your body. There are few more effective ways to be in tune with all the changes you are undergoing. It’s also magical to listen to the little heartbeat. Benefits of meditation include sleeping better, and reducing stress.
In today’s hectic world it can be tempting to try to finish everything before the baby comes. This can mean long workweeks, late nights, and large-scale projects to prepare for the baby. This increase of activity, stress, and busywork is the opposite of what the body needs.
Your body needs rest.
Rest gives the body the platform to gain strength. We all underestimate the physical changes the body undergoes during pregnancy, particularly in the final weeks prior to birth. Maintaining a low stress environment coupled with a good night’s sleep can help your body adapt to the changes brought on by pregnancy.
Out of all the elements that I teach, this was the most challenging for me to implement during my pregnancy. I understand the urge to put in 50-hour workweeks, knocking out as many work-related projects as possible. While it may not be easy, rest is extremely important to a healthy pregnancy.
Listen to your body. Rest when you need to.
Controlling your Environment
Living a natural pregnancy isn’t limited to diet. It also requires evaluating the chemicals with which your skin comes in contact. When you take a serious look at all the items that touch your skin throughout the day, such as soaps, water, and shampoos, you may be alarmed at all the things you are exposing your body.
Switching to organic products helps eliminate unwanted toxins. See my full guide of items to look out for in my guide to “Household Items to Watch Out For.” Many will surprise you.
Defining Your Pregnancy
In reality, these two articles only scratch the surface. Between chemicals and toxins in our food supply and an overzealous medical institution, there is a lot for an expectant mother to ponder.
I am here to help you find your way.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today to see how beneficial my Baby Bumps package can be for you.
by Francesca-Admin | May 24, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
This is part one of a two-part series.
Some people might find the term “natural pregnancy” perplexing. Perhaps you are asking, “Aren’t all pregnancies natural?”
You are right. Pregnancy is a natural process. Yet, many things have changed since that very first woman brought a baby to her arms centuries ago. While we’ve enjoyed countless advancements in medicine, many modern practices for monitoring a pregnancy have veered from a natural path, becoming unnecessary and or even invasive.
For expectant moms who want to preserve the beauty of a more natural pregnancy and birth, there are many different routes. It starts with educating yourself on the options you have as well as choosing providers who prioritize a more natural approach to medicine. Knowing more about your options and leveraging the power of a healthy diet lessens the need for unnecessary medical intervention.
As you are charting your journey to motherhood, here are the main areas to focus on:
Choosing Your Medical Providers
As with any service providers, you will encounter medical providers who align closer with your values. If your goal is to have a pregnancy less dependent on medical intervention, then it’s important to choose providers who operate a more naturally inclined practice.
In America, we have a much higher rate of C-sections than other countries. While there are times that this procedure is warranted, too many providers default to a cesarean birth out of convenience or due to a hospital policy that favors intervention. In 1965, the US had a 4.5% rate of cesarean birth. Fast-forward to today and that rate is closer to 32%. Bottom line: healthy, low-risk pregnancies are ending in unnecessary surgery. While hospitals are becoming more tolerant of surgeries, it’s an incredibly invasive procedure that should not be taken lightly.
When choosing your maternity ward, evaluate their practices around birth, labor, and postnatal intervention. Choosing a hospital with a lower incidence of intervention will give you a better chance at a traditional delivery.
Ultrasounds and Scans
Expecting parents eagerly anticipate the day they can see their little one on screen. We’ve grown to expect a snapshot of the moment shared on social media shortly after the pregnancy announcement.
While this moment truly captures parents’ hearts, what is going on behind the scenes?
The short answer is heat and sound. The technology behind the ultrasound sends in sound waves through the placenta to capture the image of the growing fetus. These waves have been shown to increase the temperature surrounding the baby. Increased temperature can lead to neurodevelopmental defects. Some studies suggest the possibility of birth defects related to the rise in temperature. That’s why the FDA and professional medical associations strongly advise against ultrasounds for creating keepsakes.
The ultimate goal of the ultrasound is to monitor the baby’s progress. Luckily, there are additional ways to accomplish this. In fact, many healthy women only have two scans throughout their entire term. These screening tests help identify any genetic abnormalities or conditions that parents should be concerned about.
For healthy women, I recommend two scans:
NT Nuchal Translucency Scan:
Done between 11 and 14 weeks, this test assesses the likelihood of the baby having Down syndrome. This test is performed using standard ultrasound equipment. During the test, the sonographer will also measure your baby to date your pregnancy.
MaterniT21
This blood test screens for Down’s syndrome as well as chromosome abnormalities and sex chromosome abnormalities. It is done between weeks 10 and 14. The results from this non-invasive screening are 99% accurate for detecting Down’s syndrome and a 91% accuracy for detecting the other abnormalities. False positives are less than 1%.
Scans to Be Aware Of
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis are two dangerous tests that some professionals still use today. Each test gives a more accurate assessment on the baby’s likelihood of Down syndrome, yet can cause a miscarriage.
Note: There are times and situations that merit the need for several ultrasounds and other scans throughout the pregnancy. Mothers who are suffering from placenta previa, have gestational diabetes, have an autoimmune disease, or have other characteristics of a high-risk pregnancy will need more in depth monitoring.
Conceiving Later in Life
Having a child later in life does not necessarily mean that you are at higher risk. I have worked with women in their 20s who are far less healthy than women conceiving in their 30s.
Yet traditional hospitals and providers typically label women over 35 as geriatric, which means that they adopt several high-risk practices throughout the pregnancy regardless of health. Higher risk approaches involver higher levels of intervention.
More scans. More tests. Less natural.
Particularly if you are conceiving later in life, I recommend working with a qualified midwife. A midwife will evaluate your health and that of your growing baby when approaching your care and advise you on your options throughout the process. Rather than turning to consistent scans, a midwife will monitor the baby’s health by checking the heart rate with an external fetal heart rate monitor.
Continuing the Conversation
This is part one of a two-part, in-depth look at adopting a more natural pregnancy. Join me next month as I continue the conversation with inoculating the birth canal, gestational diabetes, and important measures to take at home.
For action items to implement now check out my recent post, “Expecting? Lifestyle Changes You Need to Make Today.”
In today’s society, it can be overwhelming to make all the necessary changes to enjoy a natural and nourishing pregnancy. From the medical world pursuing invasive methods to toxins being introduced to our food, it is a lot to try and tackle all at once.
If you are looking for support throughout the journey, schedule a free fifteen-minute consultation today. Together, we can review different steps you can start now toward ensuring you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
by Francesca | Apr 20, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
If the joys of motherhood are beckoning, now is the time to start preparing the body to conceive. Carrying your baby is a beautiful experience. You and your husband will create a life, and then that life will grow within you for nine whole months.
What the body can accomplish never ceases to amaze.
In order to become pregnant and create the most nourishing environment for your baby, it’s important to make several changes today. Parents realize the importance of the first several years for cognitive development. Too often we discount the power of the first nine months.
You control the environment that your baby will start their life in. Research shows the importance of the nine months in the womb for development. A baby’s brain and nervous system are some of the first systems to start developing. Your body’s relationship with your growing baby is so strong that your baby’s taste buds are even influenced by what you eat during pregnancy.
Giving your baby the most nourishing environment starts prior to conception. Luckily, the same steps we take to create that environment also increase fertility and your chances at becoming pregnant.
While your diet should be tailored to your unique chemical makeup, here are several diet basics that are universal.
It Takes Two to Tango
Too often when we talk about infertility, we isolate our focus on women. Your partner’s health plays equally into conception. As the old saying goes, “It takes two to tango.” Your child will be built from 50% of your DNA, and 50% from your partner’s genetic makeup.
While you are working to establish foundational health, ensure that your husband’s health is accounted for as well. I’ve often worked with couples where the woman is taking every measure to increase fertility where her husband maintains a processed diet, decreased physical exercise, or detrimental activities such as frequent hot tub use.
You can do everything in your power to prepare your womb to conceive, but if the sperm doesn’t have the gusto to make it, you will be facing another month of infertility.
Preparing for conception is something you both need to commit to in order to make the healthiest baby possible.
Quit Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant. That’s why so many Americans clutch to their java to kick start their day. As a stimulant, caffeine increases your heart rate and blood rate.
Not ideal for preparing the body to conceive.
While some experts suggest limiting caffeine to 150 milligrams per day (the equivalent of a 12oz cup of coffee) or less, it’s best to completely cut it out if you can. Stimulants aren’t ideal for nourishing the body.
In addition, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology released a study citing that caffeine consumption of 200mg per day or more increased likelihood of miscarriage compared to those who didn’t consume caffeine. Other reports, such as one by Epidemiology, didn’t conclude there was an increased risk.
While the scientific world finalizes their findings, it’s much better to be on the safer, caffeine-free side of the equation.
Remove Processed Gluten
There are countless unexplained causes for infertility. Studies looking into potential reasons have started to pinpoint gluten as one of the roadblocks to conceiving. A Prospective Study cited that 5.6% of patients struggling to conceive were suffering from undiagnosed Celiac Disease.
Whether or not you have untreated Celiac Disease, removing gluten for 4-6 months can help alert the body to start conceiving. Creating a baby primarily utilizes fats and proteins. There is little starch involved in the process. By altering your diet to provide more ample resources for growing a baby, you signal the body that it’s time to prepare for pregnancy. When the body starts preparing, it helps to increase the likelihood of conceiving.
Eliminate Trans Fatty Acids
It’s not news that trans fatty acids are detrimental to our health. Despite the warnings, the mainstream adoption of foods such as doughnuts, cookies, muffins, fries, and more continues. I recommend completely removing all sources from your diet immediately. Not only are they a hindrance to getting pregnant, a study that followed 104 girls on their 25 year journey to adulthood noted that increased amounts of trans fatty acids was independently associated with an increased risk of having at least one miscarriage.
The deep fat, fried foods aren’t worth the risk.
If you’re worried about removing some of your favorite flavors from your weekly routine, consider homemade options. Often you are able to use substitutes that keep flavor but remove trans fatty acids.
Increase the Healthy Fats
As mentioned, babies are primarily made from protein and fat. This means you need to increase your healthy fat consumption. Additionally, sex hormones are made primarily out of fatty acids. Low-fat diets limit the production of sex hormones.
Here are several healthy fat sources you can build into your diet:
- Coconut oil,
- Whole milk and cream,
- Egg yolks,
- Full fat cheeses,
- Salmon,
- Dark chicken meats,
- 80-85% lean ground beef,
- Nuts and seeds.
- Avocados
Especially with fat sources, it’s very important to choose organic. Nature stores nutrients in fat cells. When we choose food sources that have been exposed to chemicals, pesticides, and other harmful substances, the toxins are stored in the fat.
Alter Special Diets
Many women I work with choose to follow vegetarian or vegan diets. When done properly, these diets can be incredibly rewarding for the body.
It’s important to know that your vegetarian diet for daily living and the vegetarian diet for an expecting mother are different.
Even if you are consuming the necessary nutrients from your diet today, the needs of your baby will alter the way the body uses resources. Particularly in specialized diets, it’s essential to evaluate your needs and adjust consumption to meet the new nutritional needs.
Underscoring Importance of Nutrition
It’s almost a daily occurrence that someone mentions that as humans, we have been conceiving since the dawn of time. Why then, would they need to work with a nutritionist on something as natural as childbirth?
The reason is that there is currently an epidemic in society, particularly in America.
While childbirth may be a natural part of life, diseases such as ADHD, diabetes, and pediatric depression occur when the components of the body are not in unison. In short, it’s a chemical alteration and not a natural one. Many of these diseases are directly related to the toxins that we put in our bodies.
In the United States, we are one of the richest countries in the world, yet we see the highest incident of ADHD, autism, and other development disorders.
It stems from our Standard American Diet (SAD) and the unnatural modifications that we have made to our food in the last several decades. The food we eat is no longer the nourishing sources that we put into our bodies decades ago. Rather, it fills our systems with toxins that alter our chemical makeup.
We also see the impacts in couples struggling to conceive. The CDC states that, “12% of women 15–44 years of age in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.”
What was once a very natural process now sees countless barriers.
Working with me, we can return pregnancy to the more natural process that nature intended. It starts with the food you use to nourish your body with. Contact me today to schedule your free, fifteen-minute consultation. Together, we can put you on the road to conceiving.
by Francesca | Mar 31, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
Throughout the entire pregnancy, your body is going to go through remarkable changes to grow your baby. All of the systems of your body work together to account for your second little heartbeat. From an increased respiratory rate to increasing blood volume to hormone adjustments, the body accomplishes remarkable feats during pregnancy.
If you have been following the Standard American Diet (SAD) and related lifestyle, you are going to need to go through adjustments to give your body the best tools to do what it’s designed to do: nourish your baby. In America, our typical diet is filled with toxins and chemicals harmful to a growing fetus. You need to work to remove those sources and replace them with nourishing food.
Typically, when clients are looking to conceive, we start slowly adding in the changes to your lifestyle. If you are already pregnant, there isn’t time to take a slow approach. These are lifestyle changes you need to make today.
Cleaning Out the Pantry
Any item that has words you can’t understand in the ingredients goes in the garbage bin. If you need a chemistry degree to figure out what an ingredient is, it has no place in your body. Remember, your baby pulls nutrients from everything you put in your body. Potassium chloride and artificial coloring don’t sound very healthful.
Trust me. Those complex, unpronounceable ingredients aren’t nourishing you or your baby.
I recommend moving to a whole food diet, eliminating all packaged foods. That doesn’t always work for every client. If you need packaged options in your diet, only choose items with no more than six ingredients. Make sure you can pronounce and identify all of them. A good rule of thumb is to have 6 grams of protein and no more than 5 grams of sugar per serving in all packaged items that make it into your pantry.
Purchasing Organic
From covering our produce with pesticides to feeding our meat supply hormones, fresh foods that look amazing may be very harmful. Opt for organic to ensure that you are selecting nourishing food void of chemicals.
I understand that not everyone has the budget to switch to a completely organic whole food diet. If it’s not in the budget, you can prioritize items. First, any animal fat product, such as butter or milk, needs to be organic. The body stores toxins it can’t eliminate in the fat tissue. When you take that fat byproduct off the shelf, you are selecting a cocktail of pesticides and chemicals the animal ingested and stored.
Skip the cocktail and go organic.
This also goes for meat. If you can’t afford organic meat, choose lean cuts to eliminate toxin reserves. Although, if organic meat makes it into the budget, feel free to enjoy the fattier selection. In absence of hormones and other harmful substances, organically raised animals store extra nutrients in their fat.
To prioritize your other organic purchases, check out the free EWG Dirty Dozen resource outlining which foods receive the most pesticides during production.
Exercise
Moms who exercise during pregnancy give birth to babies with healthier hearts. In fact, new studies indicate that exercise during pregnancy might be one of the best ways to improve heart health after birth.
In truth, there are many benefits to consistent exercise (as long as you don’t have a medical condition limiting exercise). If you were an active person before getting pregnant, continue with your favorite workout routines. Just make sure to not over exercise.
If you love being in the outdoors hiking and despise being locked in the gym, don’t switch to the gym. Exercise in a manner that brings you joy. If you weren’t super active before, we can work on some simple exercise programs that ease you into a regular fitness routine.
Sleep
It may come as surprise, but it’s not just about how much sleep you get. It’s also important when you are sleeping.
Most of my clients get seven to eight hours of sleep a night but don’t go to bed until midnight or later. You are shortchanging the body of needed rejuvenating cycles that typically happen between 10pm and midnight. We all sleep in cycles. The first cycle is a deep relaxing sleep. Here the brain actually slows down and focuses on restoration. The second cycle, REM, quickens the pace from the first cycle. Here you experience the vivid dream sleep.
While these cycles are trigged in part based on when you go to sleep, the body has a natural rhythm influenced by daylight as well. When you alter that natural rhythm, you won’t enjoy the full benefits of your most restful sleep.
Going to bed by ten matches that natural rhythm unlocking all the benefits of restful sleep.
Evolving World
The world has changed a lot over the last several decades. In many ways, while we have made drastic advancements in treating scary diseases and extending life, the majority of “advancements” we made with our food and even some medicines have not been beneficial to our health. More so than ever we need to be intimately aware of what we put in our bodies. What may look nourishing at first glance could be causing serious damage on the inside.
When you are expecting, that is not a chance you should take.
Sadly, these toxins extend beyond our food and water supply. Check out my article on Household Items to Watch Out for to eliminate the most prevalent chemicals and toxins from your home.
Likely you are feeling a little overwhelmed at the whole process. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; this is a lot of work. But cleansing the body and creating a nourishing space to grow your baby is the most rewarding act you can do.
When you hold your sweet baby in nine months, you will know that you did everything in your power to ensure they had the best environment to grow up in.
If you are ready to commit to change today and want a supportive guide to help you throughout the process, contact me today. Together, we can build healthy practices into your life, eliminate harmful toxins, and start nourishing the body with the foods best suited to your specific chemical makeup.
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation here.
by Francesca | Mar 1, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
Today, in this modern world of Western medicine and technology, we have experienced a drastic rise in diseases that were unheard of several decades ago. One such disease that has been growing exponentially is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
PCOS is a disorder that affects a woman’s endocrine system (reproductive system being the system that shows the most symptoms). This condition causes symptoms that can include excruciating menstrual cycles, painful ovarian cysts, infertility, weight gain, acne, male baldness patterns, and facial hair.
30 years ago, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) was fairly unknown and diagnosis was almost nonexistent. Today, statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that around 10% of women are affected. That percentage is most likely lower than the actual number of women suffering from PCOS, as only those struggling with infertility or experiencing painful or difficult symptoms seek medical attention.
What changed?
In brief, the amount of chemicals to which we are daily exposed in our environments, and, especially, our food has increased dramatically. The advent of chemical processing and refining has changed our food supply. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is primarily composed of genetically modified crops and hormone-laced meats, as well as chemical preservatives, flavor enhancers and other industrial residue.
PCOS is a disease caused by environmental and lifestyle factors. Women are not born with it or genetically predisposed to PCOS, but, rather, develop it over time. By continually exposing our systems to the chemicals that are the foundations of the SAD, we alter all of the systems in the body. From digestion to reproduction, from metabolism to brain function, these man made foods poison every cell of our body.
PCOS affects the endocrine system, manifesting itself primarily in the reproductive organs. The endocrine system is in charge of regulating a plethora of functions such as metabolism and reproduction. It is also crucial in maintaining weight, the menstrual cycle, the ability to fight viruses (thanks to the work of the thyroid). Even the growth of our hair and nails is facilitated by the endocrine system.
What’s Happening?
I like to describe the endocrine system as an orchestra: all of the musicians work together to create a beautiful song. When everyone is in tune and playing the same song, the orchestra produces harmony and melody. But once one instrument goes off key or starts playing at a slower pace, the entire song sounds terrible. Some musicians will start trying to play louder to mask the discordant player. Others will lose their rhythm and also start to play off key.
When we fill our bodies with the foodstuff that are pillars the Standard American Diet, we alter one or two or all of the instruments in the endocrine system (other systems too, for that matter). The other glands and organs adjust to compensate for the alteration. The body is no longer in harmony.
One of the areas of the endocrine system out of harmony with PCOS is the hormone insulin.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and it is in charge of shuttling glucose away from the bloodstream and into the cells, liver and other muscle fibers. Glucose needs to be carefully regulated in the body and, at any given time, only a minuscule quantity can be circulating into the bloodstream (glucose = sugar and is extremely toxic in quantities that go above 80-100 ml/dl). Moreover, glucose also helps nutrients enter the cells.
Often with PCOS, the cells become resistant to insulin, which raises blood sugar to dangerous levels and also prevents the nutrients we ingest and synthetize to enter the cells. Every hormone works like a key made to fit a specific lock (receptor). In the insulin resistance stage, the body usually manufactures plenty of insulin, but this key is unable to open the lock and enter the cell.
This triggers the pancreas to produce more insulin, as glucose accumulating in the blood is extremely dangerous. In the long run, chronically elevated insulin levels alter not only glucose metabolism, but also the production of the sex hormone androgen.
Now we have a combination of insulin resistance with excess androgen, causing the endocrine system to compensate for the change, a process called homeostasis. Ultimately, the orchestra may fail to produce harmony. Rather than causing unpleasant music, we have many of the PCOS symptoms.
The main culprits for this insulin alteration are:
- Too much sugar;
- Refined carbohydrates;
- Processed food;
- Hormone residue in dairy and red meat.
Diet as Treatment
Typically, modern medicine treatments consist of diabetes prescriptions to address insulin resistance and hormonal imbalance. While well intentioned, it only adds other variables and does not remove the stressors of the struggling endocrine system. The end result of this medical Band-Aid is that the endocrine system is manipulated further from the original harmonious system.
It fails to treat the endocrine system as a whole unit.
For sustainable health, diet adjustments offer effective, long-term solutions. To start, we need to remove all the foods triggering the insulin imbalance.
Some of my clients hear this statement as a death sentence for the foods they love, such as cake, pastries or ice cream. But please know that this is a temporary adjustment. We need to reestablish healthy blood sugar patterns on our journey to treating PCOS.
For clients who are determined to restore their health, we implement a diet that restricts sugars, refined carbohydrates, dairy, and conventionally raised red meats. We build in nourishing components such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli. These items are particularly good for the liver, as they provide the body with much needed compounds that help with detoxification.
Like most meaningful things in life, this is easier said than done. It will take commitment.
Once we have a clean slate, we slowly work to reintroduce elements back into a healthy diet. Yes, in moderation, you can even occasionally have that slice of cake. It’s more likely that you will feel so good that the cake is no longer appealing.
During the reintroduction period, we can evaluate if there are certain foods that trigger a reaction. The final diet works to address unique elements to the individual to put their body back in harmony.
Committing to Good Health
Tackling your symptoms in a meaningful more sustainable manner will not be easy. The Standard American Diet is oftentimes how we are raised. From TV ads to the fast food joint down the street to the processed food lining the aisles at the grocery stores, it’s built into all areas of world. Odds are that taking the first step to committing to better health will be one of the more challenging experiences you go through this year.
It will also be an extremely rewarding experience.
Whether your PCOS is manifesting in painful ovarian cysts or your biggest struggle is failure to conceive, taking the initiative to address your PCOS head on will change your life in the most marvelous ways. Overcoming the full aspects of PCOS will take time, but within the first weeks, you will immediately regain energy, have less painful menstrual cycles, begin losing weight, and reduce acne.
The long-term effects will bring you closer to fertility and remove all PCOS symptoms from your life.
By partnering with me on your health journey, you can reach your goals faster. Together, we can build a full health plan that fits into your life. I build a customized diet for you based on your symptoms, your history, and your goals. More importantly, I walk with you throughout the process. From eliminating foods in the diet to reintroduction to bringing in the nourishing aspects of food to the diet, I am here to help you realize better health.
To schedule your free 15-minute consultation, contact me today.
by z3admin | Feb 10, 2016 | Babies & Bumps
In our modern world, there are countless ways to come into contact with toxins and chemicals, substances that are damaging to our health. As you work toward preparing your body for conception, or as you actively try to conceive, it is important to cleanse the body of harmful substances. This will help increase your fertility as well as prepare a healthy environment for your baby to grow in.
Typically, when individuals think of removing harmful substances, they limit their search to items found in the pantry. Moving toward healthier eating is a very important step, but is only half the equation.
You absorb as many toxins through your skin as you do from the foods you eat. These are so many items that you come in contact with throughout the day. From washing your hands to getting dressed in the morning, you are constantly exposing your body to potentially harmful substances.
If you have struggled with infertility or have not been able to conceive despite actively trying (to conceive) for at least 6 month, it is important to look at your lifestyle and see if toxicity (toxin exposure) could be a piece of your fertility puzzle.
Here are several important places in your home to evaluate.
In the Bathroom
In the bathroom, look for items that take a chemical formula to create. These are items such as toothpaste, perfume, makeup removers, sunscreen, shampoos, and soaps.
As with all the products you use on your skin, evaluate the ingredients. If you need a degree in chemistry to understand what they are, they do not belong on your skin.
Some of the toxic ingredients you will read on the label of these kinds of items are sulfates, triclosans, fragrances, and parabens. Each of those ingredients negatively impacts the body. For example, parabens have been known to spur reproductive difficulties.
When reviewing products in your bathroom, don’t neglect reviewing your different cosmetics. Makeup contains some of the most toxic substances in your bathroom.
Alternatives:
There are several brands that create natural non-toxic alternatives for the products you use every day. The key is to be aware of the harmful effects of traditional products and actively look for other options.
Additionally, you can explore complete alternatives. One example would be using coconut oil instead of lotion. This is extremely healthy for the skin and effective at moisturizing.
For your cosmetics, there are natural makeup lines coming out that are more affordable (and much cleaner) than MAC Cosmetics. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow currently has a line so safe you could eat it. Odds are that it’s not something you would consider eating, but it’s a good reminder that if it’s not safe enough to eat, it doesn’t belong on your skin.
In the Kitchen
The biggest offender in the kitchen is your nonstick pots and pans. In order to create the smooth and easy-to-use surface on the pans, manufacturers coat their products with a chemical rich layer. The main component of this chemical layer is Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This particular chemical has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Also, women who struggle with infertility have been shown to have higher concentrations of PFOA.
Have you ever had a pan that started out nonstick but over time lost that characteristic? The chemical layer slowly transferred to your food. In short, you ate the nonstick components. Yes, that is the PFOA.
The other item to watch out for is your plastic Tupperware.
There are seven types of plastic. Each type is classified by a number, which corresponds to the different chemical makeup. The ones to watch out for are number 1 and number 7. These particular chemical makeups are shown to decrease sperm count and reduce the number of eggs.
Alternatives:
Replace nonstick pots and pans with cast iron, aluminum, or ceramic options. Cast iron pans can actually be beneficial for women because it adds iron to your system. Women tend to need more iron, particularly when pregnant.
Look for Tupperware options that use plastics 2-6 or opt for glass food storage options.
Under the Sink
You likely store your different cleaning supplies under the sink. Products like bleach, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, polishes, and other cleaners are full of toxic components.
Think of them as poison. That’s why your parents put the little green poison control sticker on them while you were growing up.
While you won’t necessarily be applying them to your skin, especially if you use rubber gloves cleaning, you will breathe in the fumes as you use them.
The other cleaning product to consider is laundry detergent. The chemicals in detergent are transferred to your clothes during the wash cycle. You then transfer the chemicals directly to your skin as you wear them throughout the day.
Alternatives:
There are several great natural options to the typical chemical-rich cleaning options. In lieu of bleach, choose essential oils. Bicarbonates and apple cider vinegar are strong enough to clean things like calcium deposits in the bathroom or even your oven.
If you are looking for a more traditional cleaner, look into companies like Seventh Generation who focus on environmentally friendly and non-toxic products.
Water
There are two ways we absorb water. The first is through enjoying your ice-cold glass of water in the afternoon. The other is during your hot shower or bubble bath. Many people use water filters on their drinking tap. This still leaves you vulnerable while showering.
Especially in a hot shower, your open pores can absorb more water than you drink in a day. If you live in an area with poor water quality, then you are absorbing all the pollutants directly through your skin.
Solution:
Call your water department to determine the quality of your city’s water. Most likely you will be surprised to learn how it is far from desirable.
Depending on your budget, you can either explore individual water filters for your tap water and showerheads or a house water filter. While a house filter will be a more expensive option upfront, often it saves you money in the long run. Individual water filters need to be replaced every six months. A house filter will not need to be touched for fifteen years.
Remodeling
If you are like most couples planning to add a new member to the family, you will be gearing up for a remodel or creating the baby’s room. There are several different aspects to a remodel that are extremely hazardous to someone trying to conceive, as well as an expectant mother.
Paints and varnishes release toxic fumes. New furniture, curtains, and even carpets have flame-retardants they release into the air. These chemicals can cause miscarriages and reduce sperm count.
Alternatives:
For furniture, look for used options. These flame-retardants stop outgassing over time, so older items will be safer to bring into the home. If you still want to paint the home or add new carpet, then use low VOC paints, use the time the house is being painted as an opportunity for a short getaway. Allow for the home to air out before returning.
Start Slow
This is a very long list, which can be overwhelming if you try to implement it all at once. It would also be very costly. Instead, start by identifying items in your home you want to replace. When you eventually run out, start replacing items with healthier alternatives.
By changing your purchasing habits, you will start to recognize and look for the safer and healthier options.
Working With an Expert
Changing lifestyle habits can be a lot to take on alone. That’s why I am here to help. I partner with you to look at all areas of your life and identify solutions to creating a healthier environment. This applies both to increasing natural fertility as well as creating the safest environment for your baby to grow.
Often times I help couples find natural solutions to IVF. Other positive byproducts of removing these hidden toxins in your life are enjoying better sleep, improved digestion, lusher hair and nails, and overall better vitality.
Just as you wouldn’t want to bring a guest into a dirty home, you don’t want to create your child in an unhealthy or even toxic environment. Together, we can ensure that your body is a healthy and beautiful place to allow your baby to grow in.
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation today.
