Chocolate - Not So Innocent...

Today’s session is a spotlight on one of my favorite modalities, Chinese herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of treating infertility and has a remarkable curative effect in the treatment of gynecological and obstetrical diseases. Much of the time, conventional medical treatment with surgery, drugs, in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) or other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) does not always result in a viable pregnancy and live birth. It turns out that an integrative approach will double your odds of success! So, if you’re at the end of your rope on your path to baby, consider integrating herbs in your fertility regime. 

Don't believe me? Let's look at the research - In a meta-analysis study, eight randomized controlled trials reported a doubling in the pregnancy rate in subfertile women using Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) within a 4-month treatment period compared with Western medical drug therapy alone. Another meta-analysis study suggested a 2 fold higher probability of achieving a pregnancy with CHM therapy than with WM therapy alone in women with infertility. Both of these studies included women with PCOS, endometriosis, anovulation, fallopian tube blockage, or unexplained infertility.

There are dozens of Chinese formulas used to address reproductive and hormonal health. So, as always, I aim to give you the tools you need to better your chances of conception. Tune in to get a glimpse of some of my favorite formulas and the ailments they treat. 

Want the full list of supplements mentioned? They’re listed in detail when you purchase a copy of The Ultimate Fertility Guidebook. 

Bonus? The JUNK JUICE formulas listed are available for purchase! Click here to grab EGG QUALITY and CHILL. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Research supporting the effectiveness of Chinese herbs in treating “unexplained infertility” 
• My favorite Chinese herbal formulas and what they treat 
• The benefits of an integrative approach to reproductive health

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

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Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Environmental toxins are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in the soil that grows our food. When we talk about reducing our toxic load, much of it seems well beyond our control. After all, we live in a society that prioritizes convenience over all else, and plastic is very very convenient. However, there are ways that we can take back the reins. In today’s episode, we touch on microplastics and how they impact egg and sperm health. These tiny fragments are unfortunately on the rise. I'll give you the download on where they are creeping in, so that you can avoid them. 

Microplastics (MPs), small pieces of plastic (∼5 mm), are released into the environment not only as a result of the decomposition of large-sized plastics but also from day-to-day use of plastic products. But not just from plastic bottles and cups.  Think food, cosmetics, disposable coffee cups, teabags and more.  

Many environmental pollutants can act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), mimicking the activity of endogenous steroid hormones and interfering in endocrine functions with different mechanisms, such as your reproductive system. 

An overconsumption of MP’s negatively affects female and male fertility due to inflammation and oxidative stress. Studies have shown that extensive exposure to MPs aggravates various toxicities such as decreased diameter and number of eggs, decreased or empty follicles, inflamed ovaries, and reduced ovarian reserve. On the male side, exposure has been linked to decreased sperm quality and motility. 

Tune into today’s session to get the scoop on all things microplastics and how you can lessen your toxic load. 

You’ll learn: 

• The prevalence of microplastics worldwide
• Research linking consumption of microplastics to infertility 
• How you can avoid overconsumption

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Physical activity is a popular topic in the fertility landscape. More specifically - how much is too much and what is not enough? Many factors such as body type, weight, BMI, etc play a significant role in deciding what is right for you. With an overwhelming amount of information available, it can be difficult to establish your own exercise regime in the midst of trying to conceive. Some of you may quit altogether for fear of messing up your efforts. Others may continue with a rather intense regime for fear they might get fat or too stressed without it.

The general consensus appears to support that moderate intensity and duration of exercise is best. Among women, increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behavior may improve fertility. Likely in part through maintenance of body weight. However, exercise can also regulate hormones, or throw them off...

High levels of physical activity could inhibit ovulation, leading to decreased fertility, for example. In contrast, research shows that sedentary behavior was associated with decreased female fertility. Similar trends are reported for male fertility. As for IVF - Female physical activity before IVF/ICSI cycles was associated with increased rates of clinical pregnancy and live births as long as it was kept under 4 hrs per week.  

So, what does an ideal routine look like? Listen up to get the scoop.

You’ll Learn: 

• Research on the relationship between over-exercise/under-exercise and fertility 
• What exercise regime is best for facilitating conception 
• The importance of body type in determining your best protocol 

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Your phone may be adversely affecting your fertility. Not kidding. Electronics are a major source of oxidative stress. I was actually shocked as I dove into the research. Yet, we aren't hearing much about it. Likely because we are so addicted, no one wants to hear it. Not to mention that it is a major economic driver.

More than three billion people are exposed to human-made EMFs (electro magnetic fields) every day. In the digital age, they’re almost impossible to avoid. You absorb EMFs from most technology: power lines, your cell phone, computer, tablet, television, WIFI router, Bluetooth, and pretty much anything else that runs on batteries or electricity. Not only can this be disruptive to your hormones and sleep schedule, but it is actually considered a human carcinogen. Yes, a confirmed cancer causing agent. But since that's not your focus, let's talk about how it's been proven to alter reproductive health. 

It's been long understood that phones and laptops kill sperm. In fact, sperm counts are now half of what they were 50 years ago. Studies show that the oxidative stress causes sperm death and lowers testosterone in men. Lesser known is that it's bad for women too. 

A 2015 study found that EMF exposure causes follicles to decrease rapidly—essentially destroying egg stores at a faster rate than usual and reducing your odds of pregnancy. Another study found that exposure to certain frequencies will impact follicle growth - Follicles are important because these have the potential to release eggs to be fertilized. Yet another showed high exposure caused pregnancy loss. Interestingly, wifi and other EMF exposure isn't regulated in the USA as it is in other countries. So yes, we are exposed to more....

Tune in to get the scoop!

You’ll Learn: 

• What EMF’s are and why they are so harmful 
• Research supporting the link between infertility and EMF exposure 
• Ways in which you can limit your daily exposure

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Modern life can be pretty toxic at times. The focus on extending shelf life of products can lead to the addition of harmul chemicals. Not to mention that coloring or straightening, injecting our faces and so on just really involve chemicals to work as they do. 

The average woman uses 12 different beauty products every day. This means that you can absorb many endocrine and hormone disrupters without knowing it. In terms of fertility concerns specifically, EDCs have been linked with reproductive development disorders, ovarian dysfunction, subfertility, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women. 

Case in point: a study published online Dec. 3, 2019, by the International Journal of Cancer found a link between hair dye and breast cancer. Women in the study who used permanent hair dye at least once in the 12 months leading up to the study had a 9% higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who didn't use hair dye. Harmful additives like Parabens, Toluene, Triclosan, Phthalates and lead are just some of many to look for. 

In today's session we dive into harmful ingredients and their aliases. Its easy to turn a blind eye to this kind of thing. However, if you are at a point where you feel like nothing is working and/or you just want to take charge and do everything you can, then listen in.

You’ll Learn: 

• What is an EDC (endocrine distrupting chemical)
• Harmful chemicals commonly found in beauty products 
• Research supporting the link between certain chemicals and infertility 

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

There are a myriad of new kits out there to "diagnose" hormonal patterns from the comfort of your own home. Today's session is dedicated to the art of "cycle mapping", with new technology as well as low-tech DIY methods. 

If you are already in the throws of IVF, you may wonder what the point of this may be. I'd like to build a case that assessing your hormone levels can give insight as to what is happening beneath the surface, so you can devise a plan for boosting your fertility with the help of supplements, herbs and lifestyle change. 

At-home hormone tests are often urine-based and look at sex hormones and their metabolites - estrogens, progesterone, androgens, and even cortisol and melatonin. Getting to know your patterns helps to identify issues that could influence fertility. However, that is not the only at-home testing you can utilize. Simple BBT (basal body temperature charting) is also an incredibly useful tool when tracking your cycle, identifying hormone imbalances and your fertile window.

Trying to conceive can be both mentally and financially taxing, and it motivates many to seek out the knowledge to take back some control. Even better when it's from the comfort of your own home.  Tune in today to get the scoop!

You’ll Learn: 

• The phases of your hormones
• How to map your cycle
• At-home hormone testing methods and their pros & cons

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Antioxidants are a powerful ally for fertility and overall health. The general rationale is that they slow or even reverse the effects of aging. Acai, a berry from the South American Amazon, is packed with powerful antioxidants. It is undergoing trials to boost ovarian function and egg quality. The data so far looks very promising. 

The rationale behind the effectiveness of this supplement as well as other antioxidants is that oxidative stress is a major player in poor egg and embryo quality. A recent clinical study published in a peer-reviewed journal finds that women of advanced maternal age (women age 39 and older) who took an acai berry antioxidant supplement had comparable in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes to their younger counterparts, demonstrating its positive effects on aging-associated decline in fertility. 

Today's episode highlights the benefits of adding Acai to your supplement regime. Acai berries are rich in fatty acids, especially oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids. Not to mention, they contain more antioxidants than other commonly eaten berries which are believed to help protect against various diseases as they can neutralize oxidative damage caused by lifestyle and environmental stressors (i.e. pollution, bad food etc.). 

Tune into today’s episode to get the scoop on all things acai and find out if it's the right fit for you. 

You’ll Learn: 

• The benefits of Acai berries 
• Acai’s effect on improved IVF/fertility outcomes 
• The connection between antioxidants and oxidative stress 

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Before we had access to modern diagnostics, we relied on observation of physical signs, in addition to what the patient reported, of course. Nowadays we rely so heavily on labs and scans, that we have lost track of how our body communicates with us. 

Eastern medicine practitioners usually look at the tongue and take the pulse to gather information on internal health. However, there are other signs that can be observed by practitioners and laypeople alike.  There are several physical diagnostic tools such as the quality of your hair, skin and nails. In today's session, we dive into assessing the nails, in order to get a glimpse into the possible imbalances happening inside the body such as nutrition deficiencies, auto-immune disorders, liver health, inflammation, parasites and so much more. 

For example, longitudinal lines can be an indicator of malabsorption while horizontal lines are a sign of depletion and illness. The absence of “moons” on your nails, otherwise known as lunula, is an indicator of weakness and if too large they could be a sign of cirrhosis of your liver! Have you ever glanced down and noticed little white specs on your nails? This could mean you are mineral deficient.  

In the midst of the latest technology and advancements in Western medicine, we often forget about the importance of knowing how to read our bodies. Being aware of certain features or reactions is critical when attempting to understand our physiology. The body tells us what is happening before it shows up in labs. 

Want to learn more about your nail health? Tune in to today's session and discover what your body is trying to communicate. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Eastern and Western medicine principles of nail diagnosis
• Various nail analyses and what they mean 
• How the body communicates early warning signs of an imbalance 

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

A new year is a good opportunity for new beginnings. A "reset" of sorts to get you back on track. Making a baby is not always as straightforward as you had expected or hoped. If the fertility struggle has left you feeling lost, disillusioned, anxious or depressed, today's session is for you. It can be truly transformative when we integrate small doses of meditation and mindfulness into our daily routine.

Meditation and other forms of mindfulness have been used for millennia to change your emotional, spiritual and physical health. By reducing stress, enhancing emotional equilibrium, and promoting relaxation, meditation contributes to an environment more conducive to conception. When combined with medical interventions, meditation can provide quick acting and effective therapy (at no cost) for patients seeking to improve their emotional wellbeing while enhancing their fertility.

Research on the topic supports the effects of meditation in improving your emotional state as well as fertility outcomes. Tune into today's session to get the goods on how meditation makes miracles on your fertility journey. 

You’ll Learn: 

• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• The research supporting the correlation between meditation and improved fertility outcomes 
• Ways you can get started on your meditation journey

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts! 

Today’s episode shines a light on a new supplement making its way into the fertility landscape. Pyrroloquinoline quinone, otherwise known as PQQ, is a redox cofactor that has been shown to stimulate the growth of new mitochondria, the cellular powerhouse where nutrients are turned into a form of energy cells can use. It is in essence, a very powerful antioxidant.  Whereas CoQ10 energizes the mitochondria, PQQ can actually help create NEW ones. This is major in reversing the effects of aging and oxidative stress. 

The development of sperm and egg cells is a highly complex and energy-dependent process that is supported by and requires a diverse array of micronutrients, which decline as we age and continue to consume poor-quality food. PQQ has been found to improve cell functions by stimulating growth, reducing oxidative stress (protecting cells from damage) as well as spontaneous generation of new mitochondria within aging cells.

You may know that a fertility-friendly diet, eliminating smoking, minimizing alcohol, reducing stress, and engaging in fertility-friendly exercise is very important when trying to conceive, but we also know that fertility-specific supplements can be powerful allies in the fertility journey. Catered "nutraceuticals" can help you fill in nutritional gaps and provide other nutrients that are difficult to get through diet alone. 

Could this supplement be right for you? Tune in to get the scoop.

You’ll Learn: 

• Research supporting PQQ’s benefits in fertility outcomes 
• What PQQ is and how it can be supplemented
• The correlation between the mitochondria and sperm/egg quality

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think others would love to hear it, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode or want to be a guest on the show? Leave a comment in the section below or visit the website to contact me!

www.naturnalife.com

Subscribing to The Podcast:

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, or whatever your favorite podcast app is!

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. So if you have a minute, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts!