women's health

5 Superfoods You Can And Should Be Eating Daily

5 Superfoods You Can And Should Be Eating Daily

I like to believe we all want to eat well.  We want to fill our bodies with nutritious foods that satisfy our hunger, stabilize our blood sugar, support a healthy metabolism, and keep us upbeat, energetic, and youthful.  I also believe that we are in over our heads with work, family life, and other time commitments.  When time is limited, our daily to-dos take priority over nutritious diets.  

Regardless of your busy schedule, adding these 5 foods to your daily routine is achievable and worth the minimal effort they require. 

While adding these 5 foods to your daily routine doesn’t give you license to spend the rest of your day eating junk food, my hope is that they can be gateway foods to a more nutritious diet once you realize how simple and beneficial it can be to eat healthy.  

Why Your Fertility Tracker App May Be Inaccurate

I am a woman, but I am also a scientist, which means I love anything that can help make my life as a woman easier, but I want to be sure the data it is accurate and reproducible. Therefore I’ve been doing an experiment recently to compare the effectiveness and predictive ability of several fertility tracker methods, including Basal Body Temperature charting (I’ll explain this in more detail below) and several common apps. 

Time to Rethink the Birth Control Pill?

Time to Rethink the Birth Control Pill?

Are you on Birth Control Pills (BCPs)?  It’s more than likely you are since they are given out like skittles for whatever ails a woman.  Menstrual cramps? PMS symptoms? acne? contraception? We’ve got the pill for that!  That should be red flag #1.  A pill for everything?  If you are experiencing PMS symptoms, menstrual cramps or acne, it is an indication that the endocrine system needs recalibration, not suppression.

8 Tips for Managing Stress & Decreasing Cortisol

8 Tips for Managing Stress & Decreasing Cortisol

Stressed?  You’re not alone. Many of us are spending our days high on cortisol, the primary stress hormone.  High levels of cortisol in the bloodstream interfere with the proper functioning of our other hormones which help regulate appetite, sleep, sex drive, energy, and mental clarity, among other functions.  Cortisol is not the enemy, it is a vital hormone in our physiology.  A surge of cortisol, triggered by the sympathetic nervous system, enables us to flee or fight an impending threat.  It stimulates the body to make energy readily available to use for this function.  Ideally, in the absence of a threat, we should revert to our “rest and digest” functions of the parasympathetic nervous system. However, many of us are stuck in sympathetic dominance, stimulating the continuous and unremitting deluge of cortisol.  
 

Castor Oil Packs to Help You Get Pregnant, Ease Menstrual Cramps, and Detox Stress

Castor Oil Packs to Help You Get Pregnant, Ease Menstrual Cramps, and Detox Stress

Castor Oil Packs are a great tool to help naturally promote reproductive health.  I recommend them for a variety of gynecological conditions including fertility, endometriosis, menstrual cramps, fibroids, hormone balance. Find out how and when to use them to get pregnant faster, ease menstrual cramps, and detox stress. 

The Life-Changing Magic of Hot Lemon Water

The Life-Changing Magic of Hot Lemon Water

I know that title sounds dramatic, but simple daily habits like drinking a cup of hot water with lemon each morning can really change the way we think and feel.  Usually I’m a firm believer in the mantra “there are no shortcuts to health,” but this little trick may be one of the simplest and easiest life hacks with significant health benefits.  With this daily habit there’s really no excuse for “no time.”  It’s as simple as filling your cup with hot water and tossing in a slice of lemon.  And for that little effort each day you can expect a variety of improvements in your health. 

 

How Acupuncture Works: Accessing Your Bodies’ Smart Technology

How Acupuncture Works: Accessing Your Bodies’ Smart Technology

“Does Acupuncture Work?”

Whether I’m at a cocktail party or conversing with a stranger on a plane, I hear this question all the time.  My answer is a resounding “Yes!” with over 3000 years of anecdotal evidence and over 30 years of rigorous scientific evidence to support it.   Still skeptical? Ask around! Chances are, if you ask anyone who has received acupuncture for any number of conditions, they have found it effective.  Once you’ve tried it, I’m confident you will become a believer too.  But the good news is you don’t even have to be a believer for it to work, because the secret to its effectiveness isn’t in the placebo effect, it’s in our physiology and anatomy! The body is the most sophisticated technology we will ever know, yet it is also the most under-appreciated and underutilized.