Women’s health is unique
This website area focuses exclusively on health topics that affect the health of women.
Topics covered in this section include:
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Fertility
- Pregnancy
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition where a woman’s uterine lining grows outside of the uterus.
Not only is this extremely pain for women, but can have several effects on her health including:
- Reduced quality of life
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Painful intercourse
- Uncomfortable gut symptoms
- Infertility.
The condition is commonly treated with surgery, hormone therapy and medications; however, researchers are discovering that diet also plays a role.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance condition in women that is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Weight gain
- Male-pattern hair growth
- High androgen (male hormone) levels
- Polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound
- Irregular or absent periods
- Infertility.
Weight loss is a major treatment method in improving the hormonal imbalance associated with this condition, and is therefore one of the main reasons why diet is so important in managing PCOS.
Fertility and pre-natal nutrition
Fertility issues are actually quite common, affecting 10-15% couples trying to conceive.
A woman’s fertility can be affected by a number of factors, diet being a significant one.
However, there are also particular women’s conditions that can affect a woman’s natural fertility – PCOS and Endometriosis; both of which can be managed with diet.
Pregnancy nutrition
The health of a growing fetus relies on the nutrition of their mother.
Likewise, the health of the mother relies on the nutrition they are providing for themselves.
However, there are many additional factors that can affect a woman’s ability to eat well during pregnancy, such as:
- Morning sickness
- Food aversions
- Early satiety
- Reflux
- Knowledge around what’s safe and what’s not during pregnancy.
All articles about Women’s Health
The Real Reason You’re Always Bloated (And It’s Not FODMAPs)
If you’re eating all the “safe” foods but your belly still blows up like you’re 5 months pregnant after every meal, there’s a reason no one’s told you about.
Because what you think is bloating might actually be a gut-muscle issue. It has nothing to do with what you ate, and everything to do with how your body is reacting to digestion.
There’s a hidden condition where your abdominal wall and diaphragm stop working in sync, and instead of creating space during digestion, your body does the opposite: it pushes out when it should be pulling in.
Most doctors don’t test for it. Many have never even heard of it. But if you’ve tried restrictive diets, probiotics, or gut protocols — and your symptoms still haven’t improved — this could be the missing piece.
[Discover More…]IBS, Anxiety & Bladder Issues: The Hidden Link Doctors Miss
If you’ve ever had IBS symptoms that come with bladder urgency, pelvic pain, or just feel like your whole lower body is out of sync…
You’re not imagining it.
The gut, the brain, and the bladder — plus the pelvic floor — are all part of the same network. And if you don’t understand how they influence each other, you’ll never get full relief.
This is a monumental missing link in gut health that I want to unpack for you today, and it’s especially important if your approach has always been limited to diet changes and hasn’t really helped your gut.
In this article, I’m going to give you a quick foundation so you understand what the gut-brain-bladder axis is, why it matters, and how to restore balance when this axis becomes disrupted.
[Discover More…]Menstrual Cycle Phases and Weight Loss: How To Ensure It Won’t Cramp Your Efforts
Many women experience uncomfortable and frustrating changes to their body with every monthly cycle.
Among these discomforts are hormonal and behavioral fluctuations that can make weight loss even more challenging than it already is.
But losing weight, even when on your period, is possible.
This article takes a look at how your menstrual cycle impacts the hormones that influence your body weight, and how premenopausal women can still achieve their weight loss goals.
But first, let’s review some menstrual cycle basics.
[Discover More…]6 Simple Diet Changes That Boost Fertility and Help You Fall Pregnant (Plus a Fertility Meal Plan)
Struggling to fall pregnant?
You’re not alone. In fact, 10-15% of couples face fertility issues (1).
In addition to taking a pre-conception multivitamin, there are certain diet and lifestyle changes that can improve fertility by up to 69% (2).
This article summarizes 6 key diet changes that research indicates can boost natural fertility.
[Discover More…]Endometriosis and Diet: What You Can Do About It In 2019
Endometriosis is a painful condition that can greatly impact your quality of life.
Diet changes are said to help relieve symptoms, but does the evidence support these claims?
This article explores the role of diet in endometriosis treatment.
[Discover More…]How To Lose Weight When You Have PCOS: 8 Science-Backed Tips
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common hormonal disorder that affects up to 20% of pre-menopausal women.
The exact cause is unknown, but an imbalance of male sex hormones (called androgens) is a big culprit.
One of the most common symptoms is weight gain. In fact, 39% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese (1).
Fortunately, a few lifestyle changes can help you to balance hormones and lose weight.
This article looks at 8 tips for losing weight when you have PCOS.
[Discover More…]The Best Diet for PCOS: Splitting Fact From Fiction
PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders in the developed world.
In fact, it’s thought to affect almost 7% of pre-menopausal women in the US (1).
But there is surprisingly limited information on how to treat it naturally.
This article explores the best diet for PCOS, as based on scientific evidence.
[Discover More…][Infographic] Top 6 Foods To Avoid When Pregnant
Research continues to show that most women do not receive proper nutrition education during pregnancy.
That is despite the fact that eating the wrong things, and in the wrong amounts, can be particularly dangerous for the unborn child.
This infographic looks at the top 6 foods that a mother-to-be should be avoiding, as shown by the current evidence.
What Can’t You Eat When Pregnant? The Top 6 Foods To Avoid (No. 4 Is Highly Controversial)
What you eat during pregnancy is crucial.
The embryo is completely dependent on the availability and supply of nutrients provided by the mother.
The quality of these nutrients – helpful or harmful – is determined entirely by her nutrient stores and eating patterns.
So it’s troubling that a review of 25 studies found most women do not receive adequate nutrition education during pregnancy…
[Discover More…]
