Hey everyone! It is Melissa and I am back after taking more than a year off my coaching business and the podcast.
This is a quick update of where I am at personally, but also what is to come in 2024.
As mentioned in the episode, grab your free guide at this link to daily practices that can help you jumpstart your fertility NOW: https://nourishmel.ck.page/jumpstartfertility
Wishing all of you a happy new year :)
Katie Dewhurst is the founder and CEO of Hello Balance, a health and wellness company helping women optimize their health through food. Katie is a certified functional medicine health coach and nutritionist, a cookbook author, and the founder of the Hello Baby Prenatal Nutrition Course which teaches women everything they need to know about optimizing their nutrition for pregnancy. She’s spent the last 6 years living abroad in Singapore and building her private coaching practice.
Research that we discussed:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286312000599?via%3Dihub
Anderson OS, Sant KE, Dolinoy DC. Nutrition and epigenetics: an interplay of dietary methyl donors, one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation. J Nutr Biochem. 2012 Aug;23(8):853-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Jun 27. PMID: 22749138; PMCID: PMC3405985.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8181666/
Yen TT, Gill AM, Frigeri LG, Barsh GS, Wolff GL. Obesity, diabetes, and neoplasia in yellow A(vy)/- mice: ectopic expression of the agouti gene. FASEB J. 1994 May;8(8):479-88. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.8.8.8181666. PMID: 8181666.
https://www.nature.com/articles/ng0994-59#citeas
Duhl, D., Vrieling, H., Miller, K. et al. Neomorphic agouti mutations in obese yellow mice. Nat Genet 8, 59–65 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0994-59
Brown mouses mom got supplemented with methyl-nutrients while white obese mouses mom was not given any methyl-nutrients.
Find Katie online:
https://www.hellobalance.co/ Look out for Katie's Free fertility guide coming at May 03!
Instagram:
@hellobabynutrition (fertility related)
@hellobalance (everything else including blood sugar management)
Shanila Sattar is a 4th generation sound healer, breathwork coach, women’s researcher, national speaker, and host of a Top 6 podcast, The Playground. She is the founder of AlwaysPlay Studios and The Integrative Healing Academy, which trains sound healers and breathwork facilitators, and THE PLAYGROUND which mentors aspiring healers in health and wellness. She practices integrative wellness - considering a person's emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. She loves to mix the science and the woo in her practice and hopes that she’s able to reach people who may feel that wellness is inaccessible to them. She is particularly interested in helping BIPOC healers hone their crafts and close wellness gaps in our communities. In the past years, she’s supported 1000s to do the same through programs, mentorships, and trainings, being one of the first to receive grants from the State of California to bring holistic healing such as sound and breathwork to clinical populations. She’s implemented programs in women’s shelters, veteran’s legions, and underserved school populations to continue this work.
Her background is in tech, having co-founded an award winning web agency, and in women’s research science, specifically in mindsets, implicit bias, perfectionism, women's health, and societal experiences supported through the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Health, and several universities.
Socials:
@shanila.sattar@alwaysplaystudios
Pre order Breathe: www.alwaysplay.org/orderbreathe
Free Breathwork Community: tinyurl.com/playground222
Madelaine Golec graduated from McMaster University in 2012 completing her Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy and started her study of Pelvic Health in 2014. Is currently working on her Somatic Experiencing Practitioner certificate.
As a pelvic floor physiotherapist she is passionate about helping uncertain moms-to-be prepare for birth so they feel capable and confident in their bodies ability to birth and recover. She wants women to actualize their full power and potential in their journey to motherhood and beyond.
So many moms-to-be are worried about labour pain, how they are going to handle it, are they going to tear, what medical interventions might be used, fear of something going wrong and what will become of their bodies after birth.
Madelaine gave birth to her daughter in 2016 without any medical management or epidural. She attests her wonderful birth experience to preparation of her body, knowledge she gained about labour and birth and preparation of her mind, which she now wants to share with others, so they can have a positive birth experience. This passion comes from hearing so many clients say, “I wish I had known and why didn’t anyone tell me.”
Madelaine has developed a 5 pillar strategic approach to help women prepare for birth and postpartum recovery, through a mind-body embodied approach focusing on Connection, relaxation, activation, preparation and pain management.
Links:
www.instagram.com/madelainegolec
www.instagram.com/livingabetterlifepodcast
Free Mini-Training: How to work with labour pain to have a more positive birth experience www.ecophysio.com/minitraining
Free Masterclass: How To Prepare Down There for Birth www.ecophysio.com/masterclass
The Better birth method Online DIY Program: www.ecophysio.com/bbm
Allison is a licensed Acupuncturist and a registered member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. She is also a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM), a member of the Obstetrical Acupuncture Association (OBAA), a Certified Laser Technician (CLT), and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200).
She has specialized training in fertility and reproductive health. As a stage 3 Endo Warrior herself, Allison is extremely passionate in helping treat the pain and symptoms of endometriosis. Allison believes in truly understanding the holistic picture of every individual’s health in order to provide exceptional care that surpasses the boundaries of the physical, mental, and emotional levels. She believes that each patient is a unique case that requires understanding, skill, and above all else, compassion.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sea_of_qi_healing/
Website: https://www.seaofqihealing.com/
Previous episode: #98 TCM and Acupuncture Use for PCOS with Allison Locke
Dr. Zen is a naturopathic doctor and the founder of NMD Wellness of Scottsdale, a naturopathic medical practice focusing on helping women in their 20s and 30s take a proactive approach to their hormone and fertility health. Dr. Zen has been featured as a lead expert in Forbes, Shape Magazine, and Instyle and is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between traditional and natural medicine in the world of fertility. She works with a variety of hormone related issues including PCOS and endometriosis. Her goal is to help more women get back into the driver’s seat of their own health to make lasting transformational change to their health and bring more cute and adorable babies to the world.
Website: www.nmdwellnessofscottsdale.com
Instagram: @drzennmd
Contact us: info@thedrzen.com
Renata is an artist, self-worth coach, designer, writer, and all-around creative being. Originally born in Mexico City, Mexico and raised in Los Angeles, Renata explores themes of identity, creative expression, healing, and self-worth through her work. Inspired by her own immigration experience, she also dedicates herself to guiding other women in their healing journey and to create a life on their own terms.
I wanted to have her on the show to share what it was like to be diagnosed with PCOS, which then led her down the path of trying to find optimal health for herself.
Website: https://www.renatamcelvany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renatamcelvany/
Ara Katz is the co-founder and co-CEO of Seed Health, a microbial sciences company pioneering applications of microbes for human and planetary health. A serial entrepreneur, it was Ara’s breastfeeding experience that led her to the microbiome and inspired her personal mission to explore the importance and impact of microbes. At Seed Health, she leads fundraising, design thinking, brand, insights, commercialization, and the company’s translational work in science communication and storytelling. She is also a co-founder of Seed Health’s environmental initiative, SeedLabs, and its first therapeutics partner company, LUCA Biologics.
Ara previously co-founded and served as CMO of digital commerce company Spring, where she helped launch ApplePay on iPhone, and was on the founding team of social commerce company BeachMint. As an advisor and angel investor across health tech, ed tech, consumer, and sustainability, Ara has supported companies like RXDefine, Newness, C16 Biosciences, MindBodyGreen, Mahmee Maternal Care, Stadium Goods, and Unicycle. She has been a fellow at the MIT Media Lab’s Center for Future Storytelling and has been listed in Marie Claire’s “The New Guard: The 50 Most Influential Women in America”, Business Insider’s “Silicon Alley Top 100” and “36 Rockstar Women in NYC Tech”, and Create + Cultivate’s 100 List for STEM. She is the author of A Kids Book About Your Microbiome. Ara lives in Venice, California with her husband and five-year-old son, Pax.
Seed Health: https://seed.com/
A Kids Book About Your Microbiome: https://akidsco.com/products/a-kids-book-about-your-microbiome
As a holistic oral health educator, the founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry, and the founder of Happi Floss, Doctor Staci Whitman is on a mission to create a cavity-free world. With her extensive education in both conventional dentistry as well as functional health, Doctor Staci is a trailblazer for holistic and preventative dentistry for both kids and adults.
Look out for:
- hydroxyapatite in your toothpaste
- a functional dentist
- to have your voice heard with your dentist
Links:
NoPo Kids Dentistry: https://nopokids.com/
Dr Staci's Website: https://doctorstaci.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_staci/
Newsletter sign up: https://doctorstaci.com/newsletter/
BOKA toothpaste: https://boka.9i9b.net/b3jAMb .use DOCTORSTACI for 20% off
RISEWELL toothpaste: https://risewell.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpdqDBhCSARIsAEUJ0hPuipYfPYyq-YkL6k6VEQvTXKYbB9dfv-3SOAa92_pTfhdhR9OJotAaAksjEALw_wcB?. use DOCTORSTACI for 10%off
Resources:
https://askthedentist.com/
Functional Dentist Directory: https://askthedentist.com/directory/
Holistic Dental Association: https://holisticdental.org/
IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Technology): https://iaomt.org/
IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine): https://iabdm.org/
Bristle Microbiome Kit: https://www.bristlehealth.com/
After years of living with high-functioning anxiety, Ellen eventually reached a tipping point after two hospitalizations related to burn out. Although she appeared like she "had it all together", she struggled internally with never ending negative self-talk, difficulty saying no to others, perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Determined to find a solution to high-functioning anxiety, Ellen combined her clinical expertise, love for women's psychology and even travelled to the happiest countries on earth to learn about happiness. As a Naturopathic Doctor, Self-Talk Transformologist®, and founder of The Joy Avenue, Ellen works with women to transform their overwhelm, worry and anxiousness into calm and confidence. But what she's most passionate about is helping women create joy in every aspect of their lives, one thought at a time.
Take the High Functioning Anxiety Quiz Here!
Website: drellenwong.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyavenue/
Dr. Bhopal is board certified in Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, and Integrative Holistic Medicine. She has a special interest in the intersection of sleep and mental wellbeing.
She brings various disciplines into her practice to offer a comprehensive approach to mental health, including nutrition, mindset coaching, psychotherapy, yoga and meditation, and Ayurveda. She also has a YouTube channel where she shares holistic strategies to optimize sleep and mental health.
Check out her website to learn more: https://intrabalance.com/
Free Sleep Guide: https://intrabalance.com/sleep-guide/
Instagram: @pacificintegrativepsych and @intrabalance
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/intrabalance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishibhopal/
My website: www.shannonND.ca
Free Ovulation Guide Download: www.shannonND.ca/ovulationguide
Fertility Foundations Online Course: www.shannonND.ca/foundation
Instagram: @drshannonND
Dr. Shannon Vander Doelen is a Toronto, Canada-based licensed Naturopathic Doctor, wellness speaker and entrepreneur. She supports people on their journey to, and through motherhood - from hormonal health and fertility, to pregnancy and postpartum. Her mission as an ND is to make healthy living and feeling well simple, realistic and sustainable. Her goal is to ensure that her patients feel supported and empowered to make simple changes in their lives that support their overall health despite leading busy and active lives (yes, even with a baby, or two, running around!) She is the creator of Fertility Foundations, an online program to support women to understand and optimize their fertility.
When she is not wearing her ND-hat, she can be found adventuring through life with her super sweet and super feisty little girl, and her husband. She spends as much time outdoors as possible, loves a homecooked meal and a good kitchen dance party.
She earned her doctorate degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is also a graduate of the University of Guelph, where she earned her Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences. She is a member in good standing of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
Related podcast episodes to preconception and fertility:
#102 Real Foods & Micronutrients for Pregnancy with Lily Nichols
#101 Optimize Your Fertility Garden with Jun Negoro
#92 PCOS Fertility Q&A with Dr Sara Norris
#80 Diving Deep intro PreNatals & Fertility Nutrition with Macy Coleman
Cecilia Yu is a dear Facebook friend and an integrative IIN health coach who lives in Bangkok. We found each other on Facebook and connected due to our passion for health and healthy living. Cecilia is an expert in immunity and cultivating anti-inflammatory diets for children and women. She helps mothers build a healthier home environment for their families and conducts frequent cooking classes and workshops that are reviewed highly.
Cecilia breaks down the basics of inflammation and explains what someone needs to do in order to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet. She has experienced success with curing her daughter's asthma and respiratory problems with this diet and is now on a mission to help other mothers with children who have the same respiratory concerns.
Find Cecilia on Facebook at her page - A Dose of Vitamin L
If you would like to start incorporating foods that can fight inflammation and help with weight loss, check out my guide to PCOS Weight Loss.
This was such a popular episode from this year that I have decided to republish it again for new listeners. Adaptogens are a big hot topic and if you're wondering what it is, look no further! Enjoy this conversation as we talk in depth about adaptogens and how the stress response works in our body.
Megan Grover has been in the industry of nutrition, herbal medicine and education for the last ten years. Megan has a Masters of Medical Science in Human Nutrition and use herbal medicine in her practice. She has worked with a variety of clients, incorporating herbal medicine in her practice and have a small apothecary at home. In addition, she currently teaches for the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado and have also worked as an assistant professor of nutrition, anatomy and physiology for the past three years.
She believes in understanding the reason behind physiology and the connection between mind body and spirit.
We had an engaging conversation about what it means to be stressed and how our body reacts to stress on a daily basis.
Learn more about the use of adaptogens and their powerful ability to modulate our stress resilience and response as plant medicines.
Find out more about Megan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyadaptogen/
She is currently taking on new clients for autoimmune issues and GI issues.
Connect with Megan on Sofia Health: https://sofiahealth.com
Nutrition Therapy Institute: https://ntischool.com/
Becky Lee is a cancer thriver of over 20 years, a naturopathic doctor with a special focus in cancer and a cancer coach. She has worked with 100s of patients and clients over the years from primary prevention to diagnosis to cancer recovery post treatments and is passionate about walking beside her patients where they need her.
She also has three girls and is passionate about helping women! Her heart and practice is in helping women, just like her, thrive after cancer treatments through her Femme Thrive Method cancer recovery program. As a cancer survivor - she knows intimately what that journey feels like - and how lonely it can be and how being deemed cancer-free doesn't always feel free! She also knows how lives and health can change for the better if the proper tools and strategies are put in place and is fiercely working to share that message!
With the statistics as high as 1 in 2 being affected by cancer sometime in their lifetime, Becky believes optimizing our health has never been more important not just to prevent cancer and other diseases but to help us live our best purpose driven lives.
Instagram: thrive.nd - https://www.instagram.com/thrive.nd/
Facebook: Dr Becky ND - https://www.facebook.com/drbeckynd
Website: www.thrivemethodhub.com
Youtube: Thrive Method Hub - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHI4ueRUwrctUE1JHSY-ETQ
**The app Wavelength is no longer available as of Jan 27 2022.
Sarah Stites is the co-founder and CEO of Wavelength, a modern program for healthy eating that combines personalized nutrition with mental health tools. She knows first-hand the shame that comes with eating and weight-related issues — she was diagnosed with PCOS and prediabetes as a teen, gaining 100lbs in a year. While diet programs relied on guilt and body shame, her mom — a PhD with a masters degree in nutrition science — helped her take a more compassionate approach. By using principles from behavioral neuroscience, addiction, nutrition, and mindfulness, Sarah was able to understand the root cause of her habits, reverse her prediabetes, and lose 150lbs. That was over ten years ago. Now, Sarah leads the Wavelength team to scale her mom’s holistic solution to millions of people. She is a fierce advocate for “more science, less blame,” and pleasure as an important part of health. She believes it’s time to move beyond the concept of body perfection, and start focusing on helping people have a better time in their bodies instead.
To get 50% off the cost of joining Wavelength: wavelength.live\nourish
Website: https://www.joinwavelength.com/
Dr Terry Loong is a qualified doctor for more than 18 years, having graduated from King’s College London in 2002. She first trained as a surgeon before specializing in Aesthetic Medicine in 2007. She started out her career, inspired by her late mother who suffered from hormonal acne and acne scars which led to her first book “The Hormonal Acne Solution”.
When Dr Terry was 30 years old, she was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer which led her down the path of nutrition, lifestyle medicine and hormonal balance. Her philosophy as an Integrative Skin and Hormone Doctor is to help her patients look and feel their best, with each passing year, naturally and holistically.
Through her personal experience and working with patients through the decades, Dr Terry specializes in skin care planning, aesthetic treatments and hormonal balance (particularly hormonal acne, peri menopause and menopause). Having grown up in Malaysia and trained in UK and USA, she combines Eastern philosophy with Western technology and science.
She believes when a woman prioritize herself, it will create a positive ripple effect with her family, her community and the world at large.
Skincare words to look out for: Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B-3)
Dr Terry Loong's website: https://drterryloong.com/
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_terry_/ (@dr_terry_)
The Hormonal Acne Solution book: https://www.amazon.com/Hormonal-Acne-Solution-Antibiotics-Roaccutane/dp/1500174505
Hormonal Acne Free Guide: www.howtoclearhormonalacne.com
Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Drawing from the current scientific literature and the wisdom of traditional cultures, her work is known for being research-focused, thorough, and sensible. Her bestselling book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes (and online course of the same name), presents a revolutionary nutrient-dense, lower carb approach for managing gestational diabetes. Her work has not only helped tens of thousands of women manage their gestational diabetes (most without the need for blood sugar-lowering medication), but has also influenced nutrition policies internationally. Lily’s clinical expertise and extensive background in prenatal nutrition have made her a highly sought after consultant and speaker in the field.
Lily’s second book, Real Food for Pregnancy, is an evidence-based look at the gap between conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines and what’s optimal for mother and baby. With over 930 citations, this is the most comprehensive text on prenatal nutrition to date.
Lily is also creator of the popular blog, LilyNicholsRDN.com, which explores a variety of topics related to real food, mindful eating, and pregnancy nutrition.
Check her out on instagram: @lilynicholsrdn
Blog articles:
Protein Requirements for Pregnancy: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/protein-requirements-pregnancy/
First Trimester Tips: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/first-trimester-tips-nausea-fatigue/
Folate, Why It's Superior to Folic Acid: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/folate-pregnancy-folic-acid-mthfr/
Vegetarian Diet in Pregnancy: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/vegetarian-diet-in-pregnancy/
Choline in Pregnancy: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/choline-pregnancy-folates-cousin/
In this episode, I chat to a Singapore-based physician about using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help with fertility and PCOS. Jun covers technical detail about body constituencies and herbs and how TCM can help with fertility based on our blood flow, kidney essence and liver function. She explains concepts beautifully in a simple manner and I hope you will enjoy this episode as much as I did!
Jun Negoro is a licensed physician trained in Biomedical Science and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Singapore. In her clinical practice, she focuses on women’s health and general wellness. With the passion to make TCM modern and accessible to everyone, she created a wellness brand - Kanpobliss to integrate TCM knowledge that is simple, fun and educational. During her free time, she is actively involved in curating wellness retreats and workshops as well.
Through the ancient wisdom of TCM, we can learn to take a holistic approach for our wellness. She hopes that by understanding its philosophy, we can better understand ourselves both physically and spiritually, and find solutions for our modern-day challenges.
Find her on IG @kanpobliss and her website https://kanpobliss.com/
Free app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kanpobliss-tcm-self-care/id1457916828
It's the 100th episode! Thank you so much for tuning in and leaving me feedback, I love hearing from you.
In this episode, I share my reflections about the podcast and also 5 lessons from my coaching practice that I think are incredible to witness from my clients.
Reclaim Your Fertility, When You Have PCOS Webinar
Sign up here: https://nourishmel.ck.page/f521028205
Reach me @nourishmelhealth (IG), nourishmel.com