Reproductive Wellness in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Naturopath

Reproductive Wellness

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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25.01.2022 TOP 4 MALE FERTILITY FOODS Male fertility aka sperm health is just as vital when it comes to your ability to conceive. It shouldn't just be about the woman; remember it takes 2 to make a baby ;-) What your man eats influences his sperm health. Healthy sperm means good fertility, improved fertility means that your chances of conceiving will improve as well. ... Foods that he SHOULD be eating should include: 1. Pumpkin Seeds These little guys contain a good amount of zinc. Zinc is really important for sperm quality and sperm count. Because we need adequate zinc for testosterone and sperm production. Eat them with nuts, sprinkle them on your meal, make tamari mixed nuts and pumpkin seeds (mmmm... yummy). 2. Green Leafy Veg "Eat your greens" that is a nag worth listening to. Greens such as spinach contain folate. Low folate can arise in damage to sperm DNA (this is the messenger that contains info to instruct the cell i.e. the sperm what it needs to do) and low sperm count (the amount of the spermy guys). Not cool!! 3. Kiwi Fruit This fuzzy fruit contains a good amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that acts as a shield to protect sperm from toxins that have us surrounded. This powerful action will improve sperm morphology (the amount of normal swimmers), sperm count (the amount of them) and sperm motility (the ability to swim in the right direction towards the egg i.e. not doing backflips - even though that is quite an impressive skill). 4. Brazil Nuts This nut is high in selenium. Remember the sperm is rather small in comparison to an egg so it is rather vulnerable. Selenium is a great body guard to have around to protect sperm against environmental toxins in our homes & out in the big wide world. A deficiency in selenium means poor motility (swimming the wrong way, break dancing on the spot - even though this is pretty cool it needs to be shooting straight up towards the egg), low sperm count (not enough sperm) and poor morphology (abnormal sperm - two heads, two tails weird shape). Just 2 per day is the recommendation. Get your partner to read this and make sure he is munching on these fertility gems! :-)

24.01.2022 HOW TO HAVE A BETTER PERIOD *SWEET MIX UP* Sugary foods are bad news for girly hormones. Too much > high glucose and > insulin resistance. Insulin isn't responding to high glucose it's just too overwhelming for the ol' chap. Ovulation is disrupted arising in low progesterone. The more sugar you eat > more fat your body creates > acts as a gland > secretes more oestrogen > oestrogen dominance. Insulin resistance & high glucose causes inflammation. This leads to heavier perio...ds, painful periods, PMS all the 'fun' things! *TOXIC BODY* What are you slapping on your skin? When it comes to skin care you should use natural & organic if you can. Anything you put on your skin will be absorbed into the body. If your moisturiser for instance contains things you can't pronounce, don't recognise or contains numbers after it (most likely toxins) this is a punch in the face for your hormones. Toxins known as xenoestrogens pretend to be oestrogen contributing to issues with your period: heavy, painful etc. *RUN RAGGED* Your period can be a reflection of how you have been treating yourself beforehand. Were you trying to push yourself on several occasions to do something you didn't really feel like doing? Or doing too much? - bit of a Benny hill. When you needed to rest & recuperate. And now you are feeling rather shitty on your period. Self care, being kind to yours truly & time out are important. Stress causes a mess to your hormones and arises in issues with your period. *KEEP TRACK* Charting your period using an app can give you such valuable info. Then you can understand how long your period is, whether it was heavy, light or normal, what symptoms you experienced. Get a feel for what is going on with you. It's also invaluable info for your health practitioner. *SEED LOVE* Seeds contain nutrients and nourishing oils that contribute to release and production of hormones. Incorporate them for hormone balance: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, linseeds. Eat them at particular times of the cycle to contribute towards balancing certain hormones. Can be good for irregular periods, sore boobs, PMS etc. Tag a friend that may find this info useful

24.01.2022 BLUE LIGHT FERTILITY . Blue light is all around us...ahhhh! run! I'm not suggesting that you throw all your devices in the bin, but you need to think smart about how you are using them when you are TTC (trying to conceive). Let me explain how it can affect your fertility . When we first wake up in the morning cortisol should be at it's highest (this is our get up and go go hormone) and melatonin which is our sleepy time hormone should be at it's lowest. Throughout the day th...ey are like a see saw at opposite ends of the spectrum depending on what we need at the time . Both of these hormones (cortisol & melatonin) are being instructed to release based on the light around you or lack of light. In the morning there is natural blue light emitted by the sun which helps you feel alert and motivated ready to face your day which tells your pineal gland in the brain to produce cortisol . Whereas, at night time your pineal gland will produce melatonin helping you to wind down and settle so that you float off to sleepy town once you go to bed . Enter stage right technological devices...TV, laptop, Ipad, Mobiles...these emit blue light. So if you are scrolling away on your phone, laptop, ipad before bed or watching your fav netflix series right before bed. Guess what? Your body gets confused!! It thinks that it is time for you to get your sorry arse out of bed! . Is it any wonder that when you use these things right before your bed time that you can't wind down, fail to sleep well, keep waking up throughout the night and wake up like death warmed over . What does this have to do with fertility though? Well if your body is producing cortisol at night it will suppress the production of melatonin (your sleepy hormone). Melatonin is a great hormone for helping with egg quality. Good egg quality = more chance of fertilisation and implantation taking place . How can you combat this blue light? Make sure that you stop looking at those addictive devices at least 1 hour before bed, turn a lamp so that low light helps your body wind down, wear blue light blocking glasses when using devices, turn on blue light filters on mobile, ipad, tablet, laptop etc . Tag a friend that needs to see this :-) See more

24.01.2022 Best cooking oils for fertility

22.01.2022 WHY DO I HAVE HEAVY PERIODS? . Heavy periods are not normal, nor are they fun and you don't need to put up with them (nor should you as you can end up anaemic).....there is always a reason or reasons. . Common ones:... . ENDOMETRIOSIS Endometrial tissue growing where it shouldn't be (outside the uterus) . FIBROIDS Benign growths that form inside, within the muscular wall and on the outside of uterus. Some can be attached to a stem . ADENOMYOSIS Endometrial tissue (inner lining of uterus) being found in myometrium (muscular wall of uterus) . POLYPS Growths attached to endometrium (inner wall of uterus) . PCOS Multi-glandular hormone type syndrome . HORMONE IMBALANCE Oestrogen dominance (too much oestrogen, relative to progesterone oestrogen is too high), progesterone deficiency both will result in heavy bleeding . IRON DEFICIENCY Interestingly enough when you are iron deficient this will contribute to heavy bleeding AND when you have heavy bleeding this commonly results in iron deficiency . THYROID ISSUES Hypothyroidism (a thyroid that is under-active) will arise in heavy bleeding . So what is considered heavy? (you may not necessarily experience all of these) . 1) Bleeding more than 7 days 2) Having to change your pad or tampon every hour or less (due to the bleed) 3) Losing more than 80mls of blood 4) Blood leaking through your clothing 5) 'Flooding' in the tampon or pad, even when you are wearing the biggest size (super pads or tampons) 6) Having to change your pad overnight 7) Having to wear a pad and tampon 8) The need to pop a towel down or wear heavy duty pad at night when you go to bed 9) Clots that are greater in size than a 50 cent coin . I always find that with my patients at the clinic; I usually need to provide education around what is actually 'heavy' because a lot of women think their periods are heavy when they are not. There is no shame in not knowing and you are definitely not alone on this one! :-) . If you have heavy periods make sure that you get investigated by a Gynaecologist to see what is going on for you . Have you experienced heavy bleeding before? See more

22.01.2022 Has your IVF cycle been postponed? This can be so devastating for you. BUT, what if I were to tell you that it is actually a blessing in disguise.... This time that you have been blessed with can be used to work on your fertility. So when the time comes that you are given the green light to go ahead with IVF once again you will have 'Super woman Eggs' and 'Arnold Schwarzenegger Sperm'! Good quality eggs and sperm lead to better IVF outcomes and it increases the chance of h...aving a successful cycle (i.e. getting pregnant). Damaged DNA means poor quality sperm & eggs and ultimately it will impact the health of your baby. DNA is like an instruction manual. If damaged, it will not operate like it normally would. The body's security system detects this and it will generally either arise in implantation issues or miscarriage. So what can you be doing during this time? 'Preconception health care' to improve the DNA and quality of eggs & sperm!! What does it mean? Working on your fertility for a period of 16 weeks. That time is reflecting biology with egg development being approximately 100 days and sperm development approximately 72-76 days. When the egg and sperm meet to make a little bubba; the health of the egg and sperm at that point is reflective of the man's health 10 weeks prior and woman's health 16 weeks prior! Preconception health care: *Removing anything toxic & harmful to eggs & sperm *Address nutrient deficiencies: vitamins & minerals for fertility, egg & sperm quality, for pregnancy health & health of your baby *Diet & lifestyle advice to improve fertility, egg & sperm quality and health A study was done by Foresight, that indicated preconception health care can MORE THAN DOUBLE your chances of a successful IVF cycle. There are SO many benefits of doing preconception health care: *Improve quality of eggs & sperm *Increase IVF success *Reduce the risk of miscarriage ETC....... Your dreams of having a baby are NOT on hold! I would love to help you with this. Let's supercharge your fertility today!! Book a 'FREE discovery call' to find out how I can help you and answer any questions you might have before booking. *Click on BOOK NOW*

21.01.2022 DO I HAVE LOW PROGESTERONE? . When you are going through a rough time with symptoms related to your period and menstrual cycle it is not just your bod trying to get revenge on you. "Ha ha take that! How do you like those apples?" The reason why you have symptoms and signs is that your body is trying to tell you that something is not quite right. It's such a clever clogs! . These are signs that your progesterone could be low. You may be "lucky" enough to have all of them or ju...st a select few: . NO MOJO Low libido can be a indication that you have low progesterone (or testosterone - Yes this hormone is important for us ladies too!) . HEAVY DROP That flooding feeling when you have heavy periods needing to change your pad or tampon every hour or less, losing more than 80mls of blood, bleeding for more than 7 days, blood leaking onto your bedding or cloths (fun times!) . MIX UP Irregular cycles would take place because you need to be ovulating to produce progesterone. This is what your corpus luteum produces (the little sack left after your egg has been released with ovulation) . THE BLUES Depression and feeling flat can be as a result of low progesterone, which makes us feel good . FLUTTER FEELS Progesterone has a profound effect on our mood and helps us feel calm. So when we have low levels it can arise in anxiety . SPOT ON Spotting happening anytime after ovulation up to before your next period . TOUCHY BOOBS Sore boobs can be so uncomfortable and with that look on your face that says "don't you dare touch" directed to your partner. They can also point to low iodine so make sure you get that checked . SKIN BUMPS Low progesterone can lead to a hormonal domino effect arising in oestrogen dominance because the balance between oestrogen and progesterone has been tipped > insulin resistance (too much & not responding to glucose) > ^ androgens (testosterone) converts to DHT (dihydroxytestosterone) > acne . Do you think this is you? I would love to help you get out of your hormonal jam. Just click on the 'BOOK NOW' button on Facebook :-) See more

20.01.2022 Are you struggling to conceive? Would you like to know how to improve your chances of getting pregnant? This is the online workshop event for you! From the comfort of your own home... Would love to see you there :-)

20.01.2022 PCOS MORE THAN JUST THE OVARIES . As marvellous as the ovaries are, it is not JUST about them when it comes to PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) there are a multitude of factors involved. In this blog I discuss a big thing to consider when you have PCOS, otherwise the wheels fall off the wagon.....Curious to know more? . Link below... . Make sure that you go and have a geeze :-) See more

20.01.2022 EASY HASHIMOTO'S SWITCHES . Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease where your immune system is at war with your thyroid gland and attacks it. Your immune system seems to have suffered amnesia and it has forgotten that the thyroid gland is not an imposter, it is a VIP gland in your body . It is so vital when you have Hashimoto's to eat foods that will keep your immune system in control and thyroid smiling otherwise you will make things worse for yourself. Keep inflam...mation in check otherwise this will make your immune system mad . If you eat foods that cause your digestive lining to be inflamed & things pass into your blood stream that shouldn't be there. Your immune system will be alerted to try and deal with it. It will start to over-react because it is in overwhelm with everything it has to deal with. The guards start to arrest everything that comes over the border (small intestine lining into blood stream) as a precaution . Switching these foods will be a great start to maintain your Hashimoto's: . DELI DISASTER . Deli meats are heavily processed, contain trans and saturated fats, high in salt, preservatives like nitrite (that preserves & maintains the meat's colour).You may as well light a match, this food is so inflammatory for your body. It increases the risk of cancer too anyway so that should more of a reason to switch it out . Switch over to fish instead for instance sardines that are high in omega 3 and are anti-inflammatory . SOY BAD FOR YOU . Soy milk is a disaster for anyone really, but especially if you have a thyroid condition this is your nemesis. Soy is a goitrogen which will slow down thyroid function. In Hashimoto's your thyroid gland is already struggling to produce thyroid hormones. So drinking soy will make it a whole lot worse . Switch it out for a non-dairy milk of your choice such as almond milk or coconut milk instead. Just make sure it doesn't have any sunflower oil in it though (that is inflammatory) . WHITE DEATH . White bread, no one should be eating this nutritionally void 'food'. The main issue here is white bread or white death as I like to affectionately call it contains gluten. Gluten is highly inflammatory irritating your small intestine lining, causing damage and allowing things to pass through into the blood stream that shouldn't be there (the security guards are on strike) this means that the immune system guards are working overtime to deal with the intruders . Switch it out for a gluten free bread alternative instead, just read the labels because some contain nasties like preservatives. You could even make your own yum yum! . Do you already do some of these things? See more

19.01.2022 Hurry! Time is running out! If you would like to learn how to improve your fertility and address 3 major factors impacting your ability to conceive. Make sure that you book a spot at my upcoming online fertility workshop on Wed 10th June 2020. Sales end 9th June 2020. Tickets ONLY $19.95 :-) See you there!

18.01.2022 DO I HAVE OESTROGEN DOMINANCE OR HYPOTHYROID? The answer is tricky....Just looking at the symptoms you find yourself doing a double take (there are so many similarities!). It can be difficult just going by symptoms alone to clarify what exactly is going on for you. There are some differences but a lot of common ground. There is a possibility to have both scenarios going on (the double whammy!) AND you could have oestrogen dominance but NOT hypothyroid . The thing is, you nee...d to remember the body is all interconnected. So if one hormone is out of balance it has the potential to impact other hormones (not just your girly hormones) but hormones produced by other magical glands as well (i.e. your good old pal - thyroid) . Hypothyroid is when your thyroid is under-active & under-functioning . Did you know that when you have oestrogen dominance (too much oestrogen or too little progesterone) this may result in suppressing your thyroid hormones? > sub-clinical hypothyroid (mild version of hypothyroidism) > (if things worsen) hypothyroid . Whereas progesterone on the other hand has the opposite effect. It will actually stimulate thyroid hormone production. So you can see why it is crucial to find a state of hormone balance . That is why when my patients present to me with hormone imbalance (e.g. irregular periods, heavy periods etc.); Not only do I refer for girly hormone testing BUT I always include comprehensive thyroid testing to see how that gland is coping too. Just to make sure that every member of the tribe is happy :-) . Tag a friend that needs to see this! . psssttt.... my online fertility workshop is fast approaching. If you are trying to conceive, this is a must for you! So many gems, I am excited to share with you on how you can increase your chances of conceiving. Link below to book See more

18.01.2022 Period pain tip

16.01.2022 This is so gorgeous

15.01.2022 SOMETHING DOWNSTAIRS . Just a little laugh for you today . What do you think he has to hide? comment below :-)

14.01.2022 'WHEN YOU ARE ON THE PILL YOU DON'T GET YOUR PERIOD' Yep! It's true! Wait?! what? I don't understand.... In a nutshell; the bleed that you have on the OCP (oral contraceptive pill) is not the same as the bleed you would get with a normal period (when you are not on the pill). The OCP bleed is a withdrawal bleed in response to the synthetic hormones in your body. ... The way the OCP works is a good insight as to why you don't have your period. Don't forget the OCP is a contraceptive device (preventing you from having a baby) and there are a few ways that it does this. The pill: * SAYS NO TO THE OVARIES It suppresses the production of hormones from your ovaries. The synthetic hormones are the big boss daddy of your reproductive system now. *STOPS YOU OVULATING If ovary doesn't release an egg there is nothing for sperm to fertilise. *THICK & CUMBERSOME It thickens the cervical mucus. If the cervical mucus is thick, sperm are unable to swim through to an egg to fertilise. Normally the cervical mucus is more fluid and thin so that the sperm can swim through easily to the egg and be protected from the acidic environment in the vagina which increases survival. *THINS UTERINE LINING This will make it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant. A fertilised egg prefers that cushy blanky to cuddle into to receive nutrients and blood needed for survival. Normally the endometrium (uterine lining) will be thick, juicy and plump around ovulation which is the perfect inviting situation for a fertilised egg. When you are not on the pill: A period will occur generally 2 weeks after ovulation if fertilisation has not taken place. If there is no implantation, progesterone will drop and you will get your period. The purpose of a period is to have a little tidy up: cleaning out the uterine lining, vaginal secretions and re-setting for the next time so that the lining is nice and plump and nutrient rich for the next egg released through ovulation. So if there is no ovulation, no endometrial lining thickening and no natural hormone production how can you get your period? The simple answer is no, you can't. Tag a friend that needs to see this :-)

13.01.2022 SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? . "Should I lie down with my legs in the air for 20 mins after sex to improve my chances of getting pregnant?" . No need to re-enact the scene from 'The Big Lebowski' ... . My straight out answer to that would be 'No it won't boost your fertility, it will increase your chances of getting a UTI!' (Oh! Great!).The thing is; if you don't do a wee soon after 'wrestling under the sheets' you will increase your chances of getting a UTI (urinary tract infection) . Another thing to consider is sperm don't just wait to jump on the gravity slide down towards the egg. Sperm have a tail that works like a propeller that drives them up the uterus towards the egg. So if you stand up or go to the toilet after sex they won't come out diving into the bowl. They are clever little dudes and work like a well oiled machine (well most of the time) . So in short don't 'stay,' definitely 'go'! . Have you heard this fertility fiction before? . pssst....if you are trying to conceive and you are wondering what you can do naturally to improve your chances of conceiving. You need to book your spot at my online fertility workshop! Where I will reveal 3 major things you can do to boost your fertility. It's coming up fast! ONLY 8 days away (Wed 10th June 2020 6:30-7:30pm) $19.95. Link under this post to book. Don't miss out! :-) See you there See more

13.01.2022 LAST DAY TO BOOK! TICKET SALES END 11PM For women trying to conceive (TTC) getting your period can be heart breaking, especially when you do not understand why you are not getting pregnant. BUT, it doesnt have to be that way! The good news is, it is just a matter of applying a few key things that will improve fertility naturally and prepare your body for conception to take place . At this upcoming online workshop: we will discuss 3 major factors that hinder fertility and ho...w to increase the chances of getting pregnant naturally . Discover; . A nasty toxin lurking at home impacting the ability to conceive . How one particular aspect of daily life can be detrimental to fertility . A major mistake made by most women when TTC . This is for women that: . Are TTC but without any luck so far . Would like to prepare their body to be baby ready . Are not sure what they should do to improve their fertility naturally . Would like to maximise their fertility and improve their chances of conceiving naturally . Are tired of putting their life on hold . Believe that increasing the chances of getting pregnant involves more than just keep trying approach . Would like to know what things may prevent conception from happening . Have experienced miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage . Fast track the way to having a baby. A MUST attend for those TTC . Book now to avoid disappointment! Tickets are strictly limited! . Where: From the comfort or your own home (Online Zoom Workshop) . When: Tuesday 23rd June 2020 6:30pm 7:30pm . Price: ONLY $19.95 . Once you have registered, I will email you the link closer to the zoom meeting date so you can join the online workshop. . See you there :-) . Link below to book your spot! See more

12.01.2022 BEST 4 FEMALE FERTILITY FOODS If you are TTC (trying to conceive) make sure you are popping these tasty morsels in your gob. Your reproductive system will be smiling at you. If ovulation is taking place, your eggs are good quality, you have a good experience with your period (not too long, not too short, not too heavy, not too light etc.), your hormones are balanced and your cycle is regular; these are all things to aim for when TTC.... Foods that the ladies SHOULD be eating include: 1. Eggs Aww the good 'ol googie egg. The best way to have eggs for fertility is poached so that the choline stays intact. Choline is the man at regulating homocysteine levels. If homocysteine is too high this can result in inflammation and increase the risk of miscarriage. 2. Blueberries Good things come in small packages. Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants. Antioxidants will act like a shield maiden to protect your eggs against any toxins that aim to harm. In other words it's the perfect thing for egg quality ;-) 3. Avocado How gorgeous is this fruit, it is a typical reflection of "the doctrine of signatures" when a plant gives you a clue as to what it's used for. It even looks like a uterus!! It contains vitamin E which can increase blood flow to the uterus and help thicken the uterine lining & can help produce cervical mucus (which improves sperm survival). 4. Salmon Something smells fishy?! So omega 3 found in fish is beneficial for egg quality, regulates your hormones, improves cervical mucus quality, decreases inflammation that impacts your fertility (perfect for Endometriosis or PCOS where inflammation is rife) and promotes ovulation. Pretty cool huh? It was hard to narrow it down to 4 foods for your fertility because there are so many! But this is a good start for you :-) Are you already eating these foods? :-) Please comment below See more

11.01.2022 MENSTRUAL PHASE LOVE . Are you taking care of yourself when you have your period? Menstrual phase is essentially when you have your period. Day 1 is the first day of your period (the actual bleed not spotting). Us ladies have approximately 450 menstrual cycles in a lifetime! Your monthly cycle actually has 4 different phases. With The Menstrual Phase being the first cab off the rank . During this time your energy is at it's lowest. So it is not uncommon to feel a bit tired a...nd withdrawn. You may have a hankering to rest more instinctively. Deliberately resting is actually exactly what your body craves at this stage. So make a date with yours truly. Take a few deep breaths, meditate, gentle slow yoga, sit out in the suns rays, write out your thoughts in journal, hot bath with some essential oils & Epsom salts (abundant with magnesium for muscle relaxation great for cramps) by candlelight (how romantic!) . Don't push yourself! If you fail to power on through your to-do-list like you usually would...now you now the reason why. So please be kind to you. Women are blessed to have this wonderful rhythmic cycle; where every phase brings a gift of exactly what you need at that moment in time . Do you push yourself when your body says no? What happens? . I know I have at times been guilty of this, trying to be productive and powering through as per usual but end up feeling unmotivated, staring at the computer screen, staring out the window. It is like I am pushing a car up a steep hill . This is not really a time to get a whole heap done, it is a no go zone and it needs to be respected. Just do what you can . Would love to hear your experience share below :-) See more

11.01.2022 ROCKIN' FERTILITY . In Cornwall, England there is a roundy rock type formation with a hole in the middle known as 'Men-al-tol'. The name translates to 'stone of the hole' it is speculated that it is 3000-4000 years old. It kind of looks like a rocky donut. They are still unsure to this day whether it was formed by man (or woman) back in ye' olde times or whether it was naturally formed. . It is believed that if a woman passes through the middle of this stone she will soon be...come pregnant. If you are trying to conceive, you could give this a try....If you don't happen to become wedged in the middle of this hole whilst trying. Apparently the size of it is rather on the small side. Sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen if you ask me! . Fertility beliefs around the world are so interesting, wouldn't you agree? See more

10.01.2022 PCOS & GUT LOVE . Your microbiome or gut bacteria is an essential part of making it a smooth journey for you when you have PCOS. Research has shown (NERD!) that women with PCOS tend to have more baddies in the gut than goodies (bacteria) . You can influence the good vs bad bacteria balance by making sure that you are eating good gut loving foods and avoiding bad gut hating foods. Gut bacteria imbalance > inflammation > insulin resistance (insulin not responding to glucos...e > blood sugar imbalance) > androgen excess (high testosterone) >bad PCOS symptoms . Eat me: . FERMENTED GOODNESS . Fermented foods contain a whole array of good bacteria which will help balance your gut microbiome (gut bacteria balance). Foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, water kefir and kombucha . STARCH REALITY . Starchy foods are VIP they act as food for your good bacteria which help them grow and thrive. Foods like potato, sweet potato, beetroot, parsnips and brown rice . Avoid me with a 10 foot pole: . FRIED DISASTER . Deep fried foods are your enemy the fats that they are cooked in produce nasties such as arachidonic acid which is pro-inflammatory. PCOS already has a low grade inflammation there so this is just turning up the heat. Inflammation > damage to gut > leaky gut > more bad PCOS symptoms. Foods like hot chips, deep fried chicken, spring rolls, deep fried battered fish etc . ARTIFICIAL TRUTH . Artificial sweeteners act in a similar way to sugar only worse because they are WAY sweeter, they lead to further sugar cravings > weight gain which makes PCOS worse. They also impact your gut microbiome in a negative way upsetting the gut bacteria balance. Sweeteners such as Sucralose (Pepsi One, Splenda), Aspartame (Equal, Diet Coke), Neotame (Nutrasweet) . Tag a friend below that needs to see this :-) See more

10.01.2022 IF YOUR THYROID IS OUT OF SORTS, YOU MAY HAVE TROUBLE CONCEIVING Having a happy normally functioning thyroid is absolutely VITAL when you are trying to conceive. The thyroid is under control of the big boss daddy: the hypothalamus &pituitary gland located in the brain which will produce hormones that tell our thyroid to produce T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones). ... The hypothalamus & pituitary gland wear the pants big time in terms of governing hormone production because they even boss around your adrenal gland & ovaries. These glands prompt oestrogen & progesterone to be produced by your ovaries & cortisol by your adrenal glands. Your thyroid, adrenals, ovaries are all part of the same tribe because of their relationship to the hypothalamus & pituitary. If one of those glands are not functioning like it should; it will definitely impact the other glands too. If your thyroid is mildy under-functioning (Subclinical Hypothyroidism), under-functioning (Hypothyroidism), over-functioning (Hyperthyroid) or in an autoimmune state (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) the production of your girly hormones will be affected meaning > hormone imbalance > fertility issues. Also if your hormones are imbalanced & you have oestrogen dominance (too much oestrogen) this will put the brakes on the thyroid and slow it down reducing our thyroid hormones. Women with thyroid issues may present with things like irregular periods, heavy periods, increased risk of recurrent miscarriage. And if you have hypothyroid your FSH and LH will be reduced this means your follicles cannot develop & mature & ovulation may not occur. See the issue here! Ovulation is key, if you don't have a regular period which is due to ovulation not occurring you won't be able to conceive. Ovulation is a MUST to be able to conceive. And so is a healthy thyroid! If you are TTC make sure that you get a proper thyroid assessment including TSH, fT3, fT4, thyroid antibodies, Urinary Iodine and rT3. Even if you have to pay for some of these out of pocket it is worth it! p.s. I have an online fertility workshop approaching soon! A MUST attend if you are TTC - I've popped the link below!

10.01.2022 IVF SPERM SUCCESS . About to do IVF cycle? Your man's swimmers need to be taken into consideration too! Still to this day we still only seem to point the finger at the woman, FYI we are not in the 1950's anymore. No one is to blame but it is a shared responsibility, It takes a sperm and an egg to make a mini me. . How should your man improve his sperm count, DNA & motility (ability sperm to swim properly towards the egg)? While little back flips are a pretty cool skill to ha...ve; it won't exactly have the desired outcome you were hoping for (unless you are having ICSI done where they inject sperm into egg). . Sperm are sensitive little dudes and are in fact the smallest cell in a man's body. Whereas the oocyte (egg) in the woman is the largest cell in the body. So sperm are more vulnerable to unwelcomed intruders such as toxins in our environment . They impact sperm's ability to move properly and in the right direction that nature intended i.e. towards the egg (motility), quality, DNA which houses the genetic material for your baby to be & sperm count (the amount of swimmers). So not cool at all! Doing the suggestions below can contribute to more favourable IVF outcomes . Make sure that your man is avoiding these things prior to his sperm collection for your IVF cycle (preferably 90 days before). It takes sperm 76-80 days to develop and mature so you want to make sure the environment they were "growing up in" was nice and inviting for them: . SMOKE SIGNALS Cigarette smoke is full of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, nickel which have dire consequences to sperm health, quality & DNA . SWISH IT DOWN Alcohol affects both quality and quantity of sperm, morphology (what your sperm look like are they normal or do they have two heads, two tails etc.). It prevents you from absorbing zinc which is required for testosterone & sperm production. This is because zinc is used to detox the body of the beer you just have drunk. . KEEP IT COOL Overheating your sperm by regularly jumping in a hot tub or frequently visiting the sauna can actually reduce sperm count (amount of sperm) and quality. The testicles (the house for your sperm) hang outside the body for a reason, to keep sperm cool! . DAILY HABITS Drinking coffee is a no, no when when you are TTC (trying to conceive) even for the lads. It can decrease motility (ability to swim and in right direction), sperm DNA and count. Caffeine robs your body of so much goodness like zinc, B vitamins, Zinc, Selenium which are vital for male fertility and adequate sperm health . Tag a friend that needs to see this :-) See more

09.01.2022 4 WAYS TO PREVENT MISCARRIAGE . Miscarriage and why it is taking place is multi-factorial. It is imperative that all these things and more, are looked into with a fine toothed comb. Here are some things to consider... . GIVE CAFF THE FLICK...Continue reading

09.01.2022 Hormone Imbalance & Lunch Boxes

09.01.2022 How can I support my immune system?

09.01.2022 A detrimental factor for your fertility

08.01.2022 PCOS and white death

07.01.2022 EASY ENDO SWITCHES When you have Endometriosis (Endo) the aim of the game is to reduce inflammation. It is an inflammatory condition, so you don't want to fuel the flame as this adds to the hormone imbalance. . These easy switches are a great start and make all the difference. A little switch goes a long way! ... . MILKY MOUSTACHE'S OUT . There is nothing cool about a milky moustache & likewise when it comes to cow's milk . It is inflammatory > pain galore generally & for periods Contains hormones such as oestrogen > further oestrogen excess (Endo ladies already have an oestrogen overload) . The protein molecule (nerdy word) is large and difficult to break down & digest > bloating > small intestine lining inflammation > leaky gut > general inflammation > hormone imbalance . Endo ladies experience digestive discomfort already with alternating diarrhoea & constipation cropping up. So best not to add to this! Switch it out for Almond milk. . MEATY VIBES . Red meat rings alarm bells when it comes to Endo. This one is hard on your digestive system requiring it to work overtime to break it down so same outcome as dairy . Can contribute to further endometrial tissue . Contains hormones such as oestrogen which can drive endometrial growth and spread (Great!) . It turns up the heat AKA an inflammatory nightmare > more pain and discomfort and painful periods too . Switch to fish instead which contains omega-3 which will throw a bucket of water over your bod ahhhh! (it's anti-inflammatory). . SIPPY WARM COMFORTS . Coffee.....hmmm....for some of you this will be hard to hear...But Michelle!!! :-) But it is for all good reasons! . Caffeine depletes minerals (magnesium, iron) & vitamins (B vitamins) that you need for hormone balance (ahh!) . Caffeine increases cortisol which reduces progesterone production > oestrogen excess > worse endo . Caffeine will empty the bowel before it has a chance to break down things properly use the nutrients required for the body to do it's thing. Bowel habits are already skewif when you have Endo so this makes it worse! Switch to turmeric lattes instead it's a great anti-inflammatory! . What have you switched to for the better? See more

07.01.2022 Having difficulty conceiving? You need to see this!

07.01.2022 Vaginal No No's

06.01.2022 Are you having difficulty conceiving? Feeling heartbroken every time your period comes. It doesn't have to be that way! Learn how to boost your fertility naturally at my online fertility workshop: "How to get pregnant naturally". This is a MUST attend for you :-) Attend from the comfort of your own home.

06.01.2022 Fibroids? Don't eat me!

05.01.2022 Miscarriage the sticky truth

04.01.2022 FIBROIDS & THE 'S' WORD . S stands for Stress which throws a spanner in the works. If you have fibroids; oestrogen dominance (too much oestrogen or relative to progesterone it is too much) rares it's ugly head. It is excess oestrogen that fuels the growth of fibroids. Therefore it is vital to keep oestrogen at a healthy level . Stress shuts off production of hormones because it is not a safe time to reproduce. It is a survival mechanism trying to protect you. The body uses pr...egnenolone (a precursor hormone which converts to progesterone) to make cortisol instead. Cortisol is a hormone produced to help you adapt to stress from perceived danger . Here are some stress busters for you: . 1. Z Land Dismissed . Get to bed at a reasonable hour. Between 9-11pm is worth 2hrs that is the sweet spot my friend. Don't look at devices too close to bed (computer, laptop, mobile, tablet, TV) this emits blue light and your body thinks that it is wakey wakey time so you will find it hard to wind down. Stop scrolling through at least an hour before bed . 2. Restful Ways . Run yourself ragged, you will end up burnt out. Your adrenals can only save your sorry arse so much until enough is enough. Listen to your body, if you need to rest DO IT! Run a bath by candlelight, read a book, meditate, sit quietly in nature contemplating (at the moment due to the circumstances - if you don't have a backyard sit near your indoor plants, go for a little stroll to a park nearby, sit near the window and feel those glowy rays) . 3. Body Movin' . Lots of research to show exercise is so good for so many reasons including releasing endorphins that make you feel good :-) Being in pain with fibroids can make it difficult. But do some sort of movement you can manage such as pilates, easy jogging, walking, treadmill at a gentle pace, swimming . 4. Munchy Mistakes . Reaching for the wrong foods such as sugary ones (cakes, lollies, donuts, ice cream) are a big mistake. They increase blood sugar levels which leads to insulin resistance (insulin not responding to glucose)>hormone imbalance. Prepare some healthy snacks to have a home e.g. protein balls . What do you like to do to de-stress? See more

04.01.2022 To my dear patients and followers, My main priority is YOUR health and the health of your loved ones. In order to reduce the foot traffic to the clinic and be socially responsible, I will be switching all patients to ONLINE / PHONE consultations. This will still ensure that you are able to access my support and guidance from a safe distance from the comfort of your home. Online consults available Mon - Friday 7am - 7pm. You can either book online (link in bio on insta or on... Facebook 'book now') or contact me for availability DM, PM or call 0418 119 777. If you don't see a time you would like, contact me for availability. Your health has always been an important priority & I believe this is a time when the services I provide are needed most. So many factors contribute to healthy hormones and fertility (a healthy immune system and adrenal glands are two of them). Adrenal glands help you adapt to stress, if you are experiencing stress or anxiety this will negatively impact your immune system, hormone balance & fertility. A lot of my patients currently are stressed & anxious dealing with fear of unknown, worry about current situation and their health. I am still here for you to support & provide advice on adrenal health, immune health and reproductive health (hormones & fertility). Ensuring your adrenal glands and immune system are happy and supported is so important especially now. I have acute consults for 15 mins available for immune support (prevention & treatment if you are unwell) or stress/ anxiety support for NEW and CURRENT patients for only $34.95 (link in bio or 'book now' on Facebook). Would love to help you deal with what we are facing. Take care everyone. Yours in good health, Michelle #ttctribe #fertilityjourney #hormonehealth #pmsproblems #endowarrior #fibroidssuck #immunebooster #stressrelief #anxietywarrior #anxietyfighter #stressedout #infertilitysucks #ivfjourney #ivfwarrior #periodproblems #ttccommunity #tryingtoconceive #anxietyproblems #immunesupport #immunitysupport #pmsing #happyhormones #irregularperiods #tryingtoconceive #pcos #anxietyfighter #weareallinthistogether #wewillgetthroughthis

03.01.2022 The TTC journey can often be a rocky one with lots of bumps (disappointment, hurt, frustration, overwhelm) along the way. Women have been known to spend hours, weeks, months or even YEARS; in an attempt to, find out what may help improve fertility by themselves. But to be honest: trial and error is the slowest way to RESULTS. It doesnt have to be that way! The good news is for many women it is just a matter of applying a few key steps that will improve their fertility natura...lly and prepare their bodies for conception to take place . Attend my upcoming online workshop where I reveal 3 top secrets about how to improve the chances of getting pregnant naturally . At this workshop: we will discuss 3 major factors that hinder fertility and how to increase the chances of getting pregnant naturally. . Discover; . A nasty toxin lurking at home impacting the ability to conceive . How one particular aspect of daily life can be detrimental to fertility . A major mistake made by most women when TTC . This is for women that: . Are TTC but without any luck so far . Would like to prepare their body to be baby ready . Are not sure what they should do to improve their fertility naturally . Would like to maximise their fertility and improve their chances of conceiving naturally . Are tired of putting their life on hold . Believe that increasing the chances of getting pregnant involves more than just keep trying approach . Would like to know what things may prevent conception from happening Walk away with: . A feeling of RELIEF after learning some ANSWERS as to why conception is not taking place . where: online from the comfort of your own home (on zoom) when: 10th June 2020 6:30-7:30pm AEST price: ONLY $19.95 . Link below to book hurry! Ticket sales end 9/6/20. See you there!

02.01.2022 DOES MAKEUP CAUSE HORMONE IMBALANCE? Short answer is yes....most commercially available cosmetics arise in hormone imbalance, reproductive concerns, reproductive cancers and problems with your fertility & your ability to conceive. There are a number of toxic chemicals found in makeup that are of the non-natural kind. There are more than just these (it's a scary thought I know!). This is definitely the ugly side to beauty. ... Some SEA OF TOXINS found in cosmetics: Your skin is the largest organ of the human body & it will be absorbing EVERYTHING you put on it. It doesn't just stay on the surface. They all pretend to be oestrogen acting as a imposter, but a sneaky one at that because the body doesn't know any different. LEAD This can be found in some lipsticks & foundations. So you are absorbing this through your skin or licking your lips and eating it (ewww....). This heavy metal toxin is linked to increased risk of miscarriage, reduces your ability to conceive & increases the likelihood of having an anovulatory cycle (no ovulation). BHT (Butylated compounds) This ingredient is used to extend shelf life. Found in eyeliner, eye shadow, lipstick, blush, foundation. This is another endocrine (hormone) disruptor which mimics oestrogen, arises in thyroid issues, problems conceiving & increases risk of reproductive cancer. FORMALDEHYDE Bit of a creepy note: this is a solution that is used as a preserving fluid to embalm bodies (preserving the body for viewing when a loved one has passed). Found in eyeliner, makeup remover, nail polish, foundation. This eerie toxin will increase risk of miscarriage, arise in issues with conceiving, causes hormone imbalance once again. PHTHALATES This bad guy impacts hormone production arising in imbalanced girly hormones, fertility issues, contributes to Endometriosis & increases risk of premature birth. Used to hold colour or scent of a product. Can be listed as 'fragrance' on the bottle. It can be found in nail polish, eye shadow, lipstick, eye pencils etc... Switch to healthier natural brands: @inikaorganic @antipodesskincare @drhauschkaaus @scoutactivebeauty Do you use a natural brand - what do you use?