January Meditation Challenge

Do you meditate?  Would you like to start, or be more consistent?  Or just be a part of a community that is meditating together?

The Benefits of Meditation

When I challenge myself to meditate daily, I notice the benefits more, and I tend to want to continue.

Meditation can decrease feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. It can increase focus and lower blood pressure.  It can lower inflammation, and reign in the symptoms of pain, PMS and menopausal fluctuations.  

It can increase energy and balance blood sugar.  It can increase feelings of love and connection in your relationships.

In short, meditation can improve just about whatever ails you!  In my opinion, it's best to just do it, and see what happens.  When I was young and meditating, I was always waiting for some dramatic effect.  But really it's the subtle things that you'll notice first, like that you're not yelling as much, or feeling as worried.

How to Do This Meditation Challenge

This meditation challenge is flexible.  The main goal is that you meditate everyday for a month. 

You can start today, or start tomorrow.  You can meditate in silence, or with a guided audio track or music. You can sit or lay down. You can even walk peacefully outside.

It is recommended to use a timer to mark the start and end of your meditation. This creates a clear framework for the experience.

If you are coming to this blog as a new meditator, or a new mom, or a self-diagnosed ADD busy lady, you can start this meditation challenge with just 1 minute a day if you want! Even with that, you are creating awareness and starting a new habit.  If you choose to go longer, you certainly may, but don't feel obligated.

If you are a more experienced meditator, you may want to challenge yourself to meditate a little longer, or twice a day. If you are a sporadic meditator like me, just challenging yourself to be a daily meditator will have value.  

There is no value is comparing yourself to others in this challenge!  We are all in a different place, and simply here to support one another and be in community.  

How to Create a Habit

The best way to create a habit is to do it at the same time and place, as much as is possible.  If you travel or have a change of schedule, you'll need to think ahead to be sure to remember to do your meditation.

An example of meditating in the same environment could be: "Every morning after the kids leave for the school bus, I will get a cup of tea and my egg timer, sit in the comfy chair by the window, and meditate for 15 minutes."

This way when you realize the kids have left, you'll go do your meditation.  Now, you might be tempted to clean the kitchen instead, or want to check your phone.  But you've dedicated yourself to your routine, you will resist that urge!

If you do decide over time that you'd like to clean the kitchen first, just change your sequence and stick to it.

Another example:  "Every time after I brush my teeth at night, I will dim the lights, crawl into bed, and use the meditation app on my phone for at least 5 minutes." 

Meditation Resources

I wanted to share the app I usually use to meditate. It's called Insight Timer, and I have it on my Android phone, but it's on iPhone too.  It's a free app.

Insight Timer can be used as a straight timer, and there are many guided and musical meditations.

If I am feeling a certain emotion, I look for a meditation to address it. Here are a few meditations I like:

• Setting Intentions for the New Year by Tatjana Mesar

• Innocent Sleep - Calming the Mental Body by Rama Inacio

• Just for Today by Tom Evans

• Favourite Place of Relaxation by Andrew Johnson

• Manifestation Meditation by Melissa Ambrosini

You can search for any of these within the app.  

If you use another app or resource, feel free to share it in the comments below.  

Pledge Yourself!

If you'd like to join the challenge, please share you name and your goal in the blog comments below, or on our private Facebook group.

My Best Worst Year: My Journey with Mold

2016 was a hard year for a lot of people, and I was no exception. I'd like to share my health journey with you, in the hopes that you will find a gem of knowledge or wisdom that helps.

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This story actually starts the day after Thanksgiving 2015. I had just returned from traveling, and woke up hacking green phlegm. I was surprised and a little frustrated because this was my third cold that Fall. 

This cold quickly progressed to a raging sore throat, severe enough to send me to urgent care. I shared with nurse practitioner that I felt like I had Epstein Barr again, something I had dealt with about 4 years earlier.  She swabbed my throat and assured me that I did not have a throat infection, and that I'd likely be better within a week.  She also said that there are a couple strains of Epstein Barr virus, and once we get them we don't get them again (I'd also had Epstein Barr at 17).

In a week I was not better, despite swallowing and spraying several expensive herbal remedies.  I went this time to another urgent care, and the physician there could visibly see the infection happily thriving in my throat. I left with my first course of antibiotics in over 20 years.

This all was poor timing as I had just hired a new acupuncturist to take my place at the clinic I own, Blue Sky Wellness Studio in Portland, Oregon.  I hired her so that I could focus on my online business, especially to prepare for a big online event I was hosting in April 2016, Hormones: A Women's Wellness Summit.

I was embarrassed that I was too sick to finish training the new acupuncturist, but I was determined to get well for this new exciting phase of my career.  The antibiotics had worked for my throat but done a number on my gut. And I was tired all the time.

I returned to a therapy I had used with success when I last had Epstein Barr: intravenous vitamins. This treatment can be get for supporting the immune system, energizing the body, and getting nutrients to your cells directly. I got these treatments at the National University of Natural Medicine clinic in Portland, OR. 

The IV clinic is mainly for administration of treatment and not for diagnosis. But after 2-3 treatments and no improvement, I asked the physician (and her interns, as it’s a teaching clinic) if they could help figure out what was going on with me.

I had recently gotten my first positive antibodies for Hashimoto's, which freaked me out but they did not seem too concerned. If you have autoimmune antibodies out of range, that is always significant, so don’t listen if it’s dismissed. They also ran some new tests of autoimmunity, a test for cat allergies (I had a new cat) and an Epstein Barr screening.

They had to run a second type of test for Epstein Barr, and the physician said it was inconclusive. For some reason I never saw the test, and that was a mistake.  When you have a test run, always get a copy. If you don't know how to interpret it, get online and research, or find a functional medicine doctor who specializes in that area and get help.

One thing the physician asked about that proved very helpful and also life-changing was about our house. I can't recall all her questions, but I recall answering, “yes, I had a musty basement that had recently gotten a new wet area due to heavy rains last month.”  I was also visiting the basement more often, as our new cat's things were down there.  She suggested we could test for mold.  

I shared this with my husband and he was keen to test.  He had felt this was a strong possibility, and he wondered if this had contributed to illnesses in both of us.  I was less keen to test, knowing there would be major implications if we found mold.  We tested, there was mold, and that was the beginning of the end.

Oh the things that lurk behind our walls.

Our inspector, Garrett Dayfield from Mold Testing Services of Oregon, was great.  He searched all over and found lots of stuff we didn't know about.  Our front gutters were on wrong, and that caused the new wet spot in the basement.  We had mold in a basement closet we didn't know about, and the source of that leak was still unknown. We also had moisture under the siding of our house, and he suggested we look into that at some point.  Per test results, we had three types of toxic mold in our home:  aspergillus, penicillum, and stachybotrys.  

We hired a mold remediator to begin to remove the damaged carpet and drywall in the basement. He told us he would section off the area in plastic and use an air scrubber so that the toxic mold spores would not get into the rest of the house. We now know this doesn't really work. It may contain most of the spores, but the spores release toxins- which are really what makes you sick- and these release in droves when the mold is disturbed.

We also didn't know to move out of the house during this process, so we were still living there.  Once the mold remediator was done in the basement, he took me downstairs to show me his work.  My throat immediately closed up.  He assured me all the mold was gone and he seemed genuinely confused by my reaction.  

After all this, and busy with my event planning, I was not interested in removing our siding.  But my husband was, and he took out a huge loan so we can afford to do this. I was now working full-time in our home, our toxic home, and my symptom list was growing.

I was more tired than ever, my eye twitched, and I could barely think straight. I would look for the eggs in the dishes cabinet, realize they weren't there, and then do it all over again. One day I had an important phone call and couldn't find my phone.  I circled the house like a maniac for 25 minutes before finding it tucked away in the tea drawer.

Amazingly I still hosted a successful event in this state. It was based on sheer willpower, financial necessity, and adapting to the way my brain worked under the influence of mold. Once the siding work started, it was noisy and not ideal for recording videos for my event.  But still I didn't want to move. I know have learned this is common when a person is under the influence of toxic mold.  We are too sick, tired and unmotivated to want to make the effort.

My husband was again more motivated than I was, and we moved into my parents' home about 30 minutes away.  This initially was good for our health- to be away from the mold. But we still did not really understand mold toxins then, and made the mistake of bringing too many of our toxic belongings into a clean environment.

These hazmat suits don't protect you 100%, but at least they look cool.

By May 2016, my event was over and I had a bit more time to learn about mold.  My husband had been saying that his clothes made him sick, that his car made him sick.  To be honest I thought he was being paranoid. He started making us take off our clothes at the door, and other new habits that were completely annoying.

It turns out he was right. I finally started to learn about the toxins that are released from mold, and how these toxins contaminate everything.  My husband was very sensitive to his clothes. I was very sensitive to papers. These toxins can't be washed or scrubbed out.  They can be reduced a bit, and I bought some special cleaning products to wash our clothes and clean my parents' houseIt would help our symptoms temporarily to clean the house with these products, but then the feelings of confusion and fatigue would return.

Beyond confusion and fatigue, I had a few suicidal thoughts. This is called "suicidal ideation", which I think would be great name for a band. All jokes aside, it's pretty scary to have thoughts of ending your life. For me, I think I was just so exhausted to the core that there was a part of me that wanted to sleep forever.  

I never actually tried to execute these fleeting ideas, thankfully. I think I spent January - May being in my first true state of depression. I was emotionless despite the fact that I was going through a very stressful time. I was usually quite emotional, so it was a weird feeling!

I finally admitted these suicidal ideas to my husband, crying as I did so.  I figured he would be shocked and scared.  Turns out that he'd been seeing things that weren't there, so he wasn't too surprised by my suicidal ideation.

My husband and I had a good number of arguments about what to do with the house and our health. But I am thankful, in a way, that he was sick too, because at least we could relate to each other. 

I think we were both getting sick slowly for many years in that home.  I had had Esptein Barr, insomnia and mood swings.  He had had a gut infection and extreme fatigue. The symptoms would ebb and flow, and I regret beating myself up for not being "healthy enough", when really I had these unknown or poorly understood sources of illness.

With my new study of mold toxins, I was able to learn of a mold toxic test for the body.  My husband, who kept having strong instincts about what to do about this mold, wanted us to get away for the summer to a dry climate. So we ran a urine test from Real Time Laboratories to see if we could document his mold illness and get him a medical leave from work.

He did have gliotoxins per his urine test (a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus fumigatus), and we scheduled with a new naturopathic physician that had experience treating mold. To my surprise, she was very focused on treating mold through treating Epstein Barr virus. She said that when you have mold, you often have chronic Epstein Barr virus taxing your system and not allowing your body to clear the mold toxins. She confirmed that I was indeed having an acute Epstein Barr episode.

My husband was able to get a medical leave pretty easily, and we probably didn’t even need the $700 urine test after all!  With his new found freedom, he was able to work on overseeing the remodeling of our house.  Our house had lovely new siding now, but needed new gutters, a new deck and a new carpet to get ready to sell it.  Yes, we had decided it wasn’t worth risking moving back into it.

My entrpenrenourial skills were in swing at the ongoing yard sale.

We also had decided to get rid of most of our belongings. Every time we were back at the house we could feel the toxic effects.  We ordered a huge dumpster and used it dispose of many of our things. We also gave books to the library and items to Goodwill.  We sold things on Craig’s List and had many yard sales. We became yard sale experts.

You might be thinking, “why did you sell that moldy stuff?” To other people, these items were fine and caused no reaction.  It was just for us that it was so bad.

This was a childhood toy of my husband's that was in a dank chest in the basement. Iccckkk.

It was difficult to part with so many of our things. For our 7 year old son, it was hard too.  We really could not keep his stuffed animals, which were like magnets for toxins.  We also had found a motherhood of a mold colony literally under the floorboards where his bed was.  So we were not too interested in keeping items from his room. But we did keep two small storage units of our prized possessions, in the hopes that we could have them again.

I am very thankful that my son displayed no symptoms, and believed and had true concern for his mom and dad.

By now we were really in debt, and my husband was on a reduced salary.  I wasn’t able to work much because of the house ordeal and my brain fog. We were also preparing to go away for the summer, so I didn’t see how I could take on new work projects.  

I would estimate that, at the time of writing this, we spent $60,000 on the house, lost $15,000 in value of our belongings, lost $5,000 in having to trade in two cars that had been exposed to mold, and spent $8,000 on our health.  $88,000 and counting.  

It’s a lot of money, and it was stressful, but at least we can be grateful that we able to manage it and take out loans.  We were lucky to have my parents’ house to stay in, even though it made for a horrible commute for us.

Our house went on the market on July 6, 2016. We were counting on our house selling for a good profit and quickly, and luckily it did. We didn’t get the money for another two months, but it was a load off our shoulders.

My son was in heaven in the back of the van.

We were already out of town when our house went up for sale. We had bought a used mini-van and hit the road.  Our first stop was Bend, Oregon.  We have some family there, but they were out of town. That was probably for the best, because we had a big detox reaction in Bend and were having ‘mold rage’ and headaches.  

We had spent the last few weeks of June with a lot of time in our old house.  That was not our ideal plan, but we really didn’t have the resources to hire someone to clean out our entire house. So we got up close and personal with the mold toxins all over again. I’ve since learned that altitude change is a trigger for toxins dislodging, and we had plenty of that coming over the Cascade mountains.  

Our first visit to the Grand Canyon!

After this we spent a month in Phoenix, and then another month traveling. I had some stresses dealing with my clinic back in Portland, and it was hard to keep on with my online business while on the road. But looking back now, these two months were a true gift.  Our little family was together nearly all the time, seeing new places, visiting old friends and sharing laughs.

Our health definitely improved while we were gone. We took some supplements for Epstein Barr and mold, but really we didn’t have our recovery too dialed in yet, as we would soon learn.

In early August I had to come back to Portland to take care of my clinic affairs for a few days. I immediately got a urinary tract infection, my first ever.  My husband theorized it was because I was back at my parents’ house.  At the time I disagreed, but I think he may have been right.  The mold re-exposure weakened my immunity, and I couldn’t kick the infection with herbs and supplements. I was back on antibiotics, and the first course I took didn’t work, and I had to get on a stronger second course.  

This nagging issue left me feeling fatigued, but we were still having fun exploring the Western states in our family van.  When we got back to Portland in late August, the sh*t hit the fan all over again.

Back in Portland, our plan was to live at my parents’ until we could find a mold-free rental home.  But my husband soon felt that their house was making him sick again, and he insisted on moving out.  

The day this move went down happened to be my birthday.  My parents had some friends over, and they were in full entertainment mode. The friends, who knew me since I was a baby, wanted to hear that we were now all better.  That’s basically what everyone wanted to hear after witnessing our ordeal over the last 9 months.  

But instead we were looking for a cheap hotel that could take pets and awkwardly making our exit. I was extremely embarrassed. The next day was the first day of school for our son.  I was balling my eyes out at Target as I tried to buy him school supplies and snacks at the last minute. We ate my birthday dinner at a nearby Ikea store and it was the start of a rough couple weeks.

My husband started back to work and felt that his work building, and especially his computer lab, were making him sick.  Meanwhile I was driving around in our old car we had gotten out of storage, and it was making me sick.  

A rare happy moment in the hotel.

My son did not like living in a hotel (nor did I), and my parents took over his care. I was house-hunting and not finding many options in a city full of old houses that we no longer found charming. It was expensive to stay in a hotel day after day, and my husband was changing his opinion on a daily basis on whether we should stay or go.  

Emotionally it was an extremely hard time. Over the summer we had escaped the hardship of the mold, and now we were right back in it. My husband, who always had a better nose for mold, was not happy. His friends and family suggested he had PTSD. We probably both did.

We spent our anniversary arguing about which rental to choose and whether or not to buy furniture. I said I needed nice furniture to feel grounded and at home again.  He didn’t want to invest in nice furniture in case we’d have to move, or get rid of all our belongings again.

We had a small miracle in finding a beautiful new townhouse to rent in the 11th hour. We moved in, but did not commit to much furniture.

I started therapy to help process all that had happened.  I had basically been absent from my life in Portland as I dealt with sickness, a water-damaged house, a big event, living far out of town, and then traveling all summer.  I had disappeared from the people in my life and felt that asking to be let back in again was too hard.  

The subject of buying a couch or not came up a lot in therapy, and one day I had a severe panic attack about couch issue. The couch was a symbol of commitment to a new life here, and it was so hard to make that commitment after all we had gone through.

My husband and I struggled with the ‘stay or go’ question. He started to work in a new building, but still had some doubts and bad days.  We traded in the car I was driving, but I was sicker than I had been in months.  My glands were swollen, I had a sore throat and chills most of the time. I felt like I could barely leave the house because I was so overwhelmed and ill.

The therapy really helped me, though my health was still off.  I made a breakthrough though, when I read this article, The Mysteries of the Thyroid, by Anthony William. The article described how Epstein Barr virus lives in the body and goes through different stages of dormancy and activity, and affects different organs. It sounded just like me.  

I was taking some supplements and herbs for Epstein Barr but was still sick all the time.  I remembered that over the summer our doctor had prescribed me some medication to take for the virus. I tried it then and it made me wired, so I figured I’d stick with the herbs.  But after reading this article, I wanted to try again.

After the first week on the Valacyclovir, the side effects minimized and I started to feel better- better than I had in a long, long time. I wasn't having those constant flu-like symptoms and my energy was way better. My brain wasn’t working fully yet, but I was thrilled to have found this medication.  I was finally able to get out a bit more, and even go to yoga class for the first time in a year.

Meanwhile my husband started therapy, and started avoiding me. I knew something was up, and he finally admitted that he hadn’t been happy in our marriage ‘in years’ and that he thought that a trial separation might help.

I was floored. I was just starting to get some grounding in ‘our new life’, even if it wasn’t complete.  We were spending more time with friends, and I was able to think and work better. The thought of losing my family now was too much. I had suicidal thoughts again, and this time for a different reason.

But I also knew that, despite his deep wounds and our arguments, we weren’t a bad couple. It was painful at times to discuss this with him, but I kept at it. I felt like I needed to be a champion for our family and our relationship. This is hardest thing to share of this whole story, but I know that many people struggle in marriage; it’s a challenging thing to have two lives so intertwined, especially with careers and kids and sickness.

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The story of 2016, of our health and home and marriage, is not over.  We may move to the desert next summer.  We found out we have a MARCONS infection in our noses and we have to treat for that. Our marriage is feeling better, but it still feels scary at times.

So why in the world am I calling this my ‘best’ worst year?

As I write this I am filled with gratitude for this year.  It was a year that I was completely pulled out of my imperfect comfort zone, and forced to consider what I really valued. 

This year my husband and I had to make many hard decisions and to re-evaluate how we interact, but we did it together and I am proud of us. I think we have the chance to make something much better of our lives together.

This year I had a lot of tough experiences with my businesses (some I did not share here) and these made me stronger and more self-reliant. But I did not give up on collaborating and identifying the people that will support me in my next chapter. I am slowly getting better at forgiving and moving on from perceived hurts.

I also was forced to spend a lot of time away from my businesses, and it made me less obsessed and more balanced.  Now when I have a snow day with my kid, I know it’s not the end of the world.

As a health care practitioner, I took a whole year away from treating clients.  I honestly did not know if I could ever go back, since I was so exhausted from it all. But as I start to have energy again, I find I have a fresh perspective thanks to my time away. I put less pressure on myself to ‘fix everything’ and instead appreciate my healing presence.

I also learned a lot about the ‘weird’ causes of disease that I did not know about. I learned about genetics, heavy metals, mold toxins, Lyme disease, and Epstein Barr virus. I am anxious to know as much as I can to help clients and teach practitioners.

Having been through a hard-to-diagnosis disease, I have a lot of sympathy for those going through it. I know that not everything is an easy fix.  I know it takes time to learn and find the right solutions. I know you have to thankful for the good days and endure the bad days as best you can. I now offer lab testing and supplements based on my own research and experience here.

I know that having hard times is when you find best yourself. I am encouraged to take more risks now because, hey, I made it through all this alright. I have found a quiet, true confidence I had been looking for for years. 

Bring it, 2017.

Please shares your experiences or comments below. We'd love to hear them! If you think this article would help your community, please use the sharing link below.

Free Guide: Healing from Toxic Mold

You want help for your mold symptoms ASAP! Cut to the chase with this straight-forward guide, outlining my favorite supplements for detoxing mold. I can personally say these supplements helped me heal and some of them currently support my daily self-care.

Let me help you start healing!

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Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and toxic mold recovery and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.

Marcons And Biofilms With Dr. Yoshi Rahm

Dr. Yoshi Rahm is an osteopathic physician based in Los Angeles and certified in both Family Medicine as well as Integrative & Holistic Medicine.

In this week’s episode, Dr. Yoshi & I will be talking about MARCoNS (Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci) and Biofilms.

You will learn:

1. What MARCoNS and Biofilms are and where they exist in the body

2. Who has MARCoNS e.g. people with chronic fatigue, immunodeficiency etc.

3. Ideal tests for MARCoNS

4. The connection between inflammation & MARCoNS

5. Symptoms of MARCoNS

6. Treatment options for MARCoNS (including natural remedies)

To find out more about Dr. Yoshi Rahm and his practice, visit his website and follow him on:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

To order your own MARCoNs test, please click here.

Thanks for listening!

Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women's Wellness Collaborative

Might you be struggling with toxic mold? In this guide, we’ll explore some of the first steps of the process as you consider whether or not you have mold, and then we’ll focus on Bridgit's personal specialty, removing mold toxins from the body.

Are You Suffering from Toxic Mold?

Test yourself for mold toxicity with this easy, at-home urine test. MycoTOX screens for eleven different mycotoxins, from 40 species of mold, in one urine sample.

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Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.

Top Ten Podcasts of 2016

As the year comes to a close, I want to celebrate ALL the guest experts we had on Women's Wellness Radio this year, and our listening community.  It was a great year of growth, both in knowledge and in community building.

Today I'm sharing the top ten most downloaded episodes, in case you want to catch one or two that you missed.  Here we go:

1. Why Your Probiotic Supplement Isn't Working With Kiran Krishnan

This episode I saved for many months to make it out 100th episode! This interview with Kiran Krishnan, microbiologist and founder of Megaspore Probiotics, is super fascinating. This conversation breaks through confusion about the gut and myths about probiotics.

2. Natural Solutions for Hormonal Problems with Dr. Carrie Jones   

This was a very popular episode right away!  Dr. Carrie has great insights on hormone labs and why our hormones go haywire. She also shares some of her favorite supplements. Don't miss the free handout on the page.

3. The Hormonal Imbalances That Make You Gain Weight With Cammi Balleck  

Well, I didn't know this show was so popular 'til today!  It suggests to me that lots of women in our community are dealing with hormonally-based weight issues, so I'll bring more resources to you on this subject.

4. Seven Keys to Fertility Into Your 40s With Dr. Anna Cabeca       

This was an interesting one for me too!  I am fascinated with the topic of optimizing fertility at an older age, and Dr. Cabeca is both an inspiring and knowledgeable expert in this area.

5.  The Autoimmune Fix With Dr. Tom O'Bryan   

This was less of a surprise.  Dr. Tom O'Bryan is a well-known expert in the field of gluten intolerance and autoimmunity, and many women in our community are dealing with autoimmunity. What wowed me in this interview was what a talented presenter Dr. Tom is.  

6. Easy Essential Oils for Women's Health with Dr. Mariza Snyder   

I had no idea this episode was creeping up the ranks.  It suggests to me that you all are hungry for more practical, simple solutions. Let's do it!

7.  A Holistic Approach To Adrenal Healing With Kelly Graham 

I also did not know this one was faring so well!  But adrenal dys-regulation is so prevalent today, I shouldn't be surprised. What I loved about Kelly's presentation was her insight on how we put ourselves into this box.

8. Nutrition And More For A Healthy Cycle With Caroline Zwickson   

Y'all love to learn about your cycles!  Caroline brings some clear explanation and great tips with this one.

9. Why You Need to Support Your Mitochondria With Susanne Bennett    

We have a tie for #9 with the exact same number of downloads.  Dr. Bennett gives a rarely-heard and much-needed explanation of the importance of our mitochondria.  This one is good for chronic disease and infertility.  

9. Interpreting Your Period Symptoms with Rachel Eyre      

I loved this episode with Rachel Eyre and I'm so glad it made the top ten.  We cover some detailed stuff like uterine positioning and clots in menstrual blood...and vaginal steaming!

10.  A Healthy Dose of Productivity with Laura McClellan  

And I'm so happy this episode squeaked in there, because I'm a big fan of Laura. She is not in the 'health space', but she an incredibly wise teacher on the important subject of getting sh*t done with wearing yourself out.  She has great presence. 

I am filled with gratitude as I write this for our experts and our listeners. Looking back and remembering all these amazing conversations gives me energy for the year to come!

If you are not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe by searching 'womens wellness radio' on most podcast player apps. Here is the iTunes link. Get a new episode very week!

If you want to share a favorite episode, speaker, take-away or memory from the podcast this past year, I'd really love to read it below!

The Trouble With Oxalates with Lisa Pomeroy

Lisa Pomeroy is a traditional naturopath, FDN practitioner, Certified BioIndividual nutritional practitioner and Certified Gluten practitioner.

While I was studying FDN (Functional Diagnostic Nutrition), Lisa brought up the term "Oxalates" which I was not familiar with. These are compounds found in plant foods. They are not very much known, and as people do their best to eat healthy foods, they do not know that some of those foods are very high in oxalates. And if one has other health issues, these oxalates can accumulate and cause a lot of health problems.

We also talk about:

1. Sources of oxalates especially from foods

2. At what point oxalates become an issue in the body

3. Bacteria in the gut that eat oxalates

4. Signs of excess oxalates in the body and some of the illnesses or problems they can cause

5. Strains that help with eating/breaking down oxalates

6. Nutrients that help control oxalate levels

7. And so much more…

To learn more about Lisa Pomeroy, visit her website here. You can also follow her on Facebook.

Resources:

FDN Advanced Training modules for practitioners

Lisa's 1-page handout on oxalates

Thanks for listening!
Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative

We are running a quick survey this December to find out more about you, your needs and want you want help with in terms of your health. Click here to take part in the short survey.

To get a new interview delivered to your phone weekly, subscribe to our podcast atiTunes or through most podcast players.

If you have not yet joined our community, be sure to grab our hidden Hormone stressors quiz here, and come on board!

Hormone Myths vs. Facts

How well do you understand hormones and their affect on your body? Unfortunately, many myths about hormones abound, and with those myths come a slew of“old wives' tales" about how to handle hormone conditions. Understanding the truth behind these myths is a key component in taking control over your health. Here are some of the most common myths surrounding hormones, and a little more about the truth behind those myths.

Myths About Hormones and Age

One of the most common myths about hormones is that they affect only those in middle age. Hormones may be more prevalent in middle-age years, but in reality, hormones affect the body throughout life. They are a major factor in puberty, for example.

Myths About Menopause

Menopause is another area where myths are abundant. For instance, many women think that they can stop hormone replacement therapy when menopause is complete! This could lead to health consequences which is why it is so important to understand what menopause is and how it affects the body. Some people mistakenly assume that hormone changes common to menopause affect only women. Men, around the same time of life, also experience shifts in their hormones as they age.

Myths About Menstruation

Menstruation and PMS are other areas where myths are common. The uncomfortable symptoms of PMS can be difficult to live with, and that's why having a clear understanding of what they are and why they occur is important.

Myths About the Thyroid

The thyroid is part of the endocrine system that is often misunderstood. Some mistakenly believe that thyroid disease affects only women. While only 2 out of every 10 cases of thyroid disease occurs in men, the condition can clearly affect both genders. The symptoms are similar as well, so it's important that both men and women understand the truths about thyroid function and thyroid disease.

Getting the Truth About Hormones

Do you believe any of these common hormone myths?

Arming yourself with accurate hormone and endocrine system facts will allow you to be proactive with your health. If you are still not sure what is right and what is wrong when it comes to the endocrine system, talk to a qualified health care provider, preferably an endocrinologist.

This infographic was provided by Hormone Health Network. Hormone Health Network focuses on helping educate people on the topic of hormone health.

If you have not yet joined our community, be sure to grab our hidden Hormone stressors quiz here, and come on board!

What to Do About Menstrual Cramps

I’ve have gotten a few questions in a row about menstrual cramps, so thank you for guiding me on what information you want!

There are two types of menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), primary and secondary.  I’ll first give some tips on dealing with primary dysmenorrhea, and then cover the sources of secondary dysmenorrhea.  

Primary Dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea is caused from the normal process of shedding your uterine lining each month with your period.  But the degree of pain and cramping varies for each woman, and you can influence the level of pain naturally.  

Here’s a bit of background on why menstrual cramps happen from the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine: 

“In the 1960s, it became evident that chemicals called prostaglandins are a central part of the problem. These chemicals are made from the traces of fat stored in cell membranes, and they promote inflammation. They are also involved in muscle contractions, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting, and pain.

Shortly before a period begins, the endometrial cells that form the lining of the uterus make large amounts of prostaglandins. When these cells break down during menstruation, the prostaglandins are released. They constrict the blood vessels in the uterus and make its muscle layer contract, causing painful cramps. Some of the prostaglandins also enter the bloodstream, causing headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Researchers have measured the amount of prostaglandins produced by the endometrial cells and found that it is higher in women with menstrual pain than for women who have little or no pain.”

The article goes on to explain a way to lower prostaglandins through food. How can this be done? Because prostaglandins are produced in the endometrium (aka endometrial lining) of the uterus, and because the endometrium grows in response to estrogen, if we can keep estrogen within a healthy range, then that lining will not overgrow, causing an overproduction in prostaglandins.  Pretty cool, right?  

Tips for Menstrual Cramps

1.  Magnesium for Menstrual Cramps

Your uterus is smooth muscle, and it requires magnesium to cramp smoothly. This is true for labor as well as your monthly period.  In addition to relaxing the muscles, it helps calcium be absorbed, and calcium is important for proper muscle function as well.

Due to insufficient minerals in the soil, insufficient greens and healthy foods in the diet and increased mineral need due to bodily stress, most of us are not getting nearly enough magnesium.

When I ask women if they are taking magnesium, they usually say, “Well I’m taking a multivitamin.”

Unless you are taking a multivitamin with several pills included, the chances are you are not getting enough magnesium for your supplementation.

Magnesium is very bulky, and it requires usually four pills to reach the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of 400 mg.  If you don’t want to take a handful of pills, there is also magnesium powder that you can mix up with water. If you want a magnesium that is highly absorbable and effective, check out my new favorite magnesium powder here!

Also note the RDA of 400 mg may not be quite enough for you.  You can experiment with taking more, and can safely do so long as it does not cause diarrhea.  Of course always ask your physician first if you are taking medication or have special conditions.

2. Drink Enough Water

A handful of clients have told me that just drinking more water cured their cramps.  It’s a basic, un-sexy tip, but water is important for tissue hydration and detoxification, so it makes sense that it can help.

The usual guideline for how much water to drink is half your body weight in ounces of water.  So if you weigh 150 pounds, that’s 75 ounces of water per day.  I think there is wiggle room here for less water if you are in cold climate and are no active, and more water if you are in a hot climate and more active.  

If you are actively detoxing, you may need more water.  That can include the natural process of detoxification that happens in the days before and during your period, and also if you are doing a detoxification protocol with a practitioner. 

Please try to drink filtered water, and don’t count coffee, juice or other heavier beverages in your ounces per day.  Note that coffee and other caffeinated beverages are actually de-hydrating because they act as a diuretic.  

Drink water away from meals as too much fluid with meals dilutes your digestive fluids.  Try to sip water to not overwhelm your body with fluid by gulping it down.  First thing is the morning is a great time to get hydrated and have a big glass of water.  Room temperature and warm is best, and you can add a generous squeeze of lemon of you like.

3.  Omega 3 for Menstrual Cramps

Whenever we have pain, including with menstrual cramps, there is usually inflammation. 

Omega 3 is great anti-inflammatory substance.  It has the ability to manage inflammation over the long-term and also in acute situations. (Source)

For a standard maintenance dosage, 2 soft gel capsules are enough. But if you are coming from a background of lots of inflammation and you’ve never taken omega 3 before, you may want to take 3,000 mg a day for a month. 

It’s not well known that omega 3 can be used acutely at higher doses than 1,000 mg.  For example if you feel a flu coming on, you can take 3,000 + mg of omega 3 a day, as it fortifies your cells’ walls so they don’t pass the virus.  For cramps, you can take a higher dose to help reduce the inflammatory prostaglandin activity.  

Another benefit of omega 3 is its ability to regulate the immune system in cases of autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are more common in women, and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid disease, can contribute to estrogen dominance and resulting heavy periods and cramps.

Check out my favorite quality Omega 3 here!

If you are allergic to fish or on a vegetarian diet, you can take a DHA / EPA oil (these are two types of beneficial fat found in fish oil) made from algae instead of fish.

4.  Anti-inflammatory Diet

Please don’t follow tips 1 - 3 without also creating a stable base with an anti-inflammatory diet. A big, big reason that women have menstrual pain is due to tissue inflammation from an inflammatory diet. Inflammation blocked hormone receptors, causing hormone imbalance.

Foods to avoid:

• The whites- white bread, pasta, pastries and sugar

• The drinks- wine, beer, juices, sodas, sweetened coffees and teas

• The oils- seed oils like canola oil are inflammatory are found in most processed foods and restaurant foods

Foods to increase include:

• Fatty fish like wild salmon and anchovies

• Green vegetables

• Berries like raspberry and blueberry

• Fresh nuts and seeds like chia seeds and walnuts

• Herbs like clove, ginger, cinnamon and rosemary

Foods high in fiber help clear excess circulating estrogen through the gut. As you learned earlier, keeping estrogen levels in a healthy range can reduce menstrual cramps caused by high prostaglandins.  

Other Reason for Menstrual Cramps (Secondary Dysmenorrhea)

A. Uterine Positioning

As you can hear about in my interview with Rachel Eyre, if your uterus is adhered to other tissues and can’t move freely, it is forced to twist which can cause you pain.  But you can treat that with specialized massage, castor oil packs or yoni steams, as Rachel explains.  

The whole interview is great, but I’ll point out that at minute 22 we start to talk about cramps, and at minute 35 we talk about techniques that can help.

B.  Endometriosis

Endometriosis can cause extreme pain, and also pain with intercourse, or bowel pain.  If your cramps require prescription painkillers and days off work, you may need to find a practitioner to help determine if you have endometriosis.  

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines your inner uterus) is found outside the uterus.  This misplaced tissue adheres to other tissues, and the endometrial tissue also responds to changes in your hormone levels with bleeding and inflammation.

Here is an article by our friend Melissa Turner at Endo Empowered about how to ready yourself for your period if you do have endometriosis.  Some of the tips match mine above, but she has some great new ones too, including using warming herbs and exercise.  Melissa and I also recorded a video on turmeric, which is another herb she uses to reduce inflammation and pain.  

C.  Adenomyosis

In this condition, the endometrial lining embeds within the uterine muscle, causing period pain or lingering pain after sex.  Risk factors for adenomyosis are genetics, estrogen dominance, childbirth or a surgical cut into the uterus.  An ultrasound or MRI scan can help with diagnosis.

D.  Fibroids

Fibroids are tumors of the uterus that are non-cancerous 99% of the time.  Up to 80% of women experience fibroids, and most women will be symptom free.  Dark-skinned women have a greater chance of having fibroids.  This is theorized to be related to low vitamin D levels in dark-skinned women, emphasizing the importance of vitamin D to our hormonal balance.

The mechanism of fibroids is not totally understood, but they grow under the influence of estrogen, so women with estrogen dominance are susceptible.  Estrogen dominance is very common as women approach menopause, so women in their 40s are prone to fibroids.

Uterine fibroids can occur within the walls of the uterus, inside the uterus or outside the uterus. Fibroids can cause menstrual pain, pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, abnormal bleeding, fatigue and anemia.

We have a great interview on the subject with Dr. Allan Warshowsky here.

E.  Copper IUD (Intrauterine Device)

I use a copper IUD for birth control and have very rarely experienced pain from it.  But I have heard stories from other women in which they reacted very poorly to their IUD, having pain and heavy bleeding.  This seems to be more common in younger women who have not gone through childbirth.

If you recently got a copper IUD, you may need a few months to adjust.  If you suspect it is still a problem, consult with your physician.  Also consider following my four tips above before you throw in the towel.

F.  Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

If you have an untreated infection it can cause increased pain with your periods. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease occurs mainly due to STD (sexually transmitted disease), but can also occur after childbirth and pelvic surgeries, including abortions.  It can cause cause infertility and can seriously stress your other body systems. According to Wed MD, one million American women experience PID each year.

Other symptoms of PID could be abdominal pain, painful urination, pain after sex, yellow or green vaginal discharge, chills/fever and nausea/vomiting.  If you suspect a PID, see a doctor.  And always practice protected sex with an untested partner. (Source)

G.  Cervical Stenosis

I have never encountered this cause in my years or work, but it is a possible cause so I will share it. Cervical stenosis is a narrow or narrowing of the cervix, the lower portion of the uterus.  If this area is narrow and your menstrual blood is trying to pass, this can case increased pain.

H. Uterine Shape

Some women have an irregularly shaped uterus that can lead to increased menstrual pain.  These abnormalities are:   bicornuate uterus (two uteri that lead to one cervix), septate uterus (normal uterus with a fibrous band of tissue bisecting it), unicornuate uterus (a uterus that develops from only one mullerian duct), uterus didelphys (two uteri, two cervices, and a septum, or membrane, dividing the vaginal canal).  (Source)

These conditions can be diagnosed by medical imaging, and are sometimes diagnosed during a C section.

I hope this article helps you get out of some monthly distress!  

How to Reduce Inflammation: the Inflammation Repair Kit

Are you ready to get rid of inflammation? The Inflammation Repair Kit includes three products that work together to strongly reduce inflammation and get you on the road to better health.

• Omega Concentrate

• Pure PC

• Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate

These are the most effective anti-inflammatory supplements I have ever found and I used them in my recovery from toxin mold. These are effective for headaches, menstrual cramps, joint or muscle pain, and more. This kit is also helpful for general detox support.

Have you discovered some tips that helps with mentrual cramps? Share them with is in the comments below!

Your Hormones And Your Immune System With Justin Marchegiani

Dr. Justin Marchegiani is a functional medicine practitioner with a private practice in Houston, Texas. He has extensive training in kinesiology, functional medicine, chiropractic medicine, nutrition, chronic infections and blood chemistry.

Today’s episode is about estrogen dominance and we will be talking about the immune system and hormones. We talk about how estrogen dominance can cause immune dysregulations, the branches of the immune system and how they work, what foods/nutrients support them and treating the immune system.

We also talk about:
- Why the immune system matters and the difference between women and men's systems. 
- Exposure to chemicals
- Causes of estrogen dominance
- Symptoms of estrogen dominance including PMS, cramping, breast tenderness, moodiness, back pain, excessive menstruation and migraines
- The reason why so many women have increased frequency of autoimmune conditions
- The working of TH1 & TH2
- How to boost/regulate the immune system and herbs to take to boost TH1 and TH2
- Inflammation and other hormones that affect the immune system

To learn more about hormone balance, visit Justin's website here. You can also follow him on Facebook and on his YouTube account.

Thanks for listening!
Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative

To get a new interview delivered to your phone weekly, subscribe to our podcast atiTunes or through most podcast players.

If you have not yet joined our community, be sure to grab our hidden Hormone stressors quiz here, and come on board!

How to Curb Your Hormotions & Improve Your Mood By Krista Goncalves

First, it may be prudent to speak to a qualified and knowledgeable health practitioner who specializes in hormones and can do the proper testing for hormones & neurotransmitters. Often the testing available through your MD is not going to give you the full picture!

So how can your treatment truly be defined and customized for you?

Hormone & Neurotransmitter Testing

Once you’ve done proper testing, there are many natural options available to help re-balance hormones, including Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Again, be sure to seek out a professional who is experienced in administering BHRT or other supplementation.

When these important bio-chemicals are in balance, it can set the stage for restoring your health back to an optimal, more youthful, less hormotional place! Your brain and nervous system will once again send strong signals to the rest of your body resulting in: 

1. Better appetite control

2. Increased sex drive

3. A more stable mood

4. Increased energy levels

Eat More Real Food, Eat More Real Fat

You don’t need a Nutritionist telling you that packaged, processed foods with little to no nutritional value harm us in more ways than just expanding our waistlines – that’s just common knowledge. But what may not be widely known is that they can seriously mess up our hormones and cause excessive irritability and crankiness!

Ditch the crap! Say no to junk! Banish the sugar and un-pronounceable ingredients!

Here are the best combinations of whole foods that help re-balance hormones, stabilize our mood, and keep those extra pounds from topping off the muffin.

Hormone Balancing Food Combos = Mood Food

Food Suggestions

These are energizing, hormone-balancing, inflammation-quenching super-food combos that can be included in your “good mood food” diet:

1) Kale/leafy greens + ghee
Why? Always pair your greens with a bit of “good fat” to help your body assimilate the nutrients. Kale, like broccoli, is a cruciferous veggie that contains indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) and sulforaphane – two key phytonutrients noted for their detoxifying and “bad estrogen” flushing abilities.

Suggested serving: lightly "wilt” 3 cups of greens (2 big handfuls) by sauteing them in a pan with ghee, minced fresh garlic & a pinch of pink salt over medium heat. Be careful not to burn garlic. 

2) Cacao powder + coconut oil
Why? Raw, unprocessed cacao is full of magnesium and coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid known to increase metabolism and basal body temperature, which is good for those with low thyroid (which we know can cause fatigue and depression).

Suggested serving: make your own chocolates! Raw Chocolate Macaroons

3) Salmon + hemp seeds
Why? You'll get plenty of Omega 3’s!
Suggested serving: baked salmon fillets with a hemp seed “crust” – recipe from Dr.Oz

4) Mushrooms (exposed to UV light) + olive oil + quinoa
Why? You'll get Vitamin D, essential fatty acids & manganese! 
Vitamin D is another key part of “mood maintenance” because it helps regulate the brain’s neurotransmitters (serotonin, melatonin and dopamine) which have a profound impact on mood.

Studies have found that the likelihood of having depression is significantly higher in people deficient in Vitamin D compared to those who have normal levels. It is hard to get enough D3 (the active form) through food sources, so supplementation may be necessary, especially in the darker winter months.

Suggested serving: Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so it’s important to supplement it in liquid D3 form (that is suspended in a fat source) or lightly cook your mushrooms in a little good fat like extra virgin olive oil, on low heat, being careful not to burn. Serve on a bed of cooked quinoa (made in homemade bone broth would be a bonus). It is rich in protein, fiber and manganese, all important in energy production and hormone balance.

Read Top 10 Hormone Balancing Foods

Do you notice a commonality in each combo?

It’s HEALTHY FAT!

Why Fat is Necessary for Hormone Health

Dr. Christiane Northup, MD & Women’s Health Expert reported that her patients complained of sallow skin, brittle hair and nails, susceptibility to infection, inability to concentrate, irritability and weight gain despite their rigid diets. She concluded that none of these women were getting enough healthy fat.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s), namely omega–3’s, are needed for the body to perform many important functions, including those of the brain and nervous system. Good sources of EFA’s include:

1. Free range eggs

2. Avocados

3. High-quality flax seeds (fresh ground)

4. Walnuts

5. Wild-caught cold water fish

Hormone Balancing & Mood Stabilizing Supplements

Targeted supplementation with key nutrients like B-vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium and fish oil may be necessary for hormonal balancing. Ensure you speak to a qualified health practitioner or holistic Pharmacist before beginning supplementation. Not all “natural” or herbal products are necessary and safe.

The best way to obtain any type of nutrient is from food. But if your diet isn’t up to par quite yet, or you have gut issues that may be affecting nutrient absorption, then high-quality supplements are widely available.

Other Ways to Lift Your Mood

Just a few other ways to squeeze some mood lifters into your day…

1. Exercise regularly, and break a sweat often! Bedroom gymnastics perhaps? Just a suggestion.

2. Mindfulness based practices = yoga &/or meditative practices &/or breathing exercises

3. Daily self-care rituals

4. Be positive and surround yourself with positive people. Negative people suck.

5. Connect with nature. Get off your i-device and go outside!

6. Play with your kids, dog, and spouse in the leaves, at the gym, or in the park.

7. Get more sleep. Nothing makes you crankier, hangrier, or more off your game than poor sleep.

8. Organize something…your hall closet, your kitchen cabinets, your fridge, your junk drawer or your home office.

9. Have an Epsom salt bath with your favorite essential oil(s), light some candles and play some quiet music. Breathe deeply and take in the experience. 

10. Speaking of music, listen to it. Something light and upbeat. Or dark & raunchy – whatever lifts you up!

So if you’ve noticed that you’re feeling especially “hormotional” these days, try the above suggestions and be sure to seek out a network of friends & family who can help you with the emotional support side of things.

There’s no need to surrender to thinking that your destiny is to become just another cranky old bat living out her life. I remember my Doctor saying to me, “what you’re feeling is just a normal part of aging”, and that I would need to just “learn how to live with it”, and then I was offered a prescription for an anti-depressant. That was NOT the type of support I needed!

This post is Part 2 of the guest post by Krista Goncalves on hormone and emotions management. You can read Part 1 here.

found this interesting?

A former marine biologist, Krista is now a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN) and Registered Nutritional Counselor (RNC) – a qualified practitioner who provides guidance for building and maintaining nutritional well-being.

Krista likes to say that she's having a culinary love affair with food and is captivated by how it fuels, nourishes and energizes us. She believes your food should work for you, not against you. 

The mantra of “what you put in, is what you'll get out” supports her belief that real food, along with some high-quality supplements, can help heal us from many health conditions, or even prevent us from having certain ones in the first place - like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

With over 20 years of diverse professional teaching experience and a deep passion for promoting balanced, healthy living, she feels her contribution to the rapidly expanding and ever-evolving field of "functional health" is not only important, but incredibly rewarding.

Krista is also a women's health writer and you'll find her blogging regularly on MakingLemonade.ca ~ Empow(her)ed Health & Nutrition!

CONNECT WITH KRISTA:

Facebook

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Pinterest

Our first annual Super Sale is finally here!

It will ONLY be running from November 22-28, 2016 and you'll be getting good deals you’ll probably never see again! Take advantage of this opportunity to stock up on our great products and services. I would love for you to get the help you need so that you feel great about your body. Don't miss out! 

What's Causing Your Migranes? With Erin Knight

Erin Knight is a migraine & headache specialist. She helps people suffering from migraines determine what is holding them back and plan concrete steps to break through to feeling great.

From the time she was a little kid, Erin had a desire to help people. At one time during a family vacation is Spain, her mum was stuck in the hotel room for 3 days because of migraines and Erin felt frustrated because she couldn't do anything to help her. In high school she had migraines 4-5 times per week. She was inspired by her grandfather and was fascinated on how we could impact our bodies with chemistry. After high school she went into pharmaceutical engineering.

At 27 Erin’s body started to break down! Other than the migraines, she started having auto-immune issues, chronic fatigue, chronic pain and digestive issues. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life feeling like that! Soon she discovered functional medicine which aligned so well with her as an engineer because it addresses the root causes of body issues. She dived into it and soon her migraines went away, her energy was back, she was no-longer sensitive to things like bright lights, thunderstorms and just loved this new sense of freedom she felt.

Wanting to help others, Erin went ahead and put together a 4 step plan called “The Migraine Freedom Plan”.

“About 1 to 7 people globally suffer from migraines, and 3/4 of those are women.”

— Erin Knight

In this episode, we talk about:

1. What migraines are and what causes them

2. The different symptoms of migraines

3. The connection between stress, inflammation and migraines

4. Supplements and dosages to help with migraines including magnesium and B-vitamins

5. What to look for when getting supplements

6. Tips to manage migraines

7. The 4-step Migraine Freedom Plan

To learn more about Erin Knight, you can find her on her website here. You can also follow her on:

Facebook

Instagram

Also, if you would like to learn more about what could be going on in your body, Erin offers a free 5-min hormone balance quick-check to see if the migraines you’re experiencing could be related to a hormonal imbalance.

Thanks for listening.

Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women's Wellness Collaborative.

You can watch a video on Three Tips for Migraines with Erin Knight here:
 

Our first annual Super Sale is finally here!

It will ONLY be running from November 22-28, 2016 and you'll be getting good deals you’ll probably never see again! Take advantage of this opportunity to stock up on our great products and services. I would love for you to get the help you need so that you feel great about your body. Don't miss out! 

Take Advantage of Our First Annual Super Sale! (November 22 -28, 2016)

This sale starts today and ends Monday, 11/28. But you don't have to wait to the last minute to snap up some deals!

We have great offerings if you are a practitioner, if you are struggling to find the best routine to keep hormonal symptoms in check. I want YOU to head into the new year with the tools you need to succeed!

Here's what we've got for you:

1. Hormones: A Women's Wellness Summit $59 (normally $99)

If you missed our huge event last April, I interviewed 42 experts in women's health, on topics from Hashimoto's to Hormone Replacement. This is an excellent library of information, for practitioners or any woman. There are also hundreds of dollars of bonuses, including a hormone detox, 10 Tips to Bust Your Sugar Cravings and a ton more. Check it out here.

2. Perfect Periods Program $67 (normally $297)

If you are struggling with weird cycles and annoying monthly symptoms, this is the course for you. Your menstrual symptoms indicate deeper health issues affecting your hormones. You will be able to identify and address these root cause through this course. This self-study program also includes a private Facebook group and live Q and A with me. (The next Live Q and A is November 29.) If you feel you have a very complex case and have 'tried everything,' I would suggest the consult below. Register here.

3. Quick Consultation $50 (new service!)

We are currently developing a supplement line. It's not quite ready, but I'm so excited about it that I've set up these 30 minutes consultations to discuss your health concerns and your current supplements and habits. We'll then adjust/design the best supplement protocol for you. For U.S. customers, we can ship supplements to you. For international clients, I cannot ship to you, but I can advise you on what to look for in your home country. This is a one-to-one consultation via Skype. You are not obligated to buy supplements on this call.  It is 30 minutes of private time to discuss your case. Purchase here.

4. Business Consultation $50 (new service!)

I am an acupuncturist who moved my business online. Especially following my successful Hormones summit (30,000 people participated), I got a lot of questions from people seeking advice on online business. I'm excited to beta test this new service. This great price on a 50 minute consult won't last forever! Purchase here.

5. Kindle Fertility Books $2.99 each

If you are looking to improve your fertility, it's a great time to buy my books, Making Super Sperm and Amazing Eggs. Once you've read them and review them on Amazon, you can enter to win a private, in-depth case evaluation with me, valued at $395! Shop and learn more here. Raffle closes 11/30/16.

If you have ANY questions on these products or services, please email me at bridgit@bridgitdanner.com and I'll get right back to you.  

Also, feel free to stock up and buy more than one thing!  We won't host this sale again for a year!

Are You Hormotional? By Krista Goncalves

As I was pondering this topic and even thinking that I had made up a clever new term: HORMOTIONAL, it turns out it’s actually a thing! Ha!

From the Urban Dictionary:

Adjective – Feeling strong emotions brought on by the hormonal fluctuations caused by a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Noun – Hormotion: An emotion felt with particular intensity during the hormonal fluctuations caused by a woman’s menstrual cycle.

As in…”I’m sorry honey, I didn’t mean to bite your f@$king head off, I’m just feeling a little hormotional today.”

OR, “No wait, I did mean to tear you a new one, because I’m feeling a little hormotional today.”

Why Hormones Affect Our Mood

The feeling of overwhelm, underwhelm and anywhere in between where you simply don’t feel like – or act like yourself anymore. Any woman over the age of 35 is likely well-acquainted with not being able to get a handle on her “hormotions” because a few key hormones have started to play tricks with her body as well as her mind.

Women’s International writes: “Just mention those three little letters—PMS—and you’re bound to get a reaction. Women nod in sympathy; men cringe at the thought. Everyone seems to know someone whose moods go through a ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ type of transformation during that time of the month.

But the emphasis on PMS and its effects on a woman’s mood seems blown out of proportion, especially in light of the fact that a woman’s life is a continuum of hormonal upheavals that affect her moods. From puberty through post-menopause, women experience a continuous cycle of hormonal fluctuations that affect brain chemistry and therefore, their mood.”

This nifty little fact of life may partially explain why, women are 40 % more likely than men to develop mental health conditions like depression and anxiety disorders. And this is a world-wide cross-cultural phenomenon too ladies!!

In fact, this biochemical connection is so undeniable that we need to look beyond the tongue-in-cheek jokes about PMS and seek to gain a better understanding of how hormones affect a woman’s mental health and emotional well-being.

Does reading this article cause you to feel hormotional? Well, I don’t want to be responsible for that, so here’s the audio version!

Key Hormone Players Affecting Mood

Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroid & Insulin.

Estrogen

Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University says, “Estrogen appears to be a “protective” agent in the brain. This may in part explain why some women feel worse in terms of their mental state in the low-estrogen phase of their monthly cycle. Some women even feel a crushing state of depression during this time known as PMDD (Pre-menstrual Dysphoric Disorder). 

Estrogen also appears to exert influence on dopamine and serotonin normally considered the “feel good” neurotransmitters, but are also the key brain chemicals associated with the development of depression and psychosis.”

A number of research studies have shown an association between decreased levels of estrogen and panic attacks. Many women may develop symptoms of depression, anxiety, and extreme mood swings as estrogen levels begin to fluctuate during peri-menopausal years and then further declining at menopause.

It’s frustrating when so many women that suffer from depression during peri-menopause have been put on anti-depressant medications instead of addressing their unique hormone levels through testing and then using more natural bio-identical hormones as needed.

Progesterone

Beyond preparation for pregnancy, progesterone has many notable influences throughout the body, many of which can be attributed to its ability to oppose the action of estrogen. Multiple physical and psychological problems during mid-life are often caused by an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen, referred to as Estrogen Dominance.

The brain is also highly responsive to progesterone. In fact, levels of progesterone in the brain have been shown to be 20 times higher than in the blood. Insomnia, anxiety, and migraines are just a few of the conditions linked to Estrogen Dominance. Just like elsewhere in the body, progesterone counterbalances the effects of estrogen in the brain. Estrogen has an excitatory effect on the brain, whereas progesterone’s effect is quite calming.

According to Dr. Phyllis Bronson, a clinician and biochemist, supplementing with natural (bio-identical) Progesterone has been shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety in peri-menopausal women. Most of the women treated reported significant improvements in emotional health.

Warning: Do not “experiment” with BHRT on your own! Work with a qualified health professional experienced in prescription of bio-identicals.

Testosterone

Most of us think of testosterone as simply a sex hormone that plays an important role in puberty, aka, hormonal-crazed teenagers! And in men, it pumps up their libido, produces Olympic swimming sperm, keeps their muscles rippling, and bodies strong & virile. But testosterone isn’t exclusively a male hormone!

Women produce small amounts of it and it’s just as important to our delicate hormonal symphony as well, keeping our muscles lean and tight, our bones strong and our body fat composition in check. Not to mention our libidos from becoming non-existent! Sigh.

It can influence our mood when levels dip too low, often referred to as ‘low T’. While this certainly affects women (I should know, I had virtually none at one point!), it is very prevalent in middle aged men – sometimes called andropause or ‘male menopause’.

“Cells in the brain have testosterone receptors that significantly affect mental health. Men with low testosterone can experience fatigue and commonly have mood swings. It’s also one of the major causes of depression.”

— Dr. Edward Levitan, MD

Thyroid

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck in either side of your Adam's Apple. It produces several different hormones that have a profound effect on the body and affect every cell in one way or another. And, the effects on mood are far-reaching.

The primary thyroid hormones are Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3), which respond to pituitary Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) as part of the body’s complex feedback system. These thyroid hormones affect blood glucose levels and the release of stress hormones (like cortisol), which obviously affects mood as well.

In her best-selling book "The Hormone Cure", Dr. Sara Gottfried writes, “Sluggish thyroid and metabolism are a setup for poor mood – even perhaps, the slow downward spiral toward cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.”

So you see, when the thyroid is not functioning optimally (i.e. levels are either too high or too low), it can really throw your body and mind out of whack!

A thyroid hormone deficiency inhibits brain neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, possibly leading to depression. Thyroid hormone levels may also be deficient during and after pregnancy. (I know about that firsthand!)

The Mayo Clinic states that:
If you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), you may experience:

• Unusual nervousness

• Restlessness

• Anxiety

• Irritability

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism), you may experience:

• Mild to severe fatigue

• Depression

And these are only just the effects on your mental and emotional state. The other symptoms of thyroid dysfunction affecting all other body systems are plentiful and wide-ranging! Check out my personal health story of how I tackled my long-standing hypothyroidism.

Insulin & Blood Glucose (Sugar) Levels

I’m sure you’re familiar with the term “hangry”…hungry + angry. It’s even scientifically documented! 

Researchers have noticed a correlation between aggressive emotional outbursts during PMS and women’s blood sugar levels. When asked about the time of day or circumstances immediately preceding such outbursts, patients frequently reported that they occurred late morning after missing breakfast or while preparing for the evening meal, especially if that was occurring later than usual. Incidentally, many patients also reported confusion or forgetfulness during the time surrounding these outbursts.

Like I said, hangry is a real emotion!

This is why it’s so important to pay careful attention to not only what you eat, but also WHEN you eat it, as this is important to your emotional health. Be sure to keep your blood sugar nice and steady by eating a well-balanced meal or snack every 3-4 hours, which includes a serving of high-quality lean protein + good fats + low-glycemic fruits or fibrous veggies. And be mindful of the portions.

For more on the effects of insulin, read “Is Your Blood Sugar Taking Your Hormones for a Ride?”

Stages of Life Affect Mood

It's not just specific hormones that can cause erratic moods; it’s a combination of hormonal imbalances as you would see when you go into specific stages of life: puberty, pregnancy, post-pregnancy, peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause. And this means from the age of 12 to 60, spanning over half of a woman’s life!

I was especially caught off-guard with raging hormotions during my post-partum phase. And I’m not just talking about the “baby blues”. This was a “I don’t even recognize myself anymore because I grew horns” stage that I went through after both my kids were born. 

Post-partum depression and psychosis are thought to be caused by the sudden and dramatic drop in pregnancy hormones shortly after giving birth. I was hospitalized just 8 days after my first child was born. Doctors first thought I was having a stroke! After weeks of testing, I was given the diagnosis of post-partum depression & generalized anxiety.

It was a very frustrating time in my life – depressing, full of panic attacks, and downright scary at times for both me and my husband. Sweet man stuck it out though 🙂

Dr. Phyllis Bronson conducted studies on mood disorders in women at midlife and concurred that what most women fear most as they approach menopause is not hot flashes, night sweats, breast cancer or heart disease! They fear losing their mind!

Other Reasons Why Our Mood Sucks

Our mood or demeanor can be affected in non-hormonal ways:

• Genetics – does a parent or sibling suffer from anxiety or depression?

• Environment – what is our housing situation, relationship with partner/children, exposure to toxins?

• Stress levels – do we have poor health, a demanding job, a stressful home environment?

• Women’s self-esteem or self-worth: women tend to view themselves more negatively than men = vulnerability factor for many mental health problems

This post is Part 1 of the guest post by Krista Goncalves on hormone and emotions management. You can read Part 2 here.

FOUND THIS INTERESTING?

A former marine biologist, Krista is now a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN) and Registered Nutritional Counselor (RNC) – a qualified practitioner who provides guidance for building and maintaining nutritional well-being.

Krista likes to say that she's having a culinary love affair with food and is captivated by how it fuels, nourishes and energizes us. She believes your food should work for you, not against you. 

The mantra of “what you put in, is what you'll get out” supports her belief that real food, along with some high-quality supplements, can help heal us from many health conditions, or even prevent us from having certain ones in the first place - like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

With over 20 years of diverse professional teaching experience and a deep passion for promoting balanced, healthy living, she feels her contribution to the rapidly expanding and ever-evolving field of "functional health" is not only important, but incredibly rewarding.

Krista is also a women's health writer and you'll find her blogging regularly on MakingLemonade.ca ~ Empow(her)ed Health & Nutrition!

CONNECT WITH KRISTA:

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Pinterest

This article originally appeared on Krista Goncalves' blog.

Finding the Root Cause of Your Hormonal Complaints With Rich Jacobs

Today's guest Rich Jacobs is a great classic example of functional medicine in practice.

Rich Jacobs was a Strength and Conditioning Coach for 8 years. He studied physiology, anatomy and movement before getting into functional medicine. He got into functional medicine after he got really sick and found himself in a state of fatigue, allergy to most foods, bloating, insomnia, depression and low libido. His doctor said everything looked good despite not feeling well and was advised to try using Viagra while at 35 years old. 

Not satisfied, he went online and did research to help himself and got directed to functional medicine. He started with Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) and went through their educational program. He also had a mentor who used the program on him to help him get better. They found that he had stage 3 adrenal dysfunction and gut bacteria and other issues that were causing all the problems. They fixed them and Jacobs learnt how to help other people. That was four years ago. He's continued with his education through The Institute for Functional Medicine and The Kalish Institute Mentorship Program he's currently enrolled in now.

We talk about Rich Jacob's process on how he uncovers the root causes of hormonal imbalances and how they can be corrected. We also talk about:

• The big 5: weight gain, depression, fatigue/insomnia, gut issues and female hormone imbalances. 

• Interconnection between female hormone imbalances and other issues like PMS, skin issues, gut issues

• What’s normal about PMS and dealing vs eliminating PMS; some quick tips for PMS like making dietary changes, managing stress, getting adequate quality sleep and hydration and blood sugar control

• Menopause and balancing hormone stressors

• Some of the root causes of hormonal imbalances like emotional stress, dietary stress and internal inflammation

• Rich Jacobs' own experience in healing his gut and adrenal glands and the supplements he used and lifestyle changes he made

• Effects of sing too much antibiotics especially growing up

To learn more about Rich Jacobs, you can find him on his website here, where you can also sign up for his free eBook and get more tips on how to increase energy and reduce fatigue.

Follow Rich Jacobs on:

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

Thanks for listening.

Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women's Wellness Collaborative.

To get a new interview delivered to your phone weekly, subscribe to our podcast atiTunes or through most podcast players.

If you have not yet joined our community, be sure to grab our hidden Hormone stressors quiz here, and come on board!

Learn Your Most Fertile Window With Justina Thompson

Welcome to Day 7 of Fertility Week!

Justina Thompson is a Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) coach and is our last guest for Fertility Week. She took a 2-year certification program with Sarah Naomi Bly and has successfully been using FAM to prevent pregnancy for 7 years. It is a natural birth control method free from side effects.

She learnt more about the importance of FAM for couples trying to get pregnantduring her 2 years training and while in internship.  A large portion of her training involved understanding how hormones work for the female body from the scientific level.  The focus for the program was to support hormonal health with lifestyle, nutrition and environmental factors.

Couples are often told by their doctors that unless they’ve been trying to conceive for more than 12 months, then they should keep trying which kind of leaves them in the dark. But with FAM and other types of charting like the BBT, which is very popular, the method targets the time when the woman is most fertile and more capable of conceiving.

In this episode, Justina talks about:

1. Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) and how it works

2. Signs of fertility in women - cervical fluid, BBT charting and cervical position

3. Factors that trigger early or late ovulation

4. Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs)

5. Common problems and frustrations in charting

Access Today's Interview

You can listen to today's interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio.  Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

Today's Raffle

Today we are raffling another amazing Nutribullet blender, plus a care kit from Healthy Hoohoo.

Healthy HooHoo is a mild, PH- balanced, chemical free feminine wash.  Founder Stacy Lyon has generously donated 3 foaming wash cleansers (enough for one year) and 3 travel packs of wipes. Maintaining a normal vaginal PH is important for fertility, and keeping the endocrine-disrupting toxins found in most washes away from your body is important too!

About Justina

If you want to learn more about Justina Thompson, click here to visit her website.

You can also follow her on:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

PS: I'm going to do a webinar called "Perfect Periods for Fertility" this coming Wednesday Nov.16 at 4.00 PM Pacific Time. So be sure to mark it on your calendar and join me.

We put all of Justina's information together in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

Managing Emotions During Fertility Challenges With Stephanie Risinger

Welcome to Day 6 of Fertility Week!

Our guest today is Stephanie Risinger, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and host of the "Holistic Fertility & Wellness Podcast" . The podcast is geared around providing information to women about their holistic options for improving fertility as well as providing support for the emotional and relationship challenges that tend to come along when dealing with fertility challenges. The podcast came about as a result of Stephanie’s personal and professional experiences.

Today we're talking about managing some of the emotions associated with fertility. I was on Stephanie's podcast some time back and you can listen to it here.

In this episode, we’re discussing:

1. How our emotions are connected to one another

2. Our beliefs and emotions

3. Why it’s important to feel emotions

4. Healthy ways to experience emotions

5. Tips for recurring negative thoughts

6. Importance of self-care

When we compare we miss out on the little things we can be joyful of even when things are hard. You are perfect just as you are.

Access Today's Interview

You can listen to today's interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio.  Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

Today's Raffle

Today we are raffling a Nutribullet blender to make yummy fertility smoothies, and yummy, all-natural skin care, free of toxins that mess up your hormones!

The Balance Travel Kit is courtesy of AnnMarie Gianni Skin Care, and it's made for normal skin types, with the highest quality ingredients.

AnnMarie is also offering a generous discount to EVERY woman reading this. Get a sample kit for your skin type for just $10, plus get a $10 coupon towards a future purchase, plus a Toxin Free Home Guide (very important for fertility) too.

About Stephanie

To learn more about Stephanie Risinger, click here to visit her website. You can also follow her on:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

ITunes

We put all of Stephanie's information together in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

“We welcome your comments and questions below!”

Nutrition And More For A Healthy Cycle With Caroline Zwickson

Welcome to Day 5 of Fertility Week!

Caroline Zwickson is a fertility coach originally from Germany and has been living in the US for 16 years. She holds a Masters in Counselling Psychology and studied dreams, imaginations, and how to help people cultivate awareness for that and integrate it into their lives in order to create more wholeness. She did her Masters’ thesis on women and mind-body connection and looked into how women experience emotions like fear, joy and anger in their bodies, and how they can use the body to work with those emotions.

After graduating she slowly made her way into life coaching because she was passionate about helping people figure out not only why they're stuck but also what they can do about it, taking that future oriented outlook of life and really thinking about life in a positive way. Her focus in the coaching world is to help women create a fertile life; prepare them for a healthy pregnancy.

She had hormonal imbalances after coming out of the birth control pill and this experience made her dive deeply into women's hormones. She figured out a natural and holistic way to heal her hormone imbalances. The positive effects she experienced made her want to help other women. 

In this interview, we’re talking about:

1. Nutrition and balancing hormones

2. Our thoughts and their effects on our bodies

3. Movement and exercise

4. The luteal phase and blood sugar balance

5. Supplements

6. Diet and food sources

Access Today's Interview

You can listen to today's interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio. Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

About Caroline:

To learn more about Caroline Zwickson, click here to visit her website.

You can also follow her on:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Today's Raffle:

For today’s raffle, Caroline Zwickson is giving away her fall-cleanse workbook, and our sponsor Nutribullet donated another awesome kitchen blender.

Caroline's beautiful, info-packed 62-page workbook that includes: 

• An introduction to fall cleansing with a special focus on your lungs and your colon. The goal is to eliminate congestion and optimize elimination.

• Small daily exercises & action steps to promote emotional well-being, strength, resilience, and feeling calm and beautiful!

• Tips for how to overcome cravings and constipation (without your morning coffee)

• A shopping list packed with delicious, fresh, and invigorating foods

• Menu ideas and suggestions for how to keep things easy, simple and delicious

• lots and lots of amazing recipes that brighten up your day and make you feel amazing from the inside out

We put all of Caroline's information together in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

“We welcome your comments and questions below!”

Chinese Medicine And Self Care for Fertility With Heidi Brockmyre

Welcome to Day 4 of Fertility Week!

Heidi Brockmyre is a fertility expert and acupuncturist and has been practicing for over 8 years. She runs a fertility acupuncture clinic in San Diego and has created an online program to teach women how to use Chinese medicine tools at home.

In this episode, we talk about:
1.    Principles of Chinese medicine
2.    Difference between acupuncture and acupressure
3.    Tools to help bring body imbalances back into balance
4.    Protocols Heidi teaches in her online program
5.    Connection between sperm quality and miscarriages
6.    Case studies of women who conceived naturally despite being told they couldn’t by their doctors

Access Today's Interview

You can listen to today's interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio.  Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

Resources from Heidi:

Free Fertility Self-Acupressure Instructional Video
 

To learn more about Heidi Brockmyre, you can find her on her website and follow her on:
Facebook
Twitter

Today's Raffle:

Today we are again raffling a Nutribullet blender to a lucky winner, plus a two pack of Chinese herbal fertility teas from Pacific Herbs.  These formulas, the Fertility Tea Herb Pack for Women and the Sperm Boost herb pack for men, are highly concentrated and easy to take.  The retail value of each is $60 for a one month supply.  These formulas were designed and produced by Chinese Medicine practitioner, Cathy Margolin.

We put all of Heidi's information together in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

Mind Your Sperm & Egg With Bridgit Danner

Welcome to Day 3 of Fertility Week!

Our speaker today is...me!  I'm so excited to share with you my expertise on sperm and egg.  

There are many factors threatening the health of our sperm and eggs: radiation, toxins, inflammation, oxidation, and more.  I encourage you to learn the foundational habits to protect your sperm and egg and ensure your fertility.

Even if you've been told you have low sperm count or 'old eggs' there is still much you can do to increase your pregnancy odds!

We also talk about:

1.       Diet for optimal egg and sperm quality

2.       Combating stress when dealing with infertility

3.       Exercise for fertility

4.       Supplements to improve egg and sperm quality

Access My Interview Here:

You can listen to my interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio.  Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

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TODAY'S RAFFLE IS FOR ONE NUTRIBULLET AND 1 MEMBERSHIP TO MY PERFECT PERIODS COURSE ($297 VALUE).

Two Fertility Books for You, on sale this week!

Today is an extra special day for me as my new book, Amazing Eggs: How To Naturally Improve Your Fertile Egg Quality, is being released!

For five days only, Nov 9- 13, the Amazing Eggs title will be available for free on Kindle. My second edition of Making Super Sperm will be available for $.99 November 10-13.

You can purchase either through the links above.  These are Kindle books, but if you don't have a Kindle you can still purchase the books and download a Kindle Reader app for your computer, tablet or smartphone.

One last thing...as a thank you to those who leave a review of either book, you can enter to win a private consultation with me ($395 value)!  Review two books and get two entries!  Learn more/ enter raffle here.

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Perfect Periods for Fertility Webinar

Join me for a special webinar where you can ask questions and learn more about creating a healthy menstrual cycle through healthy habits.

You MUST have a 'mostly normal' cycle to get pregnant!  It doesn't have to be perfect, but enough factors need to be in play for a successful ovulation, luteal phase and pregnancy.

Register Here.  Let's Get You Figured Out!

We put all of the information I shared in this interview in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

Thanks for listening!
Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women's Wellness Collaborative

Making Super Sperm & Amazing Eggs Book Raffle

Two Fertility Books for Your Success!

I feel like a proud parent with two new babies being delivered!  

My first Kindle book, Making Super Sperm: Overcome Male Factor Infertility, Prevent Miscarriage and Make Super Healthy Babies, Naturally, is now in its second edition.  And my new book, Amazing Eggs: How to Naturally Increase Your Fertile Egg Quality, is now ready. 

On the dates November 9-13, 2016, Amazing Eggs will be free on Kindle! On November 10-13, 2016, Making Super Sperm will be available for $.99. Use the blue links above to purchase either! 

See information on a juicy raffle for purchasers below!

These are both Kindle books, but if you don't have a Kindle you can just install a Kindle app on another device to read the books.

Please click here to watch a short video on how to get a Kindle reader for a non-Kindle device.

Raffle!

I really appreciate your feedback on the books.  Just be honest, and your review helps me in many ways!  It also helps other women in your shoes find the help they need.

As a thank you for your purchase and your review on Amazon, I'm hosting a raffle for a private consultation with me, valued at $395.  I will draw the name for the winner on December 15, 2016.  

To write a review, you must be logged into Amazon.  There are two ways to do it:

1. You can write in on your Kindle after reading. If you swipe past the last page you'll get the option.

2. You can open up the book title in Amazon, click on the customer reviews, and scroll down. You'll see an option to write a review. Here are the book links: Amazing Eggs,  Making Super Sperm

If you review both books, you get two entries!

I have been a practitioner for 12 years and have treated thousands and thousands of women. I would love to give you insight on your case if you're the winner!!

After you've written your review, enter raffle here.

Thanks and good luck!  Bridgit

Are Food Sensitivities Preventing Your Pregnancy? With Sarah Clark

Welcome to Day 2 of Fertility Week!

Sarah Clark is a certified life coach with accreditation from the International Coaches Federation and a health coach with training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. At 28 years old, she was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and accepted the diagnosis and had both of her kids through IVF. Years later she realized the root cause of her infertility was food intolerance.

Later, while working in HR, she took life and health coaching courses because she was bringing coaching to the corporate environment and found out how food affects the body. She learnt that she had food sensitivity and changed her diet and lifestyle, and in a few months her health began to improve.

Sarah Clark is the author of Fabulously Fertile: Supercharge Your Fertility Naturally, a fertility cookbook for couples struggling with infertility.

Access Today's Interview

You can listen to today's interview through the player below, or through our podcast channel, Women's Wellness Radio.  Our podcast is available for subscription on iTunes and other podcast players as well.

In this interview, we talk about:

1. What happens to our bodies when we eat food we are intolerant to

2. Tests for food sensitivity/intolerance i.e. Ige test, Igg test, MRT test, ALCAT test

3. Involvement of male partners in the fertility journey

4. Restoring/healing a damaged system

5. Gut healing foods and Sarah's recommendation for probiotics

6. Tips for home cooking

7. Which kind of fish to eat

8. The connection between gluten and premature ovarian failure

Daily Raffle:

For today’s raffle, Sarah Clark will be giving away her Fertility Preparation Program valued at $297. It includes professional gourmet chef prepared recipes, supplement and essential oil recommendations. 

Nutribullet is also giving away a free 'nutrient extractor' in the daily raffle. Thanks, Nutribullet!

Sarah Clark’s Resources:

1.    Free 3-Day Fertility Diet Challenge

2.  Fab Fertile Support Group on Facebook

3.    A recently launched Free Guided fertility Visualization download

We put all of Sarah Clark's information together in a handy sheet, print-able for you. You can get a copy by using the button below:

Click Here to Get the Guide

Thanks for listening!  Feel free to post any comments or questions below.

Bridgit Danner, Founder of Women's Wellness Collaborative.