Natural Womanhood Book Review: Real Food for Fertility

“Although Dietician Lily Nichols might be best known for her work on prenatal nutrition found in Real Food for Pregnancy, many of her readers sought her advice on how to best prepare before conception. Nichols teamed up with fertility awareness expert Lisa Hendrickson-Jack in order to author Real Food for Fertility, a new volume which distills everything you need to know about how diet and lifestyle impact fertility. In this Real Food for Fertility book review, I explain why this book is an all-encompassing guide to preparing your body for pregnancy, offering hope for any woman or couple looking to conceive in the near future.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

A guide to trace minerals for preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum health

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Have you ever been told your iron levels are too low, or that you need more magnesium? How about getting a recommendation for a supplement like Trace Mineral Drops or electrolyte powders? Or maybe you’ve attempted to recreate the viral Adrenal Cocktail, which combines natural sources of Vitamin C, potassium, and sodium, and claims to boost your energy levels?

Minerals, including what are referred to as “trace minerals,” are a popular topic of conversation in the holistic health and wellness space. But what, exactly, are minerals– and more specifically, “trace minerals”– and what do they do for our bodies? What role do these elements play in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum nutritional health, and how can you incorporate them more into your diet? Here, I’ll summarize the most relevant research on trace minerals for preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum nutrition.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

How common are PMS and PMDD in teens?

“Have you ever had that moment—perhaps right after losing your temper on an innocent friend or while crying during a rom com—when suddenly the light bulb goes off? Ah, I’m about to start my period. Why is it that our emotions can shift so much in those days right before menstruation, often coupled with physical symptoms like bloating or headaches? For many women, the challenging symptoms right before their next period starts are caused by Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS. And for teen girls in their first few years of experiencing periods, there can be unique challenges in dealing with these issues. “

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

How to Start a Garden: Tips for Beginners

“Imagine entering your backyard to find a perfectly ripe tomato, warmed by the sun. You pluck your fruit from the vine and savor a bite, or plunge your hands into the earth to reveal a perfectly (or imperfectly) formed carrot, dirt still clinging to its tiny white root hairs. While the offerings of your backyard garden might look similar to the grocery store vegetables you have stored in your crisper drawer, they taste anything but. A fresh tomato has a sweetness unmatched by anything wrapped in plastic, and while homegrown lettuce lasts only hours or days once picked, it brings a tenderness that makes the simplest of salads taste gourmet.”

Read more on starting a garden for beginners at Verily Magazine.

My experience with 28, the #1 cycle syncing app 

“Five years ago, few people had heard of cycle syncing, but it has surged in popularity thanks to viral videos on TikTok and other social media sites. For young women who came of age in the 2000s or early 2010s, the idea that wellness and nutrition can work with your menstrual cycle rather than against it is revolutionary and exciting. Videos of influencers doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) during ovulation then taking a step back during their luteal phase are a welcome change from the conventional health wisdom of twenty years ago, which focused mainly on weight-loss and encouraged unhealthy dieting practices.

A new app called 28, founded in 2022 by Evie Magazine Editor-in-Chief Brittany Hugoboom, leans into this trend by bringing an algorithm to women to help them organize their life around their cycle. Even though I already use the Sympto-Thermal Method of fertility awareness for cycle charting and family planning, I decided to use 28 for a few cycles to see if this cycle syncing app could help me not only better understand my cycle, but also reach fitness and lifestyle goals with greater ease. Here’s my review of the 28 app as someone with training in an official fertility awareness method (FAM).”

Read my review at Natural Womanhood.

Unhinged Health ‘Experts’ Claim Men Can Breastfeed Too

“Breastfeeding isn’t just for women anymore, says a British National Health Services (NHS) trust in a leaked letter reported by The Telegraph. Men who identify as women can now take off-label drugs to produce breast secretions that are “comparable to that produced [by a woman] following the birth of a baby,” according to the trust. This statement comes just months before the ninth edition of breastfeeding nonprofit La Leche League’s landmark book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, is set to release. Except this time, it’s only titled The Art of Breastfeeding. Just forget the word “womanly” was ever included.”

Read more at The Federalist.

Gen Z’s Search for Fulfillment: Less Sex and More Porn—and a Deep Desire for Friendship

“Contrary to the oversexualized depictions of teenagers in shows like Euphoria and Riverdale, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is tired of seeing sex on screen. According to “Teens and Screens 2023,” a recent report from UCLA, nearly half of Gen Z respondents say that showing sex is not necessary to the plot of a movie or TV show. Many of them also believe romance is “overused” in media. What do these young people want to see on screen instead?

Friendship.”

Read more at Verily Magazine.

Hidden-Liver Korean BBQ Meatballs

I have tried multiple “hidden-liver” recipes, with varying levels of success in hiding the liver taste. This recipe has zero taste of liver, which is owed to the flavorful aromatics in the meatballs and the rich, sticky sauce. Plus, each serving boasts over 30 grams of protein.

Before you make your meatballs, purchase grass-fed beef liver from a trusted source and soak it in milk over night to dampen the strong flavor. Then, blend in a high-power blender or food processor until a puree forms. You can then freeze this puree in 1 oz portions using a silicone ice cube tray or freezer bags, taking out a few portions each time you cook ground beef.

This recipe makes 10 generous portions, with a large amount of sauce to pour over your sides. I typically serve these with rice and broccoli, but you could swap the regular rice for cauliflower rice or use other veggies like bok choy, zucchini, or snow peas. This recipe freezes exceptionally well, and is a perfect last-minute freezer meal. If you freeze them, make sure to add enough sauce to the freezer portion to coat the meatballs, then reheat in a saucepan with an added splash of water.

Recipe makes 10 servings.

Meatball Ingredients:

  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 4 oz liver puree
  • 1 small knob ginger, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bunch spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang (a Korean fermented chili paste — this is necessary to get the right flavor. You can find it at most grocery stores, or online)
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 3 eggs

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 3 cups water or broth
  • 1 cup regular soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup dark soy sauce (optional)
  • 3/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup brown sugar (or honey)
  • 3 tablespoons gochujang
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, mix all of the meatball ingredients. Use your hands when mixing to get everything evenly combined, especially the liver puree.
  3. Form meatballs that are each approx. 2.5 oz in size — this should yield around 20 meatballs.
  4. Bake meatballs on a sheet pan for 20-25 min in oven, or until internal temp reaches 160 degrees.
  5. In a large wok or pot, add all of the sauce ingredients (including the arrowroot powder) and whisk until everything is well-dissolved. Allow to simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce is thickened.
  6. Add the meatballs to the sauce, then serve!

I’m being induced. Do I have options other than Pitocin?

“We separately covered reasons why you might have labor induced, ranging from being “overdue” to preeclampsia to poor fetal growth. Especially if induction wasn’t your original plan for how labor would start, you may dread being hooked up to an IV and fetal monitoring equipment, and fear needing an epidural to cope with the Pitocin-induced contractions. On that front, we have some good news: Pitocin isn’t your only option for labor induction, there are alternatives. 

Here, we’ll cover a full-spectrum view of labor induction methods, from the least to most invasive. Know that when “D-Day” comes, you may experience multiple methods, layered together. Depending on your medical provider, you might begin with one intervention, then receive another in a scheduled window of time if labor isn’t progressing.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Why be induced?

“Induction: a word that can incite strong feelings in either direction for pregnant women. Maybe you brought the topic up to your doctor, maybe she brought it up to you. The idea of being induced and meeting your baby sooner may sound exciting (not to mention the relief of not being pregnant anymore!). Or maybe you feel scared at the prospect of an induction replacing the natural birth you pictured yourself having. Let’s talk over the reasons you might be induced, plus a well-known research study called the ARRIVE trial about whether to induce a healthy pregnancy at 39 weeks.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.