Category: Health

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.

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.

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.

Too much estrogen: The risks women on the birth control patch need to know about   

“Though not as well known as the Pill or the IUD, the birth control patch is often touted as a good option for women who have trouble remembering to take a daily pill but do not want the more invasive hormonal or copper IUD. Around ten percent of women report that they’ve used the patch to prevent pregnancy, and that percentage has ticked up slowly over the past twenty years. What makes the birth control patch different from other forms of hormonal birth control? And is it really a good option for pregnancy prevention, or could it’s estrogen-related side effects actually cause more harm than good?”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Do female athletes perform worse during their periods?: How the menstrual cycle impacts athletic performance

“I don’t think I performed very well today,” Fu Yuanhaui, Chinese Olympic swimmer, said in her post-swim interview at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “It’s because my period came yesterday, so I felt particularly tired — but this isn’t an excuse, I still didn’t swim well enough.” 

Female athletes in all arenas of sport might be able to relate to Yuanhaui’s sentiments. Many women believe their athletic performance is worse during their periods due to symptoms like cramps, headaches, or fatigue.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

How can sports respect the female body?: A response to TIME magazine, Part II

“I previously addressed a TIME magazine article arguing that modern sports weren’t designed for the female body, especially the adolescent female body. Author and elite female athlete Lauren Fleshman spelled out the health risks girls and young women in particular may face because athletic competition doesn’t take into account their female design. So what’s the solution? How can sports respect the female body?”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Sports and the female body: A response to TIME magazine, Part I

“TIME Magazine: Sports weren’t designed for the female body because they require female athletes to “fight their body’s natural development”

In her TIME article, Fleshman describes how adolescent girls experience a temporary dip in their athletic performance when they begin puberty. This occurs because their bodies shift energy towards sexual development during this crucial period. Adolescent boys do not experience this same dip, and also do not have the natural “softness” that a girl going through puberty can expect to develop.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.

Teens and sex: Why the risks and side effects of birth control can be especially bad for teens

“According to a 2017-2019 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around a quarter of girls aged 15-19 are on some form of hormonal birth control, and the vast majority are on the Pill. This number has increased over time, despite the fact that fewer teens are having sex (or getting pregnant) now than ever before. Many girls choose to take birth control for reasons other than preventing pregnancy, such as for painful and irregular periods or in order to take acne medication like Accutane. But what these young women don’t know could hurt them—teens may be at higher risk than adult women of experiencing birth control side effects.”

Read more at Natural Womanhood.