Hormone imbalances, fertility issues, and autoimmunity are more and more common. In this conversation with Shannon Miller, a Holistic Hormone Practitioner @3leafhealth, she and I explore the reasons why and what we have each found helpful for returning to balance.
First of all, as Shannon says, “the biggest resource we have is our own body. We know our body better than anybody else, even a doctor. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not feeling what you feel.”
By knowing your body and listening to it, you’ll be better able to respond and navigate from hormone imbalances or autoimmunity, back to health. For example, pain is a signal from your body that something is wrong. From there you can ask “What is my body asking for?” The more aware we are, we can respond more quickly to give our bodies what they need.
We, however, tend to be distracted from ourselves and our bodies. It can help to remember that our body is trying to keep us alive.
From her experience having an eating disorder for 10 years, Shannon shares how she felt at war with her body. Then she realized that her body was trying to protect her. Once she figured out what her body was trying to protect her from, she was about to make changes that changed her health and life.
Having recovered from the eating disorder and conceiving a pregnancy when a doctor told her it wasn’t possible, Shannon shares how she now thinks about food choices, without stressing herself more.
Here are a few of her tips:
Don’t think of foods as “good” or “bad”
Choose foods that have the effect we want on our bodies
Aim for balance instead of rigidity with ourselves.
Nourish your body and your soul
Be in tune with your body
Shannon and I agree that it’s when we are stressed and disconnected from our bodies and selves, that health issues develop. Our body is trying to tell us it needs attention and stress recovery.
For example, not ovulating is often due to stress. We need ovulation for getting pregnant and also for hormone balance and improved health.
To shift that pattern, our bodies need to feel safe. That comes with consistency and taking care of yourself over time.
Keep in mind that shifts back to balance don’t tend to happen overnight. It’s tempting to chase the quick fix, but it’s not a reality.
Give yourself time and let it be a healing journey. We are here to support you along the way.
Listen in and learn more from Shannon Miller at https://3leafhealth.com/.
Connect with Dr. Doni:
Facebook HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/DRDONIWILSON
Instagram HTTPS://INSTAGRAM.COM/DRDONIWILSON
YouTube HTTPS://YOUTUBE.COM/USER/DONIWILSONND
Weekly Wellness Wisdom Newsletter: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/WWW
Books and Resources:
Stress Warrior Book (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESSWARRIOR
Stress Warrior Stress Resiliency Facebook Group (FREE)
HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/STRESSWARRIOR
7-day Stress Reset (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESS-RESET
HPV & Cervical Dysplasia Guide (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/HPV-AND-CERVICAL-DYSPLASIA-GUIDE/
Personalized Solutions:
If you’d like to meet with Dr. Doni one-on-one for your health, request a Health Breakthrough Session: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/BREAKTHROUGH
To get an idea of more comprehensive options, read about Dr. Doni’s Signature Consultation Programs: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/SERVICES
Preparing for pregnancy and preventing pregnancy loss are two of my favorite ways to support women in my practice. I see them as times when women often feel isolated, afraid and confused about what to do. And that’s when I feel most motivated to help.
In standard medical care and prenatal care, there is not a lot of support – in terms of nutrition, clinical nutrition, and addressing underlying issues – in general, but in particular for before pregnancy and in early pregnancy.
So if you are feeling overwhelmed and on your own… you are actually not alone. It is very common to feel that way, and I’m here to help you.
In this podcast episode I cover:
-Why is it so common to feel anxious and stressed about pregnancy?
-What is possible in terms of support to guide you through to a healthy pregnancy
-Testing that’s important to do, to support your body and your fertility
-That it’s possible and important to individualize your doses and strategy
-How working with a naturopathic doctor can make all the difference
-The protocols I’ve developed over 20 years to help women like you achieve the pregnancy of their dreams
-How to identify limiting beliefs and shift them in order to be more ready to receive a pregnancy
Overall, a connection with your true self – you as a loving, compassionate human being – is most important on the fertility journey. From that place, you’ll be choosing based on what is best for you, and your future baby. Then you’ll also be decreasing your stress levels, which optimizes hormone levels and ovary function.
I’m happy to help you. Reach out to my office if you have questions, would like to meet with me and have me to start supporting you. Many women begin with my Women’s Wellness Program, but we can also modify it to match for you. And if you have HPV, I can help there too. And in the process of clearing HPV, you’ll be improving your fertility – it’s a win, win.
Connect with Dr. Doni:
Facebook HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/DRDONIWILSON
Instagram HTTPS://INSTAGRAM.COM/DRDONIWILSON
YouTube HTTPS://YOUTUBE.COM/USER/DONIWILSONND
Weekly Wellness Wisdom Newsletter: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/WWW
Books and Resources:
Stress Warrior Book (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESSWARRIOR
Stress Warrior Stress Resiliency Facebook Group (FREE)
HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/STRESSWARRIOR
7-day Stress Reset (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESS-RESET
HPV & Cervical Dysplasia Guide (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/HPV-AND-CERVICAL-DYSPLASIA-GUIDE/
Personalized Solutions:
If you’d like to meet with Dr. Doni one-on-one for your health, request a Health Breakthrough Session: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/BREAKTHROUGH
To get an idea of more comprehensive options, read about Dr. Doni’s Signature Consultation Programs: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/SERVICES
1 in every 9 women are diagnosed with Endometriosis. Thousands more go undiagnosed while struggling with debilitating pelvic pain and main other symptoms related to their menstrual cycle. Meanwhile, these women are told their symptoms are “normal” and that the only treatment is to take synthetic hormones (a birth control pill).
I’m outraged about this – as a naturopathic doctor and as a woman who also experienced severe menstrual cramps for over 15 years of my life.
It’s time that women are acknowledged for the pain – physical and emotional – they experience and receive REAL help, and hope, to feel better. Not only that, but to receive support with fertility, which is often compromised by this condition.
Cindy Dabrowska, R.D., the Endometriosis Dietitian, agrees and focuses her work on helping women in this way. With her background in nutrition, she guides women to make changes that can transform their bodies and get them out of pain. She does this without overly restricting food choices, and by helping women to understand their bodies.
Cindy and I discussed how it’s possible to support your ovaries to makes hormones in a balanced way, and to support your liver to detoxify those hormones efficiently and effectively. It’s also important to support healthy digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and balanced/optimized gut bacteria.
We talked about the testing we both use to show us what’s out of balance and needs support. And how we can use nutrients, herbs, diet changes and stress reduction to rebalance and how to maintain over time and stress exposure.
In this episode we cover:
Cindy’s health story that inspired her to help other women with pain
Common symptoms associated with Endometriosis
Why it is so difficult to get a diagnosis
Theories of the underlying cause of Endometriosis
How to think about heal Endometriosis, starting with digestion
How blood sugar levels and gut bacteria affect estrogen
Other possible triggers or underlying causes of Endometriosis
Diet changes Cindy suggests from the start
The power of the right kinds of fats to decrease inflammation and pain
Too often I hear from women that they feel alone in their pain, and as though they hit a dead end in terms of the options available through standard medical options.
I shared about some of the things that helped me get out of pain, and what I’ve seen help my patients over the years. Dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual cramps) and the associated symptoms, including migraines, PMS/PMDD, and fertility issues can be addressed using natural approaches that are effective and lasting.
It’s one of my favorite things to help, because it can make such a difference to get out of pain. This is why I’m so glad to introduce you to Cindy, who is an amazing and supportive resource.
If you are struggling with Endometriosis – or severe menstrual cramps – and would like more help, please reach out to me and Cindy so we can help you.
Connect with Cindy
Social media links: www.instagram.com/endo.fertility.dietitian
Connect with Dr. Doni:
Facebook HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/DRDONIWILSON
Instagram HTTPS://INSTAGRAM.COM/DRDONIWILSON
YouTube HTTPS://YOUTUBE.COM/USER/DONIWILSONND
Weekly Wellness Wisdom Newsletter: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/WWW
Special Link:
What Is Endometriosis (FREE)
https://doctordoni.com/2021/07/what-is-endometriosis/
Books and Resources:
Stress Warrior Book (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESSWARRIOR
Stress Warrior Stress Resiliency Facebook Group (FREE)
HTTPS://FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/STRESSWARRIOR
7-day Stress Reset (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/STRESS-RESET
HPV & Cervical Dysplasia Guide (FREE)
HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/HPV-AND-CERVICAL-DYSPLASIA-GUIDE/
Personalized Solutions:
If you’d like to meet with Dr. Doni one-on-one for your health, request a Health Breakthrough Session: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/BREAKTHROUGH
To get an idea of more comprehensive options, read about Dr. Doni’s Signature Consultation Programs: HTTPS://DOCTORDONI.COM/SERVICES