Finding Fertility

Boosting Fertility with Real Food: Essential Nutrients, Ancestral Diets, and Male Fertility with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack Part Two

“Fertility isn’t something you fix; it’s the result of whole-body wellness, a balance of mental, emotional, and physical health.”

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Nutritional “banking” before pregnancy and building up essential nutrient stores.

🦩 The benefits of bioavailable nutrients from whole foods during pregnancy.

🦩 Nutrient-dense foods and how they support reproductive health.

🦩 How consuming iron-rich foods enhance energy and balance iron levels.

🦩 Benefits of traditional diets over synthetic supplementation.

🦩 Sperm quality and its role in infertility.

Does your diet consist of nutrient-dense foods? Do you have a holistic approach that supports your fertility and overall health? Consuming whole foods helps build essential reserves for pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I continue my conversation with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack about the importance of good nutrition that supports your fertility and overall health. Lisa is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who trains women’s health practitioners to use their menstrual cycle as a vital sign in their practices. She is the founder of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Mentorship™ program and the author of three bestselling books, The Fifth Vital Sign, Real Food for Fertility, and the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook.

Listen in to learn the benefits of consuming bioavailable nutrients and iron-rich foods instead of supplements to support your pregnancy needs. You will also learn how sperm and male fertility health significantly influence conception.

"If sperm quality isn’t optimal, it’s a massive contributor to fertility challenges—let’s not overlook that!"

Episode Highlights:

• [01:20] Reflecting how my health focus has shifted beyond conception, plus the need for a comprehensive approach to fertility.
• [04:48] How pregnancy can deplete a woman’s nutritional stores and the importance of good nutrition that supports your recovery.
• [09:34] The importance of nourishing yourself during the preconception phase, postpartum, and between pregnancies to avoid depletion.
• [11:40] The benefits of consuming “bioavailable” nutrients in whole foods compared to supplements.
• [14:10] The effectiveness of iron-rich food sources and other vitamins rather than supplements in supporting lab results and pregnancy needs.
• [22:11] How the Real Food for Fertility book focuses on the menstrual cycle as a vital sign and the importance of male fertility health.
• [26:09] The importance of a comprehensive evaluation of male fertility, plus how improving sperm quality impacts placental development.

Connect with Lisa:

• Podcast: Fertility Friday
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilityfriday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FertilityFridays/
• Website: https://fertilityfriday.com/

Book: Real Food for Fertility: Prepare your body for pregnancy with preconception nutrition and fertility awareness on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gobIA3

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack: 

Lily Nichols: 

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Understanding Real Food for Fertility: Nutrient Needs, Food Sensitivities, and Cycle Health with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack Part One

"If you're trying to conceive, you need a diet that supports optimal hormone balance and menstrual health."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 The need for an evidence-based approach to fertility nutrition.

🦩 Importance of menstrual cycle awareness and hormone balance in fertility.

🦩 The role of preconception nutrition in supporting reproductive health.

🦩 Addressing food intolerances in fertility-focused dietary changes.

🦩 The impact of animal and plant protein sources on fertility health.

🦩 Benefits of whole foods and traditional practices in restoring health.

Are your dietary choices supporting your fertility and overall health? Whether you’re actively trying to conceive or starting to explore fertility health, it’s important to make lifestyle changes and food choices that can support hormone balance, menstrual cycle, and fertility health.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I speak with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack about the role of diet in enhancing fertility. Lisa is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who trains women’s health practitioners to use their menstrual cycle as a vital sign in their practices. She is the founder of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Mentorship™ program and the author of three bestselling books, The Fifth Vital Sign, Real Food for Fertility, and the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook.

Listen in to learn how "real food" provides essential nutrients that impact not just calories but also your hormonal health and menstrual cycle. You will also learn practical advice on nurturing your body with nutrient-rich foods tailored to your needs.

“It’s not about a specific rigid diet; it’s about finding the nutrient-dense foods that work for you.”

Episode Highlights:

• [02:28] Lisa on the challenges of conflicting diet advice and how her book offers fresh, evidence-based perspectives on fertility nutrition.
• [05:22] How the Real Food for Fertility book is designed to provide tailored, research-backed advice for women on a fertility journey.
• [08:25] The growing awareness among women of their menstrual cycles and overall fertility health.
• [12:22] The social media's impact on diet trends and how evidence-based advice can cut through the noise.
• [15:23] Lisa explains how optimal fertility and menstrual health rely on meeting specific nutritional needs.
• [17:12] How her book encourages people to eat real nutritious food rather than managing food intolerances.
• [21:09] Why the book isn’t about following rigid diets but offers nutritional flexibility for personalized needs.
• [24:10] The role of animal products in fertility, focusing on egg and sperm quality and hormonal health.
• [26:34] How far modern diets have strayed from traditional, nutrient-dense foods and the benefits of returning to those roots.

Connect with Lisa:

• Podcast: Fertility Friday
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilityfriday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FertilityFridays/
• Website: https://fertilityfriday.com/

Book: Real Food for Fertility: Prepare your body for pregnancy with preconception nutrition and fertility awareness on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gobIA3

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack: 

Lily Nichols: 

Full transcripts over on the blog:

AMH and High NK Cells Don't Dictate Your Fertility Future: The Real Truth About Infertility & IVF

“If you have never gotten pregnant or are dealing with reoccurring miscarriages or even dealing with secondary infertility, the likelihood of knowing you have high natural killer cells, and the likelihood of you getting and staying pregnant soon is low without all the medical assistance.”

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Recognizing and addressing high NK cells through lifestyle changes.

🦩 The roles of AMH, FSH, and natural killer cells in fertility.

🦩 How inflammation and poor cellular health affect fertility.

🦩 Misconceptions about egg quality and natural killer cells.

🦩 Meditation and intuition in decision-making during the TTC process.

🦩 Importance of surrender and emotional health for conception.

How do AMH and natural killer (NK) cell counts define your fertility potential? The AMH and NK cell scores indicate cellular health but do not set your fertility in stone.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss the complexities of understanding AMH, natural killer cells, and egg quality. I explain why fertility is a whole-body process requiring lifestyle, diet, and mental well-being changes.

Listen in to learn the importance of pausing for deeper emotional and physical healing after recurrent miscarriages. You will also learn the importance of embracing surrender, trusting your body’s healing process, and focusing on overall health.

“When working on complete body health, you are fixing everything at once because your body is connected.”

Episode Highlights:

• [02:20] The connection between cellular health and fluctuating AMH levels and why your AMH and FSH don’t dictate your fertility future.
• [03:52] Understanding that elevated natural killer cells indicate high inflammation in the body and should only be activated by foreign invaders.
• [05:08] Why AMH and natural killer cells reflect overall cellular health, not just egg quality, which can improve with lifestyle changes.
• [07:18] The importance of supporting health rather than chasing perfection when trying to get and stay pregnant.
• [09:26] The importance of pausing for deeper emotional and physical healing after recurrent miscarriages.
• [11:36] How healing whole-body health will naturally address issues like natural killer cells and uterine lining.
• [14:40] The importance of gut health in controlling inflammation, which can support your fertility journey.
• [16:00] How diagnosis-seeking sometimes detracts from the whole-body healing approach and why you should follow your intuition when doing it.
• [18:50] A meditation exercise for decision-making to help you trust your intuition over external pressures and influences.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Top Secret You Need to Know to Have a Fertility Breakthrough & Get Pregnant

“The real core of actually seeing the results of your body being able to do it lies in the work you’re probably avoiding.”

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Role of affirmations, positive self-talk, and gratitude practices in fertility. 

🦩 The impact of past traumas and family dynamics on fertility.

🦩 Effective techniques for emotional release.

🦩 How to correctly practice prayer and gratitude.

🦩 How to mentally and emotionally prepare for motherhood.

Have you ever wondered how much your past might impact your health? Shifting your mindset isn’t just about doing affirmations; it’s also about addressing deep-seated beliefs, unearthing the impact of family dynamics, and rewriting those stories to empower your journey.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss how family dynamics from childhood can shape your present and the importance of addressing them. I also explain the proper way of practicing prayer and gratitude by thanking the universe as if you’ve already received your desires.

Listen in to learn how techniques like EFT tapping and Psych-K can help address emotional blocks and subconscious patterns impacting your fertility.

“You can’t ‘fertility mindset’ your way out of the issues that caused the fertility issues in the first place.”

Episode Highlights:

• [02:37] The importance of using affirmations and positive self-talk to build belief in your body’s potential to heal and thrive.
• [04:40] The proper techniques for prayer and gratitude–thanking the universe as if you’ve already received your desires.
• [06:10] Specific resources and tools for emotional and mental support in fertility.
• [06:47] How techniques like EFT tapping and Psych-K can help address emotional blocks and subconscious patterns impacting your fertility.
• [07:31] How family and childhood emotional traumas affect fertility journeys and the importance of healing them.
• [09:45] The importance of releasing the timeframe you’ve put in your journey to make the process easier.
• [10:29] Understanding why you need to reach a certain level of consciousness for your baby to come to you.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Overcome Infertility: An Honest Raw Talk About the Healing Work You're Avoiding

"Avoidance and denial might feel comfortable, but they’ll keep you from reaching your goals."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Simplifying supplement routines and focusing on diet.

🦩 How avoiding hard emotional work can hinder fertility progress.

🦩 The importance of personal and emotional development in the fertility journey.

Are you busy consuming too much information and avoiding the hard emotional work you need to progress your fertility health? While consuming information is helpful, true healing comes from addressing the deeper issues you’re avoiding.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss the importance of prioritizing the hard emotional and mental work just as much as the physical work. I explain the importance of reducing overwhelming supplement intake and focusing on a balanced diet and natural ways to improve nutrition.

Listen in to learn about the higher purpose behind fertility coaching, which can bring transformative shifts in your fertility and life. You will also learn the importance of committing to regular self-care practices like breathwork to help bring up and address deeply buried emotions.

"There’s always a higher purpose in fertility work, beyond just getting pregnant – it’s about self-discovery."

Episode Highlights:

• [03:32] The resistance we feel when avoiding doing hard emotional work and how that can hinder fertility progress.
• [06:05] Advice on reducing overwhelming supplement intake and focusing on nutrition to support fertility.
• [07:58] How consuming too much information and rationalizing become forms of avoidance and pushing away deeper issues.
• [10:00] The importance of committing to regular self-care practices like breathwork to help bring up and address deeply buried emotions.
• [13:16] The higher purpose behind fertility coaching that goes beyond achieving pregnancy and involves deeper self-discovery.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Finding the Root Cause of Recurrent Miscarriages – Increasing Your Chances of a Health Pregnancy 

"Your fertility struggles might not be about what’s wrong with your reproductive system, but what’s happening in your gut and adrenals."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 The role of adrenal fatigue in fertility issues. 

🦩 Gut health as a major factor in miscarriage and fertility problems.

🦩 How diet, lifestyle, and emotional health impact fertility.

🦩 How to be patient and persistent through medical treatments.

Are you struggling with recurrent miscarriages and chemical pregnancies? You’ll be surprised to discover that some of the major factors affecting your fertility are not in your reproductive system but in your overall health.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss how adrenal fatigue and poor gut health affect fertility health. I explain how focusing on whole-body health—through diet, lifestyle, and emotional well-being—is the key to improving fertility.

Listen in to learn how addressing inflammation, supporting gut health, and managing stress can increase your chances of conceiving and becoming the healthiest version of yourself.

"We have to reverse engineer what got us here—our diet, lifestyle, mental health, all of it."

Episode Highlights:

• [03:11] The significant roles of adrenal fatigue and gut health in recurrent miscarriages, especially for busy moms.
• [05:13] Why gut health is a major factor in fertility issues and how to improve overall health to boost fertility.
• [07:16] How to reverse engineer your health by focusing on diet, lifestyle, and mental well-being to overcome fertility challenges.
• [07:43] My experience navigating the UK medical system and how I found solutions outside traditional fertility treatments.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Learning to Release Anger & Forgive During Infertility to Achieve Your Dream Family

"I hope you heal so deeply that you no longer feel the need to make sense of what happened."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Healing from deep emotional trauma caused by loved ones.

🦩 How unresolved anger, resentment, and hurt affect mental and physical health.

🦩 The connection between emotional healing and fertility.

🦩 The significance of forgiveness for personal healing.

🦩 How unresolved trauma affects parenthood and children's emotional well-being.

How are anger, fear, and resentment rooted in your childhood or traumatic experiences impacting your fertility journey? These lingering feelings, although might seem insignificant, they can act as invisible barriers to your fertility journey.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss the importance of understanding how your trauma is harming you and learning to release it. I explain the negative impact of trauma and hurt on emotional, mental, and physical health.

Listen in to learn why letting go and forgiving isn’t about making anyone else feel better but about freeing yourself. You will also learn about tools such as cord-cutting and forgiveness meditations that can help release emotional blockages and foster healing.

“Holding on to anger doesn't make the other person regret what they did—it only continuously hurts you."

Episode Highlights:

• [02:41] The anger, fear, and resentment we experience in the healing journey from deep emotional trauma and heartache caused by loved ones.
• [05:18] The importance of letting go of anger to reap physical benefits and alignment in your fertility journey.
• [07:40] Understanding how unresolved emotional trauma can negatively impact your parenting.
• [09:28] The importance of honoring modalities that will help you release the anger and hurt within.
• [10:32] Available tools to help release emotional blockages and foster healing, such as cord-cutting, forgiveness meditations, and journaling.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

Unlocking Your Power: A Guide to Fertility Success

"You need to be willing to step outside the box, take risks, and believe that you can change your situation through diet, mental and emotional health, sleep, exercise, and mindset."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 Importance of tapping into intuition and inner power.

🦩 The role of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects in fertility.

🦩 The significance of lifestyle changes and individualized diet approaches.

🦩 How to take back power through gaining awareness of fertility issues.

🦩 Importance of taking breaks after miscarriages to allow the body time to heal.

What if I told you that you hold all the power when it comes to your fertility journey? That’s right! Tapping into your intuition and owning your power will help you make medical decisions and lifestyle changes that resonate with you.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I discuss how to harness inner intuition and power and make decisions that align with your true self. I also explain how true coaching is about helping you tap into their intuition and make confident, empowered decisions, even if they seem out of the box.

Listen in to learn about your husband's role in the fertility journey, plus the importance of addressing lifestyle factors contributing to fertility issues. You will also learn why you should give your body time to heal instead of trying to conceive immediately after a miscarriage.

"True coaching is getting you to tap into your intuition and empowering your power, making decisions from a very confident place."

Episode Highlights:

• [02:13] How we give away our power when dealing with fertility issues and the importance of standing in our power and intuition.
• [03:40] My experience of not realizing my power at the beginning of my fertility journey.
• [04:40] Why true coaching is about helping you tap into their intuition and make confident, empowered decisions, even if they seem out of the box.
• [06:50] The role of husbands in the fertility journey and the importance of addressing lifestyle factors that contribute to fertility issues.
• [07:39] How we’re hovering around the fertility line, plus the importance of cellular health in addressing issues beyond fertility.
• [12:01] How to take back power by gaining awareness of your fertility issues and making empowered decisions out of knowledge and confidence.
• [13:20] How skin conditions stemming from gut health and environmental toxins can contribute to fertility issues.
• [13:45] The importance of individualized dietary approaches and avoiding extreme diets unless adequately guided.
• [15:07] Why you shouldn’t try to conceive immediately after a miscarriage and instead give your body time to heal and improve cellular health.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

The Truth About Dairy & Gluten When You’re Dealing with Infertility & IVF

"The perfect diet for you is simply finding what foods you're intolerant to right now."

Topics Discussed:

🦩 The importance of finding and eliminating food intolerances.

🦩 Steps to identifying food intolerances.

🦩 Importance of consuming high-quality, natural foods.

🦩 Normal health issues can be indicators of underlying fertility problems.

🦩 The role of subconscious beliefs in sticking to a diet.

Do you know your food intolerances, and what are you doing about them? The secret to a perfect diet doesn’t lie in a particular diet but in understanding your unique food intolerances. Food intolerances such as gluten and lactose might be playing a part in hindering your path to parenthood.

In this episode of the Finding Fertility podcast, I delve into food intolerances and their impact on fertility. I take you through a 14-day food elimination process and explain how to reintroduce foods into your diet to understand their impact on your health.

Listen in to learn how your normal and common health issues can indicate underlying fertility problems. You will also learn the importance of variety in your diet and the importance of addressing subconscious and mindset beliefs in diet adherence.

"If you cannot commit to said diet that you know will help improve your situation, it's incredibly important to look into subconscious and mindset beliefs."

Episode Highlights:

• [03:09] The importance of identifying and eliminating food intolerances to your best ability for better health.
• [05:03] Why you need to be radically honest with yourself when determining food intolerances and be responsible with what you eat.
• [06:36] The importance of staying committed to a 14-day elimination period to observe the effects of removing certain foods.
• [07:12] How your normal and common health issues can be indicators of underlying fertility problems.
• [08:28] How eliminating intolerant foods and eating high-quality natural foods can drastically improve health and fertility.
• [12:04] The importance of having variety in your diet and addressing subconscious and mindset beliefs in diet adherence.

Full transcripts over on the blog:

"I believe that most food intolerances are energetic anyways, but it's a really big step to say to someone, you're intolerant to a tomato and that's because of your father's BS."

Sign up for the Healthy Pregnancy Revolution Summit here: https://healthypregnancyrevolution.com/optin-monicacox

Topics Discussed:

• The energetic origins of food intolerances
• Using high-quality food sensitivity tests for accurate diagnosis
• The role of stuck emotions in perpetuating food intolerances
• The process of emotional release and its impact on food sensitivities
• Personal experiences with nightshade intolerance and overcoming food fears
• Techniques like Psych-K, Emotion Code, and muscle testing to address emotional blocks
• The importance of empowering oneself to intuitively navigate diet and health choices
• Real-life stories of overcoming food-related trauma and emotional blocks
• The journey of self-empowerment and conscious parenting

"I just started doing, you know, because I'm Psych-K trained, and there's a really good book you can do for yourself called the Emotion Code in the Body Code."

Show Notes:

Hello, Beautiful Souls, the voice of Monica is here to dive deep into the wild world of food intolerances—because who knew that your aversion to tomatoes might actually be your dad's emotional baggage? In this episode, we’re not just peeling back the layers of an onion, we’re digging into the very core of why that onion might be giving you trouble in the first place. No, it's not just about cutting out foods like nightshades because some diet said so; it's about the emotional and energetic blocks that are making your body rebel against what should be perfectly healthy foods. And let's not forget the part where we explore how your intuition plays into all this—yes, you might just be the next food whisperer. We'll chat about the power of Psych-K, Emotion Code, and even the art of muscle testing to unlock those hidden emotional ties that could be the key to unlocking better health. By the end of this episode, you’ll be ready to take charge of your health, ditch those food fears, and maybe even become that conscious mama the world desperately needs. So, grab your notepad (or don't, we’re all about intuitive listening here), and let's get into it!

 "I do believe there's... we can switch on and off intolerances that are created from an emotional state."

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Thanks for watching!
• 01:01 - "I believe that most food intolerances are energetic anyways, but it's a really big step to say to someone, you're intolerant to a tomato and that's because of your father's BS."
• 01:30 - The value of high-quality food sensitivity tests and immediate results from eliminating triggers.
• 02:00 - Diving into the emotional roots of food intolerances and the power of energetic healing.
• 02:29 - Personal journey with nightshade intolerance and overcoming fears tied to food.
• 03:27 - The role of Psych-K, Emotion Code, and intuition in addressing food intolerances.
• 04:22 - The emotional connection to infertility and how it impacts food sensitivities.
• 05:20 - The struggle of navigating food restrictions and the trauma tied to them.
• 06:17 - How to use intuition when choosing the right diet and the challenge of pinpointing food intolerances.
• 07:15 - The possibility of changing emotional states to overcome food intolerances.
• 08:08 - Real-life example of emotional connections to food and how they manifest.
• 09:04 - Can we change our genetics and switch off intolerances? The discussion deepens.
• 09:54 - "It's all about alignment with your higher self and releasing emotions that no longer serve you."
• 10:22 - The simplicity of emotional healing and the power of letting go.
• 11:12 - The innate ability to heal emotionally and why society makes it seem more complicated than it is.
• 12:09 - The importance of being in tune with your body and allowing emotions to be felt and released.
• 13:25 - The role of coaches in helping you see past your own blocks and move forward.
• 13:54 - Empowerment and the ultimate goal of becoming a conscious mama.

Full transcripts over on the blog