http://www.thenourishingtreelouisville.com/

The Nourishing Tree, LLC, 1300 Envoy Cirlce, Louisville, KY (2025)

12/12/2022

One of the biggest *thoughts* that seem to hold couples back from making the change to a new way of eating, is thinking that they will miss out on all their favorites & won’t feel “normal” around their friends

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And while I can tell you I am not “normal” and do what I want no matter what the general consensus is …

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I can also tell you that you can totally feel normal while still making the changes

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Our wedding cake was:

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Soy Free

Damaged Seed Oil Free

Grain Free

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& it was freaking delicious! So delicious someone (I won’t name names) bare-handedly grabbed a bite towards to end of the night & the guests devoured the cake and cookies (which were also free from all of that) for the next two days!

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In-fact, everything we served for the full 5 days and nights were free from all of that junk (minus the King’s Hawaiian Rolls that we caved and added in - but didn’t eat ourselves. Full disclosure.)

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I can bet there is a swap for any of your favorite foods that will taste just as good, if not better, and also leaving you feeling a whole lot better than it’s junkier counterpart

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It’s only as hard as you make it & only as un-normal feeling as you make it ….. pro-tip: it helps if you get a superstar to bake and decorate for you if it’s your wedding cake like we did 😉

10/24/2022

One of the “root causes” in common for both an issue with fertilization & sustained pregnancy is genetic variations in the MTHFR genes

Asked your provider about this and been laughed out of the office or dismissed and told to stay off of google? Keep reading. I wholeheartedly KNOW this stuff matters when it comes to your health, your fertility & your future little one.

So first, there are two genetic variations, also called SNPs or “mutations” for the MTHFR genes. In the C677T SNP cytosine is subbed for thymine (notice the C for cytosine at the start and the T for thymine at the end of the gene) & in the A1298C SNP adenosine is subbed for cytosine (here the A for adenosine is at the start of the gene label and C is at the end of cytosine).

These genes are responsible for the methylation of homocysteine into methionine.

Elevations in homocysteine increase vascular oxidative stress, create a local inflammatory reaction, and lower relaxation of the endothelial cells … all leading to an increased risk of excess blood clotting

Symptoms that your body could use some support & investigations in this area outside of fertility challenges and miscarriages include anxiety, depression, muscle tension, inability to settle, allergies, and frequent headaches

In a study on women who experienced implantation failure of an embryo, 61.5% of these women experienced some form of thrombophilia (or clotting event)

So what do we do about it when we know we can’t change our genetics?

We can influence our epigenetics! This is simply how your genes are currently expressing, or “behaving” really

When we supply the body with the proper nutrients, remove excess toxins, reduce stress, and live in a more supportive way we can help influence the way our genes are behaving

The nutrients we focus on here include choline, betaine, methionine, folate, B12, B6, magnesium, zinc & even sulfur (esp in the form of sulfur foods like onions and garlic!)

If you’ve been told none of this matters by a provider, I couldn’t disagree more. It’s time we take all aspects of health into consideration when it comes to fertility! It matters & the faster we act the sooner we can improve your chances!

09/15/2022

Have hormonal issues or fertility challenges? Chances are you also have oxidative stress & mitochondrial dysfunction goin' on too 🧬
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Mitochondrial dysfunction & oxidative stress are at the root of almost all hormonal imbalances including
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S*x hormone production > mitochondria are responsible for healthy blood flow to the corpus luteum (hello low progesterone)
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Luteal Phase Issues > mitochondria supply the energy needed for healthy ovulation & healthy ovulation is necessary for adequate progesterone, implantation & pregnancy
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Thyroid Function > low thyroid function can be due to poor mitochondrial health.... have you taken thyroid meds and not felt better? Chances are the cells aren't allowing the hormones into the cells, your mitochondria could use some love. Not to mention oxidative stress can lead to the inflammation that drives Hashi's
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PCOS & Endo > Oxidative stress can cause an increase in androgens (a hallmark of PCOS) & Endo is an inflammatory condition that also accompanies oxidative stress
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Low Ovarian Reserve > elevated levels of oxidative stress or mitochondrial dysfunction can speed up the "aging process" of your ovaries & eggs.
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Removing things from your life that are causing oxidative stress is going to be even more important than adding antioxidants!
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Biggest things you can start doing right now ...
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📌 Remove damaging seed oils
📌 Avoid pesticide and herbicide laden foods
📌 Reduce exposure to chemicals & toxins in beauty care products or cleaning supplies
📌 Avoid added sugars in your diet
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✨ Is it time to get a personalized plan in place to anti-age your fertility? Schedule your free consult through the link in my bio & let's get to work! 🤍

07/26/2022

Mold & Mycotoxins are sneaky sneaky sons of guns that wreck fertility in so many ways, if we discover it’s an issue for you … it becomes priority number

Egg and s***m quality take a nosedive … this is because the toxins that come from mold (mycotoxins) are tinnnnny little as****es that can get into any cell they want. They are both ‘water loving’ and ‘fat loving’ … they get into every cell and degrade the mitochondria

This is important because healthy mitochondria are imperative for healthy egg and s***m health!

Autoimmune conditions can either be caused by, or flared up by, mold & mycotoxins. They confuse the immune system to the point it can turn on your own body! Most notably in the infertility community might by Hashimoto’s but the list is long for the tissues that can be targeted.

This is important because a confused immune system can’t always tell the difference between self & not-self, and an implanted and growing embryo isn’t any exception to this

Inflammation can occur all over the body and again is going to be both a major contributor to declining egg & s***m quality but we also need the body to inflame and anti-inflame at the right times during ovulation, implantation & successful pregnancy! A body that does not anti-inflame due to a toxin overload can have a harder time with sustained pregnancy

The final one: Decision Fatigue!

Mold & their toxins decrease blood flow to your frontal lobe in your brain … this unfortunately makes it not only harder to make new habits and break old habits but it makes it really hard for you to make a decision.

You might have a hard time pulling the trigger on a plan for your fertility, or have a harder time figuring out how to make dinner with the new fertility friendly ingredients instead of the ones you are used to

Many people think it’s due to being lazy but it’s not! It really is a by-product of the mold toxicity!

If you suspect mold & are having a hard time deciding what to do next … schedule a time to chat with me! That is step 1.

07/11/2022

Taking thyroid medication but not feeling any better? Are your thyroid labs "normal" but you just know something isn't right?

There are so many different patterns of thyroid dysfunction & each one has a different approach.

The 7 main patterns include:
Primary Hypothyroidism ... this is your classic pattern of high TSH and low thyroid hormones. Medication has been shown to be supportive with this type (talk with your doc) but eating a diet that supplies all the nutrients necessary to make thyroid hormones is key!

Hypothyroidism Secondary to Pituitary Hypofunction... Your TSH might come back normal here & if that is all that's being checked this is where dysfunction can be overlooked! Supporting your HP-Axis is top priority!

Thyroid Under-Conversion ... chronic inflammation can be at the root of this issue where T4 is not being converted to T3 (your active thyroid hormone) & your TSH is often normal here too! Looking for the root cause of inflammation is where we start!

Thyroid Over-Conversion ... another type where TSH is reported as normal & is seen most often in those with PCOS! Anything to supports blood sugar regulation & proper detoxification is very supportive here!

Thyroid Binding Globulin Elevation ... this is often associated with excess estrogen in the body! We want to eat adequate amounts of detoxification foods (veggies)!

Thyroid Resistance.. stress & mold toxicity are major for this pattern! This is the pattern that often accompanies the person who needs to keep upping their medication dose but are not feeling any better (your cells are resistant to the hormones)

Autoimmunity with Normal Labs ... You can still have an autoimmune condition even with normal labs! DIET is a major support here!! We want to ask what is causing the attack!

Find your TYPE to know YOUR NUTRITION PLAN!

Want to figure out your type & learn more? Join me next Thursday July 21st @ 6:30pm EST for a LIVE webinar …. Link in my profile to join! See ya there 😉

04/28/2022

Given that checking for optimal homocysteine levels during TTC journey isn't always acknowledged, it's easy to see why checking for copper status along side homocysteine is very rarely done

The genetic "mutation" or SNP for the MTHFR gene is becoming more widely known & couples are learning about taking methylated forms of B vitamins during the preconception & pregnancy phases of their life

But there is SO MUCH MORE to this story & it's important that we zoom out and look at a lot of other factors

One of these factors is copper levels in the body

While too much copper is not a good thing, too little isn’t good for your fertility efforts as well

The first important piece is yes, checking homocysteine levels in your blood

We want to then compare this value to optimal levels & not the wide wide range of "normal lab range"

Even a normal homocysteine level pre-pregnancy might not be good enough once pregnancy occurs since needs go up

We want to consider your genetics, and not just to MTHFR. We want to consider MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, COMT & more ... as you see there is more than just MTHFR

Then we want to consider how we can influence these genes & optimize the body's function ... because these genes can be influenced by nutriton & lifestyle to either be turned on or off. This means when your body is in a healthier place, your "mutations" can be turned off and not working against you so much!

The next thing to consider if your copper status.

Elevated homocysteine will bind to copper & induce copper deficiency

So we have elevated homocysteine that is increasing the risk of blood clotting issues & problems with cell differentiation in the early conception phase

Then we are copper deficient, leading to increased risk of DNA damage inside the s***m & eggs, elevated inflammation & oxidative stress in the body

Optimizing B vitamins & copper levels PLUS liver function, vitamin A, & nutriton & lifestyle factors is important. Simply taking a methylated B complex isn't enough for a lot of couples. It's helpful & part of the puzzle, but not the whole thing!

04/07/2022

MTHFR genetic mutations are all the rage in infertility forums right now ... BUT what does it mean for you & what happens when your SNP is turned on? Elevated Homocysteine levels! This is important for BOTH PARTNERS!

Remember that just because you have genetic mutations for MTHFR, MTRR, MTR or COMT, this does not mean yours are currently turned on, or turned off. There is not a test that can directly tell us which of our epigenetic mutations are active (yet)

There are a lot of things that can turn the switch on, including environmental factors, gut infections, stress/trauma .. but I get it, you're having fertility struggles & YOU NEED ANSWERS NOW am-i-right?

Well, that's where blood work comes in handy. I look at a combination of red blood cell markers including homocysteine to clue me into what nutrients your body might be in need of (that are also hindering fertility)

Elevated homocysteine can point to oxidative stress that has been shown to impair the development of follicles & increase infertility and miscarriage due to it's link with folate deficiency, blood clotting issues & DNA replication errors. This goes for eggs, s***m & fertilized embyros...

It is important to address elevated homocysteine & B vitamin deficiency BEFORE PREGNANCY, as the negative impacts of a deficiency can occur before many women even realize they are pregnant

And because this seems to be a hot-button issue that stirs up a lot of nay-sayers LOL .... folic acid is NOT the same as folate. Please opt for folate and not synthetic folic acid when you can

04/04/2022

Shouldn’t we be saying "fertility challenges" are on the rise and NOT infertility? Hear me out on this ....
.. studies show 3% of couples are dealing with infertility; but yet we keep seeing percentages everywhere that are a lot HIGHER than that, why is this?

This is because couples who facing fertility challenges are on the rise, for sure, BUT there is a BIG difference in fertility challenges and sterility. Fertility Challenges do NOT have to be permanent

While the label infertility is a medical diagnosis that helps get patients into the process of receiving medical treatments for their condition ... Labeling yourself with infertility is in and of itself emotional & isolating, and quite frankly makes a lot of people feel hopeless and NOT in control of their own health and bodies anymore

But WHAT IF instead you viewed what you were going through as a fertility challenge, and a challenge that YOU CAN conquer?

The ROOT CAUSE of the fertility struggles CAN be addressed, the body can be supported and NATURAL FERTILITY CAN be restored by the body when it heals!

Eating for fertility, restoring a proper gut environment, making your body feel safe, getting better sleep ... all of these things work together towards optimal fertility and if any one of them is off track you could face fertility struggles...

If the infertility label has you feeling angry, frustrated, and downright pi**ed off at your body ... maybe looking at it through the lens of a fertility challenge that can come with a plan to conquer it and leave it in the dust is just what the FNTP ordered (or recommended because there aren't any orders around here)

03/25/2022

Should you be taking Folic Acid? 🙅🏼 The short answer is NO! Here is why 👇🏻

Folate is the natural form of B9, a water soluble vitamin that is metabolized in the mucosa of the small intestine. Folic Acid is the synthetic version of Folate and not easily converted to the usable form in the body

Because your body can't covert folic acid into the usable form very easily, it can build up in the body, which has been shown to have many negative effects on the body including increasing your risk of cancer

Genetic SNPs like MTHFR, MTR, MTRR & COMT can also make it harder for you to convert folic acid into folate or to get enough folate for your needs in the first place

This can lead to an elevated level of homocysteine in the blood that effects cell differentiation & can cause blood clotting issues leading to increased risk of miscarriage

You can get folate from food like spinach and liver but the needs during your preconception period and pregnancy are greater!

A "food form" of supplement that has become a favorite of mine is beef liver

Seeking Health and Full Circle Prenatal are also two brands that I suggest often if you are wanting a prenatal that has pre-methylated forms of vitamins vital to you and your babies health!

Have a prenatal that contains folic acid? Throw that ish in the trash and get something with FOLATE instead!

03/15/2022

There is no one size fits all criteria for PCOS and knowing your 'type' can help tailor your healing protocol 💜

So let's go through the types and dig deeper into the mysterious world of PCOS ✨

So you have recently been diagnosed by your doctor as having PCOS, so you COULD have one of these types: insulin-resistant, post-pill, inflammatory, adrenal, hidden cause OR you can potentially not even have PCOS at all! This is where we can use in-depth lab work to uncover your “root cause”

As Lara Briden points out in her book Period Repair Manual, while PCOS is the most common diagnosis of androgen excess, it is NOT the ONLY diagnosis! Others include certain types of psychiatric medications, high prolactin, hypothyroidism, pituitary or adrenal diseases, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and hormonal birth control with a "high androgen index"

There is not 'one plan' that will help heal and restore your natural menstrual cycle and that of your friend of neighbor! Girl you're different than them, with different exposures and life events! What worked for them might not work for you!

What matters is finding what works for YOU and not allowing your diagnosis to define you! You are not your PCOS! So pick yourself up, figure out where you need to start and get to healing! You've got this ✨

Just a reminder, this is not to replace real medical advice or care. I aim to share knowledge on the subject in hopes that you feel confident in finding the right protocol for you!

Got a diagnosis but don't know where to start? Step 1: Schedule a consultation through the link in my bio! 💜

The Nourishing Tree, LLC

12/12/2022

10/24/2022

09/15/2022

07/26/2022

07/11/2022

04/28/2022

04/07/2022

04/04/2022

03/25/2022

03/15/2022

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