Frequently Asked Questions

 

Don't see your question answered below? Feel free to send me a message, and I'll make sure to get back to you ASAP!

 

How does nutrition affect my fertility? 

Both traditional wisdom and modern science have found a connection between what we eat and our fertility. Which totally makes sense when you really think about it. 

All of your cells (including your eggs and the ones that make up your uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and brain) are made from the building blocks you provide it with from the foods you eat. The same is true for your hormones. So, at least to a degree, your reproductive system depends on your food choices to stay balanced and healthy.

For more details, head over to the blog to read posts about how different eating patterns, foods, and nutrients have been shown to enhance your fertility.

Does yoga cure PCOS?

I really wish I could tell you it does, but then I’d be a big liar. And I’m no liar. While it can’t cure PCOS (neither can diets, supplements, weight loss, or any other thing no matter what the internet says) it absolutely can improve hormone levels, decrease insulin resistance, and drive down inflammation. All of which improve symptoms like irregular periods, lack of ovulation, hair loss, and unwanted body and facial hair growth.

And don’t forget to try it for yourself. Follow these videos and see for yourself if it makes a difference in how you feel.

What’s the best diet for PCOS? What about fertility?

The best eating pattern for PCOS and fertility is any way of eating that you enjoy, can stick with, and includes a variety of foods. A Mediterranean eating pattern coupled with the plate method can be a great flexible starting point. From there you can mix and match different foods using your own preferences and experiences to determine what’s best for you.

The worst diet? Any diet that requires you to deny your hunger, avoid carbs, eat things you don’t enjoy, stop eating things you really like, and that makes you feel like you’re “cheating” when you find pleasure in food. And definitely any diet that has some ridiculously low-calorie count like the 500, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500 low-calorie diets I’ve seen floating around. That’s not enough to support having a regular period, ovulation, or getting pregnant. You need calories (aka energy) to balance your hormones and feel your best.

I don't want to lose weight, how can a nutritionist help me?

Congrats on being at a weight you feel good at. That can be super hard in our never-quite-good-enough world.

Nutritionists do way more than help people lose weight (and whether or not “helping” people lose weight is even a worthy effort is up for debate.) We help people make lifestyle changes so they can live the life they want. So if you're planning to get pregnant, I can help you make sure your body is as healthy as possible and as fertile as possible so conception, pregnancy, and your future baby's health are all optimized. If you're looking for more energy, clarity, and focus I can help with that too.

Food and lifestyle choices affect so much more than weight. They affect how you feel, think, work, move. Everything!

How can I schedule an appointment with you?

Head to my services page. You find details and an application to work with me there.

What are your qualifications to provide fertility and women's health nutrition and yoga counseling?

I live for this stuff! Sure, I have training, experience, and credentials in nutrition, aromatherapy, and women's health but beyond all that, I really love helping women feel better in their bodies and improve their fertility, simply and naturally. 

I've worked as a WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) dietitian, a community nutritionist working with PCOS, diabetes, preconception, and prenatal patients, and an oncology dietitian. 

Here's a snippet from my resume, you know, if you're into that kind of stuff...

  • Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY - Master of Science in Nutrition and Public Health

  • Howard University, Washington, DC - Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science with a Double Minor in Chemistry/Biology

  • Commission on Dietetic Registration - Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist

    • 2017 Women's Health DPG Emerging Professional Award Recipient

    • Certificates of Training in Weight Management and Integrative and Functional Nutrition

    • General Body Member, DPG memberships:

      • Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (online message board monitor volunteer, former),

      • Nutrition Entrepreneurs (general body member),

      • Women’s Health (Continuing Education Article Reviewer)

  • New York State Department of Education - Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist

  • Texas State Board of Dietetics/ Nutrition - Licensed Dietitian

  • The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, Inc. - Certified Lactation Counselor Course

  • New York Institute of Aromatherapy - Certified Aromatherapist, Level 1

  • The Herbal Academy

    • Introductory Herbal Course: Completed

    • Intermediate Herbal Course: Completed

  • Integrative Women's Health Institute

    • Hormones 101

    • Optimal Fertility

  • Dr. Sears Wellness Institute - Pregnancy Health Coach Certification Course

  • Holy Yoga Inc. - 225 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

  • Lynn Jensen MBA, E-RYT, PRYT- Level 1 & Level 2 Fertility Yoga Teacher Training

  • Yoga Medicine 500 Yoga Teacher Training- In Progress

    • Women’s Health and Fertility Training

    • Yin and Meditation Teacher Training

    • Traditional Chinese Medicine Training

What's the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?

The short and sweet answer is all dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are dietitians. But that's far from complete. Both tend to love people, love science, and love food.

A registered dietitian must have a bachelor’s degree (though many have master’s and doctoral degrees as well) from an accredited college or university. They must have completed a minimum number of courses in nutrition, biology, chemistry, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and other subjects to prepare them for a career in nutrition and dietetics. They then must complete a 1200 hour supervised internship and pass a registration exam.

A nutritionist who is not a registered dietitian may very well have done all of the above and more, something similar, or nothing at all. The only way to know for sure is to ask (or google them!)

Do you meet with men, too?

My focus is women's health but I have an amazing colleague who is an expert in men’s fertility and nutrition. Her name is Lauren Manaker. You can learn more about her and her services here.

Can my partner and I meet with you together?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to wellness. What you need may be drastically different than what your partner needs. I highly recommend you meet with me alone for our first few sessions so we can focus on creating a plan that's right for you. This is your chance to focus on yourself. Down the road, we can schedule an appointment for your partner or a joint appointment.

Do you meet with clients in person?

I only meet with clients by a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform, Practice Better. Think super-private video chat similar to Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. New to video appointments? They're great! They're incredibly convenient and super easy to set up.

Do you accept insurance?

I am not currently accepting new insurance-based clients. But, I can provide you with a Superbill to submit to your insurance provider. Many insurance companies will reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses for out-of-network nutrition counseling. Call your insurance company and check. I also accept FSA and HSA.