Dietary Recommendations - Going Off the TCM Grid

Those of you who know me know I am NOT a fan of anything that is extreme, immoderate, unsustainable or crazy-making. I've seen plenty of studies on XYorZ and fertility or general health and advocated against doing them (often for more than just the crazy-making piece- see cartoon below!)

This weekend I went to a symposium with 400 other acupuncturists and herbalists. I had the pleasure of seeing one of the TCM rock stars of today and delving into the philosophy, history and even spiritual aspects of the medicine, another practitioner presented on the newly "discovered" aspects of chinese herbal medicine's biochemistry. There were also TWO sessions (one taught by an RE and one by and acupuncturist/functional medicine doc) on insulin resistance and the American diet. The RE's focus was on PCOS and fertility and the acupuncturist/functional medicine doc was on navigating traditional chinese food therapy, history, modern lifestyle and HEALTH.  Although they both ended up suggesting dietary changes that do have the possibility of being a bit crazy-making, I feel like the benefits and proof (both scientific and historically - more to come on both of these)  REALLY made me want to give this a try with my own family.

I of course, realize there is no one size fits all approach, but I think this really has some chops and hope you'll consider it too. We ALL are living in a culture where obesity, type 2 diabetes, and health related problems are on the rise (did you know by 2030 the projected obesity rate for most of the country is 50-70%?). And especially if you are dealing with PCOS, blood sugar concerns, weight issues or worried about inflammatory illnesses (from digestive problems to cancer) this is something worth looking at and thinking about.

Because I am a newbie at all this, I'll let the acupuncturist/functional medicine doc lay it all out for you!
And I'll be following up this post with the studies and citations for you to look at if you want the science.

Each one is under 10 minutes long and she can explain SO much and so well... instead of watching one primetime show, check it out and see what you think!

Start with this video
To understand what happens when you eat

Watch this one 2nd
To understand why eating certain diets and the modern lifestyle fuel inflammation, heart attacks, PCOS, Cancer, Alzheimer's (not to mention diabetes)

And how to reverse these issues and feel better!
Yaaaaay!  It might seem challenging, but it is TOTALLY empowering AND makes sense when you look at history and just getting back to old school eating. (Sad that it actually seems so very different than what we do today).

And if you want to see the difference between different common diets you can watch this one as a bonus :)

See my next post if you want some of the citations as well as the historical perspective!

Thyroid and Fertility/Pregnancy

Lots of women don't realize how important healthy thyroid levels are for not only conceiving, but for a healthy pregnancy and beyond.

I just came across this really nice article that has a great summary of the basics, including which levels to have tested. Lots of doctors only test TSH which can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis and undetected thyroid problems.

The good news about having your thyroid checked is that most any doctor will order these tests, they are readily covered by most insurance plans and inexpensive. It's a good thing to check off your list in your fact finding journey towards a healthy pregnancy!

Specific Nutrition for Fertility & Pregnancy Concerns - Iodine

Iodine (for sub-clinical thyroid issues that may effect fertility)

Iodine is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones and without it (even if the body wants to make thyroid hormones) it cannot.  Because current research for fertility specifically suggests that the healthy range of TSH should ideally be between .5 and 3 for optimal fertility, but most general practitioners are still operating on the more broad recommendations of TSH being under 5, some women who are struggling with infertility are being considered "normal" but may actually benefit from lowering their TSH (to do this, you need to increase your actual thyroid hormones). For a nice summary of this please click HERE

The body also needs thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy. Getting enough iodine is important for everyone, especially women who are pregnant.

How much iodine do you need

Adults150 mcg

Pregnant/TTC women 220 mcg

Breastfeeding women 290 mcg

In general: 

Iodine is found naturally in some foods and is also added to salt that is labeled as "iodized". You can get recommended amounts of iodine by eating a variety of foods, including the 

• Fish (such as cod and tuna), seaweed, shrimp, and other seafood, which are generally rich in iodine.
• Dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese) and products made from grains (like breads and cereals), which are the major sources of iodine in American diets.
• Fruits and vegetables, which contain iodine, although the amount depends on the iodine in the soil where they grew and in any fertilizer that was used.
• Iodized salt, which is readily available in the United States and many other countries. Processed foods, however, such as canned soups, almost never contain iodized salt.

Click HERE to see a chart with specific foods and the amount of Iodine they contain as well as MUCH more info on Iodine from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements