7 Expert Tips To Improve Your Reproductive Health Today
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Loading... - Lintang Wijaya
- 14 Jun 2022
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Banal as they may be, clichés exist for a reason. My favorite? Life is a journey. And when it comes to reproductive health, the adage rings true. Thankfully, we’re seeing a significant shift in this area of wellness, with supportive resources and professionals carving out a space for women to feel empowered. With more functional medicine and holistic health care, we have a lot more power in our hands, encouraging us to take the lead in our own reproductive health. Of course, this also has to be met with an unfortunate dose of reality.
We’re at a pivotal and terrifying moment in our country’s history as it relates to women’s health. We still have a desperate need for communities where women can feel comfortable pursuing the best care possible. In other words? The call to prioritize our individual health and focus on reproductive health has never been more important. To know how we can best prioritize our reproductive health ASAP (like, today), I spoke with a range of health professionals for their best tips you can start practicing today, regardless of your family planning, future goals, or age. A brief disclosure: The purpose of these expert-backed tips is to inspire you to pursue the health care, future, and life that is truly for you. With that, here are expert-backed tips you can do today to improve your reproductive health.
1. Educate yourself
According to Jess Ford, a full-spectrum doula, education is the #1 thing we can do to improve our reproductive health. “For a long time, women haven’t been the priority in the health care system, so knowing all your options is key,” she said. Educating yourself is a common theme the experts I talked to all agreed with. Why? Education allows women to hold autonomy over our bodies and how we choose to exist in them.
Ford has many go-tos for trusted, accessible information. For one, Dr. Aviva Romm, author of Hormone Intelligence, offers a combination of natural medicine with a Western approach, specifically for women. Ford also recommended companies like Loom (a sexual and reproductive health education platform) and Tia (a holistic health care experience designed specifically for women) for accessible information and support.
2. Focus on diet
Food can influence essentially every part of our health—from our energy levels to our sex lives—and the experts I spoke with were adamant about putting what you eat at the top of your “prioritize now!” lists. “Food is a prime determinant of the health of both the egg and sperm, supports detoxification, and can help improve mental health,” explained Ami Chokshi, a fertility & IVF health coach (just to name a few benefits!).
But restrictive eating is never the answer. Instead, Sarah Bradford, the founder of LUNA Mother Co. and core rehabilitation specialist, said a few simple lifestyle changes are best. “Start by focusing on eating a high-fiber, whole foods-based diet, limiting caffeine and alcohol, quitting smoking (if applicable), and getting around 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.” She also recommended eating at regular intervals (every two to three hours) to help regulate blood sugar and hormone levels.
3. Work with your doctor to have a birth control or safe sex plan that’s best for your body
Birth control is a complicated topic, but you should find a doctor who will work with your preferences, body, and goals to find an option that’s best for you if pregnancy prevention is one of your current (or permanent) goals. “When I was growing up, I was only told there was one option, and we weren’t educated about the side effects. For me, this is why education is power. Read More...
