WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Hello beautiful soon to be mamas! What if I told you focusing on the vision of what will be is just as important as what you are doing right now in this moment? 

Often we as humans try to be in control of our surroundings, our body, and what we really want. When we want it isn’t always up to us….because in the end, things happen and the journey in between is where the magic happens. Not all of it is magical, as anyone who is trying to conceive will tell you. We suffer heartache at longer periods, not ovulating, and loss of a new tender life. I, like many of you, have experienced these losses and while my path has led into motherhood already, I sit and hold space with my patients who yearn for the moment they learn they are pregnant.

I get the wanting to have things just so (I am also a recovering perfectionist too) but the learning to listen to our bodies has an amazing effect - we start to become more balanced. And the more balanced...

Creating ritual with the sounds, smells and tastes of breakfast. I love, love breakfast and often for many of us that involves a cup of coffee or tea. Having a good routine is especially important for our ability to start the day on a positive note and start our metabolism off too.

Almost every single woman who is trying to conceive has asked me about caffeine intake  and here is my best advice- cut back to one single cup of good organic coffee if you are in the preconception journey and working to improve your chances of conception. But if during your journey you have been struggling with trying to conceive, it maybe time to cut out the coffee all together.

And here is why- Caffeine can increase stress levels and anxiety. One study shows that the risk of spontaneous abortions can increase. Caffeine can also affect implantation and increases clotting in the blood as well. Research shows that caffeine constricts blood vessels to the placenta which means that it can affect the...

BY SABRA GILBERT

There are quite a few ways to track your fertility as you go along the path of trying to conceive. You can write it all down by hand, pick your favorite app, or even a bracelet. Finding what works best in your life for you is key as it is so important to have a full and clear photo of your fertility to show your acupuncturist or doctor.

Writing it all down

Depending on the lifestyle that you enjoy, this might be a good option for you! Especially if you like drawing graphs or bullet journals on a regular basis.

Bullet Journal Method

Now I will admit that bullet journaling isn’t something that I am super into or enjoy, but I did go diving into some Pinterest research for you to find a method that I thought covered a lot of bases in a good design and could be added on to get the entire picture. (Check Here)

Just make sure that you have all the data that you need to keep track of. This includes basal body temperature, cervical mucus, day of your cycle, what your...

By Lisa Borg-Anderson

Today we are looking at Mucus. Cervical mucus to be exact. How to learn what to look for, how to track it, and ways to improve the quality at home with food therapy and self-care.

 As part of my intake with patients, I always ask: how is your cervical mucus?

Is it clear that there is a shift in color, quality, and elasticity?

Do you feel a hormonal shift and have a greater level of desire during the ovulation window?

Many know what I am asking. But often, many ask me, "what do I look for?"

Okay, ladies, starting around day 10 or 11 of your cycle, I ask for women to look for a change. There is a range of days women notice this change, anywhere from days 3 to 5 is typically seen. Like your period, there can be a smaller amount in the beginning and then it increases and has a peak day... but not to worry if you feel there isn’t a huge change because I am here to support you in improving your mucus!

Well, your cervical mucus is easiest and most...

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

The last 6 months have been anything but normal in my home as I am sure many of you are also in the same boat. Our lives have shifted drastically with the beginning of COVID-19 and dealing with all that it brings forth. Lots of staying at home, working from dining room tables, taking care of kids who are missing their own social norms, and the racial and political aspects of America are also areas of added stress.

Learning to take care of ourselves and our loved ones is important.

Albeit in my line of work as an acupuncturist, I would go so far as to say completely essential to my mental stability and I would have to say my spouse would agree.

Stress takes so many different forms, it can affect our mood, ability to think, to digestion, causes headaches, reduces our ability to sleep and so much more. It can make us more prone to become ill or not recuperate from illness and make us more susceptible to making poor food choices. If our bodies are too...

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Avocados is one of the most popular foods out there right now. Boasting over 20 vitamins and minerals as well as the versatility of no other it is a powerhouse ingredient. Whether you add it to your toast in the morning, pesto sauce for noodles, or add it to your smoothies-or like me, all the above. I am a Californian at heart and could eat these amazing fruits every day and not grow tired of them.

So what's so yummy about them?

An average avocado serving of 3.5 ounces contains about 2 grams of protein and 15 grams of healthy fats as well as vitamin K, folate, vitamin C and E and B 5 & B 6. They have heart-healthy properties bosting a high-fat percentage of calories of monounsaturated oleic acid with anti-inflammatory properties and contain more potassium than a banana.

They contain high levels of copper and are important for blood formation. Avocado oil is fantastic to use for high heat cooking and stable.

Many combinations of avocado/olive...

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Acupressure is the act of pressing on acupuncture points on the skin to ellicet a sensation or activation of qi.

For thousands of years, acupressure/acupuncture has been around- we don't know if the meridians/pathways or the points were identified first but, either way, practitioners and patients alike have been using them to create balance within their bodies. Anyone can learn how to perform acupressure on themselves or family. It is free, effective and relaxing.

There are several techniques used in acupressure.

The most common are direct, downward pressure using a fingertip or round rubbing with your palm (eg clockwise tummy rubs for intestines). Regurdless of the technique, the purpose is to "activate" the point which signals the body to change the pattern of energy. We can press on the points for 30 seconds to 1 minute before releasing pressure and repeating several times until the area feels-warm, tingly or different and that is how we know...

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Oh how I dig this oil.

Clarified butter or ghee is traditionally found in Indian cooking and has gained popularity over the years and is now considered one of the best oils out there. It has a high cooking temp and is this week’s oil. Ghee is fantastic for supporting you not only for your fertility journey but to support our immunity too. Clarified butter or ghee is amazing. Not only does it taste great, but it is a very healthy way to support all of you especially during the winter months.

Because there is more sexual activity between day 8 to 16 while you are trying to conceive. Sexual activity, mental or physical activity use our essence up too.

It helps to strengthen the body, longevity, reduce gastrointestinal inflammation… and helps to fight diseases like Alzheimer’s as well. Adding this gives us a great dose of buyteric oil which is a fatty acid that is both antiviral and anti-inflammatory.

Ghee is great all month through.

...

WRITTEN BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

Zebbuga (pronounced za-booch) or olives are one thing that this Mediterranean girl is never out of!

As a second-generation American, my roots run deep to the isle of Malta where my great grandparents were proud olive farmers (capers too). I love the taste, color, and versatility of this powerhouse ingredient. Whether it’s the oil in my homemade marinara, in salad dressing or a snack, we are without a doubt an olive household. My boys eat them by the handful. Packed with amazing health benefits, I would say this is one thing I am okay keeping in bulk.

As a therapeutic herb in traditional Chinese medicine, olives/oil is considered neutral in temperature meaning it is safe and useful no matter what time of the month or year you want to use it. The flavor is both sweet and sour. Sweet things support the Spleen and Sour supports the Liver. Often found in food therapy as a detoxifying ingredient, olive oil is safe to use any time. Though, if trying to...

BY LISA BORG-ANDERSON

OIL = LOVE

Being that it is winter, and my skin is feeling so, so dry. I thought that it would be a good time to talk about oil. Specifically, coconut oil as it is my Windex (ode to a Big Fat Greek Wedding). I cannot get enough of it! It is antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and noncomedogenic too. Not to mention it smells great! I use it everywhere I possibly can and if you were to ask my kids, they would probably tell you it’s downright tropical in my house right about now.

There are actually 4 oils that I really LOVE and coconut is going to be the first one we talk about. The others are olive, avocado and ghee or clarified butter. We will be diving into these in the subsequent weeks. Not to worry!

During your journey in trying to conceive, adding in healthy oils is a must.

There are so many benefits to using coconut oil for beauty products & self-care and creating deliciously yummy smelling baked goods and cooking in general.

Here is a list of...