Updates from Kristen Jeffers

I don’t remember my first one or how old I was, but I experienced so many of them from early teenage years through to high school. By college years, I had them “under control.” That basically means they had put me on enough meds that my body was coping. I thought I had them beat. I was WRONG!

Skip forward to August 2016. I was a newlywed wife and seemingly healthy until that fateful day. I had felt really tired for a couple days, but didn’t think much of it. I took a nap and remember waking up from it KNOWING that a migraine was starting. Things went downhill fast! I called my husband, Jared, who was on his way home from work 45 minutes away. I knew I needed help before then. I called my mom who grabbed my sister and come to get me. They literally had to help me walk to the van. My head was twitching and I couldn’t control it, my vision seemed like a tunnel and was so wonky I can’t explain it, nausea also hit hard along the way. Jared met up with us in a room at urgent care. The doctor there suggested that I take an ambulance to the ER. At the ER they shot me up with 4 different drugs, I couldn’t tell you what, but one made my mouth taste like metal! My body would calm and the migrain subside, but as soon as I could start to rest, the whole body tremors would kick in again. I remember the doctor telling my family that he didn’t know why that was still happening and didn’t know what to do. After 6 hours in medical facilities, I was went home with a prescription and told to rest. 

It took me days to recover my energy to any normal type level. My body temperature would drop randomly, I’d get dizzy so easily and randomly, my arms would randomly twitch or be shaky, my vision was so messed up that I couldn’t read or play piano for about a year. I experienced muscle pain all the time; I remember crying into a sink of soapy water because it literally hurt to do the dishes. Cooking meals or cleaning the house was a challenge and I hated it! I felt so low and like I was letting my new husband down in a terrible way since he would come home and have to help me or follow my directions to make dinner.

End of February 2017, I went to see chiropractor, Dr. Brain DeShields in Greenville, SC. (If you are near there, go see him!) His approach is much more gentle and targeted than typical chiropractic. It focuses on the atlas, which is the bone right at the top of the neck and base of the skull. Making sure that is aligned will help the entire body by opening up the communication pathways it needs to function. My life changed!

June 2017 we started learning about healthy and sustainable food habits. It was with the goal of Jared losing some weight, but it began to help my body as well. We cut out added sugars and stopped using it in foods we make at home. Don’t worry, we’ve found a yummy substitute! We don’t eat sad, I promise. We’ve also learned a ton since then, but that’s another story for another day.

July 2017 I went in to urgent care because I had a cold I couldn’t kick. (I’ve since learned how to support myself when that happens.) When the female doctor came in we got chatting about how I was feeling. I was still having all the whacky issues that I assumed were side effects from the massive migraine. She looked at me and asked, “Has anyone mentioned that it could be related to your birth control?” Nope! And that, my friend, was the problem. It had screwed up my hormonal balance causing the migraines to reappear and escalate. I had just come off my birth control a week or two prior to this visit because Jared and I wanted to start a family. Our fertility journey is an entirely different story that you can read here.

December 2017 we dipped our toe into the natural health world by getting a kit of “weird” essential oils. I was hesitant (picking up on the fact that I don’t like change?) to spend the money and take the risk. I was tired of things not working for me. This was different. This one step launched me into learning so much about nutrition, removing toxins from my home and life, and so much more!

So what about now? Well at the time I’m typing this out, it’s been 5 years and I’ve had 1, yes 1, migraine! The reason I had that one was because I had gone out to coffee with a friend (sugar), and Jared got my my favorite gluten free cookies (sugar) which I kept eating without a whole lot of self control. That experience has made me even more aware of when and how I consume sugar. 

I’ve removed every mainstream cleaner and personal care product from our home. I am aware of the ingredients in our food, I know what nutrients my body needs, I’ve balanced my hormones, my vision is normal again and I get to play piano almost every week in church in some capacity. I’m so thankful!

So what do I use daily?

These are the most specific things but there are tons more! If you want to know more, please reach out.

We all know that sugar can negatively affect our blood sugar, but it negatively affects every system of our body. Here’s a snapshot.

*Information from a lecture by N. Perez

PubMed.gov is a great place to find peer reviewed scientific studies. Here is what I found on their site.

“…A growing body of evidence points to a link between diet and female fertility. In fact, data show that a diet high in trans fats, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars can negatively affect fertility. Conversely, a diet based on the Mediterranean dietary patterns, i.e., rich in dietary fiber, omega-3 (ɷ-3) fatty acids, plant-based protein, and vitamins and minerals, has a positive impact on female fertility. An unhealthy diet can disrupt microbiota composition, and it is worth investigating whether the composition of the gut microbiota correlates with the frequency of infertility…” *1

“…Body weight and nutritional status are closely related to reproductive function. However, few studies have investigated the direct effects of dietary modification on fertility treatment outcomes. Research on nutrition in pregnancy suggests that reduction in glycemic load and micronutrient supplementation may improve pregnancy outcomes…” *2

“…Generally, the results indicated that healthy diets rich in some nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, some antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene, selenium, zinc, cryptoxanthin and lycopene), other vitamins (vitamin D and folate) and low in saturated fatty acids and trans-fatty acids were inversely associated with low semen quality parameters. Fish, shellfish and seafood, poultry, cereals, vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy and skimmed milk were positively associated with several sperm quality parameters. However, diets rich in processed meat, soy foods, potatoes, full-fat dairy and total dairy products, cheese, coffee, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets have been detrimentally associated with the quality of semen in some studies…” *3

Unfortunately for us, companies are really good at hiding sugar in their products. We have to become super sleuths and recognize the code names for what they really are. Here is a list to get you started.

List from That Sugar Movement

Just because sugar is out doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy anything sweet. Trust me, I know that no woman can live that way. Here are some blood sugar safe options that don’t tear down the body.

My favorite brand is Pyure; it’s a stevia based sweetener. It comes in granulated and powdered form for all your baking/cooking needs.

Footnotes

*1 Skoracka K, Ratajczak AE, Rychter AM, Dobrowolska A, Krela-Kaźmierczak I. Female Fertility and the Nutritional Approach: The Most Essential Aspects. Adv Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;12(6):2372-2386. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmab068. PMID: 34139003; PMCID: PMC8634384.

*2 Lim SS, Noakes M, Norman RJ. Dietary effects on fertility treatment and pregnancy outcomes. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2007 Dec;14(6):465-9. doi: 10.1097/MED.0b013e3282f1cfc6. PMID: 17982353.

*3 Salas-Huetos A, Bulló M, Salas-Salvadó J. Dietary patterns, foods and nutrients in male fertility parameters and fecundability: a systematic review of observational studies. Hum Reprod Update. 2017 Jul 1;23(4):371-389. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmx006. PMID: 28333357.

Statistics say that 1 in 8 couples struggle to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy. My name is Kristen and my husband is Jared; we are 1 in 8.

After trying to conceive for over a year, Jared and I felt it was time for us to seek medical advice. I had already experienced many health issues during that year, so we made an appointment for me first and Jared came with me. I was afraid to hear whatever the doctor may say and didn’t want to make any decisions without him.

The doctor asked all the typical questions and we told her about my history with migraines, the highly likelihood that I had endometriosis and that we had been trying for over a year. She quickly listed off all sorts of tests and a couple potential surgeries I might need. She even suggested a test for Jared. 

She then told me to start taking any prenatal supplement that contained folic acid. When she mentioned supplements, it came up that I use natural supplements and products. What came out of her mouth next shocked me. I can’t quote her word for word as it’s been years since this appointment, but she all but told me that I could kill myself by using that sort of stuff. It wasn’t a kind and concerned warning. It felt like she was looking down her nose at me or even scolding me for caring about my own health and having a preference. We finished the appointment, walked out, and never went back. I was even more determined to find a natural option to try before resorting to any type of procedure or surgery.

The National Institute of Health lists these as reasons that a couple may struggle to conceive. 

Have you ever done an internet search on the ingredients in your personal care, makeup, perfume, laundry soap, dish soap, and cleaners in your home? You’re probably wondering why I’m asking. Did you know that the ingredients in these products can affect your fertility? Yep, they do. The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 grandfathered in thousands of chemicals whose long term affects on the body were never tested! This is what’s hiding in mainstream products.

Some of the most problematic ingredients include:

This is what the doctors don’t ask or tell you about. Removing toxins and chemicals gives your body the chance to recalibrate and function properly.

Shortly after Jared and I got married, we starting following the Trim Healthy Momma lifestyle for our meals and snacks. The biggest change for us was cutting sugar out of our meals. It wasn’t my goal at the time, but it was a step in the right direction for my fertility. Here are some other food tips for fertility.

Are you wondering what I chose to do that worked? This is my favorite thing to share!

After that unforgettable doctor’s appointment, I reached out to a friend who had lots of experience in the natural health world. I figured if anyone could tell me where to start doing some research, it would be her. She pointed me in a direction, and I took it from there. I cannot share exactly what I did on a public forum, but I love personal conversations. Within one month of consistently applying what I had learned, I had a positive pregnancy test! Please keep in mind that this was on top of all the other lifestyle changes I had made.