97. MOST LOVED - THE TRUTH ABOUT REAL FOOD FOR FERTILITY, PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM WITH AUTHOR LILY NICHOLS

This remastered episode brings back one of the most loved and most important conversations from the podcast archives. I am joined by Lily Nichols RDN, author of Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Fertility, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Lily is widely respected for her evidence based approach to women’s health, nutrition, pregnancy, and postpartum, and for challenging outdated guidelines that fail to reflect what women’s bodies actually need.

We go deep into preconception nutrition, egg and sperm quality, the truth about modern nutrient deficiencies, how guidelines were formed, and what research actually shows about protein, fat, choline, and micronutrient requirements. We also explore preventing complications like preeclampsia, understanding gestational diabetes without fear, and the role of blood sugar, minerals, and metabolic health in supporting a physiological pregnancy.

A large portion of this conversation centers around animal foods, bioavailability, why plant based protein is not equivalent, and the hidden ways that vegetarian and vegan diets can compromise fertility, the menstrual cycle, fetal development, postpartum healing, and long term health.

We close with an in depth section on postpartum recovery, liver health, hormonal shifts, bile production, and the ancestral wisdom around collagen rich foods, soups, stews, and deep replenishment after birth.

If you want real nutritional guidance for sovereignty, intuition, and physiological birth, this is essential listening.

Inside this episode:
Why preconception begins months before conception and how egg and sperm actually develop
What your menstrual cycle reveals about your overall health
Why most prenatal guidelines were created using outdated or male based data
Protein requirements in pregnancy and postpartum and why they are far higher than women are told
The truth about choline, DHA, vitamin A, vitamin K2, and iodine
Why so many women are unknowingly under nourished before conception
The nuanced conversation around vegetarian diets, veganism, and the long term effects on mothers and babies
Preventing complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes
How to interpret your own blood sugar without fear based testing
Constipation, bile flow, digestion, and mineral balance
Postpartum liver support, hormone detoxification, and the foods that rebuild you after birth
Why ancestral postpartum meals are physiologically perfect for healing

About today’s guest:
Website: lilynicholsrdn.com
Instagram: @lilynicholsrdn
Books: Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Fertility, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes

WAYS TO WALK THIS PATH WITH ME:

Beyond a Doula
Spiritual, instinctual, physiological support for women preparing for conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in Southern Maine and worldwide.

So You Want a Home Birth? Your COMPLETE guide
A comprehensive self paced course for women choosing a natural, undisturbed home birth.

Community
Monthly Women’s Circle and Monthly Perinatal Village Circle in Southern Maine.

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.