Own Your Sugars

And Honey Chili Walnut Salmon to make summer sweeter!

Edited and Approved by Dr. Rosa Keller, PhD RD, Nutrition Science
Supported by Dr. Claire Packer, OBGYN Resident at Mass General Brigham (Harvard)

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Need personalized nutrition thoughts and ideas? Text +1-732-EAT-WISE.

*This newsletter and chat line are not intended to be medical advice.

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Our perinatal struggles are so much bigger than us.

Conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, gestational diabetes, hyper & hypo thyroid, anemia, and preeclampsia are on the rise. All linked to our diet.

But when we hear the word “diet,” many of us think “restriction.” Let’s clarify this – diet simply means the kinds of food we eat, and the dietary patterns we follow consistently. And this includes our beverages, too. 

And that’s where we need to focus—on our food.

Our food today is not what it once was. It’s pumped with preservatives and altered by machines. Our bodies don’t recognize it. And it’s hard to avoid. 

Generations before us were focused on losing weight rather than getting nutrient-dense foods. Fast food became the norm. These choices altered the habits, genes and metabolisms of the babies they carried. (source) Those babies are us. And now, we’re seeing the impact.

But here's the truth: It’s not entirely our fault. The food system today has let us down. Society has struggled to guide us. We haven’t been given the food education we deserve. And Our environment makes it challenging to make healthy choices.

This is our opportunity to improve this for our children and the generations to come. 

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In our MWN conversation each week,

I share verified, *easy* nutritional tips that can *truly* improve how you feel everyday, followed by a simple, delicious recipe à la moi – an award-winning, professional chef. 

From our 5 pillars, this week we talk about: Fertility, Pregnancy and Hormone Health - Let’s go!

This recipe and nutrition tips today not only apply to someone in the journey motherhood, but also they can be beneficial to your health anyway.

If you’re busy and doing a quick skim, or you’re not interested in this subject, jump down to the tasty recipe I’ve developed for you. And we will see you next week.

Jump to:

The Recipe: Honey Chili Walnut Salmon

We’re hard-wired to love sugar.

It’s quick energy. (source) But today, sugar is everywhere, sneaking into our diets in hidden forms, and it’s wreaking havoc on our health. Even when we think we’re eating “healthy”.

Even more – When you’re pregnant, your baby’s blood sugar levels are a reflection of your own. (source) High sugar levels can lead to gestational diabetes, excessive fetal growth, and other complications. Your hormones, particularly insulin, must stay balanced to ensure quality fertility and a healthy pregnancy. 

Don’t be discouraged – with a little bit more awareness, we women can take control of our sugar levels and still enjoy the foods we eat. The sweet ones, too.

Take Control: Know Your Sugars

Hidden sugars are added to foods during processing. They lurk in everything from pasta sauce to flavored yogurt. Even “healthy” options aren’t always what they seem.

The food industry knows our weakness for sweetness. They use cryptic names like maltodextrin or evaporated cane juice to hide the sugar content. But these sugars can lead to insulin spikes, weight gain, and worse.

It’s time to take control. Own your sugar intake. Know when you're indulging, and savor it. Don’t let it sneak up on you in hidden ways when you can’t even truly enjoy it.

My first gift to you this week: Here is a list of hidden sugars to look for in the ingredient lists of the foods you buy. FIND IT HERE

The extra 10 seconds at the grocery store looking at the labels will save you tons of time from having to go to the doctor, money from spending on medical bills, and extra happiness for today and the future.

A Movement for Better Women’s Health

The struggles we face as women—thyroid issues, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia—are connected to what we eat. But most of us don’t learn about nutrition from our doctors. And our doctors are aware of this, and often don’t know where to send us. 

Despite knowing that food is something we can control, we’re left in the dark.

When you’re at your reproductive endocrinologist’s office, and you ask them if there is anything you can do to help with your fertility, the one option they should suggest (and many do) is pay attention to what you eat, and especially hidden sugars. 

When you finally get pregnant and you ask your OB/GYN what you can do to help ensure a smooth pregnancy, they should suggest that your diet is the one thing you can control, so take the time to learn more. (Shameless plug for our Julienne Pregnancy Program here!)  

Women live longer than men but suffer more years of poor health. Why? Because research, medical studies, and even the food industry have long been focused on men. 

70% of those affected by chronic pain conditions are women, but 80% of pain research is conducted on males. (source) We deserve better. 

We deserve to be educated, empowered, and healthy.

We started Julienne to tackle these issues. To bring nutrition into the conversation. To empower you in the comfort of your home.

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FINAL THOUGHTS: JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Let’s change the way we think about food. Let’s own our choices, starting with sugar. By understanding what we eat, we can take control of our health, support our fertility, and give our babies the best start in life.

Join the movement. Empower yourself. Start by supporting this newsletter and pledging a paid membership (click the button below). Together, we can make a difference.