Y’all, I’m so excited to share this conversation from Noble and Nourished! I recently sat down with Aderet Dana Hoch, and let me tell you – we went DEEP into all things women’s health, fertility, and nutrition. As a registered dietitian and the founder of Dining with Nature, Aderet brought such amazing insights about how we can better understand and support our bodies.
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Let’s Talk About Diet Culture
Okay, can we just acknowledge how many of us grew up in peak diet culture? Aderet and I had such a great discussion about this. Like, remember watching Devil Wears Prada where Anne Hathaway was considered “the big girl”? (Which, by the way, is one of my absolute favorite movies!) The messaging we got growing up was WILD, focusing so much on appearance instead of actual health.
But here’s what’s cool – while social media definitely has its problems, it’s also helped us have better conversations about women’s health. We’re not just saying “PMS” anymore – we’re actually learning about our bodies and using terms like “luteal phase.” Progress, right?
Understanding Your Cycle (Because Nobody Taught Us This in School!)
Let’s break down what’s actually happening in our bodies each month, because honestly, this is stuff we should’ve learned way earlier! Here’s what Aderet taught me about each phase:
When You’re on Your Period (Days 1-5)
Real talk – you’re losing blood, so your body needs extra support! Focus on iron-rich foods like meat, spinach, and legumes. And if you’re extra hungry? That’s totally normal! Your body’s doing a lot of work.
The Follicular Phase (AKA When You’re Feeling Your Best)
This is usually when we’re feeling pretty good! Your body needs lots of nutrients during this time – think folate, iron, and vitamin D. It’s prepping for what’s coming next.
Ovulation Time
Hydration is KEY here, y’all. Your body needs water to do its thing. Load up on fiber-rich foods like broccoli and Brussels sprouts too – they help process all those hormones.
The Luteal Phase (Previously Known as PMS)
Instead of fighting those cravings, let’s understand them! Craving chips? Maybe your body needs salt and healthy fats. There are better ways to give your body what it needs without feeling guilty about it.
Getting Real About Fertility
One thing I really appreciated about my conversation with Aderet was her honesty about fertility. If you’re coming off birth control and trying to conceive, it’s not always as simple as “stop the pill, get pregnant.” Your body might need time to reset and replenish nutrients. Everyone’s journey is different, and that’s completely okay!
Food as Healing (Not Just Medicine)
I loved Aderet’s take on this – instead of seeing food as medicine, she sees it as a healing, nourishing force. While modern medicine absolutely has it’s place (my husband works in the medical field, so trust me, I get it!), there’s something powerful about starting with nutrition when we can.
As Aderet put it, “It’s not going to hurt you to eat more chicken or peppers.” Sometimes the simplest approach is worth trying first!
The Long Game > Quick Fixes
Y’all know how I feel about quick fixes – they’re usually too good to be true. Aderet and I totally vibed on this. Building sustainable health practices means:
- Really listening to your body
- Taking time to build good habits
- Investing in quality nutrition
- Having patience with the process
I shared with Aderet how I’ve gone two years without over-the-counter medications, and while that’s my personal choice, it shows how taking the longer, more intentional path can lead to sustainable results.
Want More from Aderet?
If you loved this conversation as much as I did, you can follow Aderet’s journey:
- Instagram: @DiningWithNature
- Website: diningwithnature.com
- She’s got an amazing monthly newsletter too!
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! What resonated with you? What questions do you still have? Drop a comment below or reach out on social media. And don’t forget to subscribe to Noble and Nourished for more conversations like this one!
This blog post comes from my heart-to-heart conversation with Aderet on Noble and Nourished. We’ve edited it a bit for clarity, but all the good stuff is still here!
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