For all those who work with me… You all know how I love my referrals !!! Elissa Goodman is my go to nutritionist who I refer all my clients to . She is one of the very best and most knowledgeable , innovative holistic nutritionists out there today . I love her !! she has helped me with some serious digestion and fatigue issues and many of my clients health have greatly benefited since seeing her . I asked her a few questions about pregnancy and here are her answers . If you are thinking about becoming pregnant , already are, just had a baby , need help with nutrition for your kids or you just want be healthier and feel more vital then I highly recommend a session with Elissa !!! Also all of her cleanses ROCK !!! Im starting the Cafe Gratitude one in March and I can’t wait !!
Elissa Goodman is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and cleanse expert based in Los Angeles who focuses on holistic health. After working for years as a top professional in the high-stress world of advertising, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 32. Realizing the foods we eat and the environments we enter strongly influence our health and play key roles in either preventing or causing illness, she successfully cured her disease with a combination of medical treatment, exercise and nutrition.
Very sadly, 10 years later her husband, Marc, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and passed away after an 18-month battle.
This tragedy, coupled with her own brush with mortality, inspired Elissa to commit herself to creating the healthiest environment and lifestyle possible for her two daughters. She is determined to create a future in which having two parents with cancer will no longer exist.
She is certified by the American University of Complementary Medicine for Integrative Nutrition.
HERE IS OUR Q & A –
Do you think going on a cleanse before trying to conceive is a good idea ? If so what cleanse do you like or suggest to do?
I’m a huge advocate for thoughtful preparation to make your body as welcoming as possible for a baby. Fertility requires healthy and vitality; ideally, you would not seek and try to host another life when your own body is depleted.
Of course, this is the time to promote my three wonderful cleanses that will jump-start you into a healthier eating pattern: I Am Cleansed with Café Gratitude, RESET Your Life With M Café and my Personalized 3 & 5 Day Cleanse program
Also, I love the idea of doing your own cleanse at least 6 months to a year before trying to conceive. I would recommend avoiding all refined sugars, gluten, dairy, any processed food, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, fatty animal protein, and over-the-counter medications. These are the foods I would recommend eating during your own personal cleanse:
Squeeze half of lemon in an 8 ozs. glass of warm water before breakfast to cleanse the bowel and stimulate the digestion for the day.
Drink at least ½ of your body weight in water per day to get the nutrients where they need to go and flush out any toxins.
Add at least one fresh mostly green vegetable juice a day (pick from the following veggies: kale, spinach, romaine, swiss chard, celery, carrot, beets, broccoli stems, ginger, lemon, apple, pear) to fill your cells with live enzymes and nutrients.
Eat more raw salads to bring in an abundance of vitamins, minerals and fiber
Eat more legumes, nuts & seeds for added protein
Eat gluten free grains (quinoa, teff, amaranth, millet, brown rice and buckwheat) to avoid any digestion issues.
Increase the amount of essential fatty acids in your diet (Wild salmon, walnuts, raw olive oil, avocados, flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds) to promote proper cognitive development for your baby and you.
Eat prebiotic foods (bananas, garlic, onions, tomatoes, asparagus & apple cider vinegar) to help beneficial bacteria survive
Eat probiotics foods (kimchi, unpasteurized miso, kombucha (low suger), kefir, tempeh, raw sauerkraut, coconut yogurt) to help restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut to assure proper absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat.
Eat lean animal protein 2x/week and toxic, mercury free fish 2x/week
What do you think of gluten and fertility and pregnancy? I have read that by taking it out of your diet it helps if having unexplained infertility, what are your thoughts/
Everyday more and more people are becoming intolerant to gluten. Our modern wheat products have changed over the last century, as we’ve become a society that loves fluffy breads and baked goods. To achieve this we’ve hybridized the actual wheat berry so that it now contains more of the gluten protein and we even add more while baking to give it that extra rise…yuck!
I feel like gluten can be a fertility problem, because it damages the intestinal wall and that can lead to a lot of mal-absorption. Mal-absorption leads to the body not being fed what it needs in order to produce the right amounts of hormones needed for conception or to bring pregnancy to term. There is also the fact that if they have celiac which is an auto-immune disease meaning that the immune system begins to attack parts of your body. And while pregnant, an attack on any part of your body is a very bad thing.
I have been researching a lot about the gut health and autism. what do you feel about this?
I believe it’s crucial to have proper gut health to give your baby every chance to be healthy. Your gut is the frontline of your immune system, home to countless bacteria, both good and bad. These bacteria outnumber the cells in your body by at least 10 to one, and maintaining the ideal balance of good and bad bacteria forms the foundation for good health-physical, mental and emotional. Nearly every disease originates in your digestive system.
As far as science knows, the baby inside the mother’s womb during nine months of gestation is sterile. The baby’s gut is sterile. The baby acquires its gut flora at the time of birth, when the baby goes through the birth canal of the mother. So whatever lives in mom’s birth canal, in mom’s vagina, becomes the baby’s gut flora. So what lives in mom’s vagina? It’s a very richly populated area of a woman’s body. The vaginal flora comes from the bowel. So if the mother has abnormal gut flora, she will have abnormal flora in her birth canal. Fathers are not exempt because fathers also have gut flora, and that gut flora populates their groin and they share their groin flora with the mother on a regular basis.
What are your 5 Top pregnancy foods to eat and why?
Leafy Greens– some of the most nutrient dense foods, like kale and spinach, fall into this category and you really can’t go wrong with leafy greens which are packed with calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B.
Legumes– Legumes are a nutritional superfood- they are packed with folate, potassium iron, magnesium and essential fatty acids. They are a great all-in-one food for expectant mother’s trying to pack a lot of nutrients.
Chia Seeds– chia seeds are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are necessary for a baby’s brain development. Also, they have antioxidants and lots of essential minerals and will provide energy and stamina to a pregnant woman who may be losing nutrients.
Almonds (only 1-2 ozs. per day) are an underrated food. They contain both zinc and vitamin B12 – both key nutrients for maintaining a balanced mood – and have both iron and healthy fats. Healthy fats are an important part of a balanced diet, and low iron levels have been known to cause brain fatigue, which can contribute to both anxiety and a lack of energy.
Avocados– Avocados are loaded with folic acid which is vital to forming your baby’s brain and nervous system. They also have a lot of B6 which helps the baby’s tissue and brain growth and has also been shown to help with morning sickness. Plus, avocados are full of potassium, vitamin C and are a great source of healthy fats.
If someone is vegan and pregnant what are some good protein and calcium sources ?
Leafy green veggies, sprouts, avocados, sea vegetables, legumes, tempeh, edamame, nuts (butters & milks), seeds, quinoa, gluten-free oats, sprouted brown rice, oranges and dried figs
Are there any supplements that you feel are a must take while pregnant and why ?
Garden of Life Raw Probiotic for Women or Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic: keeps your gut healthy and creates a balance of good bacteria which is the basis for all health.
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal: Among the many things that this incredible prenatal vitamin does: supports you and your child’s immune system, supports healthy digestion, helps ease common pregnancy discomforts, supports blood and heart health, supports skin health. Plus with no dairy, fillers or extra hidden junk you can feel great taking it.
Magnesium – Magnesium helps build and repair your tissues during pregnancy and supports the building of strong bones and teeth. It also keeps blood sugar stable, reduces cramping and has been shown to keep the uterus from contracting prematurely. Magnesium also helps the body calm and relax for a better night’s sleep during a possibly stressful time.
More info: ” http://articles.elissagoodman.com/2011/06/magnesium-meet-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/
E3 Live Brain On: this is like health in a supplement, it’s a super concentrated and natural form of blue algae extract which supports your stress, well-being and overall health
Shatavari by Savesta– Shatavari is a great natural herb to use for infertility issues. It has also been shown to help in the prevention of miscarriages and balances hormones. It’s a natural antacid so on top of helping you conceive it will keep you feeling healthy and calm during your pregnancy.
More info: ” http://articles.elissagoodman.com/?s=shatavari
For more info and to book an appointment with Elissa go to –
Email: info@elissagoodman.com
Phone: 323-596-0003
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