Nutrition - a Cornerstone for Fertility Health

December 03, 2025•3 min read

Hormone balance isn’t always straightforward. Many women struggle with irregular cycles, and are given birth control pills to “fix” PCOS. Yet by improving nutrition, incorporating movement, and committing to mindful living, women are rebuilding energy, tuning into their cycles, and reclaiming confidence in their health.

This week at Health Youniversity, we speak with Maddy Pollack, integrative nutrition and hormone health coach and yoga instructor, whose work helps women balance hormones naturally, recover vitality, and make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Hormones coordinate reproductive, metabolic, and stress systems. And when one system falls out of sync, it can ripple across all systems—disrupting ovulation, metabolic function, and energy levels.

PCOS and Hormone Dysfunction

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’s (PCOS) effect on reproductive health leads to irregular cycles such as no periods for months on end. It causes inflammation, weight gain, acne, and hair growth where we don’t want it and/or hair loss where we do want it. Many women are put on birth control to manage symptoms rather than addressing underlying hormonal imbalances.

The effects of PCOS go beyond fertility, however. Hormonal dysregulation can influence metabolic health and can lead to insulin resistance and pre-diabetes..

Holistic Strategies to Support Hormones

Nutrition for Hormonal Support

The foods we eat directly impact hormonal function and fertility. Focusing on high-quality, minimally processed foods helps reduce inflammation and stabilize blood sugar, supporting natural hormone balance. Eating in tune with your cycle — emphasizing protein and complex carbs during high-energy phases and restorative foods during lower-energy phases — further aligns the body with its natural rhythms.

Movement for Hormonal Health

Consistent movement is essential for hormone balance. Walking, stretching, Qigong/Tai Chi or yoga can support reproductive and metabolic systems without causing stress. And strength training is excellent for keeping blood sugars stable and lowering cortisol and insulin.

Stress Management for Hormonal Balance

Chronic stress creates chronic elevated cortisol and insulin levels, disrupted sleep patterns and can lead us to crave quick sugars, which worsens the problem. Simple daily practices such as meditation, breathwork, or restorative yoga—help calm the nervous system.

Begin your day with a simple breathing practice, and wrap up your evening with the same bookend your day with feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. It’s like a neurotransmitter superpower.

Environmental Detox for Hormonal Health

Hormones are sensitive not just to what we eat or how we move, but also to environmental toxins in everyday life. Most personal care and household products are riddled with endocrine disruptors that seep into our bloodstream and affect our whole health and our fertile health.

Simple swaps, like choosing cleaner skincare, body-care items, and safer household products, reduce exposure and support natural hormone function. For a list of recommended options, check out the shop page here: https://healthyouniversity.co/shop

Check out all of our episodes on the following platforms:

https://susanfox1.easywebinar.live/gentle-detox

Know the status of your fertility health. Take our FREE Fertility Quiz now: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Fulfill your dream of a family. Know your best options for a healthy pregnancy: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs

Boost Employee Productivity by Investing in their Fertility Health. Check out our Corporate Wellness program and know the benefits it can bring to your company: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/corporate-wellness

Maddy Pollack is a women’s health and hormone expert, guiding clients to restore balance, support fertility, and live in tune with their cycles. Drawing on her experience as a cancer survivor and certified coach, she combines nutrition, movement, and mindfulness to help women cultivate confidence, resilience, and whole-body well-being.

Website: https://www.maddypollackhealth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddypollack/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-pollack/

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to the Health Youniversity podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition for yourself or others. Consult your healthcare provider for any medical issues you may have. This entire disclaimer also pertains to any guests or contributors to any Health Youniversity podcast.

Dr. Susan Fox

I am a women’s health expert with a specialty in working with women and couples navigating fertility challenges for more than 20 years. I look forward to helping you realize your dream of family. I’m also a mother, a sister, a friend. I live in beautiful Northern California, where the nature of Mt. Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are my backyard. Traditional Chinese Medicine discovered me in 1978, when I was struggling with digestive complaints that flummoxed medical doctors. It wasn’t until I received my first acupuncture treatment and herbal prescription that I connected my medical condition to grief over loss of a loved one; that the stress of holding in such huge emotions was literally tying me up in knots, and I was finally able to heal. Discovering the powerful links between the physical, the mental, the emotional, the spiritual, and the environmental shifted my understanding of health and wellness forever. For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of learning and implementing Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine to understand the root causes of health conditions and realize optimal health and well-being. I am a strong believer in the importance of health education, for knowledge is power when you have the tools for effective self care.

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