Shannon McKirdy

I recently had the opportunity to write this blog post for Fertility Friends Foundation, a Canadian charity that provides education and financial support for couples going through advanced reproductive technologies. Read the full post below and at www.fertilityfriendsfoundation.com : When we think of fertility, reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone may come to mind. But these hormones rely heavily on metabolic health to function properly. Therefore, how your body manages blood...

Copper is a trace mineral , meaning the body only needs it in small amounts, but it plays an enormous role in overall health. It supports energy production, iron metabolism, hormone balance, immune health, nervous system function and so much more. When copper is balanced and bioavailable (more on this below), it helps the body produce energy efficiently and regulate key physiological systems. However, over the past few decades, copper dysregulation has become increasingly common in women and...

If you’ve spent any time researching fertility nutrition, you’ve likely come across the Mediterranean diet. It’s often praised as the gold standard for overall health — and many fertility clinics recommend it for patients trying to conceive. And honestly? There’s a lot to love about it. But when it comes to optimizing fertility, especially in a North American context, the Mediterranean diet as it’s commonly interpreted may not tell the whole story. Let’s break down what it gets right — and...