If you're planning to get pregnant in the near future, you have probably googled fertility and nutrition quite a few times. It can be difficult to dig through all of the clutter online. Finding resources you can trust to give you the truth on women's health and fertility can be time-consuming and confusing. So I did some of the dirty work for you.

Below you will find links to my two favorite blogs for all things related to nutrition, women's health, and fertility. As a bonus, I have listed my top 5 favorite posts that will help you prepare for pregnancy. Happy reading!

I. AM. OBSESSED, absolutely obsessed with essential oils. I have always dabbled with using them but after putting together some wellness tips with the health educator at the clinic I work in, I decided to get serious about learning more about aromatherapy. I recently completed an introduction to aromatherapy course and have decided to work on getting certified next year. And I fully intend to share the wealth of knowledge I gain along the way with you lovely folks.

There are so many oils and so many ways to use them, it would take forever to cover it all.  So I will share just a few of my faves.

Fish and seafood get a bad rap when it comes to preconception and prenatal nutrition. While it's true that some kinds are high in mercury, it's equally true that fish and shellfish are bursting at the seams with health benefits.

Between 2011 and 2013, more than 9 million 15-44 year old women took birth control pills in the US. That's a lot of ladies and a whole lot of pills.

I'm pretty sure most were warned about the risk of blood clots, stomach upset, and breast tenderness. But how many were told the pill could change how their bodies absorb, use, and eliminate some vitamins and minerals? I am willing to bet, vey few.

We all know how important vitamins and minerals are to our health. Each one plays a vital role in our bodies. Having any one in short supply can lead to any number of not so pretty problems. A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to bleeding gums, while super low zinc can cause hair loss. Not exactly the picture of health.

These two nutrients, and quite a few more, are depleted by oral contraceptives. It's important that I point out that the pill alone will not cause a deficiency. But if it taking it is coupled with a diet low in certain types of foods, we can really have a problem on our hands.

Chances are at some point you've heard how important folate is if you are planning to get pregnant. That's because when it comes to fertility and a healthy pregnancy, folate is your friend. This goes for women using assisted reproductive technologies, like IVF, and women trying get pregnant without the help of these treatments.

If you are a woman of childbearing age, you definitely want to make sure you're getting enough of it in your diet. Low folate levels can cause hyperhomocysteinemia (fancy for high homocysteine blood levels). High homocysteine is linked to trouble getting and staying pregnant. On the other hand, the right amount of folate reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Fortunately, folate and folic acid are in a lot of different foods.

Determined to try all things Aerial, I took an aerial yoga class with one of my favorite sseals eras and my name twin about a month ago. It was the perfect combo of the calm meditative nature of yoga and the exhilarating fun of aerial silks and hoops. It was awesome. My only complaint is that I waited so long to try it.

About two weeks ago the strangest thing happened. Nearly every patient who came in expected (some demanded) me to create the perfect meal plan, the magic bullet that would finally cause them to shed the pounds they had been trying to lose for years. In a single hour, I would write a miracle plan that would wipe away years of struggle.

I'm sure you can imagine their shock and disappointment when I told them I wouldn't be giving them a strict diet to follow. They were equally shocked (and maybe a little offended) when I asked them, "If I write a meal plan for you today, how will it be different than all the other diets you started and then stopped in the past; what will make you stick to this one if you didn't stick to all the others?" My intention wasn't to be rude but to get them thinking. Blank stares and for a small few, introspection followed.

For the introspective few a light bulb went off. The aha moment! The true spark that ignites lasting change was lit. They realized they didn't need a new diet. A diet would only last a few days, weeks, or months at best. They had done that before and it didn't work. They needed a new way of thinking, relating to food, and living they could stick to for the rest of their lives.