Let’s talk about that little bottle of Progessence Plus.
Because if you’ve been around the wellness world for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard:
“It has wild yam, and wild yam helps your body make progesterone.”
Wellllll, not exactly.
And this is where it gets interesting.
First: wild yam is NOT literally progesterone.
Wild yam contains a plant compound called diosgenin. And yes, diosgenin can be used to make progesterone.
BUT that conversion typically happens in a lab.
Your body does not appear to have its own tiny pharmaceutical factory saying, “Oh! Wild yam! Let me whip up some progesterone real quick.” (usually)
Research using wild yam cream by itself has not shown a meaningful increase in women’s progesterone levels.
But Progessence Plus is different.
Look at the ingredient list and you’ll see:
USP-grade progesterone (from wild yam extract)
Read that again.
It doesn't just contain wild yam and hope your body figures out what to do with it.
It contains actual progesterone.
The wild yam is used as a starting material to manufacture the progesterone. By the time it’s in that little bottle, your body isn't being asked to turn wild yam into progesterone.
That job has already been done.
So can progesterone be absorbed through your skin?
Researchers have studied topical progesterone, and there is evidence that progesterone can be absorbed through the skin.
But because hormones apparently LOVE making everything complicated, measuring that absorption isn't always straightforward. Blood, saliva and capillary measurements don't necessarily tell exactly the same story.
Translation?
Hormones are complicated little divas that we love so much!
And that's also why I'm not going to tell you that X number of drops will raise your progesterone by X amount. We don't have evidence that allows me to make that promise (however I will say that over the years of being around essential oils and using this one myself, women have mentioned that they have seen their usage of this raise their progesterone to levels that help your body run optimally)
Now THIS is where Hormone Harmony comes in.
I don't want you blindly throwing things at your hormones because somebody on Instagram told you progesterone was the answer to every problem you've had since 2007 (but maybe it is?🤣)
But let’s go back, your body gives you clues.
Your cycle. Your sleep. Your energy. Your cravings. Your mood. Your stress. Your digestion.
Clues and more clues.
Progesterone can be an important part of the hormone conversation but it isn't the *entire* hormone conversation.
And Progessence Plus isn't magical wild yam juice that somehow convinces your ovaries to start pumping out progesterone.
It contains USP-grade progesterone manufactured using wild yam as its source material.
That distinction matters.
Because Hormone Harmony isn't about hormone perfection or another 47-step wellness routine (but wouldn’t it be kind of fun if we had time for that?!).
It's about becoming a woman who understands her body a little better than she did yesterday.
Come join us in Hormone Harmony!
You’ve probably heard both sides of the breakfast debate.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”
Then five minutes later, someone on Instagram is telling you to skip breakfast and fast until noon. 😅
So, **do you actually need to eat breakfast?**
The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no.
You don’t have to eat breakfast the second you wake up just because it’s morning. But for many women, especially those struggling with **low energy, blood sugar crashes, intense cravings, stress, or hormone symptoms**, eating a balanced breakfast can be a really supportive habit.
How Breakfast Can Support Blood Sugar and Hormone Health
What you eat in the morning can help set the tone for how you feel throughout the rest of your day.
A balanced breakfast that includes **protein, healthy fats, fiber, and carbohydrates** can help you feel satisfied and provide more consistent energy. Instead of grabbing a coffee, running out the door, and suddenly realizing at 11 a.m. that you’re STARVING, you’re giving your body actual fuel to work with.
Try building breakfast around foods like:
* Eggs with avocado and whole grain toast
* Greek yogurt with berries, chia seeds, and granola
* Oatmeal with nut butter, berries, and seeds
* A breakfast hash with eggs, sweet potatoes, and veggies
It doesn’t have to be fancy. And it definitely doesn’t have to be another wellness routine that makes your mornings harder.
What If You’re Not Hungry in the Morning?
If you wake up with absolutely no appetite, you don’t need to force yourself to eat at 7 a.m.
But it’s worth paying attention to your patterns.
Consistently having no appetite in the morning may be something to consider alongside your **stress levels, sleep quality, meal timing, and overall nutrition**. Instead of following a blanket rule that says everyone should eat breakfast—or everyone should fast—start noticing what actually helps *you* feel your best.
So, Should Women Eat Breakfast?
There’s no perfect breakfast time that works for every woman.
But if you’re regularly experiencing **afternoon energy crashes, sugar cravings, constant hunger, or relying on coffee to get through your morning**, experimenting with a balanced breakfast may be a simple place to start.
Your body gets a vote. 💛
Want more simple ways to support your hormones throughout the month? Grab my free Cycle Syncing Guide to learn how to nourish and support your body during each phase of your menstrual cycle.
I LOVE using rice paper - truly I don't do it enough for all the fun things you an make with it. You an even make a very tasty vegan bacon with it too!
The key here is that the salmon is an Omega-3 powerhouse plus protein! Which for better or worse these days (think protein craze going on) we do need it in our lives (think building muscle and such). This recipe also has some yummy veggies snuck in there and you can edit these however you desire!
Ingredients:
- 6 Rice Paper Wraps
- 10 ozs Canned Wild Salmon (drained and broken into large chunks)
- 1/2 Cucumber (large, julienned)
- 2 Carrot (medium, julienned)
- 2 stalks Green Onion (cut in big pieces)
- 1/4 cup Tamari
- 1 tsp Honey
Directions:
- Soften a sheet of rice paper by submerging it in a shallow dish of water for five seconds. Transfer to a plate. Arrange the salmon, cucumber, carrot, and green onion on top.
- Fold the bottom of the rice paper over the filling, then fold in the sides. Roll tightly until completely wrapped. Transfer to a plate, and repeat until all ingredients are used.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the tamari and honey. Enjoy!
2 servings
Back-to-school season is here, and even if you’re not the one heading back to the classroom, chances are your routine is about to change.
Earlier mornings. Packed schedules. Practices, appointments, lunches, work, and approximately 47 things you’re supposed to remember before walking out the door.
And usually? Taking care of yourself gets pushed straight to the bottom of that list.
But supporting **women’s hormone health** doesn’t require a complicated routine. In fact, when life gets busy, getting back to a few simple foundations can make a big difference in how supported you feel.
1. Stop Skipping Breakfast
Coffee is not breakfast. (I know, I wish it counted too.)
Starting your day with a balanced breakfast that includes **protein, healthy fats, fiber, and carbohydrates** can help support steady energy and blood sugar throughout your morning.
Think eggs and toast, Greek yogurt with berries and granola, or overnight oats with added protein.
2. Prep Components, Not Perfect Meals
You don’t need five beautifully portioned containers waiting in your refrigerator.
Cook a few proteins, wash and chop produce, make a batch of rice or potatoes, and have easy snacks available. Having basic ingredients ready makes balanced meals much easier when Tuesday night inevitably gets chaotic.
3. Protect Your Sleep Routine
When schedules get packed, sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice.
But consistent, quality sleep supports your body’s stress response, energy, appetite regulation, and overall **hormone health**.
Even something as simple as going to bed around the same time each night can be a good place to start.
4. Make Movement Easier
You don’t need an hour-long workout every day.
Take a 10-minute walk after dinner. Stretch while the kids are getting ready. Lift weights a few times a week. Choose movement that realistically fits into your current season instead of creating another thing you feel like you’re failing at.
5. Give Yourself Something to Eat Before You’re Starving
Busy days make it easy to accidentally go hours without eating, only to hit the afternoon completely exhausted and ravenous.
Keep simple, protein-rich snacks available so you have something to grab between meals.
Your Hormone-Supporting Routine Can Be Simple
As you head into a busier season, you don’t need to completely reinvent your wellness routine.
Start with the foundations: balanced meals, enough protein, consistent sleep, regular movement, and realistic stress support.**
Small habits you can actually maintain will always be more useful than a “perfect” routine you abandon by October.
Want to better understand what your body needs throughout the month? Grab my free Cycle Syncing Guide and learn how to support yourself through each phase of your menstrual cycle.
This is a great recipe for your last summer adventures before the temperatures cool - I don't know when on Earth that will actually happen in Arkansas and it's still almost 100 degrees everyday! but let's get to the exciting part of these temps - food!
Last weekend we wanted to get some BBQ going - without some of the nasty ingredients that can be present in many of the BBQ sauces on the shelves these days.
The BBQ sauce that we typically use is from Primal Kitchen - this is the collection they have, but I like the class one personally and would use it for this recipe.
You can also edit this to your specifications - I would try it with the coleslaw and without!
Also for the mayo - we tend to use this mayo - but feel free to choose your own - double check those ingredients as they can sneak in more seed oils and other crazy things!
Ingredients:
- 12 ozs Tofu (extra-firm, pressed, finely sliced)
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 2 tbsps Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Barbecue Sauce
- 2 cups Coleslaw Mix
- 1/4 cup Vegan Mayo
- 4 slices Gluten-Free Bread (cut in half, toasted)
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, toss the tofu with the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cornstarch. Mix until the tofu is evenly coated.
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook the tofu for eight to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden and crispy.
- Add the barbecue sauce. Stir until the tofu is evenly coated and heated through.
- Combine the coleslaw mix and mayo in a separate bowl. Toss until well coated.
- Divide the tofu evenly among the buns. Top with the coleslaw, and enjoy!
2 servings
