Motherhood

How Essential Oils Became a Missing Piece in My Hormone + Energy Journey

How Essential Oils Became a Missing Piece in My Hormone + Energy Journey
Before I got pregnant, I was in the best health of my life.

I was following a protocol that supported my mitochondria (IYKYK), cooking most of my meals, sleeping well, and feeling damn good in my body.

But it didn’t start that way.

There was a time when I was constantly exhausted, my gut was a mess, and my hormones felt like an unsolvable mystery. I was doing all the things — eating clean, taking supplements, running labs — and still felt like something was off.

Then someone handed me a bottle of essential oil.

I smiled politely and thought, “Cool, another thing to smell pretty while I try to hold it together.”

But I tried it anyway.

Here’s the thing — not all oils are created equal. The ones you find at the grocery store? Let’s just say… not the same. The oils I started using were pure, therapeutic, and intentionally formulated — and they worked.

I learned that essential oils aren’t magic. But they are chemical messengers — just like your hormones. And when used correctly, they can support your body in powerful ways.

Here’s what I noticed and later confirmed through research:
✔️ They can calm your nervous system, lowering cortisol and supporting progesterone.
✔️ They can help with estrogen detox.
✔️ They can boost focus and reduce brain fog.
✔️ They can help balance mood swings throughout your cycle.

I started using them in small, intentional ways:
🧠 When I felt foggy, I reached for rosemary and peppermint.
💛 When anxiety crept in, I used bergamot and clary sage.
🌙 When I couldn’t sleep, I used cedarwood and lavender.

It wasn’t an overnight transformation — but it was a real one. Over time, as I paired these oils with proper nutrition, stress management, and mindset work, they became anchors in my healing journey.

Now, they’re part of what I teach my 1:1 and group clients — because they’re simple, effective, and actually doable for busy women who want to support their hormones and energy naturally.

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Sometimes healing doesn’t look like adding more.

Sometimes it’s about finding small, sustainable tools that bring your body back into balance — one deep breath at a time.

Learning to Trust Your Body Again

Learning to Trust Your Body Again
Your body is wildly intelligent. She knows what to do. She wants to heal, to restore balance, and to bring you back home to yourself. But here’s the part we often forget—she can’t do that under pressure, stress, or shame.

For so many of us, the default response when something feels “off” is to push harder. To fix it. To control every detail. But true healing doesn’t happen in force—it happens in safety. It happens when we soften, slow down, and actually listen.

There’s one sentence that completely changed how I show up for myself on the hard days:
✨ “My body remembers how to heal. I am learning to listen.” ✨

That reminder is powerful because it shifts the focus from doing to trusting. Your body hasn’t forgotten how to restore itself—it just needs the space and support to do what it already knows how to do. That might look like choosing rest over productivity, nourishment over restriction, or self-compassion over self-criticism.

The truth is, healing isn’t about perfection or ticking boxes on a to-do list. It’s about reconnecting with your body—learning her cues, honoring her needs, and letting go of the belief that you have to control everything to feel better.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or disconnected, pause. Place a hand on your heart. Take a deep breath and remind yourself: My body remembers how to heal. I am 
learning to listen.

Because your body doesn’t need punishment to heal—she needs partnership.

✨ If this message resonates with you, follow me on Instagram for daily reminders to slow down, trust your body, and find balance through hormone and gut health. Let’s learn to listen together.

The Truth About Your Fertile Window: You’re Not Fertile Every Day of the Month

The Truth About Your Fertile Window: You’re Not Fertile Every Day of the Month
You’ve probably heard it before: “You can get pregnant any time in your cycle.”

It’s one of the most common myths in women’s health and it’s completely false.

Here’s the truth:

You’re only fertile for about 5–6 days per cycle. That’s it.

Understanding which days those are can make all the difference—whether you’re trying to conceive or trying to avoid pregnancy naturally.

Your fertile window isn’t random—it’s based on your body’s hormonal rhythm and subtle signs that often get overlooked.

What determines your fertile window

Your body gives you clues throughout your cycle, including:
🌀 Cervical mucus: This changes in texture and appearance as estrogen rises. Around ovulation, it becomes clear and stretchy—your body’s natural signal that you’re fertile.
🌀 LH surges: The luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation, and testing for this surge helps pinpoint your most fertile days.
🌀 Temperature shifts: After ovulation, your basal body temperature slightly increases. Tracking these changes confirms that ovulation actually happened.
🌀 Hormonal patterns: Beyond apps and averages, understanding your body’s hormone signals gives you the most accurate insight into your fertility window.

Why this matters

Many women rely on period-tracking apps that use generic algorithms, but these often miss the nuances of your personal cycle. If your hormones, thyroid, or gut health are out of balance, your cycle might not follow “textbook” patterns—and that’s when confusion and frustration set in.

Learning how to recognize your own fertile signs puts you back in tune with your body. You’ll start to notice how energy, mood, and even cravings shift throughout the month—all valuable information that can help you support your hormones naturally.

Supporting your body through your cycle

When you understand your fertile window, you can begin making small adjustments that support your body’s rhythm.
  • Eat balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep blood sugar steady.
  • Prioritize rest and gentle movement around ovulation and your luteal phase.
  • Manage stress through breathwork, journaling, or simply spending a few minutes outdoors.
Your cycle isn’t something to control - it’s something to understand.

When you know how to read the signs your body is giving you, you can make more informed choices about your health, fertility, and overall well-being.



Why Your Health Matters in Every Season of Life (Even After Kids)

Why Your Health Matters in Every Season of Life (Even After Kids)
These days, life looks a little different. 😅 When a child enters your world, everything shifts—beautifully, wildly, and in ways that can sometimes leave your own health feeling like it’s on the back burner. Late nights, unpredictable schedules, and the constant juggle of responsibilities can make it seem almost impossible to focus on your body’s needs. But here’s the truth: your hormone and gut health still matter in every season of life, and they don’t have to look perfect to make a difference.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t stay the same forever. What supported my body before baby is not the same as what supports me now. And that’s okay. Our bodies are designed to adapt, and the way we care for them should adapt too. Hormone balance isn’t about following rigid rules—it’s about tuning in to what your body needs today, in this moment. Sometimes that looks like a carefully planned routine, but other times it’s about finding small, practical shifts that make life feel a little lighter.

Perfection isn’t the goal here. In fact, chasing perfection often leads to more stress—which is one of the fastest ways to throw hormones and digestion off track. Instead, focus on practicality. Maybe that means keeping quick, nourishing snacks on hand so your blood sugar stays steady. Maybe it’s stepping outside for ten minutes of fresh air when the day feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s choosing rest over another task on your to-do list, knowing that your body repairs and recharges while you sleep.

Gut health and hormone health are deeply connected to how we show up in daily life. When digestion feels supported and stress feels manageable, energy is steadier, moods are more balanced, and the body can function as it was meant to. The good news? It doesn’t take an elaborate plan to get there. Even small, consistent habits can create a ripple effect. Drinking enough water, moving your body in ways that feel good, eating more whole foods, or simply practicing deep breathing can all support the foundation your hormones and gut need.

Life after kids may look nothing like the life you had before, but that doesn’t mean your well-being has to disappear from the picture. It just means finding a new rhythm. Your health matters in every season—not because it looks perfect, but because it’s what helps you feel present, energized, and capable of enjoying the life you’re building.

When Low Progesterone Is Behind Your PMS

When Low Progesterone Is Behind Your PMS
For years, my PMS felt like absolute chaos. The week before my period, I’d be hit with anxiety spikes, restless nights, and even spotting that made me wonder if something was “off.” Every month, I brushed it off as normal—even though it never felt normal. And no one ever connected the dots.

That changed when I learned about progesterone. Suddenly, it was like the puzzle finally made sense.

✨ Progesterone is your calming hormone.

It’s the hormone that helps you wind down, sleep deeply, and feel steady instead of anxious. It also balances out estrogen so your body doesn’t swing too far in either direction.

When progesterone levels run low, you can feel it. PMS becomes more than just a little irritability—it can feel unbearable. You might notice:
✔️ Anxiety and mood swings
✔️ Insomnia or restless sleep
✔️ Spotting before your period
✔️ Fertility struggles

The frustrating part? These symptoms are often dismissed as “just PMS.” But low progesterone is not something you simply have to live with.

What You Can Do About It
The good news is, your body is always giving you clues—and you don’t have to keep guessing or Googling symptoms. There are real steps you can take to bring balance back.

  1. Understand Your Hormone Markers
    1. Lab work or at-home testing can give you insight into your progesterone levels (along with other key hormones). Instead of wondering why your cycle feels so off, you’ll have data to work with.
  2. Support Your Body Naturally
    1. Nutrition, lifestyle changes, stress management, and targeted supplements can all play a role in encouraging healthy progesterone production. Simple shifts—like eating enough protein, managing blood sugar, and prioritizing sleep—can make a big difference.
  3. Get Guidance
    1. Every woman’s body is different, which means what works for one person may not work for another. Having someone walk alongside you to interpret your results and build a plan that fits your life is what takes the overwhelm away.
A Different Way Forward
If your PMS feels unbearable and you’re tired of trying to piece it all together on your own, you don’t have to. Inside my coaching, I help women uncover what their hormone markers (like progesterone) actually mean—and, most importantly, what to do if they’re out of balance.

Because when you understand what your body is telling you, you can finally move from chaos to clarity—and feel like yourself again.

 
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Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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