139. Fertility and Nutrition with Rachelle Mallik MA, RD, LDN

Understanding Disordered Eating: Eating Disorder Recovery and Body Image Healing

How many old wives’ tales have you heard about nutrition and fertility?

More importantly, how often have doctors told you that intentional weight loss will miraculously improve your IVF outcomes? If you’re even slightly “overweight” and experiencing fertility issues, it’s common for doctors to subtly (or not so subtly) suggest you “lose a little weight” as a solution.

In this episode, I’m joined by Rachelle LaCroix Mallik. We’ll take a deep dive into the limitations of studies claiming that weight loss boosts health. Spoiler alert: these studies often miss the mark by not considering other crucial factors like specific eating habits, physical activity, and improved glucose metabolism. Imagine that!

Rachelle (Rachel) LaCroix (LaCwa) Mallik (Mal-ick), MA, RD, LDN. She is a dietitian and founder of The Food Therapist, a virtual private practice specializing in nutrition counseling and education for reproductive health. Rachelle supports clients who are trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding or managing conditions like PCOS and endometriosis with a weight-inclusive approach that focuses on nourishment rather than restriction.

Rachelle has been working in reproductive health for 18 years, starting as an IVF patient coordinator at the Weill Cornell Center for Reproductive Medicine, and is a mom to two young children.

Rachelle is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, including the Women’s Health Dietetic Practice Group. She is also an active member of the Nutrition Special Interest Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Rachelle serves as the reproductive nutrition content expert for the Nutrition Care Manual. She has presented for the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and at the ASRM Scientific Congress, and advocates for the role of nutrition and dietitians in multidisciplinary reproductive healthcare.

Note: We’re celebrating three amazing years of the Understanding Disordered Eating podcast! Just as a reminder, we’re taking a two-week break at the end of August. We’ll be back with fresh content after Labor Day weekend, on September 10th. In the meantime, catch up on our older episodes—they're still gems!

Tweetable Quotes

"Intentional weight loss doesn't necessarily improve your IVF outcomes." - Rachelle LaCroix Mallik

"If any of the information that you are consuming, whether it’s on this podcast or outside, especially in regards to fertility, if it makes you stressed and anxious, it is not for you." - Rachelle Heinemann

"We all have to eat, so let's use nutrition to really work for us and help us feel as good as we can along that journey." - Rachelle LaCroix Mallik

"Nutrition may have an impact on both natural conception as well as fertility treatment outcomes." - Rachelle LaCroix Mallik

Resources

Connect with Rachelle here: http://www.rachellemallik.com

Find Rachelle on Instagram! @rachellemallik

Learn more about her Fertility Foundations nutrition course here

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