Reducing Period Pain with Lauren Lee-Crane & Catherine Lee of Semaine
On this episode of The Live Well Podcast, I’ll be speaking with sisters Lauren Lee-Crane & Catherine Lee, founders of Semaine Health, about their experience with endometriosis and reducing period pain. They’re on a mission to normalize the conversation around periods and period pain, and this is exactly why these twin sisters wanted to start Semaine Health, a health & wellness company that takes women’s pain seriously.
On this episode of The Live Well Podcast, I’ll be speaking with sisters Lauren Lee-Crane & Catherine Lee, founders of Semaine Health, about their experience with endometriosis and reducing period pain. They see learning to live with endometriosis as a journey - taking care of themselves, listening to their bodies, and voicing what they need to be healthy. They’re on a mission to normalize the conversation around periods and period pain, and this is exactly why these twin sisters wanted to start Semaine Health, a health & wellness company that takes women’s pain seriously.
The team at Semaine combines deep personal experience with PhD-level research to address women’s health issues. Their first product specifically addresses period pain and empowers women by providing natural, plant-based products that have been rigorously researched and can be taken without a prescription. Their anti-inflammatory, Semaine, offers a solution that is grounded in science and compassion.
Today, we’ll hear more about Lauren and Catherine’s story and learn about the tools that have helped them along their journey.
LISTEN BELOW (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
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SHOW NOTES:
0:00 Intro
2:54 Guest introduction
3:43 Lauren and Catherine talk about their endometriosis journey
6:10 Deep dive into their endometriosis experience
6:30 The indicator that something was wrong for them
7:22 How the condition “felt” normal to them
8:27 On using birth control pills to avoid the period pains
9:06 When the pain started to get scary
11:50 Endometrioma
21:33 Most women who have endometriosis have IBS
24:00 The holistic approach Lauren and Catherine had to do
24:58 Wellness burnout
25:30 Diet and inflammation
30:00 Semaine product and holistic ingredients
33:18 Going in-depth into the products of Semaine Health and how it started
35:20 What was Matt’s role in Semaine Health
37:15 The different ingredients and their supportive roles
38:30 The market focus of their products
40:52 The importance of tracking your cycle
44:03 The big thought behind Semaine Health
45:10 The importance of understanding monthly periods and shouldn’t be a taboo
48:30 Where to find Lauren and Catherine and learn more about them and their journey
If you loved this episode, I'd be honored for you to give me a rating on iTunes. This helps me to get content out to others who are interested in getting control of their health through diet, lifestyle shifts and personal empowerment.
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
Clear Skin from the Inside Out
Have you ever considered how gut health or internal health can affect your skin health? If you’re feeling frustrated by unresolved skin issues or you’re dealing with ongoing skin concerns, there are ways you can support your skin from the inside out. When it comes to skin health, it really goes much deeper than that first external layer. What we really have to do, like with everything, is look at the whole picture, the whole person and dig deeper into what’s going on internally. Your skin is telling you things, your skin is talking to you, and it can give you clues about what is going on internally. In this post, I’ll share ways to troubleshoot skin issues and tips about how you can get clear skin from the inside out.
Clear Skin from the Inside Out
Have you ever considered how gut health or internal health can affect your skin health? If you’re feeling frustrated by unresolved skin issues or you’re dealing with ongoing skin concerns, there are ways you can support your skin from the inside out.
When we go to the dermatologist for a skin issue - whether it be acne or eczema or rashes - it typically gets treated as something that’s very surface level. We end up getting prescribed things like topical creams, steroids or even antibiotics and look at skin health as an isolated issue.
When it comes to skin health, though, it goes much deeper than that first external layer. What we really have to do, like with everything is, look at the whole picture, the whole person and dig deeper into what’s going on internally. Your skin is telling you things, your skin is talking to you, and it can give you clues about what is going on internally.
For me personally, I had acne breakouts, eczema, and ongoing skin issues in my teens, and I was put on low-dose antibiotics for almost a year. This definitely ended up causing a lot of other downstream issues for me, but I didn't realize it at the time. Hormonal birth control is also commonly prescribed to help with any kind of hormonal acne or skin issues as well. These medications can actually have long-term effects on our body, nutrient stores, and our gut. I see so many others who, like myself, went through this process and tried so many different things to deal with skin concerns without ever really addressing what was going on internally in the gut until additional symptoms started to show up.
The gut connection and troubleshooting your skin
Gut health isn’t often considered as a factor for skin health, but the two are actually very closely related. Within our gut, we have trillions of bacteria, and we want everything in our gut to be in harmony, like a little ecosystem. Usually, it is, but sometimes certain things can cause this ecosystem to get out of balance.
Antibiotics are one example of something that can disrupt the gut ecosystem by killing off bad bacteria but also killing off beneficial bacteria as well. Gut imbalances can also be caused by things like an inflammatory diet or lack of beneficial foods feeding the good bacteria in our microbiome. Stress also has a huge impact on our body and especially our microbiome. Once that gut ecosystem is out of balance from stressors, medications, diet, etc. overtime things can really start to snowball and we may begin to experience more downstream issues resulting from this disrupted ecosystem.
Inflammation and skin reactions
When we wind up with this inflamed environment in our gut, something called “leaky gut” or intestinal permeability can occur. In the presence of intestinal permeability, things that are within our gut ecosystem “leak” out into areas that they're not supposed to be.
When bacteria, toxins, and large food particles get through the gut lining, our immune system that lies around the lining of the gut goes on high alert and it begins to activate an immune response or inflammation. The immune system becomes overloaded with all that it has to contend with, and it can set up a whole host of not only immune issues but detoxification issues as well. It's our livers’ job to help detoxify the body, but if our liver is really overwhelmed dealing with inflammation or the consequences of leaky gut it can get backed up and congested. When the liver is backed up our body must look for other ways to detox.
This is one of the ways our skin can be impacted.
Our skin is the largest detoxification organ in our body. If the liver and detox pathways are backed up, then our body might start detoxing through our skin causing breakouts or other skin issues.
Additionally, if you are not properly breaking down and absorbing the food you're eating because your gut is compromised or inflamed, you don't have sufficient stomach acid or you don't have the ability to digest fats for example, then you're likely not getting all the nutrients you need from your foods. Often with skin issues, nutrient deficiencies can play a major role.
As with so many facets of health, it often comes back to the gut, so if you are dealing with any kind of skin issues like acne, eczema, or rashes, you can see how it's 100% worth considering this relationship between gut health and skin health.
So what do we do about this?
It really comes down to supporting the terrain in the digestive system to bring things back into balance. We sometimes just think about food, but it’s really about how our body is breaking down and digesting that food and understanding what’s going on in the intestinal terrain.
When it comes to healing skin issues, I've been there and I know how frustrating it can be. Check out the podcast below to hear more tips about how you can get clear skin from the inside out. And if you’re dealing with skin issues feel free to leave me a comment below!
PREFER TO LISTEN? TUNE INTO THE LIVE WELL PODCAST BELOW (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
Click here to listen in iTunes
Click here to listen in Stitcher
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
Heal vs. Ideal
This post shares how we have to go through the "heal" to get to the "ideal." If we feel like "heal" is where we are going to be forever and we don't like it, we bust through it and don't spend enough time there in order to allow our tissues, immune systems, and selves time to truly heal in the way that’s needed. I hope this concept of "heal vs. ideal" will help put the health choices we make into perspective.
Heal vs. Ideal
When we're dealing with health issues we might find ourselves doing things like elimination diets, avoiding alcohol, going to bed early, etc.
We start to make these changes and then might begin to think, "Oh man this sucks! If I have to live like this forever it's not worth it!" This may then lead us to abandon all of the practices we were doing simply because we don't want to live a life of "restriction" forever.
And then we find ourselves back at square one with all of our symptoms still there, trying to find a more sustainable way to be healthy.
Have you ever felt this before? It can be so frustrating! And a cycle I see many of my clients get stuck in.
I worked with a client who had Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) who was finding that intense exercise was causing her to flare-up and have more pain. She knew she had to reduce exercise, but it felt really challenging because being active and outdoors was a big part of her identity.
Instead of taking a break from strenuous exercise, she kept pushing through her pain because she wanted to keep living her life which is something we can all relate to. What she was noticing was her pain was getting worse and worse.
In our work together we spoke about this concept of "heal vs. ideal" to help put the health choices we make into perspective.
For my client, the "ideal" place of where she wanted to be and how she wanted to live was being able to hike and do more strenuous outdoor activities. This "ideal" place is really about where we want to be which might include eating many diverse foods, being able to have a cocktail when you feel like it, exercising how you want to, etc.
What I want to highlight is that we have to go through the "heal" to get to the "ideal." If we feel like "heal" is where we are going to be forever and we don't like it, we bust through it and don't spend enough time there in order to allow our tissues, immune systems, and selves time to truly heal in the way they need.
When I work with clients in 1:1 coaching we move through the "heal" place effectively and with guidance so you can move more quickly towards the ideal - where you ultimately want to be.
To learn more about this concept watch the video below or tune into the latest episode of The Live Well Podcast!
If you are looking for support to break the cycle of feeling “on or off the wagon” and finally find more ease and sustainability in your life, I can help! I always offer free 20-minute discovery calls to see if we’re a good fit for coaching and how I can help you identify and break through the blocks standing in your way towards vibrant health. Click here to schedule your complimentary call today!
Click here to listen in iTunes
Click here to listen in Stitcher
If we haven't met before, I'm Christina Tidwell and I'm so excited that you're here! I am a RN & Functional Nutrition Practitioner that helps those with autoimmune disease, hormone imbalance and gut issues heal without overwhelm so you can feel better in your body in a way that honors your unique needs and feels sustainable for the rest of your life.
If you suffer from:
Fatigue and energy crashes
Brain fog
Poor digestion
Painful periods and PMS
Symptoms of autoimmunity
Stress and overwhelm
...and aren't getting the support you need, I’m here to help guide you! My job is to clear the overwhelm, help you put the pieces of the puzzle together and co-create a sustainable path forward to help you reach your goals and feel better in your amazing body. When we work together you can’t fail.
In my health & nutrition coaching programs I support you in the quest to get back into balance by listening to your story, understanding your needs, getting to the roots of imbalance in the body and co-creating a sustainable path to healing together. These sessions weave together functional nutrition and science, lived experience, mindset shifts, and intuitive guidance for a unique and full-spectrum approach to nutrition counseling and holistic health.
I always offer free 20-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and identify what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.
Why your healing diet isn't "working"
It’s not that what you’re doing isn’t “working,” it’s simply that you are a unique body that may require different things based on where you are at at this moment.
I’m always reading books, listening to podcasts and attending trainings on the latest and greatest in nutrition and holistic health to make sure I’m up to date on what’s going on and can best serve my clients. I was recently reading a great book about using nutrition and lifestyle shifts specifically to balance hormones. It had amazing information about getting to the root cause or hormonal imbalance in the body and at the end of the book proposed a 30-day “hormone balancing protocol” which included dietary advice and a supplement regimen.
To be honest, this is one of probably 10 different protocols I’ve read about in the last 6 months, all somewhat similar but with their own nuances, restrictions and guidelines.
As I was reading through I kept thinking about how many clients come to me saying they tried XYZ protocol and it didn’t “work” or they’re afraid they may not have “done it right.” What happens if you follow the protocol to a T but your symptoms get worse, or some get better but others get worse, or you have no idea if it’s helping at all?
It’s not necessarily because you didn’t do it right, or because something is wrong with you. Any protocol or template is meant to be a guide. The information that you gather as you move through these shifts and changes and observe results in your own body is what matters.
If you are instructed to eat 9 servings of veggies a day, most of them cruciferous and raw and you feel bloated and uncomfortable, that’s information. If you are told to avoid all carbohydrates and you feel like you have the flu and are zapped of energy, that’s information. If you’re drastically increasing your intake of fats and you digestion goes off, that’s information. If you’re eating a “perfect” diet full of restrictions and you’re so stressed out that you can’t sleep or relax, that too is information.
It’s not that what you’re doing isn’t “working,” it’s simply that you are a unique body that may require different things based on where you are at at this moment.
If you are having a difficult time navigating these waters and figuring out what works for you and your specific body, I can help! I always offer free, 30-minute discovery calls to hear more about your story, identify the blocks standing in your way and create a plan of action specifically for you!
Prefer to listen? Tune into The Live Well Podcast below (AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL NEVER MISS OUT!)
Click here to listen in iTunes
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Or if you’d like to play the episode right now in your browser, use the player below:
Are you dealing with symptoms of chronic fatigue, brain fog, autoimmune disease, pain or digestive issues?
You’ve gone to doctor after doctor. You’ve received some answers, have started on medications and notice some relief (thank goodness!) but are still left feeling exhausted, stressed, inflamed and not fully yourself?
Or maybe every test has come back “normal” and your practitioners have told you that there isn’t anything they can do, to come back when things get worse, or to simply manage your stress better?
If yes, then you are someone who would benefit form 1:1 holistic health coaching.
Health coaching is a necessary extension of the health care system in that together we have more time to uncover issues, implement strategies and assess outcomes together. Autoimmune disease is complex and to address it we need to come at it from all angles (pharmaceutical therapies from your doctor while also focusing on root cause factors like gut health, diet, sleep and stress). I offer accountability, a knowledgeable resource and most importantly support.
I always offer free 30-minute discovery sessions to get clear on your major health concerns and what’s standing in your way. Click the button below to set up your free consultation and we can create a plan of action specifically for you.