Exactly What I Was Looking For

 

After being so disappointed in my last go at a self-help book, I went rooting around the internet for other natural remedies to curing lady-parts issues and stumbled upon Marilyn Glenville. She’s a certified nutritionist with a Ph.D from Cambridge. And I’m happy to report that this was a fantastic read for anyone looking to make some lifestyle changes to regulate their cycle.

Glenville’s book is broken down into easy-to-follow guidelines for making small, but effective changes over a period of time to get the body back in sync. And while she spends much of the book using diet, exercise, and supplements to get the cycle to reroute itself naturally, she dedicates a section in every chapter to conventional medical options and what those procedures entail so that readers can decide which route they want to take. While she stresses that doing the natural way is more effective long-term, she in no way makes anyone feel that conventional medicine is off the table should it be necessary. I also appreciated that there was a whole section dedicated to the male partner in the fertility and pregnancy chapter, detailing all the ways in which his diet and lifestyle may also be playing a part in lack-of-conception. She specifically suggests that he should read this chapter to better understand how he needs to make changes as infertility is a couples problem – not a female problem.

The tone of this book was warm, while still being clinically factual and laying out all the necessary information. To Alissa Vitti’s credit, much of Glenville’s remedies are similar to what I read in “Woman Code,” but Glenville wastes no page space in personal asides, flowery writing, or client testimonials. The information is bullet-pointed, easily followed, and concise. And since she is a nutritionist by trade, much of the information describes exactly how the body utilizes macro and micro nutrients, and why certain supplements and foods are important for cycle regularity and overall well being. Like Vitti, Glenville also has her own practice and line of health supplements, but even though they are referenced throughout the book, I didn’t feel like I was being pummeled over the head with subliminal messaging to visit Glenville’s website. Glenville offers up the option for visiting her practice, and buying certain supplements from her website, but the tone is inviting and in no way wheedling. I never felt like I was being sold a product, and overall the reading experience was a pleasant one.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in naturally dealing with female issues or infertility, but can’t stand the mother-goddess-find-your-inner-power rhetoric.

4 stars.