Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition [Paperback]

Marilyn M. Shannon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1991

This books unique contribution to the world of useful family literature lies in its addressing the spectrum of female and fertility problems for which nutritional solutions exist: PMS, yeast infection, irregularity, miscarriages, or infertility problems. FERTILITY, CYCLES AND NUTRITION offers you the very best "first resort," as the author puts it. If you have some of the problems addressed, this book could be a godsend. Also, one of the foremost food information sources for the whole family: if you want good nutrition for your whole family, this book contains wisdom not found anywhere else in so concise a fashion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Couple to Couple League Intl (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0926412094
• ISBN-13: 978-0926412095
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Infertility

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Woman, RE, and OBGYN Should Read This Book, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition (Paperback)

What a fabulous book! I have read (no, memorized) the second and third editions and become pregnant twice while following Shannon's advice. I've never written a review before, but I am so impressed by this book I have to take the time. Unlike other books I've read of the same genre, there is so much information packed into this little book that I find something new with every re-read. There is good information for young women struggling with PMS, or trying to generally improve their health or get pregnant. There is good information for women who are pregnant or nursing (indeed I wish I'd had this book when I was doing both). There is good information for women struggling with infertility or miscarriages or age-related infertility. There is good information for menopausal women. And there's even good information about the vitamins and minerals that can enhance your husband's fertility.

The initial section on general nutrition is a great guide to healthy eating with valuable tips about shopping and preparation. (I found Shannon's information about essential fatty acids particularly helpful.) The subsequent chapters hold invaluable information about the role that different vitamins (like B6, folic acid) and minerals (like magnesium and selenium) play in regulating and enhancing a woman's cycle and her fertility (including topics like controlling PMS and handling menopause). Table V, on recommended supplements, has become my personal "bible" for vitamin supplementation - something I never "believed in" before reading this book. As Shannon suggests in chapter 15, I hired a local (Chicago-area) nutritionist to help me with supplements. She read Shannon's book for the first time at my request and confirmed my opinion that this book is excellent. For example, not only does Shannon list recommended daily amounts for vitamins and minerals in her Table V, but she also tells you in a separate column what the latest research shows about toxicity, i.e., at what amount this vitamin or mineral may become harmful.

As a trained lawyer, I appreciate knowing where facts and figures come from, and Shannon provides that in spades in her many footnotes. She is clearly experienced and knowledgeable and she conveys her information well. She's both done her research, and shared her sources with her reader. A special note for women like me struggling with age-related infertility: this book is a great place to start. Shannon herself had a healthy baby at age 47 (almost 48) without using fertility drugs (see the "about the author" section). And she gives examples in her book where her nutritional strategy has helped other older moms to conceive. The rest of my personal story is that I unfortunately miscarried both times I became pregnant recently, but at 39 I'm still hoping for another child, and am following Shannon's advice as carefully as I can, while also trying clomid under an RE's supervision.

Women owe the Catholic Church and the Couple to Couple league, of which Shannon is a part, a great debt of thanks for fostering an environment where this kind of information is gathered, and for motivating Shannon to set it all down in such a readable fashion. (It goes without saying that we need to thank Shannon, too.) Hands down, this is the best book around on the link between fertility and nutrition.

71 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthwhile book, April 29, 2000

By 

Joan "joan2742" (Edgewater, MD, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition (Paperback)

I found this book to contain some good information, some of it not available in other fertility books I've read. Its biggest drawback is probably its length- it's about 140 pages, and much of that space is spent discussing general nutrition, as well as more controversial topics such as fertility and night lighting. I would therefore recommend it as a supplement to a more comprehensive book, not as the only book to buy. Women who experience PMS, irregularity or menstruation problems will find some good help in this book and should probably buy it.

This book is written by a Catholic author and published by the Couple to Couple league, so it takes a Catholic view on many issues. Those who cannot tolerate Catholic thought might not enjoy this book for that reason, as is evident from a few of the reviews below. However, the book does *not* discuss any issue that is not directly related to fertility and/or nutrition. It will therefore be very useful to anyone interested in these topics, Catholic or not.

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a valuable book for women!, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition (Paperback)

by following the suggestions in this book, i have been able to overcome my PMS and dysmenorrhea. this book also motivated me to eat healthier and exercise regularly even though i am not overweight. most of all, marilyn shannon actually convinced me to cut down drastically on my consumption of chocolate and other sweets! what a difference all this has made: no more headaches! no more afternoon slumps! more energy! a smaller waistline! the information in this book is definitely NOT common knowledge. the author is pro-life and has some extreme beliefs (for instance, that masturbation is immoral), but this should not detract from the wealth of information and knowledge that this book offers. the index is one of the most detailed i've ever encountered. there are numeours typos and the design & lay-out could be much improved. nevertheless, i give it five stars. it is an excellent complement to toni weschler's "taking charge of your fertility", because shannon gives more detailed explanations for irregularities in temperature, cervical fluid, and luteal phase. the ultimate good news: on my last visit to the obgyne, she confirmed that i was ovulating again!