EP 297 What Our Historical Origins of Being Can Teach Us about Our Fertile Nature | Jenny Powers

Jenny Powers is an accomplished writer, scientist, and athlete. She earned her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Colorado, Denver; her journey as a collegiate basketball player taught her to push physical boundaries even as she continually expanded her intellectual horizons. She is deeply inspired by the exploration of human nature and the study of our ancestors; her role researching and co-authoring On the Origin of Being marks the culmination of this passion to date. Jenny balances her professional endeavors with her roles as a wife and mother in Colorado. In this episode, we discussed the evolutionary mismatch between our genetics and contemporary lifestyles, how this mismatch impacts our health, and how learning our evolutionary journey can help us return to a state of thriving. Her co-authored book, "On the Origin of Being" covers sleep, nutrition, work and rest, and our relationship with nature. Takeaways:

• Our circadian rhythms, which evolved over millions of years, play a crucial role in our health and fertility.
• Prioritizing sleep and maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle supports our natural rhythms and overall well-being.
• Our modern diet, high in processed foods and sugar, is not aligned with our evolutionary needs.
• Returning to whole, unprocessed foods can support our overall health and fertility. Processed fats and sugars are prevalent in the modern diet and can have negative effects on health.
• Fiber is important for gut health and helps regulate insulin levels.
• Understanding the evolutionary reasons behind our cravings can help us make healthier food choices.
• Overworking and a lack of rest can have detrimental effects on our well-being.
• Being present in the moment and finding work-life balance is essential for a healthy and fulfilling life.

• Website: https://www.ontheoriginofbeing.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ontheoriginofbeing/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontheoriginofbeing/

Check out Michelle’s latest book here: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility Follow Michelle on Instagram @thewholesomelotusfertility Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/ for more tips and updates. For more information about Michelle, visit: www.michelleoravitz.com The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/ Transcript: Michelle (00:00) Welcome to the podcast, Jenny. Jenny Powers (00:01) Hi, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to be here. Michelle (00:04) Yes, I'm excited to talk to you about this amazing topic and your new book. And I would love for you to first start with introducing yourself and your background, how you got into writing this recent book about where we came from. Jenny Powers (00:18) Yeah, okay. Well, my name is Jenny Powers. I grew up as an Air Force brat, so I kind of moved all over the country and got to play basketball at the University of Colorado when I studied chemical engineering. But then I went back to school to study immunology and that's what I got my PhD in. studying the innate immune system, macrophages and cell signaling and stuff like that. But I felt while it was interesting and fascinating, I felt like there was just, I wasn't doing what I think was in my heart, which was to be a writer. So when I had my kids, it was