Nanna Stigel

Tell us a bit about yourself and what are you passionate about 

The female body is amazing and I am fascinated by the inherent rhythms and transitions embedded in the woman’s body: the menstrual cycle, fertility/conception, pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood and menopause. 

However, fertility is and will be one of the topics closest to my heart, both because I am passionate about creating the best possible conditions for the future generations and because I think it is so important to focus on everything we can do ourselves when we are battling fertility problems.  

I have written a book about this called "Bliv gravid – Sådan styrker du din fertilitet". 

By the way, my name is Nanna Ewald Stiegel and to mention a bit about my education, I am a nutritionist (DET), menstrual cycle counselor, family counselor and I have a Master of Science degree. A large part of my free time is spent immersing myself in people’s inner and outer health. I am also a big fan of nature, where I go every day to move and then I enjoy immersing myself in meditation practice and reading psychology, psychotherapy and spirituality books.

"For me health is not a single thing. It is the sum of many things. It is about finding out what is nourishing for the individual."

 

What is your specialization and why did you choose this area?

I have my professional specialization in fertility and the menstrual cycle. Maybe because both are a prerequisite for human existence…. And certainly, because when I started to work in this field, both lacked a positive focus and a clear statement of what we can actively do when we have fertility or menstrual cycle problems. 

My desire is to support expecting parents to find their way through the fertility jungle and to restore the body’s balance so that it is fine-tuned for pregnancy. 

My method is based on the many years of experience in the field of fertility of Foresight’s approach to preconception. This approach adapts and combines the cutting-edge new knowledge of functional medicine with the knowledge of Ayurveda, yoga, the nervous system and human psychology. 

What does health mean to you?

For me health is not a single thing. It is the sum of many things.

It is about finding out what is nourishing for the individual. Both in terms of the basics: What food is good for the individual? What food supplements? What form of movement? etc. But also, in a more general sense: What makes you happy? What makes you feel the life bubble inside you? What really nourishes you?

Not many of us have learned this. In my work I support people in feeling what health is for them from the inside and what supports them on the path to a fertile body. Occasionally, a few dietary changes, a few yoga poses and perhaps the addition of food supplements are enough. Other times, we need an advanced functional analysis to find out what exactly is happening with the individual's biochemistry. 

"My desire is to support expecting parents to find their way through the fertility jungle and to restore the body’s balance so that it is fine-tuned for pregnancy."

What is your philosophy when it comes to health, diet and food supplements? 

No two people are alike. What is healthy and fertile for one is not necessarily healthy and fertile for the other. 

As a nutritionist, I naturally look at what you eat and in collaboration with you, make a plan for a healthier and more optimal diet. But nutrition therapy also deals with more complex conditions, such as what happens to food after you eat it, whether you digest food well-enough, whether your body is able to break-down the food and absorb its nutrients, whether you lack nutrients and so on. 

Therefore, nutrition therapy is not based on one-size-fits all diets, but tailor-made plans are carefully developed to fit the individual client’s biochemistry, desires and needs. I also recommend herbs, vitamins, minerals and a variety of other supplements where needed. 

And then I am focused to treat the cause of the problems you are experiencing, and not only to relieve the symptoms. 

Finally, it is essential that the solutions I recommend do not worsen the stress of having to do and eat the "right thing". In this way you always need to coordinate and collaborate with the individual. 

What projects are you working on right now, and what past achievements are important for us to know about you?

I am affiliated with the Center for ernæring & terapi, where I can be booked for 1 to 1 consultations. In addition, from time to time, I hold classes, workshops and lectures on fertility. You can read all about it on my website. 

I love to write and in addition to "Bliv gravid – Sådan styrker du din fertilitet", I have written the book "Dit hemmelige våben – Guide til din kvindelige cyklus" in collaboration with Laila Tórsheim. 

I also have a couple of new projects planned, which I will unveil soon. 

Follow and read more at www.nannastigel.dk and www.blivgravid.nu