PS The Goods® - Our Articles + Blogs
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Why does the inositol ratio matter for hormone health?
Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are both naturally occurring in the body, but research shows the ratio between them, not just their presence, determines how well they work together.† A clinical trial testing seven different ratios found that a 40:1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol outperformed every other ratio tested for the outcomes researchers were measuring. Ratio and dose are the science. "Natural" is just a marketing word.
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How do you know if a supplement is actually clean and tested?
Words like "natural" and "clean" on a label are not regulated claims and do not guarantee purity.† The FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they reach the market, which means independent, third-party testing, not marketing language, is the real differentiator between brands.
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How common is B12 deficiency in women?
In a national health survey of Mexican women of reproductive age, 8.5 percent had a confirmed vitamin B12 deficiency, roughly 1 in 12.† In the broader U.S. adult population, overall B12 deficiency runs closer to 2 to 3 percent, though that number rises meaningfully in specific groups, including people eating primarily plant-based diets. B12 is one of the easier nutrients to run low on quietly, since dramatic symptoms often don't appear until the deficiency is more advanced.
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Does iron intake affect fertility?
A prospective study of more than 18,000 nurses found women who used iron supplements had a 40 percent lower risk of ovulatory fertility concerns over 8 years of follow-up, but more recent studies in pregnancy planners have found a less consistent association. The honest answer is that iron status is worth paying attention to, but it is not a guaranteed fertility fix.
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Are women trying to conceive missing key nutrients?
A 2026 analysis of national nutrition survey data found women reporting infertility had significantly lower intakes of vitamin A, E, K, and lutein and zeaxanthin than women without infertility, with more than half of women experiencing infertility falling below minimum requirements for vitamins A, C, E, magnesium, and potassium.† This is not proof that a nutrient gap causes infertility, but it is a real signal that fertility-support conversations often skip basic nutrient status.
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How much folate do you need before you're pregnant?
Most guidance recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid or its equivalent daily, starting at least one month before conception, because the neural tube closes around 26 to 28 days after fertilization, often before a woman knows she is pregnant.† A Cochrane review of the research confirms periconceptional folate supplementation reduces the risk of neural tube defects, which is why the timing matters as much as the dose.
