Wellness with Jesscia Zuker @ihadamiscarriage

Jessica Zucker is a Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in reproductive health and the author of the award-winning book I HAD A MISCARRIAGE: A Memoir, a Movement. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vogue, and Harvard Business Review, among others. Her second book, NORMALIZE IT: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women’s Lives, is out now and available everywhere books are sold.

Q: A morning (or nightly) ritual you swear by?

A: I begin most days with a hike in the Hollywood Hills or a Peloton ride at home. I find that exercising first thing sets me up for a refreshed mindset. Sweating gives me a burst of energy that lasts throughout the day. Then, I typically try to carve out a brief bit of time for meditation. Returning to the present moment can prove challenging amid the cultural chatter (not to mention a full email inbox), but quieting my mind and focusing on my breath feels like a much-needed gift for mental and physical health. When there’s time, I hang out in the sauna afterward and then pop in the shower. Let the day begin! 

In the evening, my rituals include going around the table during our nightly family dinners talking about what we are grateful for, what we are looking forward to, and something that was challenging during the day. Making time to connect in a meaningful way each day feels vital. Cuddling with my daughter is also a part of my nightly routine that I swear by. Before we get into bed to read together, we do our little nighttime ritual which often includes: True Botanicals Nourishing Cleaner, Milk + Honey Pink Clay Masque, Iris + Romeo Hyaluronic Serum Spray, True Botanicals Nutrient Mist, and Pure Radiance Overnight Lip Treatment.

Q: What's your favorite Juna product and how do you incorporate it into your everyday routine? 

A: By far my favorite Juna products are the Detox Drops—because they help with boosting energy, increasing circulation and blood flow, and eliminating toxins—and the Nightcap Sleep Rollerball. The essential oils bring a sense of peace as I get ready to close my eyes at the end of a long day.

Q: If you could give one piece of wellness advice to women looking to improve their health, what would it be? 

A: As a psychologist, I believe that the work of creating more empathy and authenticity in our lives and communities begins with telling our stories. Especially the hard ones. One piece of advice I wish all women knew and heeded is: share your stories. Your stories matter. You matter! For the women who live with their stories untold, you are not alone. When we speak our truths, we have the potential to be part of igniting a personal and cultural revolution. If and when you’re ready, dare to share.

Let’s dare to speak what we have been taught to think is the unspeakable. Let’s muster the courage to believe in our stories and the power they hold. Let’s, once and for all, normalize talking about the hard things.

Q: Any health concerns that you are currently trying to support?

A: I’m currently navigating perimenopause and all the changes that come along with it. As a result, I’m all the more mindful of the latest research on supplements, diet, nightly sleep routines, and exercise that support changes happening in the mind and the body. 

Q: What’s a wellness trend or practice you’ve tried recently that you love?

A: I’m obsessed with Pilates. For several years I practiced yoga and still love to do it on my own at home. Getting outside is a must for me, so I love taking long walks or hikes. Exercise is at the top of my daily to-do list.

Q: What’s your go-to meal or snack when you need something healthy and quick?

A: Brown rice with avocado, steamed broccoli, and seaweed. Salad with protein, olive oil and vinegar. Salmon with roasted potatoes and asparagus.

For quick snacks, nuts, Greek yogurt, veggies, hard-boiled eggs, edamame, gluten free salt + vinegar chips.     

Q: Current Favorite Book/Podcast/Playlist/App?

A: Books: NORMALIZE IT, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved

Podcasts: Honestly, The Ezra Klein Show, This is Woman’s Work, We Should Talk About That 

Apps: Waking Up, Blinkist, Duckbill, Headspace,