Vitamix Foundation Supports Whole Health Lifestyle Care at UH Connor

Vitamix Foundation is supporting whole health lifestyle care for reproductive well-being at UH Connor Whole Health through a grant of $200,000 over two years—the largest sum that the foundation has ever awarded.

Approximately 10 to 15 percent of couples are impacted by infertility. In addition to being costly, this experience can affect physical and psychological health. Even successful traditional fertility treatments can come with uncomfortable side effects. For a range of couples, whole health lifestyle care improves time to pregnancy and minimizes the negative effects of infertility.

“Magic happens when we partner with organizations such as Vitamix Foundation,” said Françoise Adan, MD, Chief Whole Health and Well-Being Officer, University Hospitals, Director, UH Connor Whole Health, and Christopher M. and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health. “Their passion and commitment are contagious. This gift provides an opportunity to advance scientific evidence to support the health of mothers and babies.”

“The Vitamix Foundation is at the forefront of promoting the health and well-being of mothers and infants by advocating for plant-based whole food nutrition,” said Natalie Haynes, Executive Director, Vitamix Foundation. “We take immense pride in our support of UH’s pioneering whole health and nutrition program. This program not only promises to uplift families facing infertility, but holds the power to foster enduring well-being for the mother, child, and future generations.”

Learning Together

The program will provide lifestyle medicine and health coaching for fertility patients through shared medical appointments, led by an advanced practice provider who will pair medical care with education around whole foods, plant-based nutrition, stress management practices, acupuncture and yoga therapy, sleep hygiene and environmental toxin exposures. Couples who enroll will find a natural support network and learn together.

From this pilot, UH Connor Whole Health researchers and doctors will study a trove of new data and improve care outcomes for future iterations of the program. Vitamix Foundation’s seed funding will help UH Connor’s lifestyle medicine gain exposure and popularity among patients, creating a path to its sustainability.