Redheaded Jill

Several years ago my sister in law (who is a nurse and lives a pretty healthy lifestyle) recommended the book, “Beyond the Pill: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill” by Dr. Jolene Brighten

Reading this taught me that most medications we take deplete us of vitamins and minerals. If you’re not making up for those blocked nutrients through diet or supplements you’re being depleted and that can cause so many issues including depression and anxiety. (Two things I struggled with after starting birth control.)

I also learned that the birth control pill changes a woman’s sense of smell. Women who meet their significant other while on the pill might not be attracted to them anymore if they go off the pill. The same works in reverse. Dr. Brighten tells stories of her patients and their experiences with the pill.

I learned that it can take years to detox meds from your body. Lingering effects from widespread birth control use go hand in hand with infertility.

Dr. Brighten explains how elimination diets can help you determine what foods you’re sensitive to. The good news is things like leaky gut can be healed, so it’s not necessarily goodbye forever! Just temporarily.

Did you know most sanitary napkins and tampons are full of bleach and other harmful chemicals? This can worsen painful cramps and other unpleasant period symptoms. Thankfully most retailers now carry “clean” brands that are 100% organic cotton and chemical free.

The book is full of quizzes to help you determine hormone imbalance. For example, I was estrogen dominant. I used Wild Yam Cream (recommended by Barbara Oneill for natural progesterone production) to help get my cycle regulated. Thanks to this book I was able to get off birth control and start natural healing.

Since quitting the pill I have started using Clarity from sanahaus.co to help clear up hormonal acne. (This is not an affiliate link, I just love the product. You can find the creator, Sophia, on IG and she’s so kind about returning messages and answering questions! I use all her recommended skincare products either found on her website or amazon.)

I also started taking Chaste Tree to help balance my hormones when bloodwork showed that my estrogen and progesterone are both extremely low. (Also known as Vitex. I would recommend a clean vitamin brand to avoid fillers and extra sugars.)

If you or a loved on are ready to take back their cycle I would definitely start with this book. You can also follow Dr. Brighten on social media!

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