A Holistic Guide to Managing Hormonal Health

Whether you're considering starting, stopping, or recently transitioning off birth control, it's natural to have concerns about its effects on your body. Millions of women take hormonal contraceptives like the pill, but concerns about their impact on hormonal balance, nutrient levels, and overall health, including hormonal acne, are common. This guide will help you understand the impact of birth control and provide holistic strategies to restore hormonal balance and replenish vital nutrients.

Step 1: Understanding the Impact of Birth Control

Hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, contain synthetic hormones like estrogen and progestin. These hormones mimic and control ovulation, which can disrupt the natural connection between the brain and ovaries. While effective at suppressing androgens, birth control can still cause estrogen and progesterone-related acne, typically seen around the mouth and chin.

Effects of Birth Control on the Body:

• Nutrient Depletion: Essential vitamins and minerals, such as B6, zinc, and magnesium, can be depleted, leading to fatigue, mood swings, and other health issues.
• GI Disturbances: Hormonal birth control may contribute to digestive disorders, including leaky gut and candida overgrowth.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Synthetic hormones can prevent ovulation, leading to broader hormonal disruptions, such as irregular periods and mood changes.

What You Can Do: Understanding these effects is the first step in managing your health while on birth control. Keep an eye out for symptoms like fatigue or digestive issues, as they may indicate nutrient depletion or hormonal imbalances.

Step 2: Supporting Your Body While on Birth Control

To counteract the effects of birth control, focus on diet and lifestyle changes that support nutrient replenishment, detoxification, and stress management. Here are a couple of ways to support your body that can help mitigate some of the negative effects of birth control, keeping your gut, blood sugar, and overall health in check:

• Gut Support: Promote regular bowel movements (1-3 times daily) with foods and herbs like aloe vera juice, chamomile tea, bone broth, and magnesium citrate. Start your day with warm lemon water and salt.
• Blood Sugar Stabilization: Start with 30-40 grams of protein in the morning. Take apple cider vinegar before meals, and engage in regular weight lifting to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
• Limit Toxin Exposure: Replace oat milk with clean almond, coconut, or cashew milk. Choose clean coffee brands like Organo, Kion, and Purity, and limit stevia to one product per day, such as in your coffee creamer, greens, vitamin powders, protein powders, or electrolytes.

Step 3: Addressing the Estrogen, Candida, and Heavy Metal Exposure Connection

Hormonal birth control can raise estrogen levels, disrupting the natural yeast balance in the gut and leading to candida overgrowth. Additionally, recent studies indicate that some tampons may contain heavy metals, which can worsen this issue.

This creates a "perfect storm" of excess estrogen, candida overgrowth, and heavy metal exposure. In such cases, avoid fermented foods like kombucha, as they can exacerbate candida growth. While antifungal treatments are commonly attempted, they often fail if heavy metal accumulation—the root cause—is not addressed.

Note: Fermented foods should be limited or avoided. While fermented foods are typically healthy, in this situation, they can exacerbate candida growth. Some birth control types may increase the risk of yeast infections. Opt for gut-friendly foods that do not contribute to this imbalance.

Detoxification Strategies

Detoxification is crucial. By supporting your liver, you can help your body naturally balance hormones and reduce the risks associated with excess estrogen and candida overgrowth. 

What You Can Do: Use castor oil packs, dandelion/milk thistle tea, ground flax seeds, and sauna sessions to enhance liver function.

Step 4: Recommended Supplements

Supplements can play a vital role in managing your health while on birth control. Consider incorporating these supplements into your daily routine, which can help your body better manage the effects of birth control and maintain overall wellness:

• Inositol: Supports blood sugar balance. 
• Magnesium: Essential for stress management and hormone regulation.
• Minerals: Consider supplements like body bioelytes or quinon minerals.
• Herbs: Use reishi, peppermint tea, and herbal blends like tulsi for stress relief.
• Digestive Enzymes: Included in MINDBODYSKIN, this ingredient in our daily hormonal acne supplement helps to improve gut health, a common concern for women experiencing gut issues post-birth control.

Step 5: Transitioning Off Birth Control

If you’ve recently decided to get off birth control, there are key areas to focus on, which can support your health and maintain a smooth transition:

Blood Sugar and Digestion:

• Continue Stabilizing Blood Sugar: Maintain your high-protein breakfast and consider adding apple cider vinegar to your water before meals.
• Promote Regular Bowel Movements: Keep up with practices that support gut health, such as magnesium supplements and fiber-rich foods.

Liver Detoxification:

• Support Liver Function: Use castor oil packs, dandelion/milk thistle tea, ground flax seeds, and sauna sessions to help your liver detoxify effectively.

Stress Management:

• Nervous System Regulation: Practice deep breathing exercises, and journaling, and incorporate stress-reducing herbs like tulsi into your daily routine.

Foods and Supplements for Hormonal Balance:

• Protein: Maintain a high-protein breakfast and supplement with apple cider vinegar in water.
• Gut Health: Incorporate sodium butyrate, glutamine, and bone broth for gut support. Avoid fermented foods to reduce candida risk.
• Liver Support: Use herbal teas and castor oil packs to enhance detoxification pathways.
• Daily Supplement: MINDBODYSKIN helps to balance androgens, inflammation, and detoxification naturally with ingredients DIM + B5, Glutathione, Dandelion Root, Turmeric, and Bioavailable Vitamin A. 

Step 6: Long-Term Health Strategies Post-Birth Control

After transitioning off birth control, focus on maintaining hormonal balance, supporting your lymphatic system, and enhancing gut health.

Suggestions for Long-Term Health:

• Lymphatic Support: Incorporate lymphatic drainage massage, gua sha, and dry brushing into your routine to improve circulation and detoxification.
• Stress Reduction: Use adrenal mocktails, deep breathing exercises, and blue light glasses to manage stress.
• Clean Personal Care Products: Ensure your skincare and haircare products are free from endocrine disruptors and non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging). We recommend topicals like the CLEAR Skin Kit, which includes the four essential items that make the foundation of your clinical skincare routine. It targets skin texture, scarring, hydration, and brightness.

Embrace Your Hormonal Health Journey

Transitioning off birth control doesn't have to be overwhelming. By focusing on nutrient replenishment, detoxification, and stress management, you can support your body's natural hormone balance and enhance overall health. Embrace a holistic approach to hormonal health and empower yourself with knowledge and natural solutions.

Sources: