PCOS

If you’ve been following FLO Living for a while, then you already know my feelings on synthetic hormones. Far too often, thepill and all other forms of hormonal birth control (patches, implants, IUDs, etc.) are marketed as the only way to treat period problems along with being fearfully positioned as the only reliable form of pregnancy prevention available to women. Not only is that information untrue; it perpetuates a culture that doesn’t take our unique health needs as women seriously. It’s starting to feel like a bad case of deja vu: yet another study has emerged calling the safety of hormonal birth control into question. Each time this happens, it’s a strong reinforcement of the work we do here at FLO Living to help women become their own best healers of hormonal dysfunction. But this new research is so major and the results are so glaringly clear, perhaps it will be the scientific impetus for women on synthetic forms of birth control to rethink their choices.The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month, followed 1.8 million Danish women for over a decade. During that time, 11,517 cases of breast cancer were identified, leading researchers to the conclusion that hormone users overall experienced a 20% increase in their relative risk of breast cancer compared to nonusers. If those numbers seem hard to wrap your brain around, think of it this way: each year, hormonal birth control causes an additional 13 cases of breast cancer in a group made up of 100,000 women. So for every 100,000 women on the pill, there will be 68 annual breast cancer diagnoses compared to 55 for non-birth-control users.If you find this revelation alarming — and I certainly do — then you’ll want to know the details and understand your options so you can make the most informed choice around your fertility, your health, and your life. This issue is far too important to ignore.

The Problem With Conventional Wisdom on Birth Control

This is what’s so frustrating about conventional women’s health. As Dr. Marisa Weiss, an oncologist who founded the website breastcancer.org told the New York Times, “Gynecologists just assumed that a lower dose of hormone meant a lower risk of cancer.”   This of course is referring to the first wave of the pill that had a higher dose of hormones that at first was deemed safe for women, and then shown to cause cancer risk.  So the doses were lowered, but as the new study shows, the risk is still there.  Remember also that HRT (synthetic hormone replacement) was the gold standard treatment for menopausal women 20 years ago, until the cancer risk there was surfaced as well.I’m frustrated by the culture of prescribing “treatments” to women based on assumptions where there isn’t enough research being done to support them. And when groundbreaking research like this is done, study findings will often be dismissed in some way because it doesn’t align with the status quo. It’s just become a cultural norm to feed women information that isn’t rooted in fact and as a consequence, women all over the world are making major decisions about their health care without adequate information. In this glorious age of information, this should not be.The good news is that the current generation of women is questioning the status quo of their menstrual health care. Health and wellness has become a trendy lifestyle choice for these young women, and many are now starting to realize that the concept of medicating their cycles (even when that’s the prescription their doctor ordered) feels out of alignment with their values. And if you’re one of these women starting to have doubts about the widely-accepted medical protocols around the female cycle, that’s great. You should follow that intuition and know that beyond this study, there is a long list of mounting evidence that should call your trust in hormonal birth control as a method for “dealing with period problems” into question.

The Rise in Synthetic Birth Control Syndrome

Over the past 16 years of treating tens of thousands of women around the world, most of whom have been on some form of birth control to address their period problems, I’ve seen first hand what researchers have been uncovering for many years - a phenomenon referred to as ‘synthetic birth control syndrome’.  You may recall trying one form of birth control, and feeling not yourself or worse in the first few days.  You are then advised to hop from one form to another until you can find one your body can tolerate.  Regardless of how you feel you’re tolerating the synthetic hormones, they will absolutely do the following 3 things - stop you from ovulating and having an actual period, flush micronutrients from your system, and compromise your immune function by disturbing your microbiome.  Oh, and there’s the potential to permanently lowering your sex drive.  Those initial feelings of discomfort you may have had and were told to tolerate, were too much for men in a trial to test a form of male hormonal birth control and the men would not complete the trial!  Here are just a few of the detrimental things we already know birth control can do that we’ve shared about with you in other articles:

• Increase the risk for depression
• Promote inflammation
• Rob your body of important micronutrients
• Damage your microbiome
• Suppress ovulation
• Disrupt your pheremones and mess with your romantic relationships.

Not to mention, all forms of hormonal birth control used to “treat” problematic issues like PCOS and PMS are simply masking the root cause of those issues. Birth control is simply a Band-Aid, which can be a dangerous non-solution; once you come off the method, the problems will return and potentially have worse symptoms than before, as well as becoming harder to treat and resolve. By continuing to take the pill or use other forms of hormonal birth control, you’re compromising your future fertility and long-term health. It’s important that you know there are side effects as you weigh your options.  

Debunking The Pregnancy Fear

So many of my clients tell me that they simply can’t quit the pill because they’re so scared to become pregnant. This fear is understandable considering how sex, fertility, and reproduction are taught to us in schools. Girls are basically told in grade school that once they get their periods, they’ll always be in danger of getting pregnant. This fear-mongering goes hand-in-hand with the vilification of menstruation that makes it a natural step for women to choose to medicate their cycles; first girls are told that their periods are gross and taboo, and then they’re taught to live with constant anxiety over possible pregnancy. And of course, all of this is done in the absence of proper education around the super specific conditions that have to be in place for conception to occur — like the fact that fertilization is really only possible during a 3-5 day window each month. This perfect storm sets women up to feel that their periods are a mysterious problem best left to medication to try to handle.

Where You Can Go From Here

The fact of the matter is, you now have access to all the information you need to make the most informed, educated decisions for your body and your life. If you’re using birth control because you think it’s the only way to prevent pregnancy, then you’ve simply been misled and it’s time to learn the nuances of female fertility so you can have the freedom to make other choices. And if you’re on birth control to try and remedy your hormonal imbalance, then take this study and all the other mounting evidence to heart and understand that the pill is not the answer. There’s simply no reason to live in confusion and with symptoms around your period!  It’s your birthright to enjoy the biochemical gifts of your whole and healthy cycle.  Relying on synthetic hormones to balance your cycle isn’t necessary once you get in the FLO.  If you’re ready to get off the hormonal birth control roller coaster and remedy your endocrine issues the right way, download my special report: Birth Control Rehab: How to Quit the Pill Without Going Through Hormone Hell and you will discover:

• 4 ways synthetic birth control makes your underlying hormone issues worse
• Why synthetic birth control can negatively affect your future fertility
• How the Pill alters your chemistry to make you choose the wrong partner
• The exact steps you need to take before considering quitting your synthetic birth control

Take control of your hormones and your reproductive health by getting the facts now.Love,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

Break a sweat before dawn or bust a move after work? Lunch time lunges or late-night laps? It’s the age-old question that so many women struggle with, but few can confidently answer: what’s the best time of day to work out?I’m about to demystify this dilemma for you, but let’s begin by stating the obvious: women are not men. Obvious? Yes. Always acknowledged? Don’t bet on it. When we look at research measuring exercise performance at various times of day, it’s so important to understand that the majority of these studies focus on male subjects. This was pretty neatly summed up in 2010 New York Times article called “What Exercise Science Doesn’t Know About Women”: “Scientists know, of course, that women are not men. But they often rely on male subjects exclusively, particularly in the exercise-science realm, where, numerically, fewer female athletes exist to be studied. But when sports scientists recreate classic men-only experiments with distaff subjects, the women often react quite differently...In the meantime, female athletes should view with skepticism the results from exercise studies that use only male subjects. As Dr. Rowlands says — echoing a chorus of men before him — when it comes to women, there’s a great deal that sports scientists ‘just don’t understand.’”

How Women Can Time Their Workouts

So if these studies can’t help you crack the code on when to hit the gym, how can you create a sustainable exercise schedule that delivers results and fits into your busy life? By relying on the intuitive wisdom of your hormones, of course! If you’re already a fan of FLO Living, then you’ve heard me talk quite a bit about synchronizing your diet to your natural hormonal fluctuations. It’s a system I call cycle-syncing, and it’s the key to completely transforming your overall health. But cycle-syncing isn’t just for food; it’s a perfect strategy to apply in all areas of your life — including workouts. Your body isn’t the same every single day, and if you’re truly living in your FLO, you’ll be eating, exercising, socializing, and getting romantic in ways that perfectly complement and enhance the assets of each phase of your cycle. Running every single morning at 6 a.m. or sticking to just one kind of conditioning class each and every evening won’t get you real results. By modifying the type of activities you do each day and adjusting the timing of your workouts depending on the time of the month, you’ll play to your strengths all cycle long.Just like food, exercise is an essential tool for achieving and maintaining optimal endocrine health. But understanding how to implement this powerful tool is key — despite what popular culture and social media stars would have you believe, more is not better when it comes to getting fit, and strategically syncing up your cycle with your workouts is the only way to ensure real results and happy, healthy hormones.

How Long Should Your Workout Really Be?

It takes about 30 minutes of exercise to burn through all the glucose in your bloodstream. Once that’s gone, you start forcing your adrenal glands to pump out cortisol to get your fat cells to convert into sugar for the blood stream. While this may seem like a surefire way to melt unwanted pounds, that’s not the case for women with too much estrogen (the most common root cause of period problems, fertility issues, and other forms of hormonal chaos). When your body is overloaded with estrogen, the circulating sugar gets converted to fat, perpetuating a vicious cycle (and this is assuming your adrenals are working perfectly — not the case for many super stressed women). Exercising for more than 30 minutes at a time puts undue stress on your adrenal glands by causing cortisol to skyrocket and any excess estrogen to encourage further fat production. Rather than wasting hours on the elliptical, focus your efforts with a 30-minute session that fits the categories below.

My Go-To Exercise Schedule For Women

So without further ado, here’s your phase-by-phase, no-brainer guide to cycle-syncing your workouts and finding the best time of day to reap the biggest rewards:

Menstruation

Workout: Walk - keep your workouts mild, even if you’re not feeling major discomfort. When: An evening stroll is the perfect way to get some simple movement.

Follicular Phase: The week or so after your period

Workout: RunWhen: Mid-day - your estrogen will be low and your cortisol levels will be just right for a challenging cardio burst.

Ovulation (mid-cycle)

Workout: Intense cardio, dance, or bodyweight circuitWhen: Early morning - you’ll have tons of energy during this time of the month, so take advantage of that natural high! Your testosterone is higher during this phase, so whatever you do, feel free to go all out!

Premenstrual/Luteal Phase

Workout: Pilates, yogaWhen: Keep it early during the first half, and then transition into the early evening. You might still feel full of energy during the first days of your luteal phase, so feel free to keep kicking butt in more intense workouts early in the day. But if you start to experience PMS symptoms in the days before your period, it’s time to tone it down and switch to Pilates or strength training in the early evening. Restorative (yin) yoga before bed can also be hugely helpful in combatting issues like moodiness and bloat. But the only real way to nip those symptoms in the bud for good is to fix the hormonal issue once and for all. If you’re ready to kiss symptoms goodbye forever, then MonthlyFLO is for you!Happy, hormone-friendly workouts, ladies! Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

You survived your turbulent teens and yet here you are: an adult woman still battling the supposedly adolescent issue of acne. What gives?I’ve been there: In my twenties, I suffered from super painful cystic acne that spread all over my face, chest, and back. I tried everything — and I mean literally everything — to combat the chaos erupting across my skin: antibiotics, Retinol-A cream, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid. Not only did these typical treatments fail to deliver results, but they actually made the problem worse. It was frustrating and mind-boggling. Why was I still dealing with zits in my twenties and why were doctor-approved solutions failing me?  

‍The Real Deal Behind Hormonal Acne

‍If you’re a grown-up combatting skin issues, you have to know what you’re actually up against: an endocrine imbalance. If you’re like most women who get hormonal acne, then you probably notice pimples crop up around ovulation (mid-cycle) and/or right before your period. This isn’t a coincidence; these are the two points in your hormonal cycle when estrogen and testosterone are peaking, and if your body isn’t processing these hormones correctly, eliminating the excess, and detoxifying your system. That extra estrogen and testosterone accumulates and results in acne. This happens in two ways: the excess estrogen causes estrogen dominance and skin inflammation, and the extra testosterone play on your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.

‍Elimination is Key

‍We often forget that our skin is our biggest organ of elimination; it works within a system that includes your liver, lymphatic system, and large intestine, and because these organs all act as one unit, they can’t be separated when it comes to treating the root cause of acne. Everything you put into your body from the food you eat to the products you use on your hair and skin to the substances you use to clean your house must be eliminated properly. If they’re not, then these chemicals that mimic estrogen will stay in your body and circulate. And if all of your elimination organs aren’t working optimally, then the leftover, circulating toxins will show up on your face as acne (and result in other unpleasant symptoms like PMS) — it’s as simple as that.

5 Reasons You Have Adult Acne (And 5 Ways to Fight It)

Now that you understand the basics, let’s get down to business — here are the five reasons your skin is suffering and the solutions to implement right now:

1)You have a micronutrient deficiency.

The problem with all the standard acne treatments is that they do nothing to target the root cause of your problem. Two major health problems underpin the issue:  1) A damaged and depleted gut microbiome, and 2) A deficiency in key micronutrients for skin health.

‍The solution: Coffee, excessive exercise, chemicals in your environment, sleep deprivation, the Pill, and stress all strip your body of key micronutrients that keep your hormones healthy and your skin clear. The five formulations provided in the Balance By FLO Living supplement line include essential micronutrients to act as your “insurance policy” against endocrine disruptive things that you’re doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that are throwing you off balance.

2) Your liver is congested.

Your liver needs enough micronutrients in order properly detoxify your body. A well-functioning liver boosts your absorption of all vitamins and minerals and prevent deficiencies developing in the first place. You might be surprised to learn zinc deficiency is a very common issue for many women; when we’re deficient in zinc, our pores become easily irritated by bacteria and show redness. A large-scale scientific study actually concluded that zinc supplementation is very effective even when compared to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

‍The Solution: In addition to the supplements mentioned above, I recommend incorporating a little bit of grass-fed liver into your FLO Living diet every week as part of a meal or as a snack. It’s full of copper and vitamin A to balance out zinc and aid in detoxification of excess hormones.

3) You’re eating pro-inflammatory foods.

Inflammatory foods cause leaky gut syndrome — that means microscopic holes develop in the wall of your intestines, allowing molecules to pass through and create an inflammatory response in your body. When your liver and large intestine are working at a subpar level, your skin steps up and tries to eliminate the toxins, resulting in skin inflammation and acne.

‍The Solution: To speed up your healing, reduce or eliminate the following foods from your diet as best you can:

• Dairy
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Canola, sunflower, safflower, and vegetable oil
• Caffeine
• Gluten

4) Your cycle is out of whack.

If your period is all over the place, it’s a sure sign something is off with your hormones and your skin may be suffering as a result.

‍The Solution: Download the MyFLO® app and start tracking your symptoms STAT! Getting into the groove of cycle synching will help you troubleshoot your issues by modifying your diet and lifestyle to work for you, not against you.

5) You’re not getting enough exercise (or sex!).

Circulation and the flushing of cortisol are essential to glowing, gorgeous skin. If you’re not moving enough or clocking enough amazing orgasms, the evidence could show on your face.

‍The Solution: A good clean stress hormone detox in the way of a burst of sweaty exercise (I like jumping on a mini trampoline in my living room!) or even a really good orgasm will give you a dewy glow and help to banish stress related and hormonal acne.Love,Alisa

The holiday season is filled with family, parties, friends, traditions, and…sugar, alcohol, shopping, stress, and other out-of-the-ordinary activities. In other words, it’s a wonderful and a hormonally disruptive time of year. You know that holiday hangover feeling where you’re moody, bloated, prone to breakouts, and your pants no longer zip? That’s holiday hormone madness. But here’s the good news: you’re not doomed to a winter filled with crummy symptoms. There are simple strategies you can use to have (a little) cake and eat it, too! The first, best step is to do a simple, easy reset after indulging in holiday hedonism. By taking a few days to focus on healthy food (and when to eat it), getting the right micronutrients, and engaging in strategic self-care, you can reverse the hormonal chaos and lay the groundwork for a lighter, brighter holiday season and New Year. And if you think a reset requires strict deprivation, think again. Recalibrating your endocrine system is easier than you think.

Why The Holidays Wreak Havoc On Your Hormones

The post-holiday hangover is a result of putting too much pressure on one of the body’s most important detox organs: the liver. Your liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and getting them ready for elimination from the body. This happens naturally when you eat a diet of FLO-friendly foods, but when the holidays interfere with their pies, cookies, and mulled wine, your liver gets overwhelmed and can’t detox efficiently. The symptoms you’re feeling on the outside—like fatigue, brain fog, acne, weight gain, bloating, heavy or irregular periods, severe PMS, mood swings, and hormonal headaches—are the downstream effects of having a sluggish liver. When this happens, toxins recirculate through your bloodstream and estrogen, which is also detoxed through the liver, backs up in your body. When you have too much estrogen circulating in your bloodstream relative to progesterone, it’s called estrogen dominance and it will make any symptoms you’re already experiencing even worse. The real goal in doing a detox or cleanse isn’t to starve yourself down to a smaller size; it’s to support the liver. Rather than depriving yourself, you should focus on feeding yourself the right micronutrients to help your liver move toxins more efficiently. Doing that will rev up your energy and strip away the sluggishness so many of us feel during the season.

How to (Easily) Detox From Holiday Hormone Havoc

Trigger #1: Too much sugar. I believe in the occasional sugary indulgence, but the holidays often come with more sweet treats than other seasons. Extra sugar is one of the biggest reasons our hormones go off the rails.Here’s why: When you eat a lot of sugar or carbs and flood your system with glucose, your body sends out insulin to deliver it to your cells. This overexposure of glucose and insulin sends your blood sugar levels soaring and then crashing, which can disrupt ovulation and set off a cascade of hormone imbalances. The sugar will also prompt your body’s fat cells to secrete more estrogen, compounding estrogen dominance and fueling symptoms like PMS, cramps, irregular cycles, acne, PCOS, and even infertility issues.Detox tips: Allow yourself some sweet treats this season, but stay mindful of the kind of sweetener and the amount you’re consuming. To avoid overindulging at holiday parties, eat a healthy, low-sugar and cycle-synced meal before hitting the town. Always eat a good breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up in order to safeguard your blood sugar and, if you can, make lunch your biggest meal of the day and include complex carbs (like black beans) and good fats (like avocado). Trigger #2: Too many simple carbs. White bread, mashed potatoes, pastry-heavy desserts— sometimes it seems like carbs make the world go ‘round from November through January. You already know the kind of chaos sugar creates in your body. Add foods that mask as healthier options (like mashed potatoes) to the mix and it can spell real trouble for your hormones. Detox tip: Having just one “carb-free day” each week can help with carb control. The rules are simple: For breakfast, have eggs with coconut oil. For lunch, have turkey with avocados and greens along with a cup of bone broth. Steer away from the grains and gluten-free carbs today to give blood sugar spikes a break and take a fiber supplement to sweep out the white flour residue. When you switch back to eating complex carbs the rest of the week, try to add in a brisk walk after eating to help your body use the glucose for fuel.Trigger #3: Too much alcohol. A glass of red wine now and then won’t hurt you, but more than the occasional glass can start to mess with your hormones. Sugary cocktails can make matters even worse. Alcohol raises your estrogen levels and slows liver function, once again fueling estrogen dominance.Detox tip: Concentrate on detoxing your liver so it can go back to processing your hormones and moving them through your body efficiently. Try my special liver detox juice: combine a handful of spinach, 4 stalks of cucumber, half a bunch of cilantro, one-third a bunch of parsley, half a lemon with rind, half a green apple, and a small carrot in a blender or juicer. These tips will go a long way in helping you feel your best through the holidays, but the best way to do major damage control is by committing to my super simple, delicious (and FREE!) 4-Day Hormone Detox Plan. Get all the recipes and step-by-step assistance you need to get real results and head into the new year feeling recharged and rejuvenated. If this holiday season hits your hormones particularly hard, consider supplementing with the key micronutrients your liver and endocrine system need to function optimally. The liver needs support to do its job properly, especially when we’ve put it under a lot of strain. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!Love,Alisa

Tame Your Cravings

Whether it’s just during your PMS week or every single day, we all feel like we’re constantly at the mercy of feeding the cravings beast. Join me to learn the 5 food craving types you have and what that is telling you about your hormones. You’ll discover

• Where you are most vulnerable during the day
• How to survive the 5 cravings-crisis times of day
• And my personal strategies for more stable energy

Click HERE to download your masterclass

A 4-Day Detox can't fix everything, and you know I’m no big fan of the quick fix. If you know me, you know I advocate for making good choices every day, creating sustainable lifestyle shifts, that last for the long term. It’s an evidence based, results-driven perspective and it really works. And for those of you who don't know me yet, nice to see you here! I do recommend the right kind of detox, at the right time. It can be a great way to get started as well as a method for reaching new milestones.

Who is a hormone detox for? A detox is for someone who already needs it! For example, if you're feeling the desire for a reset- after a long summer, or the overconsumption of alcohol, extended periods of indulgent eating, or even just an intuition to get back into balance...then seize that impulse to take better care of yourself and do a hormone detox. Let's be entirely clear about one thing: this detox is full of food and fuel and supportive nutrition.

‍Many health issues - including fatigue, acne, depression, anxiety, brain fog, mood swings, and weight gain (the kind of things that might make you want to do a detox in the first place) are attributed to too-high estrogen levels or a condition we call “estrogen dominance.”

‍Estrogen dominance drives the most common hormonal health issues too, from PMS to PCOS. Detoxing your body of excess estrogen has many immediate and long term benefits. If you feel the need for a detox, it’s likely because your liver is running at a sub-optimal level, it’s overloaded with caffeine, alcohol, pesticides, sugar, etc. and you are sensing the need to cleanse. A hormone detox is not a crash diet, juice cleanse, or fast - that won’t achieve the goals you’ve set out. If you want to feel energized, refreshed, boosted in body, mind and spirit, as well as shed some excess weight and get glowing skin - you need nutrients, minerals, and resources to make this happen.

The Flo Living 4 Day Hormone Detox will have you eating fresh, nourishing food for 3 meals a day, plus snacks. You won’t feel hungry, depleted, or deprived. You will be prepping food to start and then you will be eating frequently throughout the day, instead of watching the clock for your next juice. The foods you’ll be eating will fill you up and support your liver function. ‍Your liver needs the fuel to process the excess hormones and toxins and eliminate them from your body.

You can download it for free here: 4-Day Detox

The 4 Day Hormone Detox is packed full of cleansing foods that address your liver, intestines and lymphatic system. Your elimination organs - especially your hard-working liver - need lots of nutrients to breakdown toxins, and you get nutrients from food. You do not and will not get enough nutrients from a juice fast or cabbage soup diet for your body to detox!

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There are so many good reasons to do a hormone detox - acne, bloating, sore breasts, PMS, funky periods, feeling sluggish, unable to focus, lacking creative juices - but I want to tell you how our 4 Day Hormone Detox can make you feel. Because sometimes the problem isn’t enough to prompt us to take action, perhaps because you’ve been living with it for so long that it feels like nothing will work. Sometimes you need some positive inspiration!

If you’ve tried detoxing before and it just hasn’t worked out the way you wanted, read on to hear what you need to make detoxing something you will actually look forward to! In fact, many who practice Cycle Syncing® do this detox once every few months.

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Why do a hormone detox?

Your skin will glow:

During the 4 days of the hormone detox you will eliminate entirely all the central adult and hormonal acne triggers like dairy, soy, caffeine, sugar, and gluten. You will also increase the amount of skin-clearing, hormone-supportive nutrients in your diet - especially the vital omega-3s and B vitamins. Excess estrogen and the resulting hormonal imbalance leads to acne, by increasing sebum production and preventing skin healing. If you are particularly prone to acne around your ovulation days or before your period, this detox is for you. You’ll also detox more than just your body - our hormone detox has an additional layer that you won’t find with most detox plans. You won’t only be detoxing your diet and concentrating on what you eat during the day, you’ll also be detoxing your home - the products you use, everything from kitchen cleaning products to cosmetics. This is so essential. We often focus entirely on what we put in our bodies when we detox, but we don’t think of what we’re putting on our body in the shower in the morning, or on our skin when we wash the dishes or do the laundry. Women especially are exposed to so many endocrine-disruptive chemicals throughout the day. It’s just as important to detox and cleanse your personal environment.

Your mood will soar:

If you’ve been experiencing anxiety, low mood, depression, or just a sluggishness and demotivation, then this detox will turn that around in 4 days. You’ll feel emotionally lighter, as well as physically lighter. The root cause of mood swings and many female-centric mood problems is destabilized blood sugar. This detox is not a fast, will not leave you hungry in the evening, and should keep you satisfied and stable throughout the day. Most women experience their worst moods as a form of PMS, which is the result of high estrogen/low progesterone. This detox will sweep your body of that excess estrogen and leave you in balance. You’ll be eating lots of B6-rich foods and B6 is progesterone’s favorite micronutrient.

You will shift your relationship with food:

After 4 days you’ll no longer feel bloated, and it’s very likely you’ll shed a few pounds of weight. With excess estrogen, many women store weight around their midsection. For our detox, you will be eating anti-bloat ingredients in your fruit salads and green salads at every meal, plus you will be eliminating many sources of weight gain - sugar, caffeine, dairy. You will also shift how you feel about food.  Our hormone detox includes guidance on how to approach food, not just from the practical perspective of prepping meals, but also in how you actually engage with and enjoy that food. The aim is to give you pause about how you may have related to food up until now - perhaps it's eating standing up with the fridge door open, on-the-go in the car, off your kids’ plates, etc. These lessons will carry with you beyond the 4 days.

You’ll feel creative and calm:

During the detox, you’ll be given prompts for how to process your experience at the end of each day. You’ll journal on specific topics that aim to expand your perspective, increase your sense of confidence and calm, and support you in connecting with your feminine energy and creativity. This will be a conversation with yourself and your body that will help you gain so much from this mini-retreat. A detox can be a transformational experience, and you can use that energy to make positive changes in your life long-term. The clarity of thinking and focus you’ll attain will help you to hone in on exactly what you want in all areas, personal and professional.

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Adding in a micronutrient boost with the right supplements can take your hormone detox to the next level. We highly recommend incorporating our Balance by FLO Living Hormone Supplements to your plan. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!

If you’re experiencing acne and you go to your doctor for support, you are likely to come away with one of four prescriptions: antibiotics, hormonal birth control, isotretinoin, or spironolactone. Adult and hormonal acne is very common and very treatable with diet and lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, it’s more likely you’ll receive a medication instead of advice on diet-based acne triggers and acne treatments because that’s how the majority of our medical system is set up. Acne is a serious problem for some women, it can affect your self-confidence and mood, and it deserves a treatment that gets rid of it completely, long term, without any side effects.

The problem with acne prescriptions

Birth control pill - any method of hormonal birth control can potentially suppress acne, but it might also make it worse. Synthetic birth control control disrupts your microbiome, endocrine system, and micronutrient levels - all systems essential for keeping your skin clear. You may have clear skin while you’re taking it, but not without added side effects that can worsen issues like PCOS, plus increase your risk of some reproductive cancers. Once you decide to stop using hormonal birth control, a common symptom of the withdrawal period is acne, often worse than you’ve had before because of the internal disruption that has occurred as a result of the medication. Antibiotics - we are more aware now than ever of the dangers of over-prescribing and over-using antibiotics. Using antibiotics long term is never a good idea as it will mean if you need antibiotics for an emergency health problem, they will not be as effective. Antibiotics do incredible damage to the microbiome, and robust gut health is important for clear skin. As with hormonal birth control, when you come off the antibiotics the acne will not only return, but be much worse than it was before because of the microbiome damage. Antibiotics don’t distinguish between good bacteria and bad bacteria, they kill all of it, leaving us depleted of the necessary bacteria for good hormonal health. Spironolactone/Aldactone - this is a synthetic hormone or steroid that is nothing like the hormones your body produces for itself in composition. It works by disrupting your body’s production of testosterone, by confusing your body with a synthetic similar steroid. Just as I don’t recommend synthetic hormonal birth control, I also don’t recommend meat and dairy that contains synthetic hormones, and I don’t recommend spironolactone. It comes with a raft of side effects that create the most common hormone imbalance issue (and a cause of acne) - estrogen dominance - as well as depression, blood clots, and increased risk of some cancers. Spironolactone is not safe to take long term and is not going to prevent acne beyond the point that you are using itIsotretinoin (originally Accutane) - if you’re prescribed Isotretinoin, then you are also prescribed hormonal birth control, because Isotretinoin causes birth defects. That in itself should be enough to dissuade you from using this medication. There are other side effects - including an initial worsening of acne, and severe depression. The original patented drug, Accutane, was removed from the market when many users found it caused them to develop Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Usually this medication is offered as a last resort, but rarely are diet and lifestyle changes part of the prior process of acne treatment.

How to treat acne without medications

In my previous blog post we’ve looked at the best pills to take for acne - and they’re not medications! Probiotics for gut health, essential fatty acids, a liver detoxifier, B complex, magnesium and zinc - these natural supplements will have the positive effects you’re looking for, with none of the side effects. And, as a bonus, they’ll clear up your other hormonal health issues at the same time. The even better news is that you can now dump the prescription and get a subscription!

A subscription to my supplement kit, which contains every single one of these vital nutrients and minerals that your body needs to clear you skin and make it glow from the inside out. As someone who has previously suffered with hormonal acne, I have my favorites when it comes to skincare products. These are free from endocrine-disruptors, are all-natural, and work quickly - no ProActiv in sight! The Flo Living protocol effectively supports your body’s elimination system, balances estrogen and testosterone, and will treat and prevent your hormonal acne. A combination of the right foods and the right supplements can help you move past hormonal acne, finally, and get the clear skin you want. It worked for me and it will work for you too. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

Cramps, bloating, crazy-making mood swings. Totally typical, right? Wrong. PMS is the product of hormonal discord. It’s NOT something you should expect to be part of your period. In fact, it’s a warning sign that something is off in your endocrine system. But there’s good news: simple nutrition and lifestyle strategies can bring your hormones back into balance. If you’ve been suffering from period problems—including severe PMS, heavy or irregular periods, cramps, bloating, mood swings, irritability, migraines, weight gain, or acne—you can put your symptoms into remission simply by shifting how and when you eat and how you support you body with supplements. PMS isn’t something you should have to endure on a monthly basis. You can, should, and deserve to live a PMS-free life! And the secret to that PMS-free life? It’s all about eating the right foods and taking the right supplements taken at the right times during your cycle.

The One Big Reason You’re Still Struggling With PMS

If you’re here, I’m guessing you already know that the most common “treatments” for PMS (like hormonal birth control) either don’t work or make the root causes worse. They also come with lots of unwanted side effects. You’ve probably tried a bunch of other things, too: teas, tonics, and more. And yet you’re still plagued with monthly misery. So what gives?It all comes down to one (very) common endocrine imbalance: too much estrogen and too little progesterone. Why are so many of us high in estrogen and low in progesterone (and feeling the effects of this imbalance every month)? Blame it on life in the modern world: micronutrient-deficient diets, chemical exposures, and sky-high stress that elevates cortisol levels all combine to form a perfect, hormone-disrupting storm.But estrogen dominance can be addressed with lifestyle changes, including when and how you exercise, what and when you eat, and how your self-care routine.

The Best Natural Supplements to Prevent PMS

You can’t spot treat PMS. You have to address the root causes to get rid of it. In order for your body to produce adequate amounts of the right hormones at the right times, you need several key micronutrients:

• Magnesium – Many women are deficient in magnesium because of our on-the-go busy and stressful lifestyles. Magnesium helps balance your 28-day hormone cycle, ease bloating, encourage good sleep, and alleviate anxiety.
• B6 – B6 helps your body produce more progesterone. Progesterone deficiency can make PMS-related symptoms worse by exacerbating estrogen dominance, which is when estrogen in the bloodstream is high relative to progesterone.. Probiotics help the estrobolome metabolize estrogen.
• Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 both help promote hormone balance. Vitamin D acts as a master hormone in the body, and healthy levels of vitamin D keep the entire hormone system stable and balanced.  Omega-3s are essential for mood stabilization and for reducing cramps.
• Vitamin E – This vitamin specifically helps with premenstrual breast soreness. As an antioxidant, it protects breast tissue from inflammation.
• Vitamin C and Alpha Lipoic Acid - Both compounds help the liver break down excess estrogen.
• Calcium – This nutrient will help with the mood swings, fatigue, headaches and pre-menstrual acne.

These micronutrient combinations are the non-negotiable micronutrients every woman needs (whether you’re on the pill or not) to keep your hormones healthy and happy. After researching these essential micronutrients for over the past 15 years, I decided it was time to create five formulations that would deliver these to you every day.

Additional Natural Supplements to Prevent PMS

I recommend that women who are experiencing period problems start by optimizing their micronutrients because this helps heal and balance the endocrine system at its core. If you incorporate these micronutrients and are still experiencing PMS and other problems, I recommend specific herbs. In most cases, you will only need the micronutrients (and not the herbs), but if you do opt for herbs, remember that these are powerful compounds. Use them only in specific situations and always consult a trusted healthcare practitioner on dosage and timing.

• Vitex – This powerful supplement has been used by women for a long time. Vitex increases production of hormones in the luteal phase and offsets estrogen dominance by supporting your pituitary gland to make more progesterone on its own.
• Dong Quai – This adaptogen is known as a general tonic for all women and called the female ginseng. Dong quai has muscle relaxing effects and is pain relieving for all those pre-period cramps and aches. Important note!  This powerful supplement should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or if you have a family history of female cancers.
• Evening Primrose Oil – this supplement has been extensively researched as an aid for hormone balance. Evening primrose oil can help with cramps, aches and pains, and headaches in the luteal phase.

Restore Your Micronutrients, Rebalance Your Hormones, and Remove PMS From Your Life

So now that you know what you’re missing, it’s time to get it all back. But how? First and foremost, food is your foundation. No single supplement can solve your PMS alone. But, there are some key supplements that will, when used in conjunction with the FLO protocol (particularly the specific foods that support your body during the luteal phase), help speed alleviation of PMS symptoms and prevent future suffering.Once you have your PMS-fighting foods sorted out, as well as your PMS-preventing nighttime routine and PMS-banishing morning routine, you can start with the natural supplements.Whether you’re trying to get rid of pesky PMS, offset the effects of synthetic birth control hormones, improve a diagnosed condition like PCOS, Fibroids, etc, or improve your fertility, making sure you’ve optimized key micronutrients make a good “insurance policy” against hormonal discord and all the crummy symptoms that come with it. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!Love,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

Back when I was desperately trying to address my own severe case of PCOS, I spent thousands of dollars on an array of products. I tried chlorella supplements, I tried a candida eliminator, I even tried drinking a juice made of carrots and greens every morning that looked just like pond scum and turned my skin orange! So yes, I really mean it when I say I tried everything.I didn’t know it at the time, but the real reason nothing worked was that I wasn’t using supplements correctly. You can’t simply slap a pill or potion on hormonal imbalance and expect it to magically heal the condition. Supplements can and do support major healing, but they have to be used synergistically, meaning the correct formulations must be used in conjunction with the correct diet. What is Biohacking?Biohacking is simply the modification of micronutrients, diet and lifestyle to optimize the functions of the body’s biological processes. For women, this means replenishing micronutrient levels and cycle-syncing diet and lifestyle. And yes, I wrote the book on that. The key difference between biohacking for men and biohacking for women, is that in the case of men, they are trying to maximize energy, concentration, and stamina during their very short 24 hour circadian hormonal pattern. For you, as a woman, you are already maximally efficient by design, so you simply need to nurture your cyclical patterns and endocrine system’s nutritional needs, and you will feel the benefits quickly. This means you can biohack your way to an easy, symptom free period in a very short time!How Supplements Can Enhance Your HealingThe biggest learning that came out of my years-long supplement experimentation was that the proper products are meant to work in harmony with hormone-healthy foods. Sure, any manufacturer can sell a product that says it “blocks estrogen,” but if you ingest that product (assuming it actually does what it says it does — many don’t) and you’re not taking in other important micronutrients, all you’re really doing is investing your money into making really expensive pee. Seriously! That’s what I was doing for years, and along with overpriced urine, the misguided expectations created a lot of frustration and hopelessness. I don’t want you to needlessly suffer the same defeating feelings. I’ve seen so many women throw their money away on useless supplements, only to realize the products aren’t working, which leads them to stop trying to heal altogether. I don’t want you to give up — you can change your hormonal situation. You just have to do it the right way. That’s really why I created this kit. The five essential formulations must be used together because that’s exactly how they should fit into your life; as a supportive, synergistic team. These micronutrients are the ones I’ve relied on for the past 17 years to not only put my serious hormonal dysfunction into remission, but also help maintain my endocrine and overall health over time. These are my go-tos, and they’re exactly what I know will help support you as you take control of your own health and transform your life. Why These Five Supplements Are Non-Negotiable

When it came time to manufacture my kit of essential supplements, I created the five formulations that are truly non-negotiable: B-complex, magnesium, liver detoxifier/estrogen metabolizer, a probiotic, and a D3-omega-3, K blend. One question many clients have is whether or not they need to take a multivitamin, and as you may have noticed, I didn’t include one in my kit. The reasons are simple: most multivitamins contain too much of the wrong nutrients and not nearly enough of the right ones. In my years of research, I narrowed down the overwhelming and seemingly never-ending list of supplements to the true essentials: these are the products that will help your body manufacture the correct hormones and help these chemical messengers communicate in a way that’s maximally efficient and effective. So why are these essentials so essential? The facts speak for themselves. Comprehensive scientific research has demonstrated that these micronutrients are must-have supports for a fully-functioning, healthy hormonal system. Just a few examples of what you’d be missing out on if you don’t incorporate these powerful products:

• While every woman should be supplementing with B vitamins, if you’re suffering from endocrine dysfunction, you’ll need to be extra aware of your intake. Research has shown that an intake of vitamins like thiamine (B1) is inversely related to endometriosis. Another important type of B vitamin, folic acid, is known to be an important weapon in fighting PCOS.
• Magnesium is a must for women with PCOS since it improves insulin sensitivity, a major PCOS issue. And if you’ve ever suffered from hot flashes — whether you’re menopausal or not even close — magnesium has been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms.
• If you’re suffering with fibroids, vitamin D is an absolute must. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that supplementing with vitamin D reduced the size of uterine fibroids. This may be especially essential for African American women since they’re 3-4 times more likely to develop fibroids and 10 times more likely to be deficient in vitamin D than white women.
• Probiotics are a must: one study found that in just 12 weeks, probiotics stimulated natural killer cells and helped significantly reduced endometriosis pain.

The truth is, your body contains infinite wisdom. It knows how to balance your hormones. Whatever endocrine disruption you’re experiencing is due to the fact that you’re depleted in a specific area or areas and your body needs to be replenished; you have the natural potential for optimal hormonal function; your body has just lost its way and needs some re-direction and guidance. The supplements in my essentials kit are designed to support and enhance the significant improvements that will result from a targeted nutritional protocol. Whether you have a thyroid condition, endometriosis, PCOS like me, or intolerable PMS that your doctor won’t take seriously, supplementing correctly will speed your body’s ability to create real and lasting balance.These are the micronutrients every menstruating woman needs to have more balanced hormones. I’m so proud to be able to offer you this product. With it, now the FLO Living Hormone Center is the only place on the planet where women can go virtually to test, track, treat, and talk about their hormones and improve their periods naturally. Whether you’re trying to get rid of pesky PMS, offset the effects of synthetic birth control hormones, improve a diagnosed condition like PCOS, Fibroids, etc, or improve your fertility, Balance Supplements are an excellent addition for healthier hormones. And in case you missed it, check out my most popular FaceBook Live to date from this past Thursday! I really dive into why these supplements are the absolute most essential micro-nutrients that you need to support your hormones. Listen Here. If you’re just learning how your period works with the MyFLO period tracker, Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit will help you take your health to the next level. If you’ve started making changes to your food and lifestyle with MonthlyFLO, the Balance Supplement Kit will give you nutrient support to speed up your hormone balancing. If you’ve graduated from one of our FLO programs, Balance Supplement Kit will give you the nutrient support to stay on track as you continue to eat for all 4 phases and sync with your cycle. These five supplements represent your personal “insurance policy” against endocrine disruptive things you’re doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that are throwing you off balance.If you’re ready to feel energized, detoxed, replenished, harmonized, and gutsy, order the Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit now! Love,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

If you’ve been visiting FLO Living for a while or you’ve familiarized yourself with my book, WomanCode, then you probably know how passionate I am about guiding women through hormonal self-healing via food, supplements and lifestyle fixes. And you may also know that I’m a big believer in using specific supplements selectively and intelligently to support the body in its healing and maintenance journey. But there’s still a lot of confusion and controversy about the use of supplements to support total endocrine wellness, so I want to be sure you’re as informed as possible before making the decision to add supplements to your protocol.

Which Deficiency Type are You?

First and foremost, I want all women to know one thing: your diet has never supported your hormonal health (until you start cycle syncing of course). Depending on your diet, it’s very likely, that you’ve developed some degree of leaky gut, which means you’re not absorbing micronutrients that are necessary for optimal endocrine function. That lack of essential micronutrients means your body is deficient — you’re coming to the healing process already at a loss and this deficiency will make it harder for you to get in front of the ball when it comes to balancing your hormones.The truth is, most women are behind the ball and are constantly struggling to catch up. In my almost 20 years of doing this, it seems there are a few deficiency causes that are pretty common. Regardless of which type YOU are, they all have the same result in common - draining you of the micronutrients you need to have balanced hormones! See if you can identify which Deficiency Type you are:

• The Caffeine Type: You start every day with a big cup of coffee on an empty stomach and/or you caffeinate throughout the day with lattes, mochas, or just plain java.
• The Pill Type: You’ve taken birth control pills at any point in your life and come off (and have not done anything to rebalance post pill) and/or you’re currently on a synthetic hormone regimen.
• The Extreme Diet/Exercise Type: You are very particular about food, and refuse to consider anything less than intensely sweaty, heart-pumping cardio as exercise.
• The Super Symptomatic Type: Your period is completely out of whack, and you have everything from cramps and mood swings to acne and more.
• The Poor Diet/Leaky Gut Type: You don’t have time for healthy meals so you grab whatever you can and get on with your day.

With dairy, gluten, and allergenic ingredients serving as staples in so many people’s diets, an alarming number of women are suffering from hormonal dysfunction. Add to that the overuse of stimulants like caffeine, the common mistake of over-exercise, and rampant stress, and you’ve got a cocktail for hormonal disaster. Then add in the overwhelmingly abundant use of synthetic hormonal birth control, which is known to deplete the body even further, and you can understand the endocrine epidemic occurring all around the world.

The Micronutrients You Need More Of

In over 16 years of practice and research, I have identified which supplements are absolutely essential to replenishing key levels of micronutrients to get your endocrine system enough of the building blocks it needs to balance your hormones for you. These are:

B vitaminsOmega 3, Vit D3, Vit KProbioticLiver support MagnesiumWithout enough of these micronutrients, you are more likely to struggle with PMS, weight issues, acne, headaches, mood swings, bloating, cramping, PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis, Missing Periods, Ovarian Cysts, Painful and Heavy periods.Whatever Deficiency type you identify with, you need all of these micronutrients in abundance to get back on track hormonally and to feel relief from your symptoms. I’ve finally been able to formulate these into the highest quality supplements for you.

Why Supplements Are Important

The FLO protocol is predicated on the concept of food as medicine, restoring healthy gut flora takes time and lots of dedicated effort — particularly when it’s been compromised for prolonged periods of time. While it’s certainly possible to completely heal your gut and hormonal health through food alone, the addition of supplements will significantly expedite the process so you see real results in less time. The correct supplements will reverse the damage done by too much caffeine, stress, and synthetic birth control, putting you on an even playing field so the food protocol can take effect faster. Consider supplements a wonderful bridge that allows you to cross from hormonal disarray to a stable base level where food really can act as medicine. The other beautiful thing about supplements is that they don’t just expedite healing; they help support long-term maintenance. Even the most hormonally-aware among us occasionally relapse into bad behaviors (stressful times and tempting-looking coffee drinks happen, I get it). By continuing to supplement your (almost always) healthy diet and lifestyle with the right nutrients, you’ll be able to replenish your depleted stores quickly and have the gut health necessary for better absorption of the vitamins and minerals that will keep your hormones happy. What’s not to love?

Balance by FLO Living Supplement Box

These are the micronutrients every menstruating woman needs to have more balanced hormones. I’m so proud to be able to offer you this product. With it, now the FLO Living Hormone Center is the only place on the planet where women can go virtually to test, track, treat, and talk about their hormones and improve their periods naturally. Whether you’re trying to get rid of pesky PMS, offset the effects of synthetic birth control hormones, improve a diagnosed condition like PCOS, Fibroids, etc, or improve your fertility, Balance Supplements are an excellent addition for healthier hormones.If you’re just learning how your period works with the MyFLO period tracker, Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit will help you take your health to the next level. If you’ve started making changes to your food and lifestyle with MonthlyFLO, the Balance Supplement Kit will give you nutrient support to speed up your hormone balancing. If you’ve graduated from one of our FLO programs, Balance Supplement Kit will give you the nutrient support to stay on track as you continue to eat for all 4 phases and sync with your cycle. These five supplements represent your personal “insurance policy” against endocrine disruptive things you’re doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that are throwing you off balance.If you’re ready to feel energized, detoxed, replenished, harmonized, and gutsy, order the Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit now! Love, Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

As long as I’ve been working with women and their hormonal issues, I’ve been asked all kinds of questions about supplements. Some clients which brands are effective, others have wondered whether a food-based protocol should include supplements at all. The answer to that is “absolutely!” Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: food is always first. There’s no budging on that. To truly heal your hormones and recalibrate your endocrine system, you have to feed your body a micronutrient-rich diet of hormonally-supportive foods in a cycle-syncing pattern. There’s no single supplement that will solve all your problems. However, with that said, I do know that bolstering an already-nourishing diet with a select number of specific supplements that, when used properly, can speed up your healing process and help provide lasting support as you bring your body back into balance. After years of exhaustive research, I have identified what micronutrients are absolutely non-negotiable and essential for your endocrine system to have what it needs to do it’s job of balancing your hormones. While I have recommended other products found at health food stores in the past, I always dreamed of formulating my own supplements that met my extremely high standards. To add fuel to this desire of mine, a few years back, the scandal broke out that supplements from big box retailers did not contain what they claimed and if they did, they weren’t absorbable by the body. I really get peeved when women end up wasting money on things that don’t work, because that happened to me at the beginning of my hormonal health journey. It’s almost impossible to know which brands to trust, and once you find a reliable source, then it’s time to decide which of their million products to actually purchase. I finally had enough of all that confusion, and I decided to simplify and streamline the process for everyone! I created Balance by FLO Living - my brand new supplement kit: five formulas, rigorously tested, thoroughly researched, and perfectly suited to meet your needs. After years of research, I’ve determined that these are the five essential micronutrients that every hormonal woman needs in order to stay healthy and these are the only ones that are universally helpful to take.

It took a lot of thoughtful planning and preparation to ensure this kit fits the needs of all women. Because I want you to have the right amount of supplements at every phase of your cycles, the kit arrives in a 60 day, two-cycle shipment so you’re not caught short at any phase of your cycle! Here is my list of the five essential supplements that will elevate your hormonal healing and help you maintain endocrine excellence for the long haul:

• B-complex. I can’t say enough good things about B-vitamins — they’re absolutely necessary for good health, and many women just don’t get enough. A deficiency in B vitamins can cause low energy and fatigue since they’re so crucial for so many metabolic functions. B6 is a particularly important vitamin that can help boost progesterone production to counteract excess estrogen (a top cause of hormonal dysfunction). B6 supports the development of the corpus luteum, which is where all your progesterone originates, and it also works with your liver enzymes to remove excess estrogen from the body and boosts the immune system.

• Magnesium. Magnesium controls our pituitary health and without it, we produce less FSH (follicular stimulating) LH (luteinizing) and TSH (thyroid stimulating) the critical hormones that signal other glands in the endocrine system to perform optimally. Low levels of those foundational hormones can cause irregular ovulation and thyroid function issues, which can lead to bigger hormonal issues. Most women are deficient in magnesium and it’s involved in over 300 catalytic reactions in the body. If you get bloated and have headaches, those are just two of many other signs you can use to see if you’re deficient.

• Liver detoxifier/estrogen metabolizer. Your liver plays a critical role in maintaining hormonal balance and keeping symptoms at bay. In order to do all of the detoxification work it does on your hormonal behalf, it needs a fully stocked supply of many many micronutrients and antioxidants. I wanted to create a formula to feed your liver, these critical micronutrients and antioxidants like Vit C and Alpha Lipoic Acid, as well as turmeric and more. When your liver is well nourished, it can efficiently break down excess estrogen, a central cause behind hormonal imbalance-related health issues. If your body can’t efficiently process toxins like excess hormones, you’ll be more likely to develop menstrual, fertility, and libido problems.

• Probiotics. A healthy micro-biome is essential for management of every hormonal condition imaginable. There’s a community of gut bacteria and specifically bacterial genes, called the estro-bolome, that produce an enzyme that supports the metabolization of estrogen. Your gut is an important part of the elimination system that is vital in ushering hormones out of the body. When you eat dairy, gluten and eat food that has been produced with pesticides and take antibiotics, you disrupt this hugely important bacterial balance. Turns out we’re more bacterial than human! Most probiotics don’t make it past the stomach acid, I wanted to formulate one that would.

• D3-Omega-3 blend. Studies have shown that 93% of women dealing with infertility issues are vitamin D3 deficient, and women with higher vitamin D3 levels are four times more likely to conceive via IVF than women with low levels. The reason? A low concentration of vitamin D3 causes estrogen dominance, which, as you already know, can lead to a whole host of hormonal issues. Blended in with this important nutrient are omega-3s, the good fat essential not only for mood stabilization, but also for reducing cramps. When you’re deficient in Omega-3’s and high in omega-9’s from things like canola oil, you make more of the prostaglandin that causes cramps! My formulation also includes vitamins K1 and K2 for bone and heart health and collagen for skin and hair.

These are the micronutrients every menstruating woman needs to have more balanced hormones. I’m so proud to be able to offer you this product. With it, now the FLO Living Hormone Center is the only place on the planet where women can go virtually to test, track, treat, and talk about their hormones and improve their periods naturally. Whether you’re trying to get rid of pesky PMS, offset the effects of synthetic birth control hormones, improve a diagnosed condition like PCOS, Fibroids, etc, or improve your fertility, Balance Supplements are an excellent addition for healthier hormones.If you’re just learning how your period works with the MyFLO period tracker, Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit will help you take your health to the next level. If you’ve started making changes to your food and lifestyle with MonthlyFLO, the Balance Supplement Kit will give you nutrient support to put your worst symptoms into remission faster. If you’ve graduated from one of our FLO programs, Balance Supplement Kit will give you the nutrient support to stay on track as you continue to eat for all 4 phases and sync with your cycle. These five supplements represent your personal “insurance policy” against endocrine disruptive things you’re doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that are throwing you off balance.If you’re ready to feel energized, detoxed, replenished, harmonized, and gutsy, order the Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit now! Love,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

I’ve never met a woman who doesn’t need to boost her magnesium levels. It’s very easy to become deficient in this vital mineral and the symptoms of deficiency often manifest as period problems and hormonal health issues.If you get stressed out (who doesn’t?), then you’re probably deficient in magnesium. If you’re coffee-dependent, you’re probably deficient in magnesium. If you like a glass of wine, you’re probably deficient in magnesium. Are you a sugar-fiend? Then you’re probably deficient in magnesium. You get the idea! If you’re reading this post, it’s likely you’re deficient in magnesium. If you have PMS, PCOS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, hormonal acne, irregular cycles, or any other hormone imbalance-related issue that would bring you to this blog, one of the first steps to your recovery is upping your intake of magnesium-rich foods. These foods are central to the FLO Living protocol for good reason - magnesium plays an important part in the first two phases of the protocol by supporting blood sugar balance and healthy adrenals. Magnesium deficiency is hard to detect via normal means like a blood test, it’s really all about the symptoms. I advise, if in doubt - assume you need to increase your magnesium levels. There are so many benefits to magnesium across all the essential functions of the female body - from hormone creation to thyroid support to insulin control. If you’re new to FLO Living and you want to know where to start, front loading magnesium-rich foods in your diet is a great idea. It’s really a full-spectrum treatment for any kind of hormone imbalance you might be experiencing right now. I also advise my FLO Living clients to take regular epsom salt baths for the magnesium-boosting benefits.

The top magnesium-rich foods

• Dark, leafy greens like spinach and chard - leafy greens have the highest level of magnesium of any foods, which is why I like to have a side of them with almost every meal (sautéed, with a little coconut oil is my favorite). Just one cup gives you half your daily requirement.

• Sesame seeds - here’s why I choose sesame seed butter over other nut butters, it’s so rich in magnesium. These seeds also contain high levels of calcium, which helps with the absorption of magnesium. I previously recommended them for low energy, cramps, and an immunity boost.

• Avocado - avocados are a great all-rounder when it comes to hormonal health, which is why I eat them every week. As with all these foods, magnesium-boosting isn’t the only benefit, avocados have many hormone-balancing properties.

• Almonds - a handful of almonds will go a long way. Such a simple, easy way to increase your magnesium levels. Have you tried my favorite seasonal herby nuts recipe?

• Dark chocolate - chocolate with above 70% cocoa solids contains a high level of magnesium - no wonder you might crave it during your premenstrual and menstrual phases! Make sure the brand you choose has no extra sugar as sugar requires magnesium to be converted in the body, depleting your reserves. Otherwise, feel free to indulge.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

As most FLO Living clients already know, I’m a big believer in supporting a hormone-healthy diet with the right supplements. While your diet should provide all the beautiful nutrients necessary to heal your symptoms and recalibrate your endocrine system, adding in just five key supplements can rev up your healing time and put you on the path toward lasting success much sooner. But here’s the truth: not all supplements are created equal. This was a lesson I learned the hard way after years of personal experimentation and tireless research. I realized pretty quickly that all the various products I was sinking my money into just weren’t delivering results, and as I dug deeper, I realized I was lucky these random pills and potions didn’t actually do harm. That’s because despite the fact that the global market for dietary supplements was $82 billion in 2013 (with the U.S. making up a quarter of that), with sales booming ever since, dietary supplements aren’t regulated. And that means pretty much any product can end up on the shelf masquerading as a good-for-you supplement without ever being tested for safety, purity, or quality. Scary, right?Now that you know this, you’ll start to see suspicious signs all over the supplement aisle. So many brands take shortcuts to churn out their products — many are manufactured in countries that have no manufacturing standards or safety to cut costs, and plenty of others don’t disclose where they’re made at all. And if you’re hoping for non-GMO products that are allergen-free, good luck: so many of these products contain harmful fillers like magnesium stearate and soy lecithin. And while high-priced items don’t necessarily guarantee good quality, cheap supplements are often the worst offenders. In fact, in 2015, Walmart, Walgreens, Target, and GNC were all found to be selling supplements containing allergenic compounds and useless fillers instead of the herbs their labels advertised.

The Ingredients to Avoid At All Costs

Sometimes it feels like you need a degree in chemistry to understand what’s in all the supplements on store shelves. While the most important thing you can do protect yourself is to buy your supplements from a trusted source (more on that below), you’ll want to take the first step and become aware of any absolute deal-breakers when it comes to what’s inside your supplement. These are just some of the common ingredients you’ll see on labels from cheap and/or untrustworthy producers and you should immediately throw out anything containing these ingredients:

• A

• artificial colors
• Magnesium stearate
• Canola oil
• Carrrageenan
• Sodium benzoate
• Soy lecithin
• Soybean oil
• Titanium Dioxide
• Xanthan gum

These ingredients are endocrine disruptive, and can disturb the health of your gut lining and microbiome. These can increase the symptoms you are having with PMS, cramps, and your diagnosed condition. It’s not even worth finishing the bottle. You’ll save money in the long run on your health by tossing them out now and investing in quality products that don’t use fillers and worse.

Having a Trusted Supplement Source Matters Most

When it comes to supplements, you have to trust your source. Having full faith in the producer and manufacturer ensures that you’re not just wasting your money on placebo pills and you’re not risking your health by exposing yourself to unknown ingredients. After years of research, trials, and in-depth investigation and analysis, I’m so proud to have created 5 formulations that are manufactured in the USA, are non-GMO, are allergy-free, and that offer maximum bio-availability, meaning you’ll actually be digesting and absorbing the nutrients you need. I know first-hand the kind of junk that’s often sold in the supplement aisle, and I refuse to let my clients waste their money and put their faith in products that simply don’t work (and could cause harm). I’ve been exactly where you are, suffering from hormonal issues, feeling hopeless, and wondering why my efforts weren’t paying off. By investing in the high-quality, rigorously tested supplements I’ve created, you’ll be investing in your hormonal health and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that what you’re putting in your body isn’t just safe; it’s an essential tool in your healing process.

Why Supplements Are Important

The FLO protocol is predicated on the concept of food as medicine, and the addition of concentrated levels of micronutrients in supplements will significantly expedite your body’s ability to restore it’s hormonal balance, so you see real results in less time. The correct supplements will reverse the damage done by too much caffeine, stress, and synthetic birth control, putting you on an even playing field so the food protocol can take effect faster. Consider supplements a wonderful bridge that allows you to cross from hormonal disarray to a stable base level where food really can act as medicine. The other beautiful thing about supplements is that they don’t just expedite healing; they help support long-term maintenance. Even the most hormonally-aware among us occasionally relapse into bad behaviors (stressful times and tempting-looking coffee drinks happen, I get it). By continuing to supplement your (almost always) healthy diet and lifestyle with the right nutrients, you’ll be able to keep your hormones happy.

Balance by FLO Living Supplement Subscription Box

These are the micronutrients every menstruating woman needs to have more balanced hormones. I’m so proud to be able to offer you this product. With it, now the FLO Living Hormone Center is the only place on the planet where women can go virtually to test, track, treat, and talk about their hormones and improve their periods naturally. Whether you’re trying to get rid of pesky PMS, offset the effects of synthetic birth control hormones, improve a diagnosed condition like PCOS, Fibroids, etc, or improve your fertility, Balance Supplements are an excellent addition for healthier hormones.

If you’re just learning how your period works with the MyFLO period tracker, Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit will help you take your health to the next level. If you’ve started making changes to your food and lifestyle with MonthlyFLO, the Balance Supplement Kit will give you nutrient support to speed up your hormone balancing. If you’ve graduated from one of our FLO programs, Balance Supplement Kit will give you the nutrient support to stay on track as you continue to eat for all 4 phases and sync with your cycle. These five supplements represent your personal “insurance policy” against endocrine disruptive things you’re doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that are throwing you off balance.If you’re ready to feel energized, detoxed, replenished, harmonized, and gutsy, order the Balance by FLO Living Supplement Kit now! Love,Alisa

Introducing the BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

You’ve been asking me for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, and I finally have created a solution that I am so thrilled to be able to offer to you on your hormonal balancing journey:

Balance by FLO Living Supplements are a complete package that work together to keep your hormone levels healthy. They include a 2 month (2 cycle) supply of the following formulations so you’re never caught short in any phase of your cycle.When you take these 5 supplements daily, you’ll be giving your body excellent micronutrients to support healthier hormone levels. Which means that you’ll start to see your worst period symptoms get better… and even disappear after a while.

Click here to learn more about the brand-new BALANCE Supplement Kit.

There are so many myths about our periods out there, where to start? All the mythology surrounding menstruation is predicated on misinformation. Misinformation that was passed down generation to generation, maybe even directly from your sister or mom to you. Sometimes myths have arisen to fill in our gaps in knowledge about our own bodies, and sometimes they’ve been created to keep us from that knowledge. These period myths direct the way we behave and act towards not just our periods, but also our whole hormone cycle; they direct us to feel a certain way about our female bodies. It’s very likely that you hold some negative assumptions about your period and cycle as a whole, because that’s just what you were told to think from a young age. This doesn’t reflect poorly on you at all, it’s not easy to separate ourselves from any kind of social conditioning and we all, every one of us, have to do the work to unlearn things that keep us from our truth. Even if you’ve now got to a point where you feel more positively toward your period, there’s always a comment or conversation, a headline or TV plot, that drags you back to feeling that the period is a bad, gross, and annoying occurrence. I know many women who feel positively about their period still will admit that they feel they’d rather not have one and feel that it’s part of the bad deal of being a woman. The idea that periods are inherently a burden is so ingrained into our society it’s really hard to create any space for a different perspective.From your first health ed class at school to those basic human reproduction biology books to glossy magazines to religion to how your mom talked about - it’s nearly impossible for you to come out of young adulthood with a good opinion about your body and female reproductive system. Much of this serves to make you feel like a passive victim of your period, of your body - a victim who can do absolutely nothing about their period plight. If you want to hear me dig deeper on these myths have a listen to this podcast recording of my workshop at the Cycles+Sex event in NYC.

5 period myths busted

• PMS is normal - this myth is so harmful, as it leaves so many women suffering unnecessarily with premenstrual symptoms, from mood swings to bloating to acne. PMS is used against women too, to dismiss our feelings, opinions, and judgements and to put us in the “hormonal” box (as though men don’t have hormones too!). I have renamed PMS, Prioritizing MySelf, and if more women did this, fewer would have these symptoms. PMS is absolutely triggered by diet choices (coffee, sugar, dairy, dieting, juice fasts, and low fat fads), but it’s also triggered by the wider suppression of feminine energy. The premenstrual phase can actually be a time of insight, clarity, and directives - it can fill you with a can-do, will-get-done attitude and a desire to clean house, literally and metaphorically. When women live in their FLO, PMS disappears, because PMS, although commonplace, is not how we are designed to operate an only arises from an imbalance of estrogen to progesterone during the luteal phase. The truth is simply that ratio can be improved with food - period.

• You’re supposed to have cramps - I often hear women say that we’re supposed to have cramps, or that we’re wired for them, or that it’s just women’s lot in life to suffer with period pain. I hate to hear this, because it’s simply not true. Did you know that while your body has 1 type of prostaglandin - PgE2 - which causes uterine contractions and, so, period cramps; your body also has 2 types of prostaglandin – PgE1 and PgE3 – that actually exist to counteract the contractions and are antispasmodic i.e. natural pain killers. Your body has twice the capacity for pain relief as for causing period pain! So your job is just to support your body in making of the good prostaglandins by providing the building blocks (food) it needs to do this! How awesome is that? There are dietary triggers for cramps, just as there are for PMS problems, and in both cases you can avoid it all by eating more of what your body needs, when it needs it.

• You still have a period on the pill - the bleed you experience when on the birth control pill is a withdrawal bleed and not physiologically the same as menstruation. The pill, if you take your monthly break, actually creates a false period, for no other reason than...marketing! Originally it was thought women would be freaked out if they didn’t bleed at all and that this would stop them from using the pill. To have menstruation, you need to be ovulating, and the pill suppresses ovulation. Without ovulation your hormones cannot do the dance they need to do to get you to the point of a period. Suppressing your periods comes with side effects and health dangers.

• You don’t need to have a period - every so often an op-ed circulates in which some expert argues that women don’t need to have a period, that it’s somehow outdated or unnecessary, or even unhealthy to have a period! This myth is based in misinformation. Ovulation, and therefore menstruation, is important for ensuring bone, heart, and breast health and protecting women against some of the most common diseases. If you’re skipping periods due to PCOS, or you have irregular cycles, you will also be experiencing a host of symptoms from acne to mood swings to weight gain alongside this. ACOG recommends that menstruation is tracked as the 5th vital sign of a woman’s health, and, if periods are missing, it is considered an indicator of a health issue. A regular period is something to celebrate - it shows your body is healthy and happy! Your period can be observed for color, consistency, length and other symptoms to reveal a lot about your hormones and health - take my Period Type Quiz to find out more.

• You can’t change your bad period - when you get a cold, what do you do? Do you just let it run its course or do you do something? Most of us will up our vitamin C, sleep more, eat some good chicken soup and take care of ourselves to get better. When your period isn’t feeling good - i.e. you have cramps, heavy bleeding, spotting etc - we tend to just think that’s how things are for us, and that there’s nothing that can be done about it. We act this way because we’ve bought into the myth that there’s nothing you can do about a problem period, that if you have awful periods then you have them until menopause, just like your mom and grandma did. But it’s just not true, because you can take action and change your period. You don’t have to be a passive victim to your period plight. There are simple, matter-of-fact steps you can take and you will see results by your next cycle. My Monthly FLO program tackles all these problems head on with a combination of diet changes, supplements, and lifestyle hacks.

Now you’ve had time to reconsider these preconceptions, why not pass on the enlightenment? Share this with a friend, have that chat with someone you care about - ask them what they’ve come to believe about periods. It can be hard to combat myths and misinformation alone, but together we are unstoppable! Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you have PCOS and you are currently seeking or undergoing treatment for that diagnosis. Welcome, I’m glad you found The FLO Living Hormone Center! I am certain you’ve read up about PCOS and are well in the depths of self-education. Perhaps you’ve seen a doctor already, or you will soon. In this post I want to outline some lesser known facts about PCOS, as well as put some misconceptions to rest. Having worked with thousands of women over almost 2 decades, I’m aware that what a woman does not know about her diagnosis can definitely limit her ability to get the results she wants. I know what results a woman with PCOS wants, because I used to be that woman. Before I put my PCOS into remission, I wanted my weight to be stable like you do, and I wanted my period back, I wanted my skin to clear, I wanted to know I would be able to get pregnant when I was ready, and overall I really wanted to feel happy, just like you do. I remember what it was like to want that so badly. I also remember what it felt like to be frustrated by the options I was presented with.It’s totally understandable that we often say yes, and quickly, to the medications offered. Sometimes it’s the only option presented to get you further toward these goals. Sometimes the sheer number of goals is so overwhelming, it seems like only a medication is going to help. As a woman who, after much consideration, turned down those medications, and who, now sees no sign of PCOS in my yearly blood tests, year-in-year-out, I have been where you are and I am now where you want to be. Seeing both sides, I hope I can bring you some clarity and insight to help you move forward. How did I put my PCOS in remission? I developed a natural, evidence-based, science-backed, hormone supportive protocol. At first, sure, it wasn’t as easy as popping a pill, but it did feel really good to take control, immediately. I learned the skill of working with food and lifestyle changes, and pretty soon my protocol became second nature to me, an integrated part of my life that takes little effort or forethought to just happen. And the bonus is it requires that I practice a lot of self-care and self-nourishment. My default setting is - how can I take really good care of myself? As opposed to, how can I just settle for whatever nourishment I can get.So, take a minute, read on, and consider the right path for you to reach those goals.

5 facts you need to know about your PCOS

• Metformin doesn’t work for everyone - this medication is commonly offered to women with PCOS regardless of the fact that it’s only been researched as a treatment for one specific type of PCOS (the insulin-resistant kind). It’s also offered to women prior to proper diagnosis of PCOS, who haven’t undergone both the blood test and ultrasound to confirm. This is because it’s considered something of a silver bullet in the mainstream medical field and it’s certainly easy, simple, and quick to prescribe. Some women are led to believe it’s some kind of weight loss wonder drug, and it’s not. It might, at first, feel like a relief to know there exists a medication for PCOS, however I suggest you dig deeper before taking this route. Metformin comes with side effects, from digestive distress to some scary long term issues like cognitive impairment. As with most silver bullet medications, Metformin doesn’t usually come with many guidelines, but it should - if you decide to take it, it needs to be short term prescription and you need to be making diet and lifestyle changes simultaneously for real change to happen inside and out.

• The pill isn’t a good treatment - the pill is not a medical treatment. It can manage some symptoms, but it’s actually only a band-aid solution that ignores the root cause. This mean when you come off the synthetic hormones, symptoms will return and potentially be worsened by the triggered hormonal imbalance from taking it and suppressing your own hormone production for any period of time. The pill comes with a load of side effects, too, both short term and long term. So not only is it not addressing your health issue, it’s adding in some more to the mix. .

• There are different types of PCOSspectrum in mind. Some women might have one, two, or all three at any time.

• You can get pregnant naturally - at 22 I was told Iand not be able to conceive naturally, because of my PCOS diagnosis. I was shocked and extremely upset that my choices were limited at that age. Yet, at 37 I was able to conceive naturally, and after trying just a few months! I now have a child. And I am no fluke, I have helped thousands of women put their PCOS into remission and conceive naturally when ready. You can start ovulating again by feeding your body the right fuel, at the right time, to build hormones and calm your internal ecosystem. You won’t need to rely on IVF just because you have PCOS.

• You can put your PCOS into remission - PCOS is not a permanent situation, you don’t have to forever be taking pills and managing symptoms, you can move forward and feel good. It doesn’t have to lead to worse problems down the line like heightened risk of cancer or diabetes. One of the most empowering facts I think you need to know if that you can change your health status! You. Not a pill or a doctor, but you. You have that power and capability. Start with the Monthly FLO program, this will set you up to see very rapid results of the kind you so want - weight loss, clearer skin, mood stabilization. It’s a natural protocol designed by a woman with PCOS, for women with PCOS. You can experience your own transformation! I didn’t do anything to put my PCOS in remission that you are not equally able to do starting today.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

The FLO Living protocol has its foundation in the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle. Many women are only familiar with one or two phases of this cycle - usually menstruation and the premenstrual phase. Menstruation is obvious, because that’s when we bleed, and the premenstrual phase tends to come with many negative connotations as well as lived symptoms that make up our understanding of PMS - like mood swings, cravings, bloating, and acne.

Yet, there are 4 full phases of the menstrual cycle throughout which your hormone levels dance and interplay to release an egg, prepare your uterus for pregnancy, and finally, prepare for a new menstrual cycle. Every phase has different hormones that are peaking and others that are on their low ebb. Every phase carries with it a different energetic pattern or focus that hinges on the fluctuation of your hormones.

The FLO Living protocol is about tapping into that shifting energy to get the most out of your hormones, and your life. In this series we’ll look at the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle and, starting with the follicular phase, share what you can expect to learn from the Monthly FLO program, about harnessing your hormones for your health and happiness.

Once you know the basics, you will discover how the Cycle Syncing® Method can make your menstrual cycle your power center & your best asset all at once!

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The follicular phase: the hormone science

The follicular phase is when your body is developing follicles in your ovary, ready for ovulation to occur. High amounts of the aptly-named follicle stimulating hormone is flooding your body at this time. Of the follicles that are being stimulated, one will burst to release the egg or ovum at ovulation. Estrogen is also peaking as it spurs on your uterus to prepare for a potential fertilized egg. Luteinizing hormone is released to support the follicles to maturation.

The follicular phase begins on the first day after the end of your period bleeding. It is the first day of your cycle and sometimes called Cycle Day 1 or CD1.

The length of your follicular phase can vary because ovulation can be delayed for days, weeks, or months because of your body’s inability to undertake the task. In a healthy cycle, the follicular phase would last 7-10 days, but your body needs help in achieving healthy cycles. There is a food & hormone connection - too little and our cycles will stop; too much of those hormone-disruptive foods and we will not ovulate; too little of the hormone-boosting foods and we won’t make enough hormones.

The Monthly FLO program provides a meal plan that will fuel your body to stimulate those follicles, ensuring the return of ovulation and regular menstrual cycles. Find out if you’re ovulating and where you are in your cycle today

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The follicular phase: the energy science

Once you have menstrual cycle awareness, you will notice that you feel differently throughout your whole cycle. Download our MyFLO app to tune into your body and get reminders of where your hormones are at and how best to harness them for your benefit.

During the follicular phase, your physical energy is at its height. You have more stamina, you feel less tired, you can workout without much fatigue, you can tackle long hikes and long work meetings without flagging. You will be happy to socialize and pack your schedule with activities, and you’ll have the reserves to conquer it all.

Inside your body, it’s the beginning of a creative process - building to the potential creation of a new life (although, the energy is the same whether you’re planning or avoiding pregnancy at this time). It’s all about ideation, inspiration, project planning, and your whole self emerging  in this new cycle, onto a new path.

During this time, as part of my Cycle Syncing® Method, I like to map out what I want to achieve in the weeks ahead of me. I set my intentions, I write down my goals and desires, I use my planner to draw up my schedule. If you’re more of a visual learner - you can use this phase to create a vision board for your new cycle. I carry a purple notebook with me during this phase, knowing that inspiration may strike at any time with new ideas for FLO Living.  

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The follicular phase: the Cycle Syncing® science

For your career: Begin a new project; host a brainstorming session with your team; take the team out for a celebratory dinner; welcome new teammates or employees; network; apply for a new job; start a new side business or creative project  ‍

For your social life: Say yes to all invitations, especially new experiences (a new exhibit, a band you’ve never seen, a new dance class, something outside of your usual comfort zone); pull a late-nighter and go out dancing with friends; try a new activity with your partner to bring you closer together; workout or hike with friends

For your workouts:  Go hard on the cardio; try a bootcamp week; start a new kind of workout that’s complex or challenging for your body and brain; go on a yoga retreat

For your romance: Have a few date nights with your partner; do something new that you’re both curious to try; get experimental with your sex life; go on a dating app and meet someone new

Once you have menstrual cycle awareness, everything in life just FLOs. You’re choosing to work with your body, instead of against it. Cooperating with your hormones, hand-in-hand, leads you to getting all the best out of your life. Your body and mind is primed for these activities and it will all come easily and eagerly to you. Your body is encoded with the creative process happening inside your ovaries during the follicular phase via your hormone patterns.

First, recognize that you already feel this way during this phase - know it, love it, embrace it as part of your life. Second, give yourself the permission to do things that feel the most natural for you during this phase. Taking this step means banishing stress, moodiness, fatigue, and frustration - and leads straight to feeling more in your FLO every single day.

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We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive. That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.

All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step to get out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

Learn What to Eat to Prevent Ovarian Cysts

Functional ovarian cysts often develop and grow in relation to hormonal shifts. Hormonal imbalance issues can cause these cysts to grow much larger and even painfully rupture. Ovarian cysts can shrink and disappear without surgery or drugs, simply by creating an internal hormonal environment that keeps their development in check and under control.

It's common to not even realize that you have ovarian cysts until they stir up symptoms, as the result of growing larger or rupturing. The choices you begin to make today can help you avoid this from happening, especially if you do currently have smaller cysts. The early warning signs of hormonal imbalance, as a precursor to ovarian cyst growth, include period and cycle-related issues like PMS, missing periods, irregular cycles, and cramps.

Any woman who is experiencing estrogen overload or estrogen dominance - one of the most common hormonal imbalance situations - is at risk of developing ovarian cysts that become symptomatic. The symptoms of ovarian cysts range from bloating to frequent urination. Oftentimes, a woman who experiences a ruptured ovarian cyst will go to the ER with a lot of pain and a fever. Unfortunately, due to a lack of women’s health awareness, she will often be treated for appendicitis instead. The best way forward is to take control for yourself now, so you are not dependent on receiving emergency treatment down the line.

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How to shrink ovarian cysts

Natural remedies from a functional nutrition standpoint are highly effective for preventing cysts and shrinking cysts you may already have. We have seen women reverse their diagnosis of ovarian cysts, shocking their doctors and themselves by how effectively their body is capable of resolving this issue, when given the tools it needs to do so.

Any woman with a hormonal imbalance can take these actions with their diet as a preventative care measure, even if you currently do not know if you have ovarian cysts. Women deserve to understand the ways that nutrition and food interact with our hormonal health and well being. Even though every body is different, there are still ways that we can learn together how our food and symptoms can be related as well as how to make changes to improve our lives.

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Here are 5 strategies you can take to combat ovarian cysts:

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1. Release excess estrogen - green vegetables like Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, broccoli, and cabbage contain DIM (Di-Indolyl Methane) which is very effective at helping the body process and eliminate excess estrogen. Try to have a side of these veggies at every meal - whether that’s sautéed collard greens with your eggs at breakfast or broccoli with your bison burger for dinner.

2. Detox your liver - while so many products are marketed to us as detoxifying, the truth is quite simple - you need to eat to support your liver function, and the best way to do this directly is through food. Eat more eggs for essential bio-available protein, glutathione-heavy veggies like avocados and asparagus, and selenium superfoods like brazil nuts and oatmeal.

3. Fiber up - a diet high in fiber has been shown to decrease the reabsorption of estrogen in the body, lowering the incidence of estrogen-related health issues which include cysts & breast cancer. Fruits and veggies are the best sources of fiber for this purpose. Add fiber-rich flax seeds to your salads, soups & smoothies. Enjoy a fiber-full pear every day as a snack.

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4. Be good to your gut - fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, or pickles help your body manage estrogen levels. The estrobolome (a set of gut bacteria or gut genes) produces an essential enzyme that helps metabolize your excess estrogen. Giving your gut what it wants and needs to process estrogen and maintain hormonal balance is vital.

5. Practice Cycle Syncing® your nutrients - there are 2 peak estrogen surges during your cycle that need to be responded to and controlled with your food choices. The Cycle Syncing® Method targets these surges with foods and supplements that contain the micronutrients your body wants, in order to benefit from the estrogen it does need. It also helps process the excess estrogen it does not need. This ensures these surges stay as spikes in estrogen, and do not become long term estrogen dominance. You simply stock your fridge and pantry with foods specific to each phase of your hormone cycle, to address this common hormonal problem.

It's possible to take your health into your own hands and heal your ovarian cysts, naturally. With the right tools, you can move towards greater hormonal balance and a healthier life. Flo Living is here to help.

We all know that how we feel can have an affect on our physical health - but what does this mean when it comes to female-specific health issues that are often chronic or recurring? The emotional root of PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) is something I have real life experience discovering, confronting, and then working through to the other side. Putting my PCOS into remission was definitely down to changing my diet, and Cycle-Syncing my lifestyle, but I also had to work on the emotions I held about living in a female body.In past posts in this series we’ve looked at the psychological connection when it comes to fibroids, functional ovarian cysts, and endometriosis and each has a different aspect, yet they all come back to one throughline - what it means to be a woman in a female body, living and moving in this world. It all comes back to that collective female experience. Your first period and PCOSWhen it comes to PCOS, it goes right back to your first period. Many of us experience this in a negative way because we don’t have the right cultural context to celebrate, enjoy, or be happy about starting menstruation. It can cause a certain amount of trauma, especially if you’ve not even had the conversation that this will happen prior to the day your period arrives.The unconscious response to this develops into a belief that your female body is a burden, a problem, and going to only hold you back. It doesn’t set up a positive foundation to what it means to be a woman in the important, formative years. Having PCOS adds another layer of confusion to this - as secondary sex characteristics will come slower, with breast development and body shape changes all coming at a later point for the PCOS-suffering teen than for other young women. You’re already, at such a young age, set up for feeling your body doesn’t work how you have been told it’s supposed to be working. That feeling is internalized and it’s really tough to shake. Finally, you don’t get your period when you should. Or you get it, but then the next one doesn’t come for a long time. You feel in your life like your ovary functions - starting but not finishing ovulation and the cycle. It was amazing to me, after I put my PCOS into remission, to see a whole other pattern emerge in my behavior around beginning and finishing projects. I thought I always had issues with procrastination, but really, I was struggling, like my ovary, to follow through. Once my ovulation and cycle were back on track, so was my productivity. But before I got back in my FLO, all of this had me thinking that on some fundamental level, I wasn’t good enough. The physical impact of negative self-talk I recall growing up feeling divorced from my body. Divorced is the best word I can think of to describe that sense of disconnect, that sense of not feeling like it was the best idea to connect with being female. That somehow it would hinder my ability to be successful in life. I couldn’t connect to anything about myself that was female in a positive way. My body was not developing like other girls around me. It was very confusing. It was simpler for me to live completely in my head and just ignore everything from the neck down as best I could. Over time this relationship to the body and the self can become a pattern of self-critical thinking. The world is telling you that your body is flawed, you are flawed, and so you think negative things about yourself in anticipation of this and as a way to take control. Negative self talk is proven to have detrimental effects on your physical health and well-being. Stopping the pattern of self-criticism that drives many of us, and not just those of us who suffer with PCOS, was part of my personal process in managing my PCOS and putting it into remission, and it’s part of the process I help women through here at FLO Living. A constant stream of negative self-talk creates the opposite of harmony for your physiology. This self-talk might be “I’m fat” or “I’m not pretty enough” or it might be “I’ll have PCOS forever” or “My body will never work like it’s supposed to.” You say these things to yourself, internally, and your body listens and hears. Your body reacts with a stress-response and this is how those words become obstacles to your body’s healing and recovery. What you think about your body shows up in your periods. Of course, with PCOS, diet and lifestyle changes are also essential components of treatment - and I’ve previously detailed here on the blog the best supplements for PCOS, the right foods for managing symptoms, as well as the worst foods for triggering symptoms. Plus, I have outline the PCOS spectrum and the confluence of causes from microbiome issues to inflammatory response. How women with PCOS feel about their bodies is just one factor, but it’s a factor I think deserves attention.One woman’s storyThe same day I was thinking about writing this article I had a call scheduled with a woman with PCOS. Once we got on the phone she immediately told me, “I don’t feel like I’ve really been doing a good job.” She was immediately critical of her efforts to adhere to the diet changes and the Cycle-Syncing lifestyle. She sounded down and frustrated. However, as I asked her more specific questions, she revealed that a) her period was on time for 3 months b) she’d lost more weight in 2 months than she had lost in 3 years and c) friends had told her that her skin was glowing! This had happened in just a few months on the FLO Living protocol after years and years of little progress! But she couldn’t see these victories, these causes for celebration, because she was mired in negative self-talk and habitual critical thinking.Once I pointed out to her how well she was doing, she felt she had permission to embrace those victories and feel good about herself. But it took unpacking the psychological root of her perspective and turning the mirror on how she was writing her story to get her to that place. Once she could see these victories she had the strength and power to carry on and keep making gains. And that’s key because she was about to stop trying. The perfect PCOS energetic trap - starting, but not finishing self-care due to self criticism.Sometimes you struggle with your health for so long that you come to believe deeply that there might be no way out and that each avenue is just a series of can’ts and won’ts. This means that once you do start to regain your health, it can be hard to recognize right away. And of course, sometimes you actually need to see your body responding positively to your best efforts to feel more positively towards your body. That progress can become a bridge, leading to stopping the pattern of negative self-talk and re-connecting mind to body. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

Research of the mind-body connection is gaining ground in mainstream science, no longer relegated to “alternative” medicine. We are coming to understand - in a deeper and more detailed way - how thoughts and feelings can directly impact our physical health and well-being. We are seeing the empirical evidence mounting when it comes to how physical symptoms can manifest in connection to emotions. This is a concept I think we all understand instinctively, and often relate to in our own lives. It’s good to see the science supporting a shared experience. Endometriosis is a serious reproductive health issue with debilitating symptoms. When a woman comes to me at FLO Living with endometriosis I share guidance on dietary triggers for those symptoms and potential lifestyle changes that can rid her surroundings of exacerbating chemicals. Endometriosis is a complex condition that needs a comprehensive strategy for management, tackling the ecosystem of the microbiome, liver health, inflammation in the body, and excess estrogen. All of these elements I view from a functional medicine standpoint, and have utilized to help hundreds of women overcome endometriosis symptoms - in example, Natalia is just one. For women with endometriosis it’s vital that we work together to prevent symptoms as soon as possible, and shifts in diet, adding supplements, and removing certain triggers can be very effective, very quickly.Just as in my previous post I looked at the emotional root of ovarian cysts, in this post I’ll be looking at the emotional connection for endometriosis sufferers. The emotional patterns behind hormonal and reproductive health issues are experienced by many, many women. Addressing the emotional aspect of health issues like ovarian cysts, endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS can be an important part of the healing process. While these problems and their symptoms create their own emotions in women (depression, anxiety, stress, worry), they also come from emotions that many women hold. I believe that understanding the emotional root can lead to more compassion for ourselves, for other women, and an individual and collective recovery.This is something I see often with the women I work with through FLO Living, we will be in the process of working on her health issue from a functional medicine standpoint and eventually we’ll organically reach a point of discussing her life, her past experiences, her feelings about herself, and about the things that have happened to her. It’s not all that surprising, it’s intimate work, and when women treat women outside of the doctor’s office, there’s a tendency for the mind-body connection to come up in a way that you might not see happen elsewhere. It’s deeply frustrating that many female-specific health issues are under-researched, under-discussed, and often neglected. This is often the case with endometriosis, although I’m glad to see that recently more attention is being brought to this condition through advocacy and education.

The feminist mind-body connection

Think about your female reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries, vagina) acting as a “low heart” and as such holding many of your unconscious, deeper emotions that the “high heart” is not yet ready to process. The emotions are held here, only to be released once a person has processed the source of these held feelings. There’s actually a deeply feminist history to the mind-body connection and how it relates to the female experience. A student of psychologist Carl Jung, Marion Woodman, developed a concept of “feminine psychology.” Her work details exactly  how unconsciously held emotions, feelings, and thoughts can affect the female body. It’s important to note that as science progresses we are seeing more and more empirical evidence to support and back up this perspective. Woodman investigated how women feel about their bodies. Many of us are brought up to be fearful and distrustful of our bodies, and she believed this has a significant impact on our health. She believed that the unprocessed trauma experienced by many women - as the result of individually experienced acts of abuse and violence, and as the result of cultural oppression - could manifest itself in physical symptoms, especially those relating specifically to female biology.

Your emotions and endometriosis

Looking to endometriosis specifically, the emotional connection can be found it something common to many women - that is, taking care of others more so than yourself.  The uterus seems to mirror the behavior, by having the material of the womb, the endometrium, the first maternal embrace an embryo receives, to grow outside of the womb, in an attempt to mother the woman who isn’t mothering herself.  This way, by creating a symptom you would have no choice but to pay attention to, would lead you more quickly to evaluate this situation of unbalanced mother behavior that is leaving you depleted. We’ve all heard the saying, “you cannot pour from an empty cup,” and we’ve heard it because so many of us continue to put others first always and ourselves last. That can mean caring for our partner, parents, siblings, or children at the expense of our own health and well-being. It’s wonderful to care for others and cater to their needs, but when we do it in such a way that puts ourselves a very poor last on the list, this can be detrimental. We might feel frustrated, angry, resentful, or just plain stressed and exhausted by the practical requirements of living that life. The expectations put on all women to be the care-providers, to put others first always, to do the “emotional labor” of supporting those around them can be oppressive. Does this resonate with you? Do you ever feel like you’re keeping everyone else happy, stable, and cared-for, but that you’re not attending to your own needs and desires? Do you long for someone to take care of you? There’s a burning desire there for self-nurturance as well as connection with other women and community-centered support. These pressures can come out in the body and manifest as symptoms. The emotional root of endometriosis is by no means the only root cause of endometriosis, but it’s an element that I have found to be important in my work with endometriosis sufferers at FLO Living. As I’ve said before, this has nothing to do with your personal choices in your life, and everything to do with the position of women in society, and how we are conditioned to organize our lives and act towards ourselves.  Your uterus is offering you a gift, an opportunity to reflect on your patterns and revise them for not only better health, but a happier life.  A very loving act indeed, even though it doesn’t feel like it at times, your reproductive organs are always lovingly pointing you in the right direction for your life as a woman.  

Compassion and community

Sadly, many women experience trauma in their lives and many of us also go through experiences we are unable to fully emotional process because the topic is considered taboo or we just don’t get the support we need to talk it out. Shared experiences between women include our first period, a miscarriage, abuse, rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, aggression, as well as the compounding experience of living in a society that often presents us with misogyny and sexism. I’d like us to start by communicating our thoughts and feelings as women, together, and from there I think we can create an opportunity for individual and collective healing. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

We've previously discussed the potential impact of emotional stress on your menstrual cycle, like how it can make your period late, delay or even suppress ovulation, as well as contribute to hormonal health issues such as PCOS and PMS. Here, let's delve deeper into the mind-body connection and how our emotions, feelings, and the energy we hold can play a part in the development of reproductive health conditions.

There is a neurological, endocrine, and immunological conversation at work in every one of us that is reflective of our emotional state.

While it’s very important to look at the root causes of conditions from a functional nutrition standpoint, the emotional aspect also needs to be addressed at the same time for long-term recovery. The emotional patterns behind ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, and other conditions are common for many, many women and very much a shared female experience.

Understanding this aspect is an opportunity to have compassion for ourselves and for other women. For example, one particular client was experiencing continuous spotting. We had addressed her diet and lifestyle, but during one conversation it became apparent that the spotting had been happening since her father had passed away earlier that year. We suggested that her womb might be holding her unprocessed grief, resulting in the symptoms, which were a literal weeping from the womb. Once she made that connection, she was able to release her emotions - have a good cry - and begin to free herself from the cycle.

‍Your emotions and ovarian cysts ‍

We’ve looked at effective food and supplement-based natural treatments for ovarian cysts in the past.

Distinct from PCOS - which is indicated by multiple cysts on the ovary - single functional ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacs the size of almonds that grow on the ovaries, often cyclically and in connection with your hormonal shifts.

There are two kinds of functional ovarian cysts – follicle cysts and corpus luteum cysts.

1. Follicle cysts happen when the ovary follicle does not open to release an egg and instead stays closed, filled with liquid.

2. Corpus luteum cysts is when the follicle does release an egg, but does not then seal and close off afterwards.

Functional ovarian cysts are very common - many women have them at some point during their lives, but not all will have symptoms.

It’s possible for a cyst to grow very large if left untreated and even burst, requiring immediate surgery. A health condition like ovarian cysts can convey a message of the kinds of emotions being held there in the reproductive organs. This thinking is rooted in Jungian psychology, specifically the mind/body connection. A student of Jung, Marion Woodman, developed the concept of “feminine psychology” and her work details how unconsciously held emotions, feelings, and thoughts can affect the female body.

One element of Woodman’s work focuses on how women feel about their bodies. Many of us are brought up to be fearful and distrustful of our bodies, and she believed this has a significant impact on our health. She believed that unconscious trauma experienced by many women - as the result of individually experienced acts of abuse and violence, and as the result of cultural oppression - manifests itself in physical symptoms.

When it comes to ovarian cysts specifically, especially those that are symptomatic and recurrent, they are delivering the message of unfulfilled creative expression. Many women experience these feelings - we hold down full-time jobs, do more than our fair share of housework and childcare, and often start second or third shifts every evening. Do you ever feel like you really want to start a creative project, but you just don’t have the time? Do you have a friend who cannot give themselves the time and space to express their creativity and that causes them frustration?

Energetically speaking, ovarian cysts tend to represent blocked creative desire, or ideas that don’t fully blossom in one’s life. This is nothing to do with your personal choices, and everything to do with the position of women in society, and how we are conditioned to organize our lives.

Mind-body connection and compassion

Whatever symptoms you’re experiencing, the takeaway should be compassion, and the need to find compassion for yourself, your body, and for what other women are going through. Many, many women experience trauma in their lives, whether directly or indirectly, and we all live with a heavy weight of expectation, limitation, and judgement on our shoulders. Many, many women also experience ovarian cysts, as well as other hormonal health issues.

We believe that the way forward is to bring these topics out into the open, to talk about our traumas, those things we don’t normally share openly - like our individual experiences of miscarriage, postpartum depression, abortion, sexual abuse, rape, assault, domestic violence, and our collective understanding of sexism and misogyny.

Releasing these emotions can mean we no longer hold them silently within ourselves, where they continue to do harm. At Flo Living, we're here to support you, every step of the way.

There are several types of PCOS on what I like to call “the PCOS spectrum” and these types fall under three banners - synthetic-hormone induced PCOS, insulin-resistant PCOS, and inflammation-based PCOS. While there are specific treatment protocols I advise for each type, there are still crossovers between, and certain supplements benefit every woman suffering with PCOS.I’ve had my own PCOS in remission for some 20 years using my FLO Living protocol. Food is the foundation of this protocol, but supplements super-charge the benefits of those hormone-supportive foods. I personally had a combination of the PCOS types mentioned above and I was able to roll back the symptoms and regain my health and fertility with the Cycle Syncing lifestyle. Micki and Judith are just two of the thousands of women I’ve helped reverse their own PCOS since teaching the FLO Living protocol to women. In previous posts I’ve explained in detail why the two most commonly prescribed PCOS treatments you are most likely to be offered - that is, Metformin and the birth control pill – are not actually effective and moreso “band-aid” solutions that sidestep the root cause and don’t tackle the issue long-term. Briefly, Metformin is only right for women with insulin-resistant PCOS, and even for these women I still recommend only short term use of the drug, and always paired with proactive changes to diet and lifestyle. The birth control pill masks the problems associated with PCOS. It may suppress some of the symptoms short term, but they usually come back once you go off and can be exacerbated by compounded hormonal imbalance. The pill exacerbates many of the root causes of PCOS, including insulin-resistance and inflammation.The 5 best supplements for PCOS These 5 supplements will be beneficial to all women with PCOS, addressing the root causes of this common hormonal health issue.

1. Cinnamon - taking this warming spice as a supplement is proven to stabilize blood sugar, which is essential for all hormonally-sensitive women, but especially those with PCOS. I recommend New Chapter for a cinnamon supplement, but you can additionally shake cinnamon on oatmeal, eggs, or enjoy cinnamon tea, like Tazo’s Cinnamon Apple Baked. Getting blood sugar balance under control is so important for moving beyond PCOS.
2. Magnesium - most women are deficient in magnesium and magnesium is vital for hormonal balance. Magnesium is proven to improve insulin resistance, it’s anti-inflammatory, and it redresses adrenal hormones - all essential actions for managing PCOS symptoms and treating the root causes of PCOS.
3. B6 - one root cause of PCOS is estrogen dominance, which is inextricably linked to progesterone deficiency. B6 is proven to increase progesterone production and is actually one of the best vitamins to boost this hormone. You can do this with B6 rich foods like bananas, grass-fed beef, and garlic, but you can also take a daily supplement.
4. Selenium - this nutrient is essential for your liver, helping to detox excess estrogen and environmental estrogens like pesticides. It also boosts progesterone along with B6, supporting the development of the corpus luteum which creates all your body’s progesterone. As such, selenium is a double whammy for tackling the root causes of PCOS.  
5. Zinc - this mineral balances testosterone. Whether your testosterone levels are high or low (both possible with PCOS), zinc will have a positive affect. Several studies have shown how beneficial zinc supplementation can be for women suffering with PCOS, with relatively rapid results.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!To your FLO,Alisa

We believe that no woman should suffer simply because she has a period.

And we also know that it’s not always possible to get access to functional and holistic healthcare solutions — sometimes they’re too far away and most of the time they are way too expensive.That’s why we offer phone and Skype consultation sessions with our FLO coaches.All of our expert FLO coaches have been trained by Alisa on top of being certified health coaches and licensed acupuncturists. And they are all qualified to help you find the right next step for you in getting out of hormonal chaos and into your FLO. Work with a FLO Coach and find your customized plan to solve your period symptoms.

Click here to book your counselor consultation

As 2016 comes to a close and we turn over to a fresh chapter with 2017, I want to take a moment to look back on the articles from our blog that have really struck a chord with you all.I know that these days the amount of information we receive is overwhelming. It can feel tiring just to try to keep up when there’s simply so much to read, absorb and take in. I hope you’ve found the FLO Living blog to be a place you can get the information you need, with clarity, concision, and care for your health and well-being. I appreciate you reading, sharing, and commenting on these articles, and providing me with great feedback. I wanted to put together this list to provide an easily accessible way for our established readers to have a reference to useful articles you can refer back to again and again, and for new readers to discover the core information we provide here. Feel free to share this post with anyone you feel might benefit from FLO Living’s blog and programs. And I’d love it if in the comments below, you’d tell me what hormonal health topics you’d like me to cover in 2017 - what would you like to know more about and what are you curious to know of living in your FLO?

Our top 10 must-read FLO Living essential articles of 2016

10. Top 5 Foods To Prevent PMS - PMS is one of the most common hormonal imbalance issues, but it’s completely treatable and avoidable. PMS is not inevitable or necessary and no woman should have to just put up with it. This list provides the foundational building blocks for eliminating PMS from your life.

9. The Worst Foods For Your Hormones - there are some big surprises on this list that will make even the most health-conscious reader reconsider their food choices. Sometimes what we believe to be healthy is actually harming our hormones.

8. B6 And Progesterone Deficiency - a knowledge-packed article describing the signs of progesterone deficiency, and outlining the path to hormonal balance. The signs obviously rang true for many of you and I’m glad to be able to provide insight into how to resolve this deficiency and eliminate them. Let me know if you upped your B6 intake and felt the difference.

7. 5 Foods To Avoid If You Have PCOS - as a PCOS sufferer myself, I have learned a lot in my journey to creating the FLO Living protocol, discovering how to manage my PCOS symptoms and avoid the acne, the weight issues, the hair issues, all that usually comes along with this diagnosis. Eliminating these 5 foods is a foundational step in successfully overcoming PCOS for yourself.

6. Getting Your Period Back After Baby - as I learned the ropes of new motherhood I’ve shared more and more about how I’ve fused the FLO Living lifestyle with pregnancy, the postpartum period, breastfeeding and beyond, and how I’m communicating this way of life to my daughter. I plan to share more in the coming year, let me know what you’d like to learn!

5. The 3 Rituals I Do When I Get My Period - I have been so happy to see the period revolution that’s built over the past year and now Well+Good has declared a 2017 health trend to be “menstrual realness” - I can’t wait. I’ve been giving menstrual realness for years and it's wonderful to have more open ears and hearts, more women sharing and more women listening. Not only that, but what they call “woo-woo” wellness is going mainstream - more women are embracing the benefits of rituals, visualization, healing crystals and getting back to nature. I love it!

4. The Benefits Of Avocado Oil - it was one of 2016’s hottest foodie trends, avocado oil. I’ve been preaching the gospel of avocados for a long time - they are one of the best superfoods for your hormonal health. Avocado oil provides a perfect way of getting more of these benefits into your everyday meal choices.

3. The Health Benefits Of Turmeric - this article includes my favorite golden latte recipe. I’ve been sipping turmeric lattes for years, but once Gwyneth Paltrow got on board with this anti-inflammatory, tasty alternative to coffee, I knew it was time to share my personal recipe. Now you can get versions of this health-boosting drink at so many cafes, but I still enjoy the ritual of brewing a batch at home.

2. The Right Way To Use Vitex For Your Hormones - this ubiquitous herb can be easily misused. Herbs are powerful and potent - and Vitex can be as harmful as it can be helpful. It’s key to know exactly how and when to use this tool in the hormonal health kit. What has been your experience with Vitex? Let me know.

1. The Benefits Of Maca Powder For Your Hormones - this adaptogen has a great many benefits for our hormones. Maca has come into its own in the last year as more women have discovered it. I’m not someone to suggest there are quick fixes or cure-alls for hormonal health problems, but maca is a useful supplement that can supercharge your efforts with the rest of your diet and lifestyle. If you’ve used and liked maca, let me know how it helped you.

Please leave me a note below and tell me what hormonal health topics you’d like me to cover in 2017 - what would you like to know more about and what are you curious to know of living in your FLO? Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, what have you learned this year from the FLO Living blog? Second, has our advice made a real difference to your health? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)Is Your Period Healthy?How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW

For those of us who are hormonally sensitive postpartum depression can be a real concern once you’re pregnant. If you’ve experienced depression before, as part of hormonal imbalance issues like PCOS or PMS, then it can be worrying to know that you might be more susceptible to depression as part of the hormonal shifts post-birth - I know this worried me. I had experienced depression as part of my PCOS and knew I would have to be extra-vigilant to keep the baby blues at bay for myself. I had additional concern because my own mom suffered from clinical postpartum depression after her third and final pregnancy.Clinical postpartum depression is defined as a new mother having feelings of harm for herself or her child, and this is the case for many sufferers and requires medical intervention. For many other women, however, who do not fit the above definition, they experience the mood altering effects of rapid, ongoing, and long term hormonal fluctuations which results in not feeling like yourself, having mood swings, and low energy - in effect it’s mild depression, postpartum. This is a less obvious mild and functional form of depression, which is not classic or clinical postpartum depression, and can linger long after the official postpartum phase has ended, affecting a woman for years. The combination of hormone changes, changes in sleep, and not eating properly for your new mom life, can leave you vulnerable and become something more permanent if self care is compromised. I get how challenging it is to fit it all into your intense schedule. After the postpartum phase is considered over however, you would then just be categorized as having depression or anxiety, and perhaps even be recommended medication. I think it’s valuable to see the root cause of this situation you may find yourself in so you can address it properly - with food and lifestyle changes. While there is a drop in hormone levels postpartum, combined with hormonally disruptive sleep schedules that come with a new baby, there are steps you can take the support your health and safeguard against depression during this time. With new understandings about mental health, from pioneers like my colleague Dr. Kelly Brogan, with her book, A Mind of Your Own, we know that feeding your brain can keep it performing optimally and protects your mood balance. Being aware that you might be susceptible is important, as is having a handle on your hormonal imbalance issues before you even decide to conceive. I recommend to my clients to prep for pregnancy at least a few months (ideally a year) prior to trying to get pregnant if they are already dealing with irregular cycles, problem periods and other hormonal health issues. That said, if you are pregnant reading this and concerned about postpartum depression there are still actions you can take once baby is born. Going into a pregnancy hormonally healthy without unresolved health issues is ideal, but not absolutely essential for avoiding postpartum depression.Anyone can be at risk from depression postpartum. By leveraging good functional nutrition basics, you can give yourself all the support possible to keep yourself balanced during this huge transition.

The causes of depression postpartum

Clinical postpartum depression can be triggered by the rapid hormonal fluctuations post pregnancy and you should seek medical support if you need help. Mild depression postpartum also needs support and I think it’s important to look at all of the functional causes that might make this worse for you and to think about ways you can be proactive about avoiding as many of these as possible.

1. There is a rapid drop in estrogen in the first few months after birth which affects mood, verbal skills, and even socializing habits.
2. New moms are always coping with sleep deficiency, which leads to imbalance in the adrenal gland and thyroid hormone levels.
3. New moms are often micronutrient deficient. Making a tiny person extracts as much nutrients from your body as physically possible. If you have a history of dieting, restriction of calories or food groups, then you may already start your pregnancy state with a deficiency - leading to higher levels of deficiency postpartum. This is not good for the baby or you. Low levels of micronutrients contribute to low hormone levels too.
4. Prolonged breastfeeding keeps estrogen levels low and can dramatically impact your mood. Stopping breastfeeding can create an additional hormone and therefore mood shift and is best done slowly over 2-3 months.
5. Many new moms stop their prenatal supplement routine too soon, even though you need to continue this into (and well past) the 4th trimester.
6. Many women feel they want all their pregnancies close together - especially if they’re starting in their mid-30s, in order to “get it all out of the way”, to have siblings close in age, or capitalize on their fertile years. If your next pregnancy and birth is very close to the prior, you must be even more vigilant about nourishing your body, restoring micronutrient levels, and not focusing on postpartum dieting to lose baby weight, but prepping your body for another request to 3D print a new tiny human!
7. There are many environmental factors that can be at play with postpartum depression. A not very supportive spouse, lack of childcare, and financial strain. Birth and a new baby can trigger anxiety that feels very primitive and primal - it’s more intense because you badly want to do right by your child. It can make for a very emotionally charged time. And it’s not always easy to tackle what can be an isolating experience if you’re not surrounded by a supportive community of friends and family who are truly there for you.

It’s harder to maintain hormonal balance when grappling with a new schedule, but it’s not impossible. It takes awareness of what your body needs to maintain peak physical and mental health. And of course, we all desire to be as healthy as we can in order to take care of a new baby, so this can be a great motivator in making the necessary commitments to self care. It’s also important to be aware that clinical and mild postpartum depression doesn’t always happen the day you get home from the hospital, it can be after 3 months or even later. That’s why during the 4th trimester it’s so important to take care of yourself as much as your baby. If you’re breastfeeding it’s even more crucial that you eat well and take care of your health, for as long as you’re breastfeeding and for several months beyond.

What to eat postpartum to avoid depression

After the birth of my daughter I concentrated on eating a diet with high nutrient density, a lot, and frequently. This is not the time to crash diet or worry about baby weight. Eat well and the pounds will fall away naturally. They did for me - I lost the 50 lbs. I had gained in a few months, without depriving myself in a way that would have only triggered hormonal imbalance. This is a sample of how I ate during my 4th trimester and beyond, as I continued breastfeeding. Note that lots of snacking and small meals throughout the day are excellent between nursing, napping, and recovering from labor and delivery.Breakfast – Steel cut oats with black sesame seeds, coconut oil, flax, cinnamon, goji berries Snack – 2 eggs scrambled in coconut oil with turmeric Lunch – Salmon and quinoa with lentils and fermented sauerkrautSnack – Avocado on black rice breadDinner – Bison/lamb/beef burger with green beans and sweet potato baked ‘fries’Snack – 2 Dates or dried figs with 3 Squares Dark Chocolate with Mother’s Milk TeaSnack - Macaroon or gluten-free llactation cookieSnack - Bone Broth with black rice bread and chicken liver pateEating this way supports each of the areas of health that can be off-balance post-birth: - your micronutrient levels- your microbiome- your hormone production My specific FLO protocol for the postpartum phase emphasizes these nourishment goals:

• Increasing the use of warming, drying spices like cinnamon, cayenne, and nutmeg.
• Holding off on the raw vegetables, cold smoothies, raw juices, and raw fruits for the first 40 days postpartum. Then only slowly reincorporating them back in.

These tenets are sourced in Traditional Chinese Medicine which emphasizes the importance of restoring Yin energy post-birth. It’s also great for the baby’s own digestion as most newborns can’t actually tolerate even cooked veggies in a mother’s milk at first. The book “The First Forty Days” is an excellent resource on postpartum nourishment to enhance your health and the health of your baby.This nourishing food supports each element to provide a strong foundation. If you have this foundation laid down it is much easier to deal with sleep deprivation and stress. Your body will not respond as dramatically to your changing way of life. The food provides the strength you need to take on this new challenge. It also supports you as you potentially prepare for another pregnancy.I like to call this “active recovery” - instead of assuming your body will spring back or assuming that once you’re physically healed that the work is done, know that you have to be active in your post-birth recovery every single day. Don’t see it as an additional responsibility, see it as something you’re doing to excel at taking care of your child.

Finding support to avoid postpartum depression

I chose to have a postpartum doula as well as a labor and delivery doula. She didn’t just check up on me right after the birth, but carried on doing so several times throughout the rest of that first year. If you’re able to have doula support, I highly recommend it. It goes above and beyond the 6 week postpartum check up you’ll get from your doctor (where you may not yet be presenting symptoms). Doulas take the time to see you in your home environment, spend time with you, listen to you, cook for you and care for you, as well as the baby, as they know how vital it is that a new mom is healthy and happy. Although this may seem like a luxury, it's actually not that expensive and many doulas now work on a sliding scale too. In most European countries, 1 year of post-partum doula visits are government-subsidized, so every woman gets the care to ensure she is well postpartum - something we should fight for here in the US, too. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, are you struggling with eating well as a new mom?Second, are you struggling with mild depression? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Is Your Period Healthy?

How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW

A missing or late period can be stressful. Or when it's late, delayed and taking its sweet time to start! "What's wrong?" "Am I pregnant?" The questions can feel endless. Even worse, stress alone can delay or alter your period. Do you think that stress may be delaying your period? Read on to learn about the connection between cortisol and menstruation.

Learn how to improve your diet and other methods you can take to reduce stress

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If you weren't planning for pregnancy, this can create some stress and panic. This begins a vicious cycle, as periods are directly impacted by stress! So when your stress levels rise - particularly for a prolonged period of time - your period can be negatively impacted. This stress might be from what you’ve experienced earlier in your cycle or even the stress you’re experiencing waiting for your period to arrive - and both can actually make your period arrive late.

If you’re breastfeeding, have PCOS, are entering perimenopause or menopause, have a thyroid issue, or if you’ve recently come off hormonal birth control, those factors can also impact your period. If none of these reasons are present, it's definitely time to assess your stress levels.

How long can stress delay your period? Well, that depends. Stress causes late periods because of how it disrupts hormonal patterns. Your hormones need to meet certain levels and follow certain patterns in order to trigger both ovulation and your period. So if stress gets in the way, this can impact your cycle. A rise in stress hormones, specifically cortisol, affects all other hormones, the levels that are produced and their interaction.

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5 things to know about stress, anxiety, and your period

If stress and anxiety have been delaying your period, we've got you covered. Once you learn the causes, you can learn how to get your period "unstuck." Stress has more meanings than just emotional stress. Physical stresses on your body can also delay your period in similar ways. Read the following 5 facts related to late periods caused by stress:

1. Stress raises cortisol levels and disrupts your blood sugar, which disrupts your ovulation and period.

2. The stress hormone cortisol blocks progesterone production and lowers progesterone levels. Your body actually uses your progesterone to make more cortisol, in reaction and response to the stress. This can not only mess with your cycle, but make it difficult for you to conceive.

3. Stress around the time you normally ovulate can delay or even prevent ovulation. Cortisol can suppress ovulation. This makes sense - a pregnancy on top of a stressful period in a person’s life is not ideal.  Your body, in a way, is trying to keep your energy available to address the stress before conception takes place.

4. Stress post-ovulation can cause hormonal imbalance. If you do ovulate and stress comes later in your cycle, it can potentially cause spotting, an early period or a period that looks or feels different to your norm (in consistency, color, length, or symptoms like cramping).

5. A late period may not be considered a period at all - it’s more of a breakthrough bleed. You didn’t ovulate, so it’s not a physiological period - however, your uterus still needs to shed the lining it has built up.

Here's the reality: your hormonal cycle is a chain reaction. If one stage of your cycle does not occur as it should, the following stages will not receive the correct triggers. When your ovary releases an egg, the ruptured egg sack produces progesterone. The increase of progesterone in your body encourages the buildup and eventual release of the lining of your uterus, aka your period.  

We advocate for listening to your body, and a late period is your body saying something loud and clear...but what exactly is your body trying to tell you? A messed up cycle is a message. It’s a call-to-action!

Your late period can signal that you are under constant or chronic levels of stress. To restore ovulation, lowering stress levels is key.  Lack of ovulation is not only an issue if you want to conceive, it also sets you up for greater hormone imbalance and period problems - everything from PMS, to acne, to cramps. A late period is more than just a nuisance or inconvenience, it’s also going to come with a bunch of other health issues.

Once you period is late, there’s not much you can do to make your period come when you want during that cycle. But you can absolutely avoid late periods in the future by taking action today! It's not "too late" to get yourself back on track.

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4 steps to avoid stress-delayed periods

1. Take a Healing Bath - Stressors can be unavoidable, but your response to stress is in your hands. This can mean a deeply relaxing bath 3 times a week with epsom salts and essential oils. It can mean reading a good book before bed each night. It can mean getting creative - taking a painting class, starting a project that inspires you, or even coloring at home. You can use your menstrual cycle to sync your schedule to your hormonal patterns - making everything feel easier and less like an uphill battle. It can also mean making time for more pleasure in your life, and not just sex. Or it can mean all of the above and then some, which is all-encompassing self-care, and the most effective.

2. Go on a Sleep Diet  - Poor sleep or an inconsistent sleep schedule (staying up past midnight and waking up late) creates a burnt out, stressed-out situation. Physiologically bad sleep will cause high levels of stress hormones. But it also leaves you feeling like you're constantly behind. When you’re in bed earlier and waking up earlier, you will naturally have more time in the morning to get centered and ready for your day. This will help you feel more grounded and clear. Put yourself on a “Sleep Diet” to have this sleep schedule every day for 21 days.

3. Try Maca - When we’re stressed, we often have the knee-jerk reaction of reaching for coffee first thing in the morning, (we think it’ll help us get everything done!) and alcohol at night, (we think it’ll help us unwind!). Both of these things raise cortisol levels and actually make you feel more stressed in the long run. Detox from coffee and manage your alcohol intake to avoid chronic stress. Try maca root powder for the energy boost you’re seeking - this adaptogen can give you pep without harming your sleep schedule (try adding it to your smoothie or oats).

4. Focus on Micronutrients - Micronutrients are absolutely essential when it comes to balancing hormones and resolving symptoms like PMS, weight-loss resistance, acne, mood swings, bloating, cramping, missing periods, and painful, heavy periods. The micronutrients you need more of when it comes to hormone balance are: Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, B vitamins, Magnesium, as well as Micronutrients that support liver health, and Compounds and nutrients that support gut health. These micronutrients, in the right amounts, will help you get back on track hormonally and bring relief from your symptoms.

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Love & ovaries,

Alisa

There is not just one kind of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), in fact that are several types and knowing which PCOS type you have is key to knowing the right treatment protocol for you. Every type of PCOS is given the same name, even though the root causes are actually quite different. Of course, in mainstream medicine, every type of PCOS is also managed with the same suggested treatments, even though these treatments only work for some women, some of the time. Different types of PCOS also have different symptoms - not all women with PCOS are overweight, or have acne, or have excess hair growth - and this confusion can delay diagnosis, and therefore delay proper treatment and support. I personally had the type of PCOS that is rooted in insulin and food sensitivity. I’ve been able to put my PCOS into remission with the FLO Living protocol for almost 20 years now. It has meant I no longer struggle with my weight, my skin, my hair, or any of the other symptoms I used to have. However, it’s ongoing, I am mindful of my PCOS every day and I’ve created a lifestyle around what helps me to feel good despite this diagnosis. There are a few types of PCOS, and different causes behind them, as well as varied symptoms. The way you’ll know which you have is by looking at symptoms, and following up with blood tests or an ultrasound to look for cysts on the ovaries. The first sign for all women is irregular cycles and missing periods. If you know you’re not ovulating and your cycles are messed up, the next step is to figure out which PCOS you’re dealing with exactly.

The 3 types of PCOS on the spectrum

• Insulin-resistant PCOS - this is the most typical and common PCOS type. High insulin levels stop ovulation in its tracks, causing irregular cycles and symptoms. The insulin resistance is brought about by diet. The symptoms are weight gain or obesity, acne, hirsutism, mood swings, and lack of periods. Women with this kind of PCOS are usually considered borderline diabetic.
• Inflammation-based PCOS - this is the kind of PCOS that can be seen in women who are not overweight, but normal weight or even underweight, and don’t feel they have any of the classic symptoms of PCOS. The inflammatory response that stops ovulation and causes irregular cycles comes from the body’s response to foods like gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, or from overexposure to endocrine disruptive chemicals whether it be from chemical lawn spraying or frequent use of the dry cleaner. There are multiple influencers that can cause suppressed ovulation and irregular cycles. It could be an over-reliance on artificial sweeteners (I’m talking too much Diet Coke or Stevia-based products). It could be due to poor diet, especially if you’re eating very little, only vegan, only raw, or no carbs whatsoever. The lack of ovulation will cause symptoms, but it won’t necessarily look or feel the same as common, insulin-resistant PCOS.
• Synthetic Hormone-Induced PCOS - this kind of PCOS is common for women who have been on the pill or other hormonal birth control like the implant, shot, or ring, for a long time. They will come off and see their periods do not return. The synthetic hormones shut down communication between the pituitary gland and the ovaries in order to prevent pregnancy and often times this can be challenging to bring back online.

It’s also possible to have a combination of these types of PCOS, as I did, or for the root cause of your PCOS to change and develop over time. This is why the FLO protocol is uniquely supportive for the PCOS “spectrum” that exists as it addresses all the root causes.

Common treatments for PCOS

Once you’ve got to grips with your PCOS type, the next step is to consider your treatment options. I’ve explained previously why the two most commonly prescribed PCOS treatments - Metformin and the birth control pill - are not very effective. Metformin is only effective for women with insulin-resistant PCOS, and even then I recommend only short term use paired with changes to diet and lifestyle (https://www.floliving.com/metformin-for-pcos/). I have assisted many women for whom Metformin did not work to manage and control their PCOS symptoms using the FLO Living protocol. The birth control pill just acts to mask the problems with PCOS. It may suppress symptoms short term, but they will return when you stop using it and they could be even worse than when you started. The pill happens to exacerbate many of the root causes of PCOS, including insulin-resistance and inflammation.

Natural treatments for PCOS

Vitex is not a good option for all women with PCOS, even if you are looking for a more natural treatment. Women with inflammation-based PCOS may find Vitex helps them, but if you have a different type, Vitex will worsen your symptoms.The FLO Living protocol works for all the types of PCOS I’ve mentioned here to address the root causes. For all PCOS types I recommend this 3 stage strategy for natural treatment:

1. Stabilize blood sugar
2. Eliminate endocrine disruptors
3. Improve estrogen metabolism

Women with all types of PCOS can benefit from:

• Magnesium supplementation
• Good quality sleep
• Eliminating sugar
• A focus on strength training

Other thoughts for your type of PCOS:

• Insulin-resistant PCOS - Focus on your blood sugar stability -  lots of cinnamon for blood sugar regulation, in supplement form and/or sprinkled on your meals, plus brisk exercise after eating to prevent an insulin spike, like a walk after dinner.
• Other types of PCOS - if you don’t have the common symptoms of insulin-resistant PCOS, because you’re normal weight or even underweight, with clear skin - then you need to look carefully at whether you’re feeding your body enough and the right kinds of nutrients for it to make hormones. The communication between the pituitary gland and the ovaries has broken down and needs to be reestablished. Whether you came off the pill last month or last year you can follow my protocol for that transition to help jumpstart your ovaries. You can also realign with what would be a regular cycle by syncing your diet and lifestyle to the moon phases. This heightened awareness coupled with a gentle progression towards living in your FLO can bring back your period.

Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, do you know what kind of PCOS you have? Second, have you tried the pill, Metformin, or Vitex already?Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Is Your Period Healthy?

How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW

I haven’t had cow dairy for some 20 years. The signs that dairy wasn’t right for me were there from when I was a kid. I had recurrent tonsillitis and ear infections and major constipation issues. This inflammatory response was caused by my body’s inability to breakdown the A1 casein in the regular dairy that I was consuming through the cheesy and buttery Italian fare that was the daily diet of my whole family. When I developed the FLO Living protocol, I was able to understand that dairy in my diet was a trigger for my PCOS symptoms - the acne, depression, and weight gain. Since then more and more research has revealed the problems with the A1 casein that is in the majority of dairy we consume here in the US (and many other countries). Now I recommend that my clients - whether they have fibroids, or endometriosis, or PMS, or heavy periods - go dairy-free as an essential step in managing and eliminating their health issues.

How dairy is hurting your hormonal health

1. Dairy creates inflammation in the intestinal tract which can hinder your fertility, disrupt ovulation and create irregular cycles and missing periods.
2. Dairy can throw off your body’s own estrogen production by introducing artificial growth hormones. Most dairy cows are injected with genetically modified growth hormone to produce more milk than they would naturally.
3. Dairy containing antibiotics will negatively impact your microbiome to prevent effective estrogen metabolism. It will also negatively impact your own immunity.
4. Dairy cows are invariably fed with GMO corn and soy which sets you up for estrogen overload. GMOs are endocrine disruptors, as is processed soy.
5. Dairy depletes your magnesium stores which throws off your pituitary and adrenal glands.

How to make the transition to dairy-free and my favorite dairy-free alternatives

Dairy isn’t just bad news for women, it’s bad news for everyone, which is why neither my daughter nor my husband have cow dairy. I feed my daughter a little dairy and only the kinds which do not contain the problematic A1 casein. Dairy isn’t her main source of calcium, however, as there are many other better sources, including sardines, figs and greens. We needn’t feel reliant on dairy for our calcium needs. Although during my pregnancy and early months of breastfeeding I enjoyed goat’s milk yogurt a couple of days a week, I am back to being dairy-free completely. At the time, my body signalled to me that it wanted and needed a little dairy and I listened. But I know that even a little dairy, of any kind, for me can trigger sneezing and congestion in my sinuses. A 2014 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the inflammatory impact is not found with dairy that contains A2 casein rather than A1. A1 casein is found in the milk of the Holstein Friesian cows used for the majority of industrial dairy farming. A2 casein is found in the milk of Jersey and Guernsey cows, Asian and African cow breeds, sheep and goats.You can purchase milk, cheese and yogurt from Jersey or Guernsey cows here in the US. My favorite brand is St Benoit, which is an organic range including milk, yogurt and cheese, produced in Sonoma County, California. But in my household the dairy that is mostly on offer is goat’s, partly because it’s much easier to get a hold of and you can be certain is does not contain A1 casein. Organic and grass-fed goats is a perfect dairy alternative for children and it’s what I give my daughter in addition to a rotation of home-made nutmilks. Despite being a cow dairy-free household we still have ice-cream in the freezer - my husband’s favorite brand is LaLoo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream, but I love Coconut Bliss. My husband enjoys cheese occasionally and so we keep on hand a sheep’s milk manchego. When it comes to milk alternatives for cooking and drinking - I like to get nut varieties because you get a higher nutrient content with those than you’ll find with grain-based varieties. It’s ideal to make your own nut milk at home as you’ll avoid the acidic acid found in most store-bought kinds. I personally like to rotate with almond, cashew and coconut. My personal favorite is the Native Forest coconut milk. Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, are you already dairy-free? Second, do you have PCOS? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Is Your Period Healthy?

How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign - your period. The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future. Click here to take The V-SIGN TYPE™ Quiz NOW