Skin

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS and experiencing PCOS symptoms, chances are your doctor has also suggested you take some kind of pill. Metformin and the birth control pill are two of the most common medical treatments for PCOS, but - if you’ve been around us at FLO for awhile - you’ll know that medications like these are not really treatments at all, but rather band-aid solutions for a much deeper problem. We wanted to spend time with each of them today, so that you can make the best informed choices when it comes to treating your PCOS.Let us help you get to the root of the problem and avoid the potential side effects of these

Birth Control Pill

What it does: The hormones in the birth control mask your natural hormonal patterns to prevent ovulation from happening, and therefore prevent pregnancy. The period you experience on the pill is not an acutal period, but rather a “break-through bleed” that occurs from the drop in estrogen. So even though it might be regulating your cycle, once you get off the pill chances are your period will return to the same state is was before.Side effects: We’ve spoken about significant side effects of the pill before, but the one side effect most relevant to PCOS is that it increases testosterone uptake, which can make your androgenic symptoms worse. This means if you’re experiencing hirsutism (hair growth in unwanted places), head-hair loss, or acne, it could potentially get worse with the pill.Alternative solutions: Re-establish your monthly ovulation and menstruation through restoring key micronutrients and helping your body to eliminate excess estrogen or other hormones that could be impeding your natural flow. Addressing adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues is also key here. And the great news is - all of these can be achieved through your diet and lifestyle!

Metformin (Glucophage)

What it does: Metformin helps with blood sugar and insulin management by suppressing glucose production by the liver. It’s commonly used for diabetes and PCOS with insulin resistance.Side effects:In a recent study, metformin was found to cause an impairment mental cognition. It’s more commonly known to cause serious digestive issues like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and more uncomfortable symptoms.Alternative solutions: Address your blood sugar balance through your diet and key supplements. The WomanCode System has an extensive lesson and instructions on balancing blood sugar through food, and in severe cases you can also supplement with a chromium picolinate supplement, as well as cinnamon.

Conclusion

Very often you’ll be told that the only thing you can do is take a pill, but I hope this article has opened your eyes to other possibilities and helped give you your power back when it comes to making informed decisions about treating your PCOS symptoms.There is no quick fix to treating PCOS. It is a systemic issues that needs to be managed through diet and lifestyle.

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!

It’s time to take our next step into the spring detox conversation, so I figured we’d start from the outside and work our way in.

Where is the outside, you ask? Your skin!

Your skin is a way in to the deeper workings of your hormonal system and internal organs of elimination, i.e. your liver, large intestine, and lymphatic system.

If any of those are out of balance, it’s bound to show up in the form of acne, cyclical breakouts, redness, dry or flaky skin, overly oily skin, cystic acne, or other frustrating symptoms.

Your diet is a huge factor in clearing up these issues – and we’ll get into a more in-depth discussion around diet in next week’s webinar!

So in the meantime, I wanted to help you detox your skin care regime so that we can be sure everything you’re putting on the outside is just as good as what you’re eating. After all, anything that touches your skin enters your bloodstream, so if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth you certainly shouldn’t be putting it on your body or face!

Here’s my list of the Top 15 Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid:

1. Aluminum Chloride: in all antiperspirants – aluminum build up in the brain is linked to Alzheimer’s

2. Ammonium Xylenesulfonate: in nail polish - inhalation can cause central nervous system damage and coma

3. Benzalkonium Chloride: a germicide – toxic if taken internally, skin allergies

4. BHA/BHT: a preservative for packaged dry foods and skin care products made from petrochemicals – causes benign and malignant tumors

5. Butyl Alcohol: in clear shampoos – causes dermatitis, breathing problems, dizziness, drowsiness and headaches

6. Diazolidinyl Urea/Disodium EDTA/DMDM Hydantoin: a preservative, made from formaldehyde a known carcinogen

7. Ethanol: in acne products and skin toners gives cool feeling, perfumes – ingestion can cause nausea, stupor, coma, and death

8. Ethylene Glycol: in many shampoos, aka antifreeze- can cause respiratory problems

9. Imidazolidinyl Urea/Urea: a preservative synthesized from known carcinogens

10. Lithium Chloride: used in soap and long life batteries – very toxic to kidneys

11. Methylene Chloride: nail polish remover – skin irritant, narcotic when inhaled and carcinogenic

12. PABA: in sunscreen – causes allergic eczema, skin rashes, swelling

13. Phenoxyethanol: a preservative derived from poisonous Phenols

14. Poly Quaternium 7, 10, 11, 15 : the American Academy of Dermatology lists this as a skin irritant and combines with natural body substances to form potent carcinogens called nitrosamines

15. Talc: implicated in causing ovarian cancer

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

I want to hear from you!

First: What toxic products and ingredients are you trashing today?Second: Share your #Flobeauty experience with us!Third: You know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!

I often get the question, “What foods can I eat to boost my fertility?”

While there certainly are key foods - like avocados, buckwheat, asparagus, and more - that will provide your body with essential nutrients for optimal fertility, I also encourage women to look at the big picture. It’s not only what you’re eating, but it’s how you’re eating throughout the day.If you’re starting the morning off with a green juice, having a salad for lunch, and sushi for dinner, it might feel really healthy but it’s definitely not ideal if you’re struggling with hormonal imbalances or fertility challenges.Why?Blood sugar management is one of the main underlying causes to hormonal imbalance, especially for conditions like infertility and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).Some women might just have sensitive blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia, while others might be dealing with the more severe cases of insulin resistance. In either case, when you eat very light meals throughout the day, you are causing a red flag to go up in your brain because of the lack of sugar, or glucose, that is coming in. Not enough glucose streaming through your blood, and your brain will call on stress hormones to fill in the gap. Stress hormones are never good in excess!But don’t just take my word for it. This recent study by Professor Daniela Jakubowicz in Tel Aviv proved that having a larger meal at breakfast was related to a reduction of insulin resistance in women with PCOS. Not only does this help with fertility, but it also can help manage other symptoms associated with the disorder, such as unwanted body hair, hair loss, and acne, as well as protect against developing type-2 diabetes.

Now, it's your turn:

FLO Hormone Challenge of the Week!

So ladies, this week your challenge is to eat a hearty breakfast in the morning. Especially if you’re one who waits to eat your biggest meal at dinner, try this out! With breakfast as your big meal, you will be less inclined to over-indulge in the evening which will do wonders for your blood sugar and hormonal management.Try these examples and let me know how it goes!

• Raw sprouted buckwheat granola with cinammon, sunflower seeds, flax, and unsweetened almond milk.
• Smoked salmon omlette with sweet potato hash or gluten-free toast

Add in a steaming hot cup of rooibos chai tea for extra pleasure!

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a quiz to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.

Click here to get your quiz!

Why haven't i gotten my period this month? Why would my period be late if I am a virgin? Is it bad if I didn't get my period in 2 months? Why did my period stop? What does it mean if I menstruate 2 times in 1 month? I'm not pregnant how can I get my period back? 

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If your cycle is irregular or your period is late or missing, know that you are not alone! We get so many questions about missing and late periods! It can be frustrating and anxiety-producing, especially if you want to conceive someday. Unfortunately, many women suffer from missing periods. It may be comforting to know that this inconsistency within your menstrual cycle is actually a common issue. But it doesn’t have stay that way!

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What does it mean when you miss your period? 

A missing period is an indicator that you are not ovulating. This is obviously a worry if you want to get pregnant, but it should also be a concern even if you have no pregnancy plans in the near future.

‍Ovulation is the key to female health and vitality. Not ovulating does not only lead to missing periods, but also to all PMS symptoms, acne, moodiness, weight gain and more.

There are different reasons for not ovulating including:

• pregnancy
• breastfeeding
• menopause
• over-exercising
• being underweight
• having cysts on your ovaries (PCOS)
• progesterone deficiency
• estrogen dominance

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PCOS, Progesterone Deficiency or Estrogen Dominance? 

There are several kinds of PCOS that women can experience on a PCOS spectrum, with specific root causes and specific natural treatments. Your period might be missing because of one of these reasons, so it’s important to rule those out as contributing factors.

The next step is to take a look at your hormonal balance - specifically progesterone and estrogen.

Progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance/overload are the two main root causes of missing periods, when other factors are not on the table. Your body needs nutritional support via the right foods to create enough hormones, use those hormones, and then process and detoxify excess hormones. This will maintain hormonal balance and ensure your body is able to trigger ovulation. Once you are ovulating, your period will naturally follow. Your body wants to ovulate, that’s what it’s designed to do, but it just needs the right fuel and foundation.

Our FLO Living protocol has helped thousands of women bring back their period, including Ashley who didn’t have a period for 3 years and Stephanie who was missing her period for 2.5 years.

Get started by Cycle Syncing® one part of your diet - like the greens you eat and then layering in the rest of your weekly meal plan. Once you have that down, you can start detoxing your home and your cosmetics bag of endocrine disrupting synthetic hormones. We recommend tracking your ovulation signs - for most women your period will follow approximately 10-14 days after you ovulate - and with the MyFLO app you can track your cycles, even when they are irregular, and get personalized advice on how to regulate them and bring your period back.

Following the Cycle Syncing® Method could make your period return sooner than you think. A combination of changes to your diet, your exercise regimen, and your self-care can make all the difference in rebalancing your hormones, restoring ovulation, and bringing back your period.

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At this point you’ve probably heard the story of my healing journey, and so you’ll know that I suffered for years with cystic acne all over my face, chest, and back. It was not pretty and it certainly didn’t make me feel good to look in the mirror or go out in public without caked-on layers of makeup.

I spent lots of money and time trying to solve this issue, until I finally discovered how to naturally clear up my skin by addressing my diet and hormones.

And that lesson is exactly what I’m going to share with you today!

In this video I’ll take you through the essentials of skin care, the FLO way:

• what products you’re putting ON your body that are contributing to your breakouts
• what foods you’re putting IN your body that affect your skin
• the 3 key micronutrients essential for clear skin

Check out the skinny on your skin here:

Good things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First: Have you struggled with acne?Second: Share your #Flobeauty experience – follow the steps and let us know how you feel.Third: You know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a quiz to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.

Click here to get your quiz!

Spring is here! For many women, this is the true ‘New’ year, a time to clean up both their surroundings and their bodies.Do you feel energized and joyful about the change in the season, or are you feeling overwhelmed? Spring can be a time where it can feel like your symptoms are blossoming anew, where the issues that were lying dormant become impossible to ignore. From rashes, to eczema, to digestive issues, to moodiness, insomnia, acne, and irritability - all of these things can be a signal that body needs some extra attention.If you’re feeling frustrated about your symptoms and want to make a change, that’s great, but don’t go overboard. As women, we tend to put pressure on ourselves to change and get results NOW, forgetting that our bodies don’t work that way. Your body needs gentle, gradual change. Here’s a quick list of don’ts:

Don’t:

• Try a starvation diet or liquid fast – No! Just no.
• Beat yourself up for any reason! Speak kindly to yourself.
• Purchase a product just because it has a celebrity’s name on it
• Try to make all changes at once – small changes over time means making new sustainable habits
• Take any concoctions or shakes if you don’t what they are and what they are doing for your body – read labels! Can’t pronounce an ingredient? Then don’t eat it!
• Give up and start eating junk food – you’ll only feel worse later

Do try the following:

• Replace all salad dressings this week with apple cider vinegar and olive oil - olive oil supports liver function, and the vinegar will help cleanse your digestive tract.
• In an exercise rut? Explore! How does your body want to move? Do you want to dance, jump on a trampoline, move your hips, take a hoola-hoop class, get out and jog in nature? Try something new. Your body craves creativity and movement – why not give it both?
• Pick up a good detox tea (we love Yogi Tea’s Peach Detox), and sip it throughout the week. Herbal teas tend to be mild, and the herbs are diluted with water - they provide a great way to get the benefits of different herbs, without worrying about dosage levels.
• Peruse the produce section. At this time of year gorgeous vegetables are abundant and flavorful. Enjoy.
• Eat radishes, especially daikon (a long, white Japanese radish) in abundance - these tasty treats melt fat from the body, and aid the liver in releasing stored fat. Eat them raw on salads, or cooked with meals!
• Journal about how you feel! What changes do you want to make? Any new intentions or goals for spring? Where can you find more balance in your life?

If you feel you are then ready to make a bigger change, then try out our WomanCode System. We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about women’s health over the past decade and put it online for you to access at your leisure. We’ve made it easy for you to change your life in a gentle, loving way!Would love to hear what you have to say – leave your questions and comments below!

PCOS Research - What You Need to Know!

For the past ten years, FLO Living has been the premier advocate for the natural treatment of hormonal imbalances for women in their reproductive years. In this article, we wanted to put a particular focus on Polycystic Ovarian Sydrome (PCOS) since 1 out of 4 women suffer from it, and the statistics are even higher when you include all of the women who have been misdiagnosed or have just not discovered it yet. It is a major health problem for those affected and one of the leading causes of infertility.In Western medicine, PCOS, along with most other hormonal conditions, is considered incurable. Symptoms include all or some of the following: irregular or absent periods, obesity, acne, facial hair, insulin resistance, depression, etc. The most common "treatments" include the birth control pill, Spironolactone for body hair, and Metformin, an insulin-regulating pharmaceutical typically prescribed to diabetics. What do these solutions have in common? They focus on masking your symptoms without getting to the root of what is causing the issue. For those of you reading who have this condition and have tried common therapies, you can also attest to how frustrated most women with PCOS feel about this type of treatment.At FLO Living, we understand the intricate relationship between a woman's hormones, her diet, and her lifestyle. We understand how simple it is to manage your own hormones without having to rely on drugs, once you have the information you need. And we want you to learn this information too, since we feel it is every woman's right to understand her body and know what her options are.A study done by doctors at the University of Naples highlights the fact that "treatment of PCOS and its complications should not solely be based on pharmacological therapies..." but rather states the following:"Taking into consideration the patients' young age and the devastating effects of PCOS on hormonal and metabolic pattern, this complex and multifaceted disease requires a comprehensive approach in order to achieve concrete beneficial effects for PCOS patients."They recommend "Multidisciplinary programs, including dietary and educational counseling, exercise training, stress management and psychosocial support" as the "gold standard" for treatment of PCOS. Doctors are now supporting what we've been saying and teaching for years!

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!

A study from the National Institute of Health suggested the majority of women will develop uterine fibroids at some point during their lifetime. These benign uterine growths can range from the size of a pea to that of a melon, and symptoms can vary from none at all to heavy or painful periods, bleeding between periods, pain during intercourse, and lower back pain, to name a few.A diagnosis of uterine fibroids can often mean just one thing: a prescription for the birth control pill as a way to control the growth of the fibroids and symptoms.

This treatment does not get down to the root cause of this health issue or actually address it long term. Hormonal birth control comes with a raft of side effects and can actually exacerbate hormonal imbalances. The other option is often surgery. And most of us, quite rightly, want to avoid invasive surgery as much as possible. The good news is that these are not the only two paths available to most women with fibroids. You can treat fibroids naturally, thus reducing the size of those you have now, preventing the growth of more, and reversing the problem. Understanding what causes uterine fibroids is the first step to treating them.

What causes uterine fibroids?

According to Western medicine, no one knows for certain what causes uterine fibroids. What we do know is that they seem to be affected by our hormones. In other words, excess estrogen in the body seems to make them grow, and they will often decrease in size after menopause (when overall body estrogen is lower). The root cause is estrogen excess or estrogen dominance in the body’s ecosystem. To treat fibroids and alleviate symptoms you need to make food and lifestyle choices that support your body in processing and eliminating this excess estrogen as efficiently and rapidly as possible. You need to create a low estrogen environment in your body. You may have heard that women with fibroids should specifically avoid meat and dairy products from animals treated with synthetic hormones. This is because synthetic hormones (another example is the birth control pill) are unnecessary and powerful estrogens that can create estrogen dominance and provoke fibroids to grow. But, just as some foods are bad for fibroids, some foods are very good for fibroids and can do the opposite, making them shrink and eventually disappear.  Part of the fibroids puzzle is also genetics. If you have fibroids, it’s quite likely your mom or sisters also have this health issue. It’s also more likely that a daughter of yours will be at higher risk of developing fibroids in her teens and 20s. You can of course stop this domino effect in its tracks by ensuring you address the estrogen excess that is the source of the problem.

How to treat fibroids naturally

For decades, here at FLO Living, we’ve offered an alternative to drugs and surgery that has been so effective in minimizing the growth and painful symptoms of uterine fibroids. What makes our approach unique is that we get to the underlying causes of this issue—the estrogen dominance and hormonal imbalance—thus decreasing the likelihood of recurrence.The FLO Living protocol inherently decreases excess estrogen and elevates progesterone levels to bring the hormones in balance. It’s about food choices, but it’s also about eliminating sources of synthetic estrogen from your life like pesticides, chemical-based beauty products and cosmetics, and even generic household cleaners.

There are 5 stages to treating fibroids naturally:

1. Reduce your estrogen overload with changes to your diet and daily routine
2. Improve your lymphatic drainage through movement, sweating, and self-care
3. Reduce your gut inflammation and support your microbiome with fermented foods and probiotics
4. Improve your liver function to encourage elimination of excess estrogen
5. Eat more of these 5 hormone balancing foods and take FLO Living's RELEASE supplement (read more below!)

The emotion-fibroid connection

At FLO Living, we understand that our mental health and physical health are connected. Stress and unprocessed anger can play a role in developing that toxic internal environment where problems like fibroids thrive. Traditional Chinese Medicine points to a connection between the emotional state and fibroid growth. Fibroids are specifically indicative of the energy of the Sacral Chakra or Second Chakra in this practice. Abuse, trauma, blocked creativity,and  resentment can all act as blockers that need to be worked through. More and more research indicates how stress can impact our physical health. Stress weakens the immune system and suppresses the overall optimal function of the body.

An increase in cortisol, the stress hormone, causes an imbalance in progesterone, creating progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance. Our bodies have a feedback loop and the impact of stress and anger on our physical health can be profound and extend far beyond raised blood pressure. Investigating your relationship with stress and anger and finding healthy outlets for their expression can be a key component in your healing journey. This can mean managing daily stress levels, prioritizing self-care, and elevating the amount of pleasure in your life. 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!

The best supplements for uterine fibroids

We've created a supplement kit that contains micronutrients and enzymes to promote healthy hormone balance so that you reduce your uterine fibroid symptoms naturally.Our brand new RELEASE supplement kit contains:

• Sulforaphane: Provides protection against fibroid growth
• N-Acetyl-L-Cystine (NAC): Antioxidant support to fight inflammation, Can reduce the size of ovarian cysts
• Diindolylmethane (DIM): Assists the body in removing excess estrogen, May improve hormonal acne, May reduce long periods (longer than 7 days)
• Calcium-D-Glucarate: Supports the liver in breaking down and removing xenoestrogens

The Top 10 Health Benefits of Orgasms for Women

1. Improves circulation to organs in the pelvic cavity, delivering nutrients, growing healthy tissues, and regulating your menstrual cycle. Women who have intercourse at least once a week are more likely to have normal menstrual cycles than women who are celibate or who have infrequent sex.

‍2. Increases fertility and sense of wellness by energizing your hypothalamus gland, which regulates appetite, body temperature, emotions, and the pituitary gland, which in turn regulates the release of reproductive hormones that induce ovulation and cervical fluid.

‍3. Provides overall lymphatic massage, helping your body’s natural detoxification process to improve digestion and mood and help prevent cancer.

‍4. Promotes healthy estrogen levels to keep vaginal tissues supple and protect against osteoporosis and heart disease.

‍5. Induces deep relaxation by boosting endorphin levels and flushing cortisol (an inflammatory hormone released by the adrenal glands) out of the body.

‍6. Spikes DHEA levels in the body. DHEA hormone improves brain function, balances the immune system, helps maintain and repair tissue, and promotes healthy skin.

‍7. Helps you look younger —studies show making love three times a week in a stress free relationship can make you look 10 years younger.

‍8. Boosts infection-fighting cells up to 20%–helps fight colds and flu!

‍9. Cures migraines and helps treat other types of pain by elevating pain thresholds (a bonus when preparing for childbirth!)

‍10. Increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, which is linked to passion, intuition, and social skills—the hormone of bonding and success!

‍If you are missing out on these amazing health benefits of orgasm, it’s time to investigate the reasons why.

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What About Squirting / Female Ejaculation?

Female ejaculation is the expulsion of fluid from the Skene's glands, which are located near the urethra. This phenomenon has been the subject of much discussion, and there is still much to learn about it. However, there is some evidence to suggest that there may be health benefits associated with female ejaculation.

1. Stress relief: Like an orgasm, ejaculation can be a release of tension and result in relaxation. It is possible that female ejaculation may have a similar effect, potentially providing stress relief.
2. Improved sexual satisfaction: Many women report that they experience greater sexual satisfaction when they are able to ejaculate. This may be due in part to the fact that it can increase intimacy between partners and can be a sign of a deeper connection.
3. Improved bladder control: The Skene's glands are located near the bladder, and it is possible that the muscles used during ejaculation may also help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can improve bladder control.
4. Increased lubrication: Female ejaculation can produce a significant amount of fluid, which can help to lubricate the vaginal area, making sex more comfortable and enjoyable.
5. Possible immune system benefits: Some studies have suggested that the fluid produced during female ejaculation may contain antimicrobial properties that could help to boost the immune system.

It's important to note that not all women are able to ejaculate, and the amount and consistency of the fluid can vary greatly from woman to woman. Additionally, more research is needed to fully understand the health benefits (if any) of female ejaculation.

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Why you’re not having orgasms

Every body is different, so first try and reflect on whether you are more focused on your own pleasure or if you are focused on trying to be "normal." Stress is actually a major cause of decreased libido. Added stress puts strain on our adrenals, those thumb-sized glands that sit right above our kidneys and kick in to help our body combat stress. This can become a very unfair vicious cycle - orgasms are one of the best stress relievers (physically and mentally) and yet stress can make it very hard for women to have an orgasm. The adrenal glands secrete the hormones necessary to keep your libido intact. When overworked from being in a constant state of stress, the last thing your body wants to do is have sex or procreate – which means you won’t get to experience the health benefits of an orgasm! Your body goes into survival mode and is just worried about sustaining itself.

Aside from low libido, here are some other signs that you might be suffering with adrenal exhaustion:

• Difficulty waking up in the morning
• Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep
• Relying on caffeine and/or sweets to keep you going
• Foggy-headedness
• Depression
• Getting sick easily, low immunity

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Does this sound familiar? Take time to address your stress and heal your adrenals with some extreme self-care in the coming weeks. Cycle Syncing® your life is the ultimate strategy for “doing it all” and “having it all” without feeling like you're always on the brink of total burn-out.

How to have more orgasms

You can use the MyFLO app to track when you have sex, but also to learn about the best way to approach sex for each phase of your cycle. The app provides comprehensive advice and tips on how to make sure sex is always great for you, regardless of whether you’re premenstrual or on your period.

For women - the best path to orgasm changes depending on which phase of your cycle you’re in and what’s happening with your hormones. Tracking your cycle and knowing this information can help you to have more and better orgasms.

For example, during your pre-menstrual phase you will likely need more foreplay (like a good make out session on the couch first) and when you’re in your follicular phase you could be more turned on by something novel and new in the bedroom.

Learn more by downloading the MyFLO app. Through the app you can have emails sent your partner that will automatically nudge them towards the kind of intimacy you need during each phase of your hormonal cycle. Thankfully, there’s lots you can do to start having more orgasms .

• Take these 4 sex drive-boosting supplements
• Add these natural aphrodisiacs to your diet - in fact, you can start with this sexy salad recipe
• Try these 3 simple life hacks to increase your libido
• Stop using a vibrator - sorry ladies, it’s true, vibrators are preventing you from receiving the full health benefits of an orgasm
• Ditch the birth control pill - studies show the pill decreases libido for many women, as well as lowering the frequency and intensity of orgasms. Once you’re off the pill, be sure to support your body in making essential hormones again so your libido can bounce back.

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How to Have Better Orgasms to Improve Your Health and Balance Your Hormones. Watch now!

We all know about the most obvious side effects of the birth control pill, like blood clots, breast cancer risk, and depression. But there are a few you probably haven't heard about yet, which may already be affecting you:

1. Counteracting Your Fitness GoalsA study found that women on the pill gain 60% less muscle mass than women who are not taking oral contraceptives. In a 10-week weight training program, half the participants were on the pill and half were not. By the end of the program, women who were not on the pill had gained significantly more muscle mass, had higher levels of muscle-building hormones, and lower levels of muscle-breaking hormones like cortisol.

2. Attracting the Wrong MateGuess what? The pill may also be wreaking havoc on your relationships. In an experiment conducted at the University of Bern in Switzerland, women were asked to smell t-shirts worn by anonymous men and then pick the one that appealed to them most. The results showed that they chose the ones with a certain gene set that were very different from their own, making them genetically compatible. When this set of genes is too similar, the risk of miscarriage increases. Women who were on the pill in this study chose the t-shirts with genes that were very similar to their own, suggesting that the pill interferes with a woman's ability to choose her most compatible mate. As one woman from the study pointed out, "A colleague of mine wonders if the Pill may contribute to divorce. Women pick a husband when they're on birth control, then quit to have a baby and realize they've made a mistake."

Of course, the pill can and does work for some women, however if you're using it to put a band-aid over annoying menstrual symptoms, to regulate an irregular cycle, or because you don't know what else to do, it's time to consider other options.

Getting in touch with your natural hormonal balance is key to unblocking many areas of your life that you may not have even considered were related. We are not knocking the pill and the incredible impact it's had on so many women and the women's liberation movement as a whole. As we at FLO have always believed, it's so important to know the facts and have all your options available before making any decision, especially when it affects your body.

If you are on the pill as a band-aid therapy to mask symptoms like irregular cycles, acne, or heavy and painful periods- you should know there is another more effective option. Our 5-step protocol gets to the underlying causes of all of those symptoms, balancing your hormones and avoiding the dangerous side effects of medication. Why not take a break from unnecessary medication and experiment with what being natural can do for your body - and your love life!

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 currently on the pill or have you been on it in the past?

Second, have you noticed side effects of the birth control pill that we haven't mentioned?

Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a 4 day hormone detox and evaluation to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.Click here to get your FREE detox and evaluation!

Hormonal Skin Problems? Here is a Checklist for Healthy Skin

Eczema, acne, dandruff, oh my!

Tis the season for annoying skin conditions to pop up, especially for those of us with hormonal health conditions.

Skin flare ups are a sign our immune system has been weakened, which is likely related to adrenal gland output of cortisol in response to stress and mismanaged blood sugar.

Our protocol is designed to get to the root of these issues, boosting your immune system and clearing up your skin in the process!

You can get proactive by speaking to one of our counselors to learn about how the protocol can work for you and by reading through our essential checklist for glowing, healthy skin:

• Check your products. Beware of any chemical irritants in your skin care products or laundry detergents. Go for the natural stuff – your skin will thank you!

• Wash your clothes! This one seems obvious, but be sure to wash any new clothes you purchase before wearing them. One of our team members recently got a bout of eczema on her breasts, only to realize it was caused by her new lacey bra that she forgot to wash before wearing!

• Look before you flush. That’s right, ladies. There are hidden messages in your BMs and if you’re not paying attention or too busy being grossed out, you’ll miss them! Look out for looseness, small pieces, or anything that doesn’t come out smoothly and cleanly. Also, beware if you’re not going at least once a day. Any of these are signs your digestive health needs a boost and probably one of the main reasons your skin isn’t doing so great.

• Start with your insides. There is a wealth of healing medicine at your disposal, simply by going to the farmer’s market. The fall harvest is full of root veggies and hearty greens that will move things through your digestive system to help eliminate toxins and excess hormones that might be building up and wreaking havoc on your skin. A huge part of your immune system is also located in your gut, so it’s a great way to prevent the seasonal flu from knocking you out.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. H2O is your friend! ‘Nough said.

• Slow down for a minute. Or preferably, much longer than a minute. We can’t underestimate the power of stress to have a huge negative impact on our hormones and our skin. If you’ve been running nonstop, multi-tasking, Blackberry-addicted, caffeine-pumped, and on the border of burnout, take our advice and take a day off.

Having a hard time sticking to these points?

Need more support or more questions answered?

Our counselors are here waiting to talk to you!

Start by scheduling a consultation today!

Supporting you and your skin,

The FLO Living Team

Hi Ladies!Alisa talks Hormone Friendly Foods on CBS' Eye on New York. Click here to check out the interview!

Yes! It is possible to heal your hormonal symptoms with food.“But I tried raspberry leaf tea and it didn’t work!”“I don’t believe there’s a magic food that can actually shrink my cysts.”We hear you, sisters!And you’re totally right.Standing alone, raspberry leaf tea is probably not enough, and there is no one magic food.We have a news flash for you:When it comes to healing your hormonal symptoms with food (which is totally possible, by the way) it’s not about spot-treating your cyst or cramps or low libido or fill-in-your-compliant-here by eating a magical substance that will make it go away.On the contrary, it’s about looking at how EVERYTHING you eat is affecting your delicate hormonal system. Specifically, there are 3 underlying causes of most hormonal imbalances that you must be aware of.The 3 underlying causes of your hormonal symptoms are….

1. Mis-managed blood sugar. Do you feel that afternoon dip in energy? Crave sugar or carbs throughout the day? Need a nap after meals? Those are all signs your blood sugar needs help!
2. Burnt out adrenal glands. Are you stressed out? Have trouble waking up in the morning? Rely on caffeine to keep you going? Chances are you’ve been putting your adrenal glands into over drive which will wreak havoc on the rest of your hormonal system.
3. Slow detoxification and elimination. Are your bowel movements irregular or slow to move? (i.e. less than twice a day, every morning and afternoon) Do you have acne, eczema, or rosacea? Looks like your liver and digestive system could use a bit of support. After all, your liver is responsible for breaking down the excess hormones in your bloodstream, and your digestive tract is how those hormones get eliminated from your body. If they aren’t working properly, those hormones will continue circulating in your bloodstream and contribute to the symptoms you’re experiencing!

Our WomanCode System helps you get to the bottom of all of these, PLUS puts additional emphasis on the energetic and emotional barriers that might also be contributing to your symptoms.Empowerment starts with education. Learn about how your body works before you start feeding it random potions hoping for a magical solution. ;)Get started here.Still not sure if the program is right for you? We invite you to a complimentary FLO Focus Session with one of our expert counselors!View the schedule and book your appointment here!

Alisa is talking with the fabulous women over at Girlfriendology on May 25th 2:00 - 2:30 EST on the BlogTalkRadio show. You don't want to miss this 'girlfriend' talk on health, hormonal imbalance, and living your best life!Here's an excerpt from Alisa's blog with Girlfriendology:EVERYTHING you eat is affecting your delicate hormonal system. Specifically, there are 3 underlying causes of most hormonal imbalances that you must be aware of.These three underlying causes are...

1. Mis-managed blood sugar. Do you feel that afternoon dip in energy? Crave sugar or carbs throughout the day? Need a nap after meals? Those are all signs your blood sugar needs help!
2. Burnt out adrenal glands. Are you stressed out? Have trouble waking up in the morning? Rely on caffeine to keep you going? Chances are you’ve been putting your adrenal glands into over drive which will wreak havoc on the rest of your hormonal system.
3. Slow detoxification and elimination. Are your bowel movements irregular or slow to move? (i.e. less than twice a day, every morning and afternoon) Do you have acne, eczema, or rosacea? Looks like your liver and digestive system could use a bit of support. After all, your liver is responsible for breaking down the excess hormones in your bloodstream, and your digestive tract is how those hormones get eliminated from your body. If they aren’t working properly, those hormones will continue circulating in your bloodstream and contribute to the symptoms you’re experiencing!

To read the rest of the article, Click Here.To connect to the radio program, Click Here.

The Benefits of Hot Yoga for Women

Do you ever feel tired or cranky when you’re PMS-ing? Even though you know eating well and exercising would probably make you feel a lot better when you're experiencing PMS (premenstrual syndrome), it’s easy to succumb to the cranky rebelliousness that says, “Skip the gym and eat nachos instead.”Well before you make that move, here’s a suggestion that will help alleviate the crankiness and make you feel better about eating nachos afterwards if you still choose to do so ;)I’ve found that the most satisfying form of exercise for my PMS time is yoga. The kind that makes you sweat. A lot. Don't miss out on the benefits of hot yoga for women!When I stepped into class last week, I was in a pretty foul mood and came close to leaving before the class even started. Being in a sticky sweaty room with a crowd of sticky sweaty people and holding your body in slightly uncomfortable positions for an hour isn’t exactly pleasant, but that’s exactly what made it appropriate. Because it brought to the surface all the frustrations I’d been feeling outside of the class, it provided an amazing outlet of release that left me feeling glowing and lighter afterwards.

So what makes hot yoga so great for PMS time?

1. There’s no impact or jumping involved, which means your tender boobies will be happily still.
2. The sweating you're doing is part of a detox process that is flushing out excess cortisol and increasing estrogen metabolism, which is essential for balanced hormones at this time of month. Plus, the sweat will help with excess water weight and bloating!
3. And finally, you're giving your serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin levels a big boost which will keep your mood in a positive state :)

And if you don’t have access to a hot yoga studio near you, get your sweat on in other ways: saunas, hot baths, dancing, and non-heated yoga classes are all great options too!

What are your favorite exercise outlets for PMS or other times of the month? Have you noticed other benefits of hot yoga for women?

Share with us below!

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Psst..... PMS got you down?

Join us for complimentary FLO Focus Session with one of our expert coaches. We’ll discuss your history and symptoms in more detail and help you assess if our programs would be a good match in helping to balance your hormones.Click here to book a session time!

Remember that story I told you a couple of weeks ago? The one about my husband being the only one in a room full of guys whose significant-other didn’t suffer from PMS?Well I’m writing today to make a pact with you that I will no longer be one of the only ones who doesn’t suffer from PMS. Are you in?You see, the PMS-phase of the cycle – technically called the luteal phase – actually contains an amazing opportunity for you. When your hormones are working in a balanced way throughout your cycle and when your symptoms are not clouding your judgment, you’ll have this time of the month to practice prioritizing yourself. It’s an opportunity to really tune in to what you need most and then find a way to set the proper boundaries so that you can honor yourself while continuing to help others in your life.I’ve been practicing this for most of my menstruating years, and I can tell you that it only gets easier and more rewarding over time! But you have to start somewhere. Especially if you’re someone who gets moody and irritable before your period, you might find self-prioritization difficult. Perhaps you’re more likely to lash out at your love ones, or get overly sensitive and cry over small things. There are hormonal reasons behind these reactions, as well as emotional ones, and you need to be aware of both in order to prevent them from getting the best of you.

Here are the 3 types of PMS you might experience:

1.) Anxiety & Irritability2.) Feeling Sensitive & Depressed3.) Bloating, Breast Tenderness, HeadachesYou can have any combo of these three, but what’s important to note is that they are all affected by your overall hormonal performance and your endocrine system.The typical solutions – Midol, Prozac, coffee, to name a few – are not really working because they are not addressing the whole picture. You need a solution that goes beyond the quick fixes and addresses you as a whole person. That’s exactly what I’ll be covering later this week in my top selling audio class, Banishing PMS Forever.I want you to have exactly what you need so that you start feeling great all month long! Here’s what I’ll be covering: Why you have: mood-swings, sugar cravings, acne, bloating, and cramps How to get 2 key hormones balanced to end PMS for good The key supplements to take to banish PMS Prioritizing you – the real opportunity of the luteal phase In short, you will learn how to banish PMS for good!Good things come in threes:

Now, I want to hear from you!

First: What type of PMS do you experience? Second: What was your favorite tip from my audio class?Third: You know every one you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below

Need more Hormone Help?

If you’re needing some health upgrading, it’s time you started you looking into what’s going on with your hormones.I’ve designed a quiz to help you understand exactly what’s out of whack and how you can start getting back to balance so that your hormones no longer have to suffer.

Click here to get your quiz!

Alisa was recently featured on lifebyme.com. Life By Me is a really amazing project. Sophie Chiche, the founder of Life By Me, asks one question of the people she interviews: "What is most meaningful to you?" Then, she sits back and listens, she really listens. One original answer is featured every day on the website. We love this website (and Sophie)!So when Alisa was asked what is most meaningful to her, I know you won't be surprised when she answered "aligning with what's uniquely female about my body."Here's an excerpt of the interview (below) - to read the entire interview, and to explore the rest of the Life By Me site, CLICK HERE.I've derived my life's purpose and joy, my understanding of myself, connections and collaborations with others, and magical serendipitous opportunities from aligning with what's uniquely female about my body.It took getting slapped around by health issues to recognize my body's magic. When I was 19, my body broke down completely, from a hormonal standpoint. I weighed 200 pounds, was covered in acne, was severely depressed, and got my period twice a year, if I was lucky. At the time, I was studying at Johns Hopkins to become an OB/GYN. One night, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and spent the night in the medical library. I finally found a tiny article and a likely diagnosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, which turned out to be confirmed by testing. My body had given me a clear, meaningful direction and I'd followed it.I asked my doctor, "Now what do we do?" Her answer was, basically, nothing. I'd be medicated and get used to dealing with things like diabetes, infertility, heart disease, and increased likelihood of cancer. But the cells of my body screamed a big NO at me. I said, "Thank you. I'm going to take my expensively trained mind and go figure this out." She chuckled and said, "Okay, well, when you need the meds, let me know."Over the next years, I explored alternative therapies and apprenticed myself with naturopaths, acupuncturists, applied kinesiologists, underwater basket weavers - you name it --- to read more CLICK HERE

The defining moment for me came 12 years ago, when I decided to go on the pill at the age of 20. I was suffering from a hormonal imbalance called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. At my worst, I weighed 200 pounds, I had severe cystic acne on my face chest and back, I was deeply depressed, and I had my period only about three times a year. It was quite traumatic.

I didn't even know what I had for quite awhile. Doctor after doctor suggested that maybe I had a slow thyroid, or an endocrine problem, or even candida, but all their tests came back inconclusive. I finally diagnosed myself with PCOS after tremendous research on my own. And that's when I was hit with even worse news: PCOS is considered incurable by Western medicine.

The one thing my doctors agreed on, after finally performing the right diagnostic testing with my guidance, was that I should start taking oral contraceptives. They all believed that artificially regulating my hormone levels would reduce my unpleasant symptoms, even though they didn't know what the cause was. The pill never felt like the right option to me. But after saying no repeatedly, and not getting any other answers, I realized I had to take a scientific, experimental approach to my situation. I had to admit that, having never tried the pill, I didn't know how it would affect me. So I went ahead and tried it.

Less than two weeks later, I knew my original intuition to say 'no' was absolutely right. I was having ocular migraines, which caused me to lose my vision temporarily, in addition to the searing migraine pain, fluctuating body temperature, and heart arrhythmia. I realized that my body was not reacting to the artificial hormones in the pill the same way it would to hormones produced naturally in my body. The simple solution prescribed by all my doctors just wasn't going to work for me.

In that defining moment, I finally realized that it was up to me to empower my own healing process. If I had had access to the best medical thinking on these issues, as I was myself planning to be a GYN while studying at Johns Hopkins University, then what were women to do who didn't have my access for this condition and other GYN castaway conditions?

So that's what I began to do. I started studying everywhere and anywhere I could. I felt that there were answers available outside of Western medicine, so I apprenticed myself to alternative healthcare practitioners. I studied the whole gamut of herbology, naturopathy, homeopathy, acupressure, elimination diets, and tried everything. I used myself as a guinea pig to see what could be done.

During these experiments, I found that the only thing that worked on powerfully impacting my own body chemistry was food. When I found the right combination of medicinal foods to heal hormonal imbalances, I saw tremendous positive changes in my health. I lost 60 pounds, my skin cleared up, and my depression lifted. Best of all, I have had regular menstrual periods for the last decade. Out of all of this experimentation came an understanding of what the true underlying causes of hormonal imbalances are and the discovery of what has become my 5 step healing protocol and foundation of my company.

After completing my studies in Integrative Medicine and Nutrition, I formalized my protocol and opened up my center Laughing Sage Wellness, now FLO Living - in midtown manhattan. At first I began reaching out to other women with PCOS to let them know that their condition was not incurable. In those early years of my practice, I realized something very critical - the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances are very similar, and my protocol was effective for all the GYN castaway conditions.

Fast forward to today, I have a 10 year old center in Columbus Circle Manhattan, I have worked with many hundreds of women in the US and in four continents to heal naturally from these conditions, I educate ten thousand readers weekly through the LSW Newsletter, I hire and train other health counselors to deliver this protocol, and my company is poised on the precipice of major expansion.

The protocol I designed, which uses the science of food (nutrigenomics) to manipulate a woman's hormonal biochemistry, is now the study of a year long clinical trial spearheaded by a brilliant reproductive research scientist and physician from Columbia University in conjunction with the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine. It should be noted that the lead physician for this study spent 10 years in his lab researching the effects of turmeric on the vascular health of ovaries!

I have been a woman on fire with a mission for a long time and now my vision for revolutionizing the way women's healthcare is delivered is coming to fruition. FLO Living was founded to treat women with chronic GYN issues such as PCOS, PMS, Fibroids, Cystic Ovaries, Thyroid Issues, Adrenal Fatigue, IBS, Amenorreah, Dysmenorreah, and HPV. If you've gone to the GYN and have discovered one of these issues and you've heard the following options given to you: drugs, surgery, or we'll see you in 6mos - then you need to know about what's possible for you at FLO Living.