FLO Living Blog

Fad foods and health trends come and go, but some stick around, and usually that’s because they actually work! Unlike that other trend I recently tackled - activated charcoal - bone broth is still making headlines this year as a miracle elixir that improves your skin, your gut health and more! I’m here to give you my perspective, which is - it’s all true! I love bone broth. I drink it as often as possible and always keep my freezer stocked with fresh batches.

Bone broth and your fertility

One benefit we haven’t heard a whole lot about, though, is how bone broth works to balance your hormones, heal infertility issues, and boost your fertility. It sounds like a stretch, right? But really it’s not. There are several ways that bone broth works in your body to help your hormones be the best they can be.

1. Bone broth heals your gut health issues. Gut health is inextricably linked to your hormonal health. If you have a leaky gut then your body is not able to absorb the nutrients and minerals it needs to even produce hormones! It’s just that vital. Inflammation in your gut from food sensitivities and allergies can cause a massive increase in the stress hormone cortisol and this puts all your other hormones out of whack. If you have digestive issues of any kind - from bloating, to IBS, to constipation (did you know you ought to “go” first thing in the morning, no caffeine required?) - then you definitely have hormonal issues and you need bone broth today! It will fix you right up, I promise.
2. Bone broth is packed full of the amino acids proline and glycine. Amino acids are essential for hormone production and for the hormone detoxification process that allows your body to get rid of the excess, rather than having them stagnate and cause imbalance issues like estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance leads to PCOS, endometriosis and all sorts of fertility blocking problems. A strong selection of amino acids on hand for your body produces the best internal ecosystem for optimum fertility.
3. Bone broth has the perfect mix of calcium and collagen. Calcium is necessary for hormone balancing and liver detoxifying - part of the reason bone broth also gives you great skin! Collagen repairs our cells and tissues, it holds us all together! As we biologically age, we lose collagen - as we can see first in sagging skin. Bone broth keeps us internally and externally youthful. Collagen is like our hormones’ little helper - when we have more of it, our hormones don’t have to work quite so hard.

How to make bone broth

I’m sure you’ve seen other articles on bone broth and maybe you’ve felt a little overwhelmed about the idea of trying to make your own. My favorite recipe, if you do feel like starting from scratch, is from Sally Fallon’s book “Nourishing Traditions.” I’ll share it here in case you’re feeling inspired in the kitchen!My favorite is the chicken broth, but she also has recipes for beef and fish broth here (fish broth might be a good choice if you are normally vegetarian in your diet as there are no comparable vegetarian or vegan alternatives with the same benefits). “1 whole free-range chicken or 2 to 3 pounds of bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breastbones and wings (important note: the chicken ought to be organic and free range) gizzards from one chicken (optional) 2-4 chicken feet (optional)4 quarts cold filtered water2 tablespoons vinegar1 large onion, coarsely chopped2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped1 bunch parsleyIf you are using a whole chicken, cut off the wings and remove the neck, fat glands and the gizzards from the cavity. Cut chicken parts into several pieces. (If you are using a whole chicken, remove the neck and wings and cut them into several pieces.) Place chicken or chicken pieces in a large stainless steel pot with water, vinegar and all vegetables except parsley. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour. Bring to a boil, and remove scum that rises to the top. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 6 to 8 hours. The longer you cook the stock, the richer and more flavorful it will be. About 10 minutes before finishing the stock, add parsley. This will impart additional mineral ions to the broth.Remove whole chicken or pieces with a slotted spoon. If you are using a whole chicken, let cool and remove chicken meat from the carcass. Reserve for other uses. Strain the stock into a large bowl and reserve in your refrigerator until the fat rises to the top and congeals. Skim off this fat and reserve the stock in covered containers in your refrigerator or freezer.”Quite the process, right? Yes, it’s really for the dedicated, this homemade broth-making, BUT there are some easier ways. Yay!

1. You can just make chicken soup from scratch and then take the bones out of the chicken - put them in a fresh pot of water along with apple cider vinegar and boil for several hours. I sometimes do this and it’s super simple.
2. Order your broth online or with your weekly/monthly CSA box! Au Bone Broth delivers bone broth to your door wherever you are. Most cities also have local bone broth dispensaries - here in Manhattan my favorites are the Oliver Weston Company and Bone Deep and Harmony.

How to use bone broth

There are many ways to use bone broth in your day to day diet, but here’s how I use my batches: - I drink it straight in a mug, it tastes absolutely delicious this way with nothing fancy added- I cook my stir fry or sauteed veggies with it instead of oil- I mix it up with my grains The great thing about bone broth, too, is that it is good for the whole family, and especially for children suffering with allergies or immunity issues. My baby girl gets bone broth along with me. I’m starting her early on eating and living in her 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, do you have fertility issues?Second, are you already using bone broth? Third, how would you describe your pregnancy experience?

Are You Trying to Conceive?

If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a mom—then we want to help you optimize your fertility.Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, our Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception. Click here to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.

Living in New York City, when the seasons change, boy do we know about it! If you’ve not experienced it, then I know you’ve definitely seen on the news how our winter storms have really upped their game in recent years. Basically, it’s dark and gloomy for 3-4 months straight. Sometimes the Holidays and Christmas lights and gift shopping are just not enough to beat back the blues. But there’s a difference between feeling low because you can no longer sit out in the park of an evening, and chronic sadness. Seasonal Affective Disorder shows up in feeling blue, but also as increased irritability, anxiety, issues focusing or concentrating, sleeping longer but not as deeply, and feeling lethargic. Fall is like the weather’s luteal phase! And just like with our own pre-menstrual experience, if we don’t support our bodies and our hormones then we will find that we take the transition much harder than is necessary. You Winter proof your house, right? Well, you’ve got to Winterproof yourself too! Because when the weather’s PMS and your PMS sync - you’ll be in for a rough ride!

The hormonal story behind SAD symptoms

Both pre-menstrual depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder occur because of low levels of the hormones serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin is produced in our bodies from the precursor amino acid tryptophan, and melatonin is converted from serotonin by the pineal gland at night. Thus, low serotonin yields low melatonin, which messes with our sleep cycles and further contributes to depressed feelings.Take away regular doses of natural sunlight with the darkening weather, and it gets even worse. Sunlight increases serotonin production, as well as Vitamin D production, which helps maintain the serotonin levels. I should also mention that the stress hormone cortisol can impact serotonin production, so if you throw stress or adrenal issues into the mix, it will exacerbate the problem.

The 5 Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder

I’m certain that prescriptions of antidepressants increase exponentially at this time. But you can avoid this heavy-hitting protocol, by trying out some natural, gentle remedies that will support your body, your hormones and boost your mood holistically. Hop over here to get some additional tips on alleviating stress and anxiety too.

1. Brighten your diet. Seek out foods that contain the amino acid tryptophan. These include: turkey, chicken, seafood, eggs, buckwheat, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Vitamin B6 is also important for melatonin production and progesterone production so pick up a B6 supplement and increase the foods listed above. I’m also including a smoothie recipe here that is rich in serotonin-boosting nutrients. You can fight PMS with food and weather-PMS is just the same!
2. Light up your life. Get out of bed and go for a walk first thing in the morning when the sun’s up, if possible. Waking your body up with natural light is one of the best things you can do for moods and monthly cycle. If it’s hard to come by where you live, or the weather is just too bad, then invest in an indoor energy lamp like these or a light mask like this.
3. Get in the rhythm! Waking up and going to sleep at the same time, as well as eating meals and exercising at similar times every day greatly improves your body’s inner circadian rhythms, which will help regulate your sleep cycle and menstrual cycle. A regular rhythm will combat the winter blues and the PMS blues, all at once. I have some tips for getting better sleep and developing a good bedtime routine.
4. Make your social network a reality. Get off Facebook (at least for a while!) and get real personal contact with your favorite humans! Chance are, you’re not alone in feeling down. Picking up the phone to chat with a friend can be the greatest remedy of all.
5. Up Your Supplement Game. If you’re in the SAD cave, then taking the right supplements isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessity. You’re already exhibiting the effects of depleted levels of key micronutrients and a disrupted gut microbiome. You need probiotics, omega 3’s, D3, B-vitamins, and more. Click here to learn about our recommended supplements.

How to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder With Supplements

If you’re ready for a natural solution that will help you balance your mood, order the Balance Supplement Kit and get the daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals you need to get rid of those winter blues. 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 suffer with SAD? Second, what helps to boost your mood in the darker months? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Need more Hormone Help?

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 BALANCE Bio-Hacking Supplement Kit.

The holiday season from Halloween on can test the healthy eating habits of even the most determined of us! It’s the time of year when health bloggers are telling you to swap sweet candy for green apples and we all nod along enthusiastically until we actually find ourselves in the grocery store, faced with aisle upon aisle of our favorite chocolate bars, now made even more tempting by being so small, cute, and fun-sized! There are some important reasons to not go over-the-top when it comes to sugar - mismanaged blood sugar levels are a root cause of hormonal health issues like PCOS, PMS, painful periods, and infertility issues. But I know that depriving yourself completely isn’t a realistic approach at this time of year, instead it should be about balance. So, I’m not here to tell you you can’t indulge in your favorite sugary Halloween treat. It’s a wonderful thing when you’ve been taking care of your hormones with your diet studiously for some time to take a moment to really, truly savor some candy. I get it - when I was a kid I would swap all of my Halloween candies for my friends’ KitKat bars. I looooved those KitKat bars like nothing else. And I do still sometimes sit down and indulge in my favorite chocolate bar - I just find now that I want my sweet fix to be as healthful as possible.

Halloween candy and your kids

Speaking of kids - now that I have my baby girl, how to approach Halloween in a way that’s best for my family is definitely on my mind. Not long now and she’ll be off trick-or-treating with her friends and bringing back bags full of candy, just like I did. While your child is still under your care, that is, she/he is still at the age when they’ll take your advice and listen to what you think is best, then try to instill in them a sense of the value of real food. Wean them off the regular candies with my favorite alternatives and soon enough they’ll like them more. At least that is what they can find at home, even if at school it might be a different story! They’ll learn the difference and then they can have that educational foundation as they grow up to make their own choices. This Halloween, if your kids come home with bags of regular, processed, junk candy - consider doing a swap with them for my healthier alternatives. Then consider donating the candy they were given. Operation Gratitudesends care packages to troops overseas, including all the treats they may have not seen for months or years. It’s a good way to get rid of at least some of that Halloween haul and teach your kids the importance of sharing at the same time. I know it would be super expensive to hand out my healthy candy alternatives to all the neighborhood kids (if you do still get trick-or-treaters at your door on Halloween night…), so let’s hope some day these companies can compete on their pricing with the big brands and we can all share hormone-friendly treats with our neighbors and friends.

My favorite healthy Halloween candy alternatives

I think the best way to sail through the holiday season from Halloween on, candy-wise, is a 2 step process -

1) Don’t stress about the occasional indulgence with your favorite regular treatsand 2) Plan ahead to satisfy your cravings with healthy candy alternatives that you can enjoy just as much (no green apples, I promise!).Most of these healthy candies can be found at your local WholeFoods or health food store. Buying online can also help you save. Oh, and if anyone finds a company that makes healthy version of my favorite KitKat bars, please let me know! I’m still on the look out for that one.

1. Justin’s natural candies - everything from lollipops to gummies to candy bars are here. They even have natural candy corn, pumpkin lollipops, black and orange natural food coloring, and a trick-or-treat mixed bag!

1. Sun cups - I’d say Reese’s peanut butter cups were my second favorite treat as a kid, after KitKats. Now I love these dark chocolate and sunbutter cups! They’re just as delicious.
2. Sunspire - M&Ms are everywhere this time of year with all the special flavors and colors. Sunspire does a healthy alternative for both milk chocolate and peanut butter M&Ms called SunDrops. You’ll never look back!
3. The Lovely Candy Company - is just that, lovely! It brings us fruit chews, caramels, and licorice, all without all the processed junk.
4. Ocho candy bars - Ocho does the perfect alternative to an Almond Joy bar. It’s incredible h

1. ow close it is to the real thing. For Halloween, they also helpfully provide pouches of mini versions of all of their bars.
2. Endangered Species chocolate mini bars - these are the perfect fun size for Halloween and they are flavored cranberry or mint for the holiday season, if you’re thinking ahead to what you might save for Christmas stockings!

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 struggle with sugar cravings? Second, what are your favorite healthy alternatives? 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!

A couple of weeks back I shared an article on the Flo Living Facebook page about how Kim Kardashian said that pregnancy was “the worst experience” of her life. This really struck a chord with our Flo community and many of you shared your own feelings about pregnancy and the issues you’ve gone through while carrying a child. Some women said they loved being pregnant, some women said they genuinely hated it - but all agreed the outcome made the struggle worthwhile!But, does pregnancy have to be that hard? Is it supposed to be like that? You want to know and I hear that. So, I’m going to address this head on. Short answer: No, pregnancy doesn’t have to be all that bad. Long answer: I mean, let me be honest with you, if you’re a hormonally sensitive woman (say if, like me, you have PCOS) then the surge of hormones during pregnancy will likely cause you some issues. For me, I gained 50 pounds. If you’re the kind of women whose hormonal balance can be made hectic by excess estrogen or the change in SHGB (sex hormone binding globulin) then there are some symptoms of this that will be unavoidable like changes in hair and skin. However, the same strategies that I encourage women to use to help themselves get pregnant naturally are, thankfully, also the same strategies you can use to ensure a healthy, happy pregnancy. Basically, if you prep for pregnancy in the right way then you are setting yourself up for a much easier 9 months! This is what I did to help myself and the result was a really happy healthy pregnancy.There are 2 parts of your pregnancy experience that you can control completely before you get pregnant, and while you are pregnant. Taking charge in these areas will absolutely decrease the intensity and severity of any hormonal imbalance and hormone sensitivity issues you might face otherwise. These are:

• Your body’s chemical load at the start of pregnancy.

• Your deficiency in key micronutrients prior and throughout the pregnancy.

If either of these areas of your health are not optimal then pregnancy could be a struggle. All the energy and effort (and the bulk of the nourishment from your food) goes towards growing your baby. Baby becomes first priority, so if you are under-nourished you will feel worse and if your chemical load is high you will feel worse. Your liver has less time for you and your body’s supply of nutrients is going direct to baby as much as possible.

With this in mind, how then to ensure a healthy, easy pregnancy?

• Love your liver. There’s no quick fix to detox your liver and make sure everything is running smoothly. The best way to do this is with good Flo foods and regular doses of my favorite cilantro smoothie!
• Clean out the chemicals. That means eating organic to avoid pesticides, sure, but also cleaning out your cosmetics bag and your home cleaning closet. Chemicals lurk all over our homes and we need to be vigilant in getting rid of endocrine disruptors. The less your liver has to detox from dealing with, the better for you and baby.
• Nourish your body. There is one nutrient that many, even most, women are very low on and which is absolutely essential for getting pregnant and for having an easier pregnancy - that’s vitamin D3. Upping your D3 intake is a great place to start when you’re preparing yourself for a pregnancy.
• Think ahead. An easy pregnancy is better achieved with at the very least 3 months, and at the very best a whole year, of prior preparation. This is often left out of a conversation that tends to focus on what you eat during pregnancy, but it’s just as important to start eating in your Flo way ahead of time. It gives your body the head start it needs to take care of you and your baby.

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 suffer with SAD? Second, are you hoping to conceive soon? Third, how would you describe your pregnancy experience?

Are You Trying to Conceive?

If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a mom—then we want to help you optimize your fertility.Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, our Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception.Click here to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.

Winter is coming and that means cold, cough and flu season is heading our way fast like a building storm. Balanced hormones will provide you with a healthy, active immune system that’s ready to take on pretty much anything. So eating in your Flo already (or starting today!) will make a big difference to how the next season works out for you and your health. However, there are some other (surprising!) ways to build on this foundation that will gear up your immunity to superhero status. Hormonal balance is a big part of the immunity-protection process, but also - - your adrenal and thyroid glands need to be in their prime- getting stressed out and producing too much cortisol is going to leave your immune system more vulnerable to overwhelm- your gut microbiome is critical in the strength of your immune system so you need to nourish itI live in Manhattan and germs are everywhere (ever read those studies about the bacteria on New York subway seats or hand rails? Ewww...). Getting sick isn’t always about germs, it’s more about your ability to manage exposure to germs and how your body responds. You need to support your immune system as an integrated part of your overall health in order to help it handle anything you might end up being exposed to.

The 5 surprising, natural ways to boost your immunity

1. Orgasm! Yes, yes, yes! It’s super important that you have regular orgasms (maybe you should print this out and put it on the fridge for your partner to see?). The blend of nitric oxide and boosted oxytocin that comes about when you orgasm increases the efficiency and power of your immune system response. More sex = less colds. Follow my FLO formula to orgasm every time - partner not necessary.
2. Take time off. Ten years ago or so it was common practice to stay home from work or school when sick to get better and not spread the virus around. These days it seems like we all think we have to power through and turn up at our desk no matter what. One sick day at home in bed or on the sofa is going to help you recover faster, let your immune system truly bounce back, and stop you getting sick again soon. It will also save your colleagues from the same illness. With kids - keep them home! One day off from school can allow them to recover faster.
3. Go organic for Winter. If you’ve not gone organic already, then the start of Fall/Winter is the best time to do so. I know eating organic can be expensive - but so is time off work, medications, doctor’s visits and so on! Avoiding pesticides will support your immune system. Your immunity is created in your gut - pesticides make the wrong kinds of bacteria thrive and kill off the healthy bacteria you badly need. This one-two punch beats down your immune system.
4. Stop binge drinking. Even one night a week or a month of drinking heavily is going to increase gut inflammation. Yes - that becomes your new normal and makes you way more likely to get every cough, cold, and flu going around. You can fix it and regain your immunity, but first you have to stop the binge drinking so your body can actually absorb the nutrients and minerals it needs to heal itself and then protect you.
5. Listen to Old Wive’s Tales. Ever heard “feed a cold, starve a fever”? Well, it’s exactly right. Funny how some of the old sayings and wisdoms that have stuck around are still here because they speak the truth. If you do get sick, feed your cold an antioxidant-rich diet that’s very plant based. I’m talking juices, salads, cooked veggies, fresh fruit. For a fever - lots of bone broth with nothing else in it as well as warm water with lemon juice. Also - pack your medicine cabinet with hormone-friendly natural remedies to reach for.

Try my favorite cold-busting, immune-boosting juice recipe:

½ a carrot¼ a beet Juice of ½ a lemon¼ cup of chopped ginger½ cup of pineappleJuice of ½ an orange 1 tablespoon of manuka honeyAlways 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 find that you get sick a lot? Second, what’s your favorite cold/flu natural remedy? Share with us! 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!

A few weeks back I shared my smoothie prescriptions to banish symptoms of PMS, fatigue, low libido and boost your fertility. Now we’re coming into Fall, I’m thinking you all need something warmer and more comforting to fix what ails you. It’s soup season! Soup to me is basically a hot smoothie.

I take the same pleasure in coming up with adventurous and inspiring blends of my favorite Flo foods. I make soups in batches and freeze them for later (you may have noticed this when I told you all about what’s in my fridge and pantry!). I like a really filling, nourishing soup for dinner and sometimes I keep them on hand for a small bowl snack.

I have the perfect soup recipe here that you must try this weekend. It’s the best medicine for your PMS, fatigue, flagging sex drive and problem periods - all in one go. It’s a super-soup!

The super-soup to banish all of your symptoms!

This soup is nutrient dense, satisfying, with slow-releasing energy, mood stabilizing fat, liver supporting vitamins and proteins, and blood sugar balancing carbohydrates. Make it for dinner to get better sleep and stop yourself from craving sweets come 10pm.

‍Ingredients

‍Soup (serves 4)

4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger

1 pound carrots, chopped

2 teaspoons turmeric

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Coconut oil

‍Topping

‍1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 tablespoon chopped red onion

4 tablespoons coconut yogurt

4 tablespoons of cooked black beans

‍Instructions

‍Add coconut oil to a large stockpot. Add onions and garlic with Himalayan salt, pepper and turmeric and sauté for about a minute. Add the carrots. Add veggie broth and bring to boil. Add the ginger and lemon juice. Reduce to a simmer and cook for around 20 minutes until the carrots feel tender.Allow the soup to cool slightly, then blend until smooth. Top each bowl with a tablespoon of coconut yogurt, a tablespoon of cooked black beans, some cilantro and red onion. Serve and reheat as desired.

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed can lead to a cascade of hormonal health-rooted issues from fatigue, to low libido, to missing periods. When we get stressed, we tend to self-medicate with the tempting trifecta of sugar, coffee, and alcohol - sending our blood sugar on a rollercoaster ride, putting our adrenals in overdrive, and hampering the liver’s detoxification process. If you’re 35 plus and juggling career goals, childcare, your relationship and big financial decisions, all while going through perimenopause, elevated stress levels are going to make you feel like you’ve lost the plot. I hear your pain - it just never stops, does it? You climb to the top of one mountain only to find a whole range of mountains on the other side! You give, give, give to your boss, work colleagues, family, friends. Everyday your Facebook feed fills with the latest lifehacks that promise to fix it all and give you back your time, energy, and sanity. You try them, you feel more on top of it perhaps, for a while, but you still can’t shake the fatigue, combat the extra pounds, get back your desire for sex, or figure out your periods - you’re more organized, but you still feel lousy. So, what’s a woman to do? I’m going to say, right up front, the first thing you need to do is to stop trying to solve the problem with your thoughts! Being in our heads instead of our bodies and living from the neck up leads straight to Burn Out Town. Focusing on super-scheduling skills, to-do lists, end results, self-reliance, and resilience has us living through only our “masculine” energy. We need to tap into our “feminine” energy (all of us, men and women, both!) to access our innate ability to de-stress, intuit, create, and feel centered about everything that comes our way. Doing this will help your hormones, your health, and make you more productive, creative, and powerful in the workplace. I go to a lot of events where I speak to rooms full of women like you. The most popular question I’m asked is always - how do I avoid stress? Usually experts dole out strategies for organizing, focusing, dividing and dominating your time to make your day work for you. Strategies that are all coming from a masculine perspective on what works. What do I say…? Take a break. Take time out. Take a moment to be in your body instead of your head. Find time for pleasure. Make moments for reconnecting with your feminine energy. Do something that will help you connect with your heart and everything else will feel so much easier. I know this might sound wishy-washy when compared to the step-by-step guides to lifehacking, but I promise you that this is THE solution to de-stressing. This will help you bend time, make time, and regain time all in one go. You’ll stop watching the days blur into one long uphill struggle punctuated only by poor sleep when you just cannot switch off. You need to take some time, for yourself, to make time, for yourself, and for everyone else in your life. Otherwise, at some point, probably in your mid-30s when hormonal imbalance hits the fan - you will burn out. Just because you have ovaries it doesn’t mean you’re living in your feminine energy - it’s pretty likely, especially if you’re dealing with hormonal health issues, that you need to reconnect to this side of yourself. The female body, our bodies, quite literally created time through our cycles. Our body’s rhythms are what taught human beings the concept of time. So, isn’t it just perfect that the solution to managing your own time is reconnecting with your body? It’s the original lifehack! In the same way that I discuss living in your Flo through the month and helping your feminine energy mold your weeks, I suggest taking the same strategy to your day.

5 ways to avoid stress by using your feminine energy

We’ve come to hate the idea of procrastination, but I think it all depends on how you get your distractions! Not working is so important to the process of productivity. Taking breaks is not wasting time if you’re using those breaks wisely. You’ll boost oxytocin and let your natural stress relief hormones do the job they were made for!

1. Get up and move! Try my one day movement plan for whether you’re at the office or at home. Feel and be in your body for a while. I love to take little dance breaks. I put on my favorite song and dance around the living room! I’ve even been known to do this in the middle of the night when baby has me up and about at 2am! How often do we hear men say that going for a run clears their head? Even the most high-powered masculine CEOs know the importance of getting in touch with their feminine energy to make them more productive, creative, and powerful. A walk around the block, alone, with a friend (on the phone or in person!), is energizing and enlightening. You’ll return to your desk feeling refreshed.
2. Connect with your favorite humans! I am lucky in that I get to take breaks while working from home to cuddle with my daughter or have a little playtime. However, I also recommend taking 15 minutes to call your best friend and share a funny story and have a good giggle. Laughter can be the best medicine.
3. Make your desk a peaceful sanctuary. Where ever you work, set it up so you can take breaks to, literally, smell the roses. Buy fresh flowers during your lunchbreak, or have them delivered (the glamour!). Set up an aromatherapy essential oil diffuser. Have photos of your loved ones that inspired happy, blissful memories. Linger on all these elements every once in awhile throughout the day and take pleasure in them.
4. Make time to for self-pleasure! Spend 20 minutes alone with some coconut oil and follow my WomanCode tips for an orgasm every time. It’s super important that you do this au natural - without vibrators and other accessories - there are some good reasons why this can actually hold you back.
5. Read stories. New research shows that reading fiction “deeply” or “pleasure reading” as it’s also called - that means getting totally immersed in a good book instead of skimming articles on the internet - can make us feel really good. It puts you in a state almost like meditation. Getting to see the world from someone else’s perspective also brings a new energy and light to your own situation.

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 struggle with stress? Second, how do you choose to relax? 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!

A new research study has revealed that even short term use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Asprin, Ibuprofen and Naproxen can prevent ovulation and cause infertility. The research suggests this is because these over-the-counter medications can decrease progesterone production, a hormone that is essential for the body to trigger ovulation. This impact is temporary, but this new knowledge is vital for both women who are trying to conceive and those who are not. For those trying to conceive even one infertile cycle can be seen as a setback to their hope for a planned pregnancy, and if a woman is dealing with pain every month then it might not just be one cycle she’s missing. For those not looking to conceive - low progesterone and a lack of ovulation in even one cycle can impact your mood, energy levels, sex drive and cause you to have an early period. A lack of progesterone can show up as sleep problems, hair loss and PMS. Essentially, the kind of drugs we all keep in our bathroom cabinet and often think very little of taking, can be sabotaging out hormonal balance! This is major news and it might have you thinking about how other medications you like to keep on hand could be causing similar hormonal havoc.

Alternatives to NSAIDs that won’t harm your fertility

I’ve discussed before how you might stock a natural medicine cabinet that provides easy and effective alternatives to NSAIDs for period cramps and pain. If most of your painkiller consumptions comes around your period then I’ve also discussed other natural cures for this discomfort. If you suffer with pre-menstrual headaches I have outlined a way to address this with diet changes. Magnesium deficiency can also be at the root of migraines.

The impact of other medications on your fertility

I’d like to talk you through how other commonly-used medications might be worth reconsidering for more than very rare use if you want to support your hormones and your health. Plus provide you with some ideas for natural treatment alternatives. The birth control pillHormonal contraceptives prevent ovulation by replacing your body’s natural hormones with a stream of synthetic hormones that flatten out the cycle to make it a one-note experience. These synthetic hormones do not act like our own hormones in that they actually produce a biological state much like menopause. Similarly to NSAIDs - you won’t be producing progesterone when using these birth control methods. The birth control pill may suppress symptoms of hormonal health issues like PCOS or endometriosis, but it does not treat the root cause and so the problems will inevitably return once you come off. One of the biggest myths about the Pill is that it “protects” your fertility, when in reality, it is harming your hormones. I have helped hundreds of women transition off the Pill with a tried-and-tested formula. There are many natural alternatives to successfully avoid pregnancy. If you are using the Pill for a hormonal health issue, you’re in the right place as you are obviously seeking alternatives! I developed the FLO Hormone Balance Program to help - with endometriosis, PCOS, and more. AntibioticsAntibiotic treatments kill off the good bacteria along with the bad and disrupt your all-important microbiome. One set of healthful and helpful gut bacteria, more specifically certain bacterial genes, called the estrobolome, produce an essential enzyme that helps metabolize estrogen. Your gut or microbiome therefore is part of the elimination system that is vital in ushering hormones out of the body. This process, when working efficiently, plays an essential role in perfect hormonal balance (I’ve previously discussed this in more detail). Essentially, over-use of antibiotics can lead you to estrogen dominance, a source of many hormonal health issues. I interviewed Dr Raphel Kellman - the man who discovered the microbiome - here. Many women use antibiotics mostly for urinary tract infections and yeast infections. There’s no need for this! These medications make the problem worse over time and create a vicious cycle. I have shared my preferred natural alternative treatments. 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 trying to conceive? Second, have you successfully used natural treatments for cramps or headaches? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Are You Trying to Conceive?

If you want to do everything in your power to improve your chances of becoming a mom—then we want to help you optimize your fertility.Whether you are just starting to think about having a baby, or have already tried naturally or have been trying with IVF, our Fertile FLO Program will help improve your chances of conception.Click here to download my FREE guide, The 5 Health Foods to Avoid to Get and Stay Pregnant.

I know most women assume that after getting their first period and then pregnancy that the next hormonal milestone is menopause. But we skip a step - the third “P” in our lifetime hormonal cycle is perimenopause, the shift that happens once we hit 35. Perimenopause can have an impact on how you look and feel in ways that you don’t expect to deal with until much later, and the effects are all the more startling the less you have supported your hormones and your health up to this point. Perimenopause can be when some women realize they just can’t put off taking care of their bodies better anymore. If you’re not healthy, your body will let you know now!

The first sign that you’re entering perimenopause will likely be newly and unexpectedly irregular periods.

Your hormone production is slowly waning. You won’t ovulate as regularly, every cycle, and your periods will reflect this. We expect our cycles to stay the same until they suddenly stop with the menopausal shift, but actually this is a long process that starts in our 30s. The good news is that if you take control at this first sign of entering this life phase, then you can prevent many of the symptoms that come along with the change. Not to mention allowing yourself the option of achieving pregnancy when you want to, in your third decade.How much you feel the impact of the perimenopausal hormonal shift in your day-to-day life will depend a whole lot on your diet and lifestyle. The less healthy and hormonally-supportive those aspects are, the more likely it is that perimenopause will hit you hard. Here’s how you should not be feeling when you reach 35:

• Completely disinterested in sex
• Like you’ve got your teenage skin back, acne and all
• Out of control when it comes to your weight - you’re gaining and nothing you do helps
• Exhausted from lack of good, deep, healthy sleep
• Anxious, low and overwhelmed by everything going on in your life
• Worried about where your periods have gone now that you want children

These are not natural, normal signs of perimenopause - far from it. These are actually symptoms premature hormonal aging!

Change your diet and lifestyle today and you won’t and don’t have to feel like this. You can keep your youthful, vital, luscious energy, sex drive, skin, figure, and happiness for years to come. These issues are entirely unnecessary symptoms you don’t have to go through if you choose to change how you approach your health and live in your Flo. Here are 4 changes you can make today that will slow down perimenopause and stop the symptoms: 1 – Eat according to your cycle. This is a key change that is necessary to balance out your estrogen and progesterone. Get started with cycle syncing your diet with a very simple, quick, and easy to follow introductory protocol – focusing first on your greens and your grains. Layer in the rest of the foods as detailed in my book “WomanCode” to complete the process. 2 – Eat enough protein and fat. These are very important as they help you to make enough hormones to feel young and good. Your body is slowing down hormone production so it’s critical you give it all it needs to produce as much as it can at this stage. Learn more about my favorite proteins here and fats here.3 – Take D3 and Evening Primrose Oil. These are essential for keeping your hormones balanced. These are specifically helpful for the perimenopausal transition. Evening primrose oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that influences prostaglandin synthesis and calms perimenopausal symptoms. Read more on why D3 is so important for your hormonal health here. 4 - Increase your Zinc intake. Zinc is bountiful in beans and seeds, however you can also supplement with 50mg a day. Zinc is super important for testosterone production, a vital hormone is soothing the perimenopause process. You can read more about balancing your testosterone levels here. 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 feel like you’re entering perimenopause?Second, what symptoms have you experienced? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Feeling Frazzled, Bloated, and Unsexy?

If you’ve noticed more distance between cycles…or some periods are light and some are super heavy…your sex drive is flat…and you’re more moody in general (anxious, depressed, or both)…and especially if you’re in your mid 30’s and up…Your hormones may be aging faster than they should. But you can start reversing this process by adding one key micronutrient that you’re likely missing.Get your free report: The Magic Missing Micronutrient to Get Your Sexy Back.

When I was working on my own health and, at the same time, developing the Flo Living protocol, I was surprised to realize that there was this huge emotional component to embodying my cycle and working with, rather than against, my body and my hormones. Specifically, I found that it was really important for me to transform how I was engaging in my relationship at the time to fully live in my Flo. I needed to change the dynamic of my relationship with my partner in order to heal my PCOS, acne, and weight issues - to live the life I wanted to be living.

I launched into research on the masculine and feminine energies. This may sound a little woo-woo at first, but stay with me - it’s actually a strong, vital element of Traditional Chinese Medicine practices. It’s not about telling women to speak softly and be submissive or teaching men to be tough and aggressive - as you might expect - in fact, it’s quite the opposite! Through my work with women at Flo Living, I have discovered that one of the central issues facing couples today is the fact that both the man and the woman are living in their masculine energy all of the time, every single day. This is taking a real toll on their ability to communicate, be intimate, and connect. By following my model, built around my hormonal cycle, you can have a happier relationship in just 4 weeks!

The relationship issue that causes tension, fights, and breakups

The first thing I learned in my research was that being a man or a woman does not give a person more or less access to masculine or feminine energy - we all have both energies within us. Learning how to balance both of these helps us to live a more physically, emotionally, and psychologically healthy and vibrant life. It’s also the key to a better relationship with all the great sex, connected talks, romance, support, and fun that we all desire. Embracing your feminine energy isn’t about living in that zone all of the time. For many women (including me, back then) it’s primarily about accessing that energy (often for the first time in your adult life) and using it to your benefit. Before I began working on my WomanCode protocol, I had no idea what experiencing my feminine energy would look or feel like. I was hormonally imbalanced and totally out of touch with my body. One of the quickest, simplest ways to get in touch with your feminine energy is to get in touch with your menstrual cycle and start honoring those changes that happen in your body, your hormones. The way your brain chemistry changes across your cycle takes in both masculine and feminine energies, shifting from phase to phase. We aren’t the same, consistent person all of the time, and I think that, even if we were, we would find that really dull, for ourselves and our partners, long term. So, how do you know when you’ve lost touch with your feminine energy and are spending all day in the masculine - especially when it comes to your relationship? There are some clear signs.

The 4 signs that you’re experiencing a masculine/feminine energy imbalance

• You feel disconnected from your emotions and physical sensations.
• You find it difficult to enjoy sex and receive nurturing and intimacy from your partner.
• You find it hard to verbalize your feelings to your partner.
• You feel isolated and unsupported in your relationship.

Cycle sync your relationship - for a happier, sexier, and easier partnership in just 4 weeks!

Cycle syncing your relationship has so many benefits. You create this dance of energies where each of you take on the leadership and the receptive role at different times. As women we want to take the lead, but doing that all of the time is exhausting and not enjoyable. It’s good to be the one who’s on the receiving end of your partner’s leadership sometimes - it makes sure we stay open to receiving love and pleasure too.Here’s how I cycle sync my relationship to my hormonal phases: Follicular phase - Keep it Fresh - This is the time when I like to suggest my husband and I do something new together. Or let him come up with ideas! My hormones have me in a place where I’m super receptive to new experiences and I have a ton of energy. New experiences bring us together, create memories, and help us to bond further. Take a class, go to a gallery opening, hike someplace you’ve never been, visit a new city. Doing something fun in the outdoors is even better as all that fresh air amps up the oxytocin and makes us feel close. It’s so important in a long term relationship to keep things fresh and exciting by breaking the expected schedule and the follicular phase gives you a great opportunity (and reminder) to do this on a monthly basis. Ovulatory phase - Body and Soul Connection - A great time to socialize with your friends! We can’t always just be together alone as a couple, that way leads to isolation and boredom. Use this time to make plans with your friends. You’ll feel chatty and engaged. With your partner - utilize how your hormones have aligned to convey to your goals, dreams, and fantasies. We like to take this time to touch base on what we want from our future together, where we see ourselves in 5, 10, 20 years time. We also take advantage of my soaring sex drive and the attraction pheromones that are flying around our home! (To cycle sync your sex life and boost your libido with food foreplay read this.) Luteal phase - Relationship Remodeling - I see this as the most important time for my relationship. Since living in my Flo, I’ve not experienced PMS in the way most people think of it - I don’t get depressed, anxious or angry. Our hormones align to give us increased clarity at this time and our attentions will certainly be drawn to where something isn’t working in our relationship. If you’re hormonally balanced then you will be able to express this insight without fogging your feelings with getting enraged. If you do find yourself really angry at your partner during this phase every single month that goes by, then you might need to find a new partner! Your hormones become like a truth serum and it really is best to just let what your thinking get aired out in the open, for all involved. Pent up resentment helps neither of you. When something bothers me, I just say it immediately, regardless of my phase. I had to learn to do that over time and it took practice not to just store my annoyances away. If you let a feeling fester it will make you feel frantic and then the luteal phase hormones will force you to spill in a way that won’t get you what you need and want. Stop biting your tongue, let your hormones help you convey your concerns. Your man will appreciate it so much more if you are straightforward and direct, rather than expecting him to read your mind. This is also when we tend to focus on our domestic duties. It sounds unappealing, I know, but to get the most pleasure out of your relationship all month long you do have to attend to the day-to-day stuff of life - the budgeting, the cleaning, the organizing - and you should be doing it together. Sharing this burden is going to better your partnership massively. If you clear time and space to attend to these necessary things, and share out the tasks equally, then neither of you will feel overwhelmed or under-supported. Your hormones are aligned here to make attention-to-detail your favorite thing and you’ll find repetitive uninspiring tasks much easier to tackle. Menstrual phase - Make it Me-time - I like my alone time during my menstrual phase. It’s when I really indulge in my self care practices and take some quiet moments out. We all need time apart and alone. What’s the saying...absence makes the heart grow fonder! Ask your partner to line up his guys’ nights out, so you can stay home, watch a movie, read a book, or have a close friend over for dinner. 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 struggle to connect with your partner? Second, do you want to cycle sync your relationship? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social ;)

Feeling Frazzled, Bloated, and Unsexy?

If you’ve noticed more distance between cycles…or some periods are light and some are super heavy…your sex drive is flat…and you’re more moody in general (anxious, depressed, or both)…and especially if you’re in your mid 30’s and up…Your hormones may be aging faster than they should. But you can start reversing this process by adding one key micronutrient that you’re likely missing.Get your free report: The Magic Missing Micronutrient to Get Your Sexy Back.

One of the most common questions I am asked by women wanting to follow the WomanCode protocol and sync their diet, exercise and lifestyle to their menstrual cycle is: “How do I know where I am in my cycle?” If you’re not experiencing clockwork periods every 26-32 days, and if you’ve picked up my book or found my site then there’s a good chance that you are not experiencing this, then figuring out whether you’re in your follicular or luteal phase can seem like a conundrum.

I don’t want this to worry you as it’s simple to untangle. So, let me walk you through the 3 most common types of irregular cycles and how you can cycle sync with each starting TODAY.

The WomanCode protocol is designed so that within a few months of following the plan you will once again experience regular periods and feel totally comfortable and confident about where you are in your cycle and know when to expect your period, whether you’ve previously had PCOS or just some random irregularities.

But, when you first get started you want to maximize the benefits of your food choices. As I said, by just following the plan laid out in my book you should see regular cycles within months. You can, however, speed up the process considerably by committing to the full Flo Living program with the additional support from me and the other Flo coaches.

To help you on your way to better and regular periods, no PMS, no cramps, high energy, suped up sex drive, and healed hormonal health issues, I’m going to go over some common cycle scenarios. That way, you can start following the WomanCode protocol ASAP and get your body back on track.

The 3 most common types of irregular menstrual cycles

Period Delay Type 1 - Too long - Either you’re not making enough hormones to ovulate and you’re experiencing a perpetual follicular phase; or you are not making enough progesterone and staying in the luteal phase post-ovulation for far too long.

‍How to cycle sync - Figure out which issue you are dealing with first. Thankfully it’s not too hard to do. The most scientifically accurate way is to take your basal body temperature every morning when you wake up. When you ovulate, your temperature will shift and indicate your body is entering the luteal phase. This can also help you to predict when you will see your period. You could do this with a regular thermometer and read “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” by Toni Weshler to understand how to interpret your temperature data to know which phase you are in, or you can use any one of the new fertility monitors and apps, which does all the interpreting and analysing for you and let’s you know if and when you have ovulated. You can additionally monitor the other signs your body will provide - if you are experiencing a long follicular phase then you will have constant vaginal dryness and if you’re in your luteal phase for weeks you will be experiencing bad PMS symptoms like mood swings and bloating. Monitor your cycle for at least 3 months to figure out the issue you are dealing with. One cycle can be thrown off by stress, antibiotics, illness, alcohol consumption, over exercise - delaying ovulation. But 3 months of monitoring will show a pattern you can work with. Then, start with the phase that you are experiencing for the longest - follicular or luteal - and eat the foods listed for that phase and follow the plan for that part of your cycle. Then move forward through the protocol every 7 days - so 7 days luteal/follicular, 7 days ovulatory/menstrual and so on. This will support your body and help you to balance your hormones, so that you can then progress to the next phase and the next. Your body will be prompted to follow suit. ‍

Period Delay Type 2 - Too short - A short cycle (we’re talking less than 26 days) is a sign that your thyroid is under-performing. First of all, read up on thyroid disorders with my previous post on this problem. I have tips on how to support your thyroid more effectively without pharmaceuticals. Usually this means you have a very short luteal phase.  

‍How to cycle sync - Figure out where you are in your cycle using the methods mentioned above. Then focus on the luteal phase foods. Eating more of these will help you support your thyroid and progesterone levels and make your luteal phase longer and more regular (ideally it should be at least 10 days long and at best 14 days long.

‍Period Delay Type 3 - No period for months - Not seeing your period for months on end suggests you are in a very long follicular phase most of the time. You’re body is only ovulating very occasionally, if at all.

‍How to cycle sync - Start with the foods in the follicular phase and progress every 7 days to the next phase in the cycle regardless of what your body appears to be doing. For many, many women I’ve worked with this is enough to kickstart their reproductive hormonal system and they see their period return quite rapidly. We have testimony after testimony from those women who are Flo Living graduates who have gotten their periods after months, even years of it going M.I.A (see here and here).

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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

Ever since Gwyneth Paltrow declared via her healthy lifestyle site Goop that she drinks charcoal infused lemonade (yes, you read that right!), activated charcoal in drinks and in the form of a supplement has become the latest wellness trend. Health-focused celebrities have declared it the best way to rid your body of environmental and food-based toxins. Many fancy juice bars claim it has liver detoxifying properties.

It all sounds miraculous, but what does it really mean? And is it something you should be doing? I know that you know the liver plays a very important role in keeping us hormonally balanced and hormonally healthy and keeping PMS, cramps, endometriosis, PCOS, and ovarian cysts at bay, but is activated charcoal what the liver needs to do this work?

Activated charcoal - miracle or myth?

The way activated charcoal works is to attach to chemicals it comes across in the body and prevent absorption, and that includes any medications you might be taking and truly need. This is why it works extremely well if someone has overdosed or actually gotten poisoned by a harmful substance and this is why it is often used in hospital ERs. But used regularly, daily, or habitually as a assumed detoxifier, activated charcoal can actually make your healthy diet less nutritious for you and prevent your body from absorbing the vital vitamins, minerals and micronutrients good foods can give. Activated charcoal doesn’t know what your body wants and needs and what it doesn’t and it can’t discriminate in its process.

This is why I’m not one to follow this particular health fad. I take great care to eat well and in a way that supports my liver, large intestine, and lymphatic system so that they can take care of toxins the way they are naturally supposed to. These organs help my body get rid of excess estrogen, which is a central cause behind hormonal imbalance-related health issues. I want them to work efficiently. If my body can’t process toxins like excess hormones quickly this will lead to menstrual, fertility, and libido problems.

We live in an extreme world and we seem to search for extreme solutions. We don’t need to treat our body everyday like we’re experiencing a poison overdose on a ER hospital bed. We just need to gently, consciously support our liver and entire elimination system in doing what it wants to do best.

4 Foods for Liver Detox That Work Better Than Activated Charcoal

Fill your diet with foods that naturally aid the liver in the detoxification process.

1. Eggs provide the most easily assimilated bio-available protein source. A two whole egg omelette or scramble a couple of times per week will give you a sufficient amount of protein. Protein is what the liver is built from and it is what will replenish the organ. The author of “Blue Zones” tells us that the populations around the world that have the longest, healthiest lives tend to eat a lot of eggs too! For more on protein, and specifically vegan protein sources, read this post.
2. Glutathione-heavy vegetables like avocados, carrots, broccoli, spinach, apples, asparagus and melon. This antioxidant neutralizes free radicals, super charges the immune system and detoxifies the liver. This is the best way to remove chemicals circulating in your body from environmental and food-based toxins like pesticides. Just increase your intake of these vegetables and they will do all the work.
3. Selenium-full foods such as oats and Brazil nuts. This mineral is a friend to your liver. Like glutathione it is also an antioxidant and boosts immunity strength. It protects the tissue of the liver itself from the effects of processing all these waste products.
4. Cilantro contains a property called linalool that helps to cleanse the liver. Add it to smoothies and salads - cilantro smoothie anyone?!

My favorite cilantro smoothie recipe: Gwenyth should drink this instead!

Here’s a drink that could really claim to have liver detoxification properties. One of these smoothies even once a week is going to support your liver in a way that activated charcoal will not.

½ cup mango

½ a green apple

½ cup frozen pineapple

½ cup coconut water

1 cup of cilantro and blend!

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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

Last week, I told you about Thrive Market, a new online shopping club I’ve totally fallen in love with.If you’re like me, you also care deeply about the quality of the food you eat and the products you use in your home every day. That means organic, non-GMO food and non-toxic cleaning products that are earth-friendly, which unfortunately usually mean high price tags and giant weekly grocery bills.That’s why I can’t stop sharing Thrive Market - an online site that makes healthy living a whole lot easier and more affordable than ever (becoming a member is FREE for the first 2 months!).Unlike overpriced markets, atThrive Market, you can get the world’s top 4,000 healthy foods, cleaning products, supplements, vitamins, probiotics in everyday sizes (no bulk here!) all delivered directly to your front door at 30 - 50% below retail prices. Think Whole Foods products at Costco prices, with the convenience of Amazon.Shopping at Thrive Market is not only cheaper than upscale markets like Whole Foods, but it often matches or even beats prices at discount online retailers like Amazon and Vitacost. I’ve even put together a fun price comparison to share with you:

Plus, Thrive Market also offers free shipping on orders over $49 to anywhere in the continental US. I try to order one big order a month and my shipping has always been free by doing this since I always have a bigger order (haha!).And because I want you to save even more, I’ve partnered with Thrive Market to put together a special deal just for our Flo community! Register with Thrive Market today and receive:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial Membership
• 25% off your next order

Click here to join now!As you can see, I love being a Thrive member, but I don’t want you to take my word for it. I want you to try Thrive Market for yourself to help you save thousands of dollars on your groceries and hours of your precious time.And, on top of all this, Thrive maintains the highest integrity with outstanding social missions. For every paid membership, they give a free membership for a low-income American so thousands of people who wouldn’t be able to afford healthy foods can now access them! Thrive is also committed to the environment by using recycled packaging and making sure that all of their own packaging is recyclable as well. They also purchase carbon offsets and are completely carbon neutral.That’s why I’ve partnered with Thrive Market to put together this special offer our FLO community:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial Membership
• 25% off your next order

Click hereto claim your FREE 2-month membership now.Here’s to your health (and the health of your bank account, too)!to your FLO,Alisa

I love coming up with new smoothie recipes! It’s so much fun to think of all the possible yummy Flo-food combinations. It’s a little science experiment in your kitchen. As you know, I like to keep the rest of my meal planning super simple, but my smoothies are where I like to get creative and experimental! And, as I always have your health first in my thoughts, I wanted to come up with the ultimate smoothie recipes that truly bring to life the idea of using good food as your medicine.

So I got out my prescription pad and jotted down the best treatments in the form of tasty fruit, veggie and nut blends (plus some other surprising ingredients!) that will help to heal your PMS, fatigue, low libido and infertility issues.

Tip: Embrace the smoothie bowl trend and blend half of the recipes’ ingredients to pour on top of the unblended other half. Great for breakfast or a snack!

My favorite smoothie remedy recipes to balance your hormones

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The Pumpkin Spice PMS Prescription

‍This smoothie will banish your PMS sugar cravings by replacing an impending Oreo binge with good, wholesome sugars from pumpkin and dates. Plus the blend of fruits and veggies will help your body get rid of the excess estrogen in your body that is the cause of PMS symptoms.

Canned, organic pumpkin puree

Dried apricots or dates

Sunbutter

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Himalayan salt

Almond milk

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‍The No-Coffee Coffee Energy Elixir

‍If you find yourself sluggish after waking up, this is the perfect morning coffee alternative that will also give you sustained, slow-release energy til lunch. So much better for you than a Starbucks ice blended mocha.

Banana

Raw cacao

Blackberries

Raw oats soaked overnight

Cashew milk

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‍The Passion Pour for Low Libido

‍If your sex drive is a distant memory, this smoothie is for you. Packed with real aphrodisiacs that actually work (read more here on why) - you’ll be feeling sexy in no time. Warning: this smoothie might make you late for work.

Avocado

Strawberries

Honey

Almond milk

Pinch of cayenne pepper

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‍The Be Fruitful Fertility Fix

‍If your fertility is flagging and you’re hoping to get pregnant - this is your smoothie. A big boost of folic acid from the spinach, a whole host of vitamins and minerals, zinc from the seeds, plus natural bee product Royal Jelly, which feeds the queen bee and helps her deliver all her babies for the hive! Royal Jelly increases the level of luteinizing hormone, promoting consistent and healthy ovulation.

Spinach

Mango

Blueberries

Royal Jelly

Sesame seeds

Coconut yogurt

Cardomom

Coconut water

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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’ll be honest with you; although I’ve run my own business for years, I have been humbled by motherhood and the sheer amount things I have to do each day! My time just seems to evaporate! My baby is in a totally beautiful zen place with her schedule, but I do a lot to keep it that way. BUT, I have cycle-syncing in my back pocket. I greeted the return of my period two months ago with a cheer, I knew that I could start properly cycle-syncing my lifestyle again. I feel reconnected to the best way there is for me to organize my time and my daily routine. Fall is a busy time for many of us, what with school back in session, work schedules picking up after the summer break, holidays around the corner, and everyone wanting to do their best before the year’s close. As women we hold this belief that we can and ought to serve everybody and often we then forget to serve ourselves. With the return of my cycle I have decided to make some changes to my schedule to accommodate the new priorities in my life. I need MORE time for self-care in fact than before. Making high quality breast milk is serious business! The secret to my success in managing my time is two fold - first I decide what daily activities are non-negotiables for my self-care and my daughter’s and then I layer the cycle syncing over that. So here’s what my new general daily schedule looks like right now:6:30 - me, my baby, and hubby get up and have eggs together7 - meditate and write8 - workout and breastfeed9 - baby nap, shower, breakfast #29:30 - work OR 10-11:30: Out with baby, meet with friends11:45 - make my baby’s lunch12:15 - lunch break with my baby girl12:45 - baby nap1 - work (breastfeeding break) OR 1:30 - 3:30: Out with baby or meetings4:30 - cook dinner5 - dinner5:30 - bath, breastfeed, and baby bed6 - email/social media OR 6-9: Out, date night with hubby, or events 7 - yoga7:30 - tv8:30 - read9:30 - floss and gratitudes10 - bedAt first, I worried about not being able to just “work all day”, but the idea of working all day long, every single day is not realistic or in my best interest at this time in my life or really anytime. And then I worried about not being able to be “spontaneous” to take advantage of all that happens here in the city. The reality is however, that everyone’s time, including yours and mine, is super valuable, and the whole concept of being spontaneous means that you fundamentally don’t value your own time. That you would rather value the timing of others and go with the schedule that works best for them. That one was a big realization for me in wrangling this time management beast - that scheduling is actually a way of honoring time and creation - deep. Even Julia Cameron, in the essential-read “The Artist’s Way” mandates that one should schedule time to be creative, or schedule time to walk around agendaless for inspiration. That those activities are so sacred that they must be scheduled or they’ll never happen. In 6.5 hours I can do SO MUCH more than I thought possible and the truth is I was constantly distracted even when I didn’t have a child, so being “interrupted” from work for breastfeeding or cooking is no big deal. Now when I sit down now I am much more efficient. I just do what needs to be done and prioritize. These seeming “constraints” actually make me super efficient.I think we need to rethink being busy. I’m constantly on the move, more so than ever now that I’m a mother, but doing only what feels good to me in each week of my cycle during my activity blocks of the day totally keeps me in my A game and allows me to be present for my child. It’s a practice of prioritizing pleasure, self-care, love, and creativity actually - an opportunity for focusing on making the right priorities at the right time and mapping these decisions onto your cycle.Is it perfect everyday? No way. Does sh*t hit the proverbial fan? You bet. Is motherhood a constantly changing landscape and are children unpredictable? Absolutely. But just like with my diet, I live by the 80/20 rule. If 80% of the time I’m on track, the 20% of the time life happens, I don’t have to worry about feeling like I’m never going to find my groove again, and again, I can stay present and be open to the moment.

Cross-training your day-to-day - from your career to your social life

What I choose to work on during my work and what I eat and how I exercise vary week over week in my cycle. This structure gives me so the ability to get to everything, but not at the same time, and to have variety in my life despite having to stick to a pretty tight daily schedule at the moment for the sake of my daughter’s wellbeing. The four hormonal phases of your menstrual cycle are a blueprint for how you can better organize your life. Following this blueprint provides an alternative to constantly feeling stressed, too busy, and overstretched. I feel like we’re in the middle of a busyness epidemic and too many women are getting crushed under the weight of trying to do it all at once, all of the time. For years I’ve been teaching clients at Flo Living to not only eat and exercise in accordance with their cycle, but also to plan their other activities, work, and social life around their hormonal phases. I find it usually takes just three months before it becomes habit. Flo Living isn’t just a diet, you see, it’s a lifestyle change, and that means transformations across the board that will help you feel better and allow you to enjoy life to the fullest. For more on cycle-syncing your work outs and diet see here and here.Our energy levels, perspective, mood, talents, and desires change and flow throughout our cycle and if we tune in to this we can get much more out of what we love as well as better tackle and conquer what we find trying. Of course, all of this depends on balanced hormones - if you’re hormones are off-kilter you won’t reap the benefits of their potential and vice versa, if you don’t consciously cycle-sync your lifestyle you may find your hormonal health suffers.

How-to guide to cycle-syncing your lifestyle

If you want to dive deeper with me and learn my cycle syncing embodied time management secrets - take my master class: Secrets of Cycle Syncing - download here.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, how do you feel about more structure opening up more freedom in your life? Second, are you aware of your 4 hormonal phases and how to use them for your benefit?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!

We can be exposed to endocrine disruptors from many directions - from our cosmetics, our shampoos and shower gels, our stressful lifestyles, our food, packagings, and from our home cleaning products. That last one we often dismiss, as we assume that to get our homes properly disinfected we need to use harsh bleach and chemical laden cleaners. We can sometimes assume that anything else just won’t do the job right. But using these products several times a week and living with their residue around your home over a lifetime can cause hormonal health issues that negatively impact your periods, fertility, mood and more.Research shows that many of the chemicals found in everyday house-cleaning products are bio-accumulative and very toxic, which means that once in your system, they actually stay in your system and allow for increased free radical damage, which makes you more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Hidden harm in your so-called “green” cleaning products

That said, so-call “green” household cleaners are much popular now than they used to be, with many women making the swap to avoid using potentially hazardous and poisonous chemicals that harm the environment and their families. However, it might surprise you to know that not all “green” cleaners you might find at big box stores are all that they claim to be and some can even be just as bad as conventional cleaners. That’s because unfortunately there are no laws in place that demand companies are transparent about all of the ingredients in products. This means they can make false claims about how environmentally and health-friendly they are.I know this sounds a little confusing, which is why I want to share with you how I personally clean my home andwhere I purchase all the natural, hormone-safe products I choose to use around my family.On Day 3 of my free 4-Day Hormone Detox plan I ask women to do a “clean sweep” of all of the health stressors you will find in your laundry room, cleaning product store cupboards, under the sink, and elsewhere. It’s important to understand that it’s not just about detoxing your diet, you also need to take a long, hard look at many of the other things you do each day that might need some reexamination for the sake of your hormones.

Replace/Reset your conventional home cleaning products with hormone safe alternatives

Before I dive into what I use to clean, I’ll first share where I buy all my favorite products.I’ve recently become obsessed with an amazing new company called Thrive Market. Thrive is a cross between Costco meets Whole Foods online - think Costco wholesale pricing on Whole Foods quality foods and brands with the convenience of purchasing through Amazon. They have the BEST prices on a lot of our non-perishable staples and household items. In particular, I’ve bought all of the natural, hormone-safe cleaning products I share below on Thrive Market.Thrive is the first socially conscious online marketplace offering the world’s best-selling natural and organic products at wholesale prices. For less than $5 a month ($59.95 annually), members can shop 2,500 of the highest quality food, supplements, home, personal care, and beauty products from more than 400 of the best brands on the market, all delivered straight to their doors at 25-50% below retail prices.

I’m not a fan for signing up for things without trying them first and I’m guessing you aren’t either. That’s why Thrive has offered our FLO community:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial to Thrive Market
• 25% off your first order

(I’m totally serious!)I did a side by side comparison of many of the products I share below, and not only are they less expensive than the same organic and natural products on Amazon or at my local stores, but they are often cheaper than the conventional alternative.So take a look below, make your shopping list, andorder on Thrive today! Instead of this: Conventional brand or big box kitchen and bathroom cleaners Use this: Seventh Generation cleaning products. I use these on everything from the toilet to the kitchen sink. With concentrated thyme oil as a central ingredient they make a good degreaser too, plus they smell great! Instead of this: Tide-style laundry detergent.Use this: Orange Oil multi-use cleaner, which can also help you with cleaning the dishes, mirrors, and the toilet bowl. Or try out the Seventh Generation Free & Clear detergent. Instead of this: Tide or other harsh spot stain removers. Use this: Hydrogen peroxide will get any stain out, even from a pure white shirt. Pour some of the stain and then wash in the washer as normal. Instead of this: Bleach products like Ajax and Comet.Use this: Arm and Hammer baking soda. I use baking soda in my laundry loads to keep my clothes crisp, clean, and fresh - I add one cup on top of the clothes themselves and then wash as normal with the above detergents. I also use it to disinfect the floors - a mix of baking soda and water will kill bacteria because it neutralizes the acid they produce. It’s completely non-toxic - in fact I even suggest using it to treat greasy hair!Instead of this: Swiffer WetJet and all similar products. Use this: Steam vacuum! We fill our Hoover Power Scrub with a mix of water and baking soda and use it to deep clean our wood and tile flooring. It can also be used on rugs and carpets. It keeps all my house floors squeaky clean with hot hot steam, which is so important to me now my daughter is crawling. Instead of this: Glade Plug-Ins.Use this: Electronic essential oil diffusers provide a beautiful house-wide scent, plus you’re getting all the health benefits of the oils, which you can tailor to your specific needs whether that’s for concentration in your home office or to relax in the evening. 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 cleaning products do you use?Second, will you follow any of these replace/reset suggestions? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article using the social buttons below :)

Want to get your cleaning products at wholesale prices?

Register at Thrive Market as a new member before and receive:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial to Thrive Market
• 25% off your next order

Click here to start saving now!

A core principle of the Flo Living protocol is choosing what you eat to fit the phase of your menstrual cycle that you are experiencing at that time. I call this cycle-syncing. My book, “WomanCode,” provides a comprehensive list of what is good to eat for each cycle phase from vegetables to meats to seasonings. Although this theory is very easy to understand - 80% of the time you enjoy the foods that best support your health within your cycle phase - the practice, as with all lifestyle changes, sometimes feels a little more tricky. I advise women to commit their first month of living in their Flo to concentrating just on the food side of things and getting their fridge and pantry stocked right. Doing this alone is going to have a positive impact on your periods, your fertility, your energy, your mood, and your libido. Which is why I thought it might be helpful for me to show you inside my fridge, my freezer and my pantry, as well as exactly which brands I choose and where I buy them, so that you can see what I really eat on a phase-to-phase basis.As you know, I only use products that are not filled with toxic chemical and artificial ingredients. But sometimes, this can feel exhausting, take so much time, and can feel like a huge drain on the wallet.Thankfully, I’ve discovered a new resource that makes shopping for healthy groceries so much easier. As soon as I saw for myself the money saved on my grocery bill, I knew I needed to find a way to bring this to you! Thrive Market is an online shopping club offering more than 4,000 of the bestselling organic, non-GMO foods and natural products. The best part? Everything on Thrive Market sells at wholesale prices. Finally - a Sam’s Club for healthy foodies!When you join Thrive Market like me, for less than $5 a month you can access all of the amazing products from my fridge and pantry at even more amazing prices. Plus, Thrive Market ships your order directly to your front door, anywhere in the continental United States. And orders over $49 ship for free! Your Thrive Market membership does more than just save you money. For every paying member who joins, Thrive Market will donate one free membership to a family in need. This company wants everyone to be able to afford foods and products that are good for their body, inside and out.And because your time and money are also super important to me, I’ve put together an exclusive deal for my FLO community!When you register as a member of the Flo Living community, you get access to all of the exact products and brands I buy at wonderful wholesale prices, PLUS:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial to Thrive Market
• 25% off your next order

I keep a jar of coconut oil in the bathroom, in the baby’s changing table, and in my kitchen - so I always need more of this amazing oil. I am SO thrilled Thrive is going to send you a jar when you join!Click here to snag this amazing deal and come on back to the blog to start purchasing most of, if not all, the items below. Here’s hoping you enjoy these great deals as much as I have - and don’t delay! Register now.Now let’s get shopping...

What’s inside my fridge

Top shelfPasture-fed eggs (I buy local brand The Country Hen)Anita’s creamline coconut yogurt Organic, fresh blueberries and strawberriesWhole Foods own-brand 365 unsweetened almond milk Purity organic coconut waterOrganic SunbutterFood For Life exotic black rice bread Spectrum organic ground flaxseedHawthorne Valley organic sauerkraut Fiordifrutta berry jam Soma Filtered water Pellegrino water Second shelf Organic greens: kale, baby spinach, broccoli, watercressAvocadosThird shelf Grass fed bisonLambWild king salmonWild codfishOrganic chicken and turkeyDrawers Organic fruit: peaches, nectarines, apples, lemonsOrganic produce: zucchini, green beans, celery, carrots, parsnips, sweet potato

What’s inside my freezer

Frozen organic berries for making smoothies Frozen green peas Frozen shrimpHomemade organic chicken liver and apple pate - I freeze cubes of this to defrostFrozen homemade soups - carrot soup; parsnip, apple and cumin soup; fish and vegetable soupFrozen fish piecesHomemade chicken bone brothGluten free pie crust

What’s inside my pantry

Top shelfElizabeths granola in original flavorArrowhead Mills instant organic oatmeal Second shelfBon Dea organic gluten free flour mixesThird shelfShiloh Farms dried beans, nuts, seedsPacific and Eden sea veggiesFourth shelfTinkyada and Jovial brown rice pastaBob’s Red Mill grains - brown rice, quinoa, oats Eden grains - buckwheat, amaranth, millet Bottom shelf Bionature canned beansCrown Prince sardinesAnnie’s mustard, ketchupMuir Glen tomatoesTeaTraditional medicinals Tazo Choice brands Oils, Sauces, and SpicesSimply Organic and Frontier brand spices Nutiva virgin coconut oilBionaturae organic olive oilPure Indian Foods gheeBragg’s apple ciderCoconut Secret nectarMaine Coast seasoningEvolution himalayan saltCain’s iodized sea saltCeltic sea saltEden wheat free tamari sauceEden toasted sesame seed oilOrganic balsamic vinegarSnacksMary’s Gone crackersEndangered Species chocolateDatesPrunesI hope you take advantage of this incredible membership opportunity to the Costco of healthy living - FINALLY - all the stuff I need to buy at half the cost of Whole Foods! Thank you universe! 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 does your pantry look like? Share your photos on our social media with #floliving Second, do you have favorite brands?Third, you know every one you know is hormonal - spread a little goof ovary karma and share this article on social by clicking the buttons below

Want to cut your grocery bill in half?

Register at ThriveMarket as a new member to automatically receive:

• a FREE 2-Month Trial Membership to Thrive Market
• 25% off your next order

Click here to register!

If you’re here reading this I’m going to bet you’ve consider coming off birth control. Maybe you already have come off? I’m guessing that either you’ve experienced unwanted side effects or you’ve realized that the Pill really isn’t treating your hormonal health problems. If you’ve recently stopped taking birth control, be sure to check out my how-to guide for the transition.

First of all, congratulations! You’ve just made a hugely important step towards restoring your natural cycle and living in your Flo. Stick with me and you can have beautifully clear skin, clockwork pain-free periods, and heal your PCOS or endometriosis - all without the Pill. You don’t need it!“

But, wait, what about contraception?” - you say? I hear you, which is why I want to dedicate this post to exploring your natural alternative options. How did I go pregnancy scare-free for years before choosing to have my baby when I was ready? I’m going to let you in on a secret...

I still use condoms!

I’ve been married to my husband Vic for a few years now, but we have always and still use condoms. I know a lot of people feel like a committed relationship is no place for condoms. It’s like we see condom-less sex as a sign of love and trust. Well, I have to say, I don’t agree. If your man loves you, he will use condoms!

Here’s why:

1. They allow you to forgo synthetic hormone exposure. I am so hormonally sensitive and cannot tolerate, like many of you who struggle with PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis, the synthetic hormones in oral contraception. I also get to maintain my micronutrient balance and my microbiome health by not having to take the pill. Much smarter option.
2. They actually work. If you don’t want to be on birth control then you need an effective alternative and condoms really do work when used as they’re supposed to be used (which really isn’t that hard to figure out!). When used correctly and consistently they are about as effective as the Pill at preventing pregnancy.
3. They prevent bacterial and viral infections. Your lady parts are very sensitive and prone to picking up any bacteria or viruses going. STD’s can impact your fertility as well as being super uncomfortable and unpleasant. If you want to be a mom at some time in the future - use condoms today! It’s the best way of protecting your vaginal environment and keeping your reproductive organs healthy. Check out my post on bacterial vaginosis if you want to know more.
4. They prevent HPV contraction. Although you can cure yourself of HPV naturally (more on that later!), having HPV puts you at risk of cervical cancer. It’s best to never get this virus in the first place and the best way to avoid this as much as possible it is by using condoms.
5. They don’t depend on trust. I love and trust my husband fully. I don’t think that condoms are somehow anti-romance nor do I think that they can’t be part of a loving relationship. The Ashley Madison scandal should have everyone thinking about the reality of modern relationships! To my mind, if your partner loves you - he will wear a condom, honestly it’s the modern chivalrous version of putting his cape over a puddle. Because if you were to contract a disease this way, it could cause you health problems for your whole life. It’s up to your man to do the research to find a condom he likes using - there are so many out there these days there’s really no excuse. We use L condoms and Trojan Ultra Thin brands. If he really resists condoms, make it something fun and flirty - buy samples of a few brands and invite him to give you a condom fashion show!

Top tip: I only use condoms with spermicide when I’m ovulating, because spermicide can be irritating to the vagina and cause you to be susceptible to infections.

More natural alternatives to hormonal contraceptives

If you want to be super-safe about preventing pregnancy you can always double up with another natural method. I have a few to recommend. You can make using these a part of your foreplay - having a diaphragm in over dinner can feel kinda sexy if you know you’re going to be in bed with your partner later!

• The diaphragm. A new one-size-fits all Flo-purple diaphragm just came to the US! Caya is available by prescription, but you no longer need to find a doctor who knows how to do a fitting.
• The Today sponge. Even though you can still buy the sponge at RiteAid or CVS, you never hear about them anymore. I don’t know why, because it’s a great natural alternative contraceptive. You do use spermicide with this, but you could choose a natural option like ContraGel.

You can use living in your Flo to also manage your fertility -

• Tracking your cycle. Living in your Flo means being aware of where you are in your cycle week to week. This is wonderful for planning your diet, your exercise and your activities, but it can also be useful information when it comes to preventing pregnancy. It just takes a little more awareness and engagement with your body to pinpoint your fertile window. You can track your BBT (basal body temperature) with a device like Daysy or LadyComp, and/or observe changes in your cervical fluid, and then avoid sex completely during your fertile time or know to use condoms plus a spermicide to be safe.

And, if you want to be super-super-safe --

• Wild carrot seed (also known as Queen Anne’s Lace). This ancient herbal remedy has been used for centuries by women to prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. You can take wild carrot seed if you have sex when you’re fertile and the condom breaks (these things do happen!). The first thing you might think of in this situation is Plan B medication, but that can disrupt your hormones and your cycle, so if you’d rather have a natural alternative look into the wild carrot seed protocol. For more information on studies and dosage read this informative site who references the master herbalist Robin Rose Bennett’s work with this herb.

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

So many women are given hormonal birth control in their teens to put a stop to their acne. Although it may appear to do the trick of clearing up your skin for some, it’s doing this by suppressing your endocrine system and the natural flow of your body’s own hormones. This leads to all those side effects we know and hate - from depression, anxiety and low libido to blood clots. And when you come off - which most women do as a result of their experience of these negative side effects - the acne almost always comes back and often it is much worse than it was before, due to a drop in estrogen. This is a dirty trick, to my mind. It puts many women in this horrible bind that causes them to feel forced to return to the medication just to get their clear skin back. I hate it - it’s like these drugs have a built in insurance that you will continue to use them. However, that isn’t the only answer. Here at Flo Living I’ve helped hundreds of women successfully transition off hormonal birth control and maintain beautiful clear skin. In fact, off the hormonal birth control, their skin has never been better! First thing of course, is talk to your doctor. Let him or her know that you want to come off the drug or device. Then before you actually stop using it, start following the Flo Living protocol. Cycle-syncing your eating and exercise while you’re actually still taking the Pill can make this transition so much gentler on your endocrine system and save you a lot of the side effects women report including acne, but also - insomnia, mood swings and irregular cycles.Here’s my 3 step guide to coming off the Pill without your acne returning.Plus here’s my breakdown of the 3 most important things you need to know to heal your acne, and fast.

Shawna’s story

Shawna is one of the many women who I have helped to come off hormonal birth control and regain clear (in fact, her clearest yet!) skin. Read her story below or watch the video. “I was hooked on birth control. I was on it from 17 to 24, and it was giving me emotional ups and downs and making me crazy. I didn’t know myself. I tried to go off and my face exploded. Everyone told me it was because I went off the birth control. So I figured a quick fix to that would be to go right back on it. So, I went right back on it. I got married soon after that. We were married in ‘08 and we’ve been married for 7 years. We were thinking about starting a family, but I also just didn’t want to be on birth control anymore. So, I came to Flo Living looking to come off birth control without my face breaking out. On birth control I just felt like I couldn’t control my emotions. It made me feel like I wasn’t in touch with me. I felt victim to feelings I couldn’t control. I had a lot of real highs and real lows and there was never a good place to live in-between. It was like that almost the whole time I was on it. Flo Living was my birth control rehab. My mom heard you (Alisa) talking to Abel James on a podcast. She said she could tell you knew what you were talking about. I looked you up and bought your book. I read it, but I needed more of a step-by-step, hold-my-hand, and give me feedback experience and that’s why I signed up for the Flo Living protocol.

You have seriously changed my life. I can’t even say it without getting emotional.

The functional nutrition is awesome. The food is amazing. But, it was all the emotional changes and all the “you don’t have to be perfect” and “you just do it because that’s what you want to do” stuff that was so good for me. I feel like I like myself the most for the first time ever. I didn’t expect that. I expected it to be like the South Beach Diet, Paleo, all the stuff I tried to do and hoped to stop when my skin when back to normal. It wasn’t that way at all. I learned how to do it and I liked it. I feel like somebody taught me how to eat. Like when you grow up you think you have cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch...but now I know what to do. It worked completely. I dropped the NuvaRing. I quit and my skin stayed completely clear. More people said my face looked good then than did during the whole 14 years I was on birth control. Then we decided we did want to start a family and I’m pregnant! I’m 16 weeks! I think if I could go back and tell myself anything it would be to do this program 7 years ago instead of hiding and medicating the problem using birth control. I would have done it earlier. I would have rather learned this in high school. I could have gone through college more comfortable with myself and more in touch with myself. You can treat yourself with food. Food can heal and food can hurt and it depends on what food it is. You need the guidance for what food to use as your medicine. Food has much more potential than people give it credit for.”

If you’re struggling with acne and you’re ready to make a change - take action now. It will change your hormones and your life. You deserve that.

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 suffer with acne?Second, do you want to come off hormonal birth control? 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!

Skin Conditions

Your skin provides the hormonal clues you need to start healing your cycles, enhancing your fertility, feeling more energetic, happier, sexier and gooood! Your skin speaks to you all the time, you just need to listen. It’s one of your body’s largest organs and part of the WomanCode “elimination” group along with the liver and large intestine. These organs don’t produce hormones, but they are necessary for ushering hormones out from your body. Can you imagine what would happen if all of the hormones your body produces and all those in the food you eat, the medications you take, and the products you use, just stayed in your blood stream? You’d have an explosive hormonal situation, that’s for sure - the kind that sees estrogen build-up lead to tumor growth. It would also imbalance your whole endocrine system, leading to problematic periods, infertility issues, PMS, PCOS, low libido and low moods. So when you see changes to your skin - whether that’s acne, eczema, rosacea or discoloration - you know your skin is trying to tell you something important about your hormonal health. I’ve talked to you about acne before in detail, I even have a webinar on the subject, so here I’d like to address those other three skin issues you might encounter.

Exit Eczema

Problem: I’m just getting over a bout of eczema that came up in my post-partum period. It’s very common for women to experience at this time, because your body is busy using all of your stores of essential fatty acids for your baby! That leaves not a whole lot left for you and your skin. Solution: The best way to combat this is through heavy supplementation of a good source of essential fatty acids. Cod Liver Oil is packed with EPA and DHA essential fatty acids. Make sure you get the fermented kind of oil, because that retains twice the vitamins of processed oil. I swear by Green Pastures Royal Blue Ice Royal brand. In addition, take Evening Primrose Oil. Topically, you can use aloe vera gel and a good oil based moisturizer - I’m using LAFACE. I find epsom salt plus magnesium oil baths to be very soothing. I recommend Ancient Minerals topical magnesium oil.

Ditch Discoloration

Problem: A change in the pigmentation of your skin - particularly dark patches around the forehead area and eyes - is a sign of liver imbalance. The function of your liver is likely compromised leading to a buildup of estrogen leading to estrogen dominance. The liver is in a hormonal buddy system with your skin. This skin issue is like your liver sending you a message!Solution: Support your liver with a good quality B-100 Complex, inositol, artichoke leaf extract, and the Get Clean tea by Republic of Tea, which contains a lovely blend of milk thistle burdock, and dandelion. Start increasing your intake of greens and cycle-synching your diet with my simple 4 week plan.

Renounce Rosacea

The Problem: The redness and bumpiness to the skin that comes with rosacea is linked back to the health of your gut/microbiome. It is essentially a symptom of inflammation that, quite literally, shows up as inflamed skin. If not specifically clearly triggered by one food type, it will be your diet as a whole that is the source of the problem. The Solution: Make friends with your friendly bacteria and you will heal your skin. Approximately 5lbs of bacteria lives inside of you and the quality of their eco-system – the healthiness of the microbial life plus the diversity – governs your health. A poor internal ecosystem caused by bad diet, exposure to chemicals and stress, will suppress the good bacteria, promote the bad bacteria, and will lead to a toxic buildup of hormones and signs of systemic inflammation on your skin. I’ve outlined some Dos and Don’ts of taking care of your gut and I recently interviewed Dr Kellman, author of “The Microbiome Diet”. 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 suffer with rosacea or eczema? Second, what treatments have you tried for eczema or rosacea? 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!

Five essential formulations working together to

Where to go from here?

Five essential formulations working together to

BALANCE YOUR HORMONES

The Hippocratic Oath tells doctors to “first, do no harm.” But no such rule applies to the products in your home medicine cabinet, and that’s a shame. Many everyday “health” products contain chemicals that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, and/or elimination of your body’s natural hormones. Called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), these toxins negatively affect the body’s highly sensitive hormone system. All hormones suffer at the hands EDCs, but research suggests that they are particularly damaging to estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. EDCs are known to affect female (and male) reproduction, thyroid function, metabolism, and obesity. EDCs are found in a wide range of everyday products, from conventional laundry detergents to perfume to plastic Tupperware containers…. and, of course, in the first aid products many of us keep in our medicine cabinet. The main takeaway? EDCs can trigger (or worsen) hormonal health issues, including endometriosis, PCOS, ovarian cysts, infertility issues, PMS, heavy or irregular periods, thyroid issues, and more. You should avoid these terrible toxins whenever and wherever you can. As I mentioned, EDCs turn up around every corner—they hide in upholstery fabric, turn up in lotions and lipsticks, hang out in household cleaning products and lawn chemicals—but they also lurk inside products marketed to help you heal. They’re hanging out, and doing harm, in products that are meant to make you feel better. It’s time to say goodbye to these not-so-great-for-your-hormones products, and replace them with some easy, inexpensive, and effective natural alternatives.

Your All Natural First Aid Kit

I like to keep my natural remedies simple, quick, and easy. Here’s a look inside my medicine cabinet:Natural Rx for Cuts, Scrapes, Cramps, Bug Bites, and Bruises

• Product: Neosporin (for small cuts and scrapes, etc.) Try this instead: ¼ tsp of Coconut oil with 2 drops each of lavender and tea tree oil. This combination is antimicrobial—without the antibiotics—and will help improve your skin’s immune response so that you heal faster.
• Product: Benadryl anti-itch cream (for bug bites) Try this instead: Mix baking soda and water until it forms a paste. Smear the bite or itchy patch of skin. This remedy is also great for dry skin and rashes.
• Product: Noxema (for sunburn) Try this instead: Aloe vera gel in its purest form is cooling and healing. And, as much as you can, avoid getting burned in the first place!
• Product: IcyHot cream (for muscle and joint pain) Try this instead: Arnica gel works well on unbroken skin for pain and also bruising.
• Product: Mucinex or Vick’s medicine (for cough, cold, or sore throat) Try this instead: Nature’s Way Umcka ColdCare range and Zarbee’s Naturals range support the body’s own immune responses.
• Product: Monistat (for yeast infections) Try this instead: Vitanica Yeast Arrest Vaginal Suppositories will give relief and help support your vagina flora and Jarrow Femdophilous is clinically shown to restore vaginal microbiome. Check out this post for more natural remedies for UTIs and bacterial vaginosis.
• Product: Advil, Midol or Aleve (for period pain and cramps) Try this instead: Clary sage essential oil rubbed into the skin above the pubic bone and below the belly button, where your uterus is, can help relieve cramps. You can also diffuse this oil or add a few drops to an Epsom salt bath. I have a lot more short-term and long-term natural solutions for period pain and cramps just here.

Natural Rx for fatigue, anxiety, period problems, and moreSome “healthy” products don’t contain EDCs per se, but they can come with their health-compromising side effects. Next time you reach for one of these pills or supplements, consider an alternative that is better for your hormones and has fewer side effects. And unlike the salves, creams, and sprays that you use occasionally (for bug bites or sunburn or sore muscles), the supplements and suggestions aren’t spot treatments. They work best when you make them a regular part of your health prevention and maintenance.

• Product: 5-hour energy, coffee, or other caffeinated drinks (for an energy pick-me-up) Try this instead: Take a high-quality B-complex vitamin to help prevent and treat low energy and fatigue. B vitamins also help boost progesterone production, which is critical for balancing with estrogen and easing period problems like severe PMS, bloating, cramps, heavy or irregular periods, and menstrual migraines. Progesterone also helps promote the synthesis of GABA, a calming chemical produced by the brain. This makes B vitamins a good choice for easing anxiety.

Coffee has made headlines in recent years as a “health food,” touted for its anti-aging, cell-health-boosting, mood-lifting abilities, but if you suffer from hormonal imbalances (and even if you don’t!) coffee can be problematic. Skip this faux pick-me-ups in lieu of vitamin D, which supports a whole bunch of health-boosting functions in the body, like robust immune health, healthy aging, healthy metabolism, and healthy mood.

• Product: Over-the-counter diet pills (for weight loss support) Try this instead: A high-quality liver support supplement. Optimal liver health is critical for estrogen-progesterone balance (and for avoiding all the gnarly symptoms that come along with estrogen being too high relative to progesterone). Liver health is essential for overcoming weight loss resistance and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Product: Prescription anti-anxiety meds or sleep aids (to help with anxiety and sleep) Try this instead: If you work with a trusted healthcare practitioner to find the prescription medications that are right for you, always, always, always, consult that person when considering coming off those medications. But if experience anxiety or trouble sleeping, you may find that taking a specially formulated magnesium supplement can help. Bonus! Magnesium helps support the healthy production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. And then there’s the amazing, mood-improving potential of omega-3 fatty acids.

• Product: Antacids (to help with heartburn and other digestive distress) Try this instead: Again, always follow the advice of your trusted healthcare practitioner when it comes to digestive distress. Some GI issues require working with a provider and figuring out what will work for your unique system. But you may be able to improve your symptoms by improving the health of your microbiome. Try a high-quality probiotic. (If your symptoms persist, though, consult a doctor).

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!

BALANCE by FLO Living Hormone Supplement Kit

Because you've asked for hormone-friendly supplement recommendations, I 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 BALANCE Bio-Hacking Supplement Kit.

I’m sure you’ve seen the latest research that shows sitting down at a desk for hours on end is very bad for your health. You may have even rolled your eyes when reading those headlines, thinking, “If the sitting doesn’t kill me, the constant anxiety I get from this kind of research will!” I understand your frustration. I often hear from the women who work with me here at Flo Living that they just don’t have time for a daily scheduled gym session or 30 minute DVD workout between their work and kids and household chores. I think shows like the “Biggest Loser” have influenced us to feel like we have to be doing intense exercise every day to see any benefits. Thankfully the studies are building to suggest that learning to bring more movement, even the most gentle kind, into your routine is actually much more beneficial than an intensive workout. In fact, the New York Times reported that a single minute of intense exercise within a daily ten minute movement plan can improve your health longterm. A sprint up the stairs within 20-30 seconds interspersed with yoga moves and stretches for 10 minutes every day is enough. Phew! This science is great news because it supports what I’ve been saying all along - you don’t want to over exercise all at once and exhaust your adrenals - it actually works against you in terms of maintaining ideal weight.

Exercise and your reproductive health

Not sitting for long and taking breaks to move is better for your health than a spin or aerobics class. As well as decreasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer and increasing overall fitness, regular movement has a positive impact on your reproductive health - specifically that is, your periods, your fertility, and your libido. Regular movement that targets your pelvic area will help to heal painful periods, endometriosis, PCOS, ovarian cysts, infertility issues and low sex drive. Think about it - sitting actually compresses your uterus, ovaries and entire pelvic region. This causes stagnation and poor blood circulation in these organs. Vitality boosting micronutrients and hormones are blocked from circulating properly through your reproductive system. So your lady parts aren’t getting what they need to function at their best. Movement can bring you easier periods and improved fertility, as well as increase your energy, boost your mood, and make sex feel a lot better. Regular exercise makes your body use glucose more efficiently which helps with insulin resistance. This sets you up for healthy menstruation and consistent ovulation. And not stressing about never making it to the gym will have its own rewards! But the more you move, the more you’ll want to move. So, I’m going to share a one day plan for incorporating more movement in your lifestyle, plus make some suggestions for more vigorous exercise for those that feel they enjoy, need or want to continue a regime of working out in the traditional sense.

My one day movement plan

Use an app, your Fitbit, or the alarm on your cell to set reminders to keep moving every 30 minutes throughout the day. If your boss wants to know why you are taking a regular screen break, remember that the much respected “Pomodoro technique” of working in short bursts with frequent breaks has been proven to increase productivity.During work hours:

• Stand up from your desk and stretch from side to side and forward and back to rotate your whole pelvic region. Repeat 5-10 times.
• Stand up tall and stretch your arms and hands over your head to lengthen out the abdomen. Then bend down to touch your toes. Repeat 5-10 times.
• Do a abdominal twist from side to side placing your hands on your back and looking over your shoulder. Repeat 5-10 times.
• If you have a phone conference consider taking part while walking on the spot or around your office building, if you can, rather than sitting at your desk. An in-person meeting could be moved from the boardroom to the sidewalk - studies show we communicate and think better when we’re on the move.

I love this instructive video from the founder of Infinity Wellness Partners for whole body stretches.At lunch or on your break:

• Try out that super short 20-30 second stairs sprint followed by a yoga warrior or triangle pose.
• Take a stroll around the office or, even better, outside. Explore a new part of your local area or walk to your favorite lunch spot.
• Use your office furniture creatively to (safely!) do some push ups or resistance exercises.

Flo Living graduate and fitness expert Emily Sonnenberg put together some easy and short routines you can do at home or at the office.

Cycle-syncing your exercise routine for better reproductive health

If you find that incorporating movement into your daily routine boosts your energy, by all means also incorporate regular workouts as much as you like. However, the best way to approach this is by paying attention to your Flo. I talk a lot about cycle syncing your eating habits, but what about exercise? To really get the most out of optimizing your hormones, you should change up your routine to fit your cycle phase in much the same way as you do your diet. Your body is primed for different kinds of activity across your cycle, just as it’s looking for different kinds of nutrition through the four phases. You’ll lose more weight and feel fitter if you tune to what feels most natural.During the first part of your cycle your energy is naturally higher and you’re ready for high intensity exercise. During the second part of your cycle your hormonal ratio of estrogen and progesterone shifts making more restorative physical activities the ideal. So during menstruation walking and yoga are perfect, but during ovulation you might be primed for kickboxing. I’ve searched the internet for exercise videos for each phase of your cycle and these are my favorites. 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 prefer regular movement to working out?Second, what are your favorite fitness or movement apps? 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!

Do you wake up in the middle of the night worrying about anything and everything?

Do you get overwhelmingly anxious when faced with a work deadline or big social event? Do you have panic attacks? If so, you’re not alone - women are 60% more likely than men to suffer with anxiety and close to 20% of Americans deal with debilitating stress. Unfortunately the majority come to believe use of powerful pharmaceuticals, each with a set of side effects, is the only way forward. Thankfully, that’s not the whole truth - there are natural ways to alleviate stress. Why is this happening? Many of us do deal with extremely stressful times at some point in our lives (from what I call “external” stressors), but we should not be feeling stressed every day or even every week. When you start to feel like you’re constantly living on the edge regardless of your circumstances, it’s time to address your physical health (or “internal” stressors) in order to support your mental health. You should be feeling resilient, confident and strong rather than overwhelmed when faced with the challenges of the everyday.

Stress and your hormones

Physically, it all comes back to our hormones - specifically the stress hormone cortisol. How our body manages cortisol is reflected in how we deal with stress. Several lifestyle factors impact your body’s regulation and production of cortisol:

1. Bouncing blood sugar - when your blood sugar is soaring and crashing this is a perceived as a stressor by your adrenal glands, which produce cortisol. Erratic blood sugar can come from not eating enough; taking in too much sugar, alcohol and coffee; carbo-loading; and not getting adequate sleep. I have some advice on getting a good nights sleep and how to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol, coffee and sugar.
2. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies - your intake of B vitamins, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acids is vital for maintaining the calm. These vitamins and minerals prevent the hyper-production of cortisol by your adrenals. Excess cortisol from stress depletes your body’s stores making it super important to get proper nourishment during difficult times. Read more on magnesium deficiency here.
3. Poor gut health - very commonly used medications like birth control pills and antibiotics disrupt your gut microbiome (as well as make you deficient in B vitamins). Every week there’s more research on the gut-mental health connection. A set of gut bacteria, more specifically bacterial genes, called the estrobolome, produce an essential enzyme that helps metabolize estrogen. Your gut is part of the elimination system that is vital in ushering hormones out of the body. This process, when working efficiently, plays an essential role in maintaining hormonal balance. I have some tips on getting friendly with your good bacteria.

Stress and your fertility

Stress can have a powerful effect on our hormonal health and fertility. In fact, during periods of high anxiety your body is likely to stop you from ovulating. Biologically this comes down to the hormone progesterone being used to produce cortisol when you’re stressing out instead of going towards the hormonal harmony you need to be fertile. Evolutionarily - your body “knows” when you’re anxious and can decide that would be a bad time to make a baby. Even low level constant feelings of anxiety can potentially throw off your hormonal balance. The first sign this is happening to you can be in changes to your period - especially missing periods or really long cycles.

How to alleviate stress the natural way

Many of us feel uncomfortable with being over-reliant on pharmaceuticals like anti-anxiety medications to get through periods of stress and often these drugs come with unwanted side effects that decrease our quality of life in other ways. It’s my view that it’s better to take the approach of preventing chronic stress long term, than spot treating with pills. There are some simple ways to start addressing your stress levels today:

1. Eat a good breakfast - a nutritious and filling breakfast will set you up for a day of stable blood sugar and balanced hormones. It should also be bringing in all those essential de-stressing vitamins and minerals like magnesium and all the Bs. I have a whole lot of great (and easy) ideas for breakfast for you right here. If you can make a natural probiotic like sauerkraut or kimchi part of your first meal of the day, even better, as that will help heal your gut health. Use coconut oil along the way to boost your body’s intake of good fats.
2. Sleep well - I know you might be thinking, easier said than done! I get it - I also used to find it hard to get to sleep before 2am and could barely drag myself out of bed in the morning. These days, I don’t even need an alarm to wake up, because I have fixed my cortisol levels. Having a consistent sleeping pattern as a starting point is so important in combating chronic stress. Treat yourself like a baby - have a bedtime routine. Regardless of how or why you can’t get a good night’s sleep - I have suggestions for supplements and a meal plan designed for making Zzzzs.
3. Make time for pleasure - whether this means self-pleasure or spa treatments to you, do what makes you feel good at least once a week. I have some tips for better orgasms and hormone-safe spa treatments including the best recipe for a long, indulgent bath for a relaxing night in. Start scheduling times for self-care into your working week as though it were a meeting or gym session and don’t flake on feeling good. You’ll reduce excess cortisol hormone this way and see the benefits fast.

Reframe your thinking

The key to alleviating stress long term and naturally is a change in your thinking - rather than seeing times of stress as something to get through as best you can and by any means possible (including turning to coffee, alcohol and sugar to stay wired and get to sleep), start thinking -- “In order for me to function at the high level I expect of myself I have to keep my body and mind in a peak state of health.”The more stress you are faced with externally, the more you need to meet those challenges with extreme self-care tactics liking preparing nutritious meals, insisting on a full 8 hours sleep, and keeping appointments you’ve made to take a yoga class, take a bath or have a romantic evening with your partner, just as often as all your other scheduled duties. See yourself as an Olympic athlete in your field - you need to train and prepare to perform at your best. Every day is the Olympic event and with these strategies you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way. 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 suffer with anxiety?Second, what’s your favorite way to relax? 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!

Two in the bush is worth one in the hand? What the heck does that mean anyway? I don’t know, but what I do know is we want our hair below our hairline to be ladylike and we want the hair on our head to be lioness-like.  The issue is that your hormones can make this situation can be more scary-hairy than lady godiva-esque. As a former sufferer of PCOS, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re always getting waxed and always brushing out too much hair.  I want to share my secrets for maintaining my locks over the years and why I’m not freaking out about the post-partum hair fall.  

Whether you’re dealing with hair loss from your head or overgrowth of unwanted hair on your face and body, I’m going to explain why this is happening and how to fix it, without using strong side effect-laden prescription medications.

At a time when we are bombarded with pop stars hairy armpits on one side plus pressure to stay entirely hairless from head to toe on the other, it can be hard to maintain a good perspective when it comes to our own naturally hair-covered bodies. The occasional stray hair somewhere unexpected or a day or two of more hair in your hair brush than normal is no reason to freak out. However, it can be very distressing to experience rapid hair loss from the head or unwanted hair growth on your face. This is not to be taken lightly, as I know it can cause anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.

The good news is the root cause of both of these issues is the same and so is the natural treatment protocol - so wherever you are on the hair loss to hirsutism spectrum I have the answer for you.

The roots of hair loss and hirsutism

The root cause of overgrowth of unwanted hair or hair loss from the head is your sensitivity to testosterone plus the amount of testosterone your body is producing. Usually these are not stand-alone problems and you will also find you are simultaneously dealing with problematic menstrual periods.

‍Hair loss

How: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative of testosterone. Testosterone converts to DHT with the help of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in your hair follicle's oil glands. Hair loss from the head is triggered by the level of DHT binding to receptors in scalp follicles. DHT shrinks your hair follicles, making it more difficult for healthy hair to survive. High levels of DHT can be provoked by estrogen dominance and high cortisol levels from the adrenal glands.

‍Why: This hormonal imbalance in the body can be brought on by use of the birth control pill and other hormonal contraceptives like the Mirena IUD, hormonal shifts in pregnancy, the post-partum period, perimenopause or as a part of poor thyroid function.

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‍Hirsutism

How: You don’t have to have PCOS to be suffering with hirsutism, but it is one of the common consequences of that hormonal health problem. Excessive growth of coarse hairs is also caused by testosterone overproduction and conversion. It is one of the most common endocrine health issues with approximately 10% of women experiencing this at some time in their lives. The kind of hair produced is called “terminal” and is different in thickness and feel. Growth is caused by the level and duration of exposure to dihydrotestosterone, the alpha-reductase enzyme activity on the hormone, and the sensitivity of your hair follicles to dihydrotestosterone, which determines whether regular fine body hair (or vellus hair) becomes terminal hair.

‍Why: PCOS is certainly a common root cause, but also behind this issue can be Cushing’s syndrome, genetic conditions that cause overproduction of cortisol and testosterone, some medications such as those used to treat endometriosis, and obesity.

Natural treatment protocol

In the short term - it’s better to go with frequent waxing or laser hair removal than using chemical products like Nair on your excessive hair growth as sensitive areas tend to be the most open to absorbing nasty chemicals. Castor oil treatments are highly praised for encouraging thick, strong, glossy head hair regrowth. In the long term - Using a combination of these foods and supplements on a daily basis should show improvement of your hair loss or hirsutism in a matter of months. Stick with this protocol for at least six months before looking for another solution.

1. Stinging nettle in the form of nettle leaf tea
2. Omega 3 fatty acids from egg yolks and salmon
3. Saw palmetto herbal supplements
4. Evening primrose oil
5. Foods high in phytosterols such as fermented soy, wheat germ, brussel sprouts, olive oil and rye

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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