Birth control and I have an unsavory history.
I was a few months out to my wedding- and what does every good Christian girl do?
She goes and gets on birth control. Duh. No biggie.
So I went in to a doctor, asked for it, she prescribed something and I went on my way.
No questions or concerns.
Within the month of getting on them I gained 10 pounds (I knew that might happen so I wasn't too concerned) and then I started feeling off. Like crawl out of my skin, off.
On our honeymoon I decided I was done. With each month after I got off of birth control I continued to gain about 10 pounds for almost a year. Um, not ok.
After a year of this battle I found out I was insulin resistant, estrogen dominant, too low in testosterone and progesterone and my cortisol and adrenal glands were completely whacked out.
On top of all that I was now battling depression, major anxiety and feeling like I was living in someone else's body with no answers on how to "fix it".
The doctor couldn't understand how I was sitting in her room upright after looking at my blood work.
Up until this point in my life I had never really struggled with weight. I was tall, skinny and loved to eat. I lived for food with no consequences. I loved going to the gym and working out and I was studying to be a physical trainer right before I met Adam. This threw me a huge curve ball I never wanted.
For me, I ended up getting off birth control cold turkey (having NO CLUE it mattered).
I was so young.. and hormone health was non-existent in my vocabulary.
With that, I have become an accidental hormone advocate and I want women to know what I DIDN'T know at the beginning.
If I could re-do getting off birth control this is what I would do:
Prepare your body 2-3 months before stopping.
You can stop taking the pill safely at any point in your cycle, though it can be helpful to finish a pack so you can predict your next ovulation or period if you’re looking to plan or prevent pregnancy.
An IUD, can also be removed at any point, though removing it during your period when the cervix is naturally softer could be a bit easier.
Quitting cold turkey (like I did) without any body preparation may make this much more difficult. The goal is to make this as smooth a process as possible so you can feel your best while your body finds the rhythm the Lord created it to have. This means there are steps to take before and after, in order to support and wake up your natural endocrine function. After all, your hormones have been asleep for however long you뭭e been on the pill or hormonal IUD! They need time to wake up, and your hormones may be very sleepy or lazy at first, which is totally normal. You may not even notice any symptoms until 3-6 months after stopping the pill when your hormones really come back to life. All of this is NORMAL.
ONE: NOURISH YOUR HORMONES!
Diet plays a HUGE part in this process. It sets the groundwork and foundation for healthy detoxification, digestion and well-being during this transition.
- Clean up your diet because none of these steps will work without a clean foundation.
- This means 2-3 months before stopping the pill, feed + nourish your cells with real, whole foods
- You want to stay away from anything processed and avoid inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy and refined/processed sugar) during this time to prime and optimize bodily functions.
- Think lots of leafy greens, all the fruits and veggies (and starchy veggies like squashes and sweet potatoes), plenty of healthy fats (avocado, nuts & seeds, and cold-pressed oils like avocado oil or coconut oil) and small amounts of gluten-free grains/legumes like quinoa, brown rice, beans and lentils.
- Keep it whole and keep it as fresh as possible.
- Use food to nourish and move things along more quickly.
- HYDRATE! Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water per day. **add SOLE to support your adrenals with lemon essential oil (young living)
TWO: REPLENISH NUTRIENT STORES WITH SUPPLEMENTATION
2-3 months before quitting, begin supplementing with all of the supplements.
Replenishing lost mineral stores is SO IMPORTANT (the pill depletes all of these).
Want to know my favorite bio-available supplements that have supported my body so much?
-start by loading up on-
- folate
- zinc
- B-complex
- magnesium glycinate
- iodine
- selenium
- vitamin D3
- iron
- a great probiotic
- and an algae-based DHA/EPA
All of these are essential and will make a world of difference in your post-pill life.
Continue taking them until your period is regular and you feel great, or until you get testing done to see where you’re nutrient stores and hormone levels are at.
THREE: SUPPORT YOUR LIVER
While implementing the above steps, go one step further with Porgessence Plus and Dragon time (this is a must and game changer!). If you feel really brave coffee enemas are AMAZING for liver detox and support. This will help a great deal with PMS while leveling out your estrogen in relation to progesterone and help bring them into ideal ratios throughout the month.
Yes, your liver can use the extra support because the liver is responsible for getting hormones ready to be moved out by way of elimination, the liver has extra work to do, ridding the synthetic estrogen. It’s no secret the pill and other synthetic forms of birth control take a toll on the liver, and this vital organ must be functioning at its best for happy hormones.
FOUR: PRIORITIZE GUT HEALTH
I already mentioned high-quality probiotics above but adding in fermented foods will help restore your microbiome too since the pill interferes with the healthy bacteria needed for a thriving gut. Including raw sauerkraut (my fave brand is Farmhouse Culture), kimchi, pickled veggies, unsweetened coconut yogurt, and coconut and raw milk kefir will bring a variety of good bacteria back to your gut.
L-glutamine also helps to repair your gut lining and feels very soothing in your tummy!
Also, in order to properly eliminate estrogen, you must be having daily bowel movements.
If you’re not pooping every day then you need to dig deeper and figure out why.
Are you:
drinking enough water?
eating enough leafy greens and cruciferous veggies?
taking digestive enzymes?
FIVE: PREPARE FOR POST-PILL SYMPTOMS
If you had problems with your cycle before going on the pill, chances are they may return because the pill temporarily masks any underlying menstrual issues. Consider this a chance to connect and take control of your health. You will want to prepare your mind and know that whatever happens is temporary.
Giving your body time to adjust is so important as well as enough rest and downtime.
Flooding your cells with as much nutritional support and love as possible will only help!
Mindset is a large part of the detox process too, so set positive affirmations that everything will work out, and your body is good to you.
possible post-pill symptoms:
-remember, these symptoms can be temporary until your body balances out-
SIX: START CHARTING AND GET YOUR HORMONES TESTED
I would start charting as soon as you stop taking the pill. Take notes and keep track of any and all symptoms in an app (like Clue or MyFLO tracker) or in a journal, as well as when bleeding starts and stops.
Do you feel cramping mid-cycle? That could mean you are ovulating which is a great sign that your body is working to get back into balance!
3 months after quitting the pill, it may be worth it to get your hormones tested if you are curious to know where your levels are at. It’s a great time to test nutrient levels too (you must ask for a FULL blood panel with iron, all the b vitamins, zinc, etc., otherwise they won’t test them.)
There are at-home hormone testing kits that make it super convenient and easy to see where you are at. This information will guide you in accessing steps to take depending on what imbalances you may have. I use the Women’s Health and Fertility Test from EverlyWell to see where at for peace of mind! You can then bring the results to your doctor or naturopath so they can help guide you in steps to take.
SEVEN: START LIVING IN HARMONY WITH YOUR HORMONAL RHYTHMS
Learn to lean into the beautiful rhythm of your hormonal fluctuations each month and get comfortable with knowing where you're at in your cycle on any given day!
The Scary Truth About Chemicals in Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softeners
Of the 3-10 gallons of toxic household cleaning products in a home, the chemicals in dryer sheets and fabric softeners are considered to be among the most toxic. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are made up of pernicious chemicals combined with a hefty dose of fragrance. The fragrance chemicals are particularly difficult to remove because they have been designed to cling dearly to fabric so the signature scent stays in the clothing. This is called “fragrance substantivity,” which describes how long a fragrance lasts on a particular surface and how it is affected by temperature, humidity, and other conditions.
Lingering chemical residues in the clothes enter the body through the skin, which is tantamount to eating them! Many of these compounds are solvents that directly affect the nervous system and endocrine systemand can contribute to the development of chronic illness. Since the term “fragrance” on a label can mean up to hundreds of synthetic chemicals, the body is provided a cocktail of poison 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of this issue because their constant exposure to these chemicals makes it impossible for them to realize the impact it makes on their health. Not to mention the health of those around them! The non-stop exposure has dulled their sense of smell as a warning mechanism, their ability to perceive the specific fragrance in many cases is lost, or they actually get a high and crave the smell of the clothing.
Of 171 they studied, the Environmental Working Group gives 83.33% of fabric softeners a D or F rating.
The fact that your fabric softener may be under a counter and only used occasionally is bad enough, since the chemicals in the bottles and boxes are off-gassing into your living environment. But the truth is, these chemicals are accompanying you day and night through your skin and your lungs as you wear your clothes and sleep in your sheets. That’s why using fabric softeners, dryer sheets or even laundry detergent with fragrance are such dangerous health offenders. Once you start using them, they seem practically inescapable!
Live Life Clean Tip: if you can smell detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets in the laundry room when you’re not using them, that’s a sign that they’re off-gassing chemicals and degrading your indoor air quality.
12 Reasons to Get Rid of Your Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets
These are just a few of the toxic chemicals in commercial dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners! Note, this list doesn’t include the synthetic fragrances that are added to these products!
amazing education RESOURCE
I started using Essential Oils simply because my mama visited with her new brand starter kit, raved about it, and I had birthday money! Six years later it was one of the best unexpected blessing to our family.
I had never really thought about essential oils even though I had already been on a wellness journey for a few years due to an imbalance of hormones triggered by birth control.
I had focused so much on what I put IN my body and MOVING my body (weight gain was a HUGE symptom for me with my hormones out of wack!)
I also am OVER THE MOON excited about the emotional + hormonal support essential oils/ supplements that have been a GAME CHANGER for my cycle and motherhood!
Favorite Ways I use Young Living for....
-Kiddos sleepy routine-
Every night we (the kiddos know what to do) fill up their diffuser and add about 4 drops of Lavender Oil and and 4 drops Peace & Calming (smells so dreamy). Or we love the Sleepyize blend which makes ME want to fall asleep putting them down. I also have rollerballs of Valor (amazing support when kids are too anxious to fall asleep) and peace & Calming. I will rub them on the kids feet, their wrist and a little on their spine and give them a tiny massage, or they will simply open the bottle up and smell it while laying bed.
Lavender is a herb that is widely known to help with nervousness, anxiety, stress, and sleeplessness. It doesn’t make you sleepy like taking a sleeping pill would, but what it does do is help take the edge off of sleeplessness.
Glow Serum, my face is obsessed with this!
You can make it two ways:
One way in a roller bottle so I can just roll it on my cheekbones when I want a little glow after putting my makeup on. The other way I make it is in a little dropper and drop a few drops into the palm of my hand and rub it all over my face like a moisturizer.
You can literally get rid of ALL of your moisturizers and just use this (plus sunscreen). All you need is Frankincense and Copaiba Essential Oils, both come in your starter kit (see info at the end of this post).
I also have been applying Frankincense directly to a pimple or fine lines! DO IT!
I highly recommend using the Think Dirty App to identify the potential risks associated with the personal care products you use everyday, this is where I started.
Frankincense- Anti-Aging & Wrinkle Fighting supporter. Frankincense essential oil is a powerful astringent, meaning it helps protect skin cells. It can be used to help support acne blemishes, the appearance of large pores, prevent wrinkles, and it even helps lift and tighten skin to naturally slow signs of aging.
-Immune Boost-
When my wonderful doctor prescribed me Thieves + Frankincense to help boost our whole families immune system during a season of sickness, that was a GAME CHANGER, especially Frank down the spine!! We also rub the roller bottle on the bottom of our feet each morning, then put their socks on. I have read that the main thing with oils is consistency and its so true!
-Detangler-
We use a detangler almost everyday for my girl. I was excited to find a recipe to make my own that is non-toxic and also has health benefits. I Young Living Lavender Mint Conditioner, combined with distilled water and Essential Oils.
-Cleaning-
I have used just vinegar and water for YEARS and years and HATED the smell. Now I use Thieves and add in whatever essential oils to make it smell the way I want it to! Thieves also has liquid hand soap, laundry detergent and more that I have been using (and love, again, super budget friendly!)
-Essential Oils for Wool Dryer Balls-
After I did some research we quickly got rid of all dryer sheets and fabric softeners from our house. I use THESE Wool Dryer Balls and I add a couple drops of Lavender, Purification or Thieves Essential Oils to each ball. Make sure the oil absorbs in before tossing in with your clothes. If you deal with your clothes still being staticky, that is due to over-drying. So decrease your drying time. If you still have an issue you attach a safety pin to your dryer balls or some toss in a ball of tinfoil, problem solved!
-Diffusing-
We have completely gotten away from candles because of how toxic they are, I was so frustrated to learn this. The money I wasted on candles was ridiculous AND it was harming out bodies.
The problem is that I just LOVE, like really LOVEEEEEEE the ambiance that candles add. I am an enneagram 4, so yea, I love my environment to be cozy. I gave a diffuser a go, I had nothing to loose. I cannot imagine life without my diffusers now! I put one in every single room in our home, for real.
My favorite thing about the diffusers we have is that they have lights inside, like a soft lamp!
You can diffuse whatever you are needing- calm, energy, headache relief, help relive a cough and more. There is even a combo to duplicate my favorite Anthropologie candle- the Volcano. And I made sure to get diffusers for the kids rooms that they are a diffuser and humidifier combo. One of my favorites to diffuse is just Peace & Calming Essential Oil. It smells so good and it has helps ALL OF US to relax. I used to diffuse it before the kids get home from school and the homework, but now its going all the time with them home!
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PURE, ESSENTIAL OILS WITH AN EDUCATION TRIBE?
If THE WELLNESS WELL tribe had a motto it would be “quality matters”.
So I like to source products and ingredients – food, beauty, home cleaning, personal care, etc – from companies that are in line with that same belief.
I source all my essential oils, supplements & wellness products from one trusted place – Young Living.
They never use fillers or add synthetic chemicals in their oils. So what you’re getting is only the good stuff – pure, potent, essential oils & over 600 lifestyle products!
I REALLY DIG THEIR:
You can order your starter kit here & I’ll send you even more recipes and resources like these so you feel comfortable using all your oils
Sign up as a Member – for 24% off retail prices (recommended) this does not mean you will ever have to sell anything, it just means you are getting a starter kit & will therefore get 24% off retail prices (just like Costco!) AND joining my deeper wellness education tribe!
When you sign up as a wholesale member, you have the option of joining our private wellness group on facebook, which is where you can learn everything you need to know about using your oils & connect with an amazing, inspiring community. If you are interested in selling the oils and sharing about the company I am passionate about helping women earn income to help support their families! We have monthly business bootcamps & provide mentorship to everyone who joins our tribe!
You can follow me on Instagram @the.wellness.well as I share more of our daily life in Hawaii, my health journey with hormone imbalance & choosing to live a clean lifestyle!
That is just a start of what I have been using Young Living for!
FAQ
What do we use oils for? For just about everything!! Whether you are looking for oils to help support your sleep, for natural immune system support, for energy support, for focus, for relaxation, for your kids, for natural alternatives to cleaning products, the list is endless, there is an oil/product for that!! And you will learn along the way, there aren’t hard set rules, but part of joining our oils tribe is that you get access to the most amazing resources & our private facebook community.
Why Young Living? YL has an unmatched Seed to Seal process to guarantee the purity & potency of every oil. Each batch of oils is rigorously tested in house for therapeutic viability & they are so confident in their products that you can actually visit the farms & participate in the harvest/distillation process.
How do we use oils? You can diffuse them (you get a diffuser in your starter kit!) which is great for making your house smell great, helping your babies or kids relax at night for bed, getting rid of unwanted odors in the house & more, you can apply topically (some require a carrier oil like coconut oil, you’ll learn all about that later!), you can make rollerball combos, creams, sprays, and just about anything!!
How will I learn how to use my kit? You’ll get plenty of reading material with your kit, but as mentioned above, you’ll get access to our exclusive facebook community full of amazing resources like how to use each oil in your kit, which oils to be wise around with kids or while pregnant/nursing, and all of the dilution ratios for individual oils. We have classes, books, live facebook hangouts & search functionality that will help you navigate through any questions you might have.
What should I get? A premium starter kit, which comes with 12 of the most commonly used oils + your diffuser (I LOVE my aria diffuser) is the best value & provides you with everything you need to get started. You’ll get over $300 worth of product for only $165.
Do you have to order more oils monthly or sell them? Nope! Your kit can be a one time purchase, but along with it comes a wholesale membership, which just means that should you decide to purchase any of young living over 600 lifestyle products in the future, you would get a 24% discount! You will also get a personal referral link so when your mama wants a kit, you get a no strings attached $50. thank you check from Young Living! But neither is required.
ORDER HERE & make sure the number 1833281 appears in both the “Enroller” & “Sponsor ID” fields.
& then wait for a welcome gift curated but ME!
In research done on liquid minerals (the best form for absorption), participants were found to have adverse effects on the liquid minerals without essential oils, whereas those effects were completely eliminated with the addition of essential oils. This plus the additional increase in synergy and bioavailability makes mineral supplements like Young Living's Mineral Essence much more effective than other mineral supplements on the market.
Here's another example: Before putting essential oils in Young Living's MultiGreens supplement, there was a 42% absorption of the nutrients in 24 hours. With the addition of YL essential oils, blood absorption increased to 64% in 30 minutes and 86% in one hour. What?
If you want to get the most for your money and the most nutrients and health benefits possible for your body,
look into Young Living's vast supplements, they have so many!
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PURE, BIOAVAILABLE SUPPLEMENTS?
If THE WELLNESS WELL tribe had a motto it would be “quality matters”.
So I like to source products and ingredients – food, beauty, home cleaning, personal care, etc – from companies that are in line with that same belief.
I source all my essential oils, supplements & wellness products from one trusted place – Young Living.
They never use fillers or add synthetic chemicals in their oils. So what you’re getting is only the good stuff – pure, potent, essential oils & over 600 lifestyle products!
I REALLY DIG THEIR:
You can order your starter kit here & I’ll send you even more recipes and resources like these so you feel comfortable using all your oils!
Sign up as a Member – for 24% off retail prices (recommended) this does not mean you will ever have to sell anything, it just means you are getting a starter kit & will therefore get 24% off retail prices (just like Costco!) AND joining my deeper wellness education tribe!
There are five key hormones that must be balanced, if we are to maintain healthy body weight with ease, once and for all—and consequentially, have deep sleep, steady energy, healthy digestion, immunity, and that natural glow to our skin, eyes, hair, and nails that hormonal balance brings.
Cortisol
Insulin
Testosterone
Estrogen
Individually, these hormones are all unique and have different roles within the body; together they create balance and harmony which allows us to achieve our natural body weight and a healthy, harmonious experience of life.
Stress (cortisol) and undereating or eating the wrong foods can be detrimental to our thyroid and halt the production of thyroid hormone.
Symptoms of low thyroid include:
Weight gainBrain fog
Depression
Fatigue
Constipation
And brittle nails
2. Cortisol
Cortisol is the main stress hormone in the body, produced by the adrenal glands. While cortisol is absolutely necessary for our body, there can be too much of a good thing.
Symptoms of high cortisol include:
Trouble sleeping through the nightNervousness
Anxiousness and anxiety
And not much of an appetite, especially first thing in the morning
Low cortisol conversely can cause:
LethargyDepression
Aches and pains
And complete exhaustion
3. Insulin
Insulin can be the main culprit in weight loss resistance and once an imbalance starts it can be a difficult rollercoaster to get off of. Insulin can be quick to become imbalanced due to stress and poor dietary choices, making your cells essentially numb.
Insulin resistance or even just poor glycemic control can lead to symptoms of both hypoglycemia and elevated glucose levels, both which can make you hold on to weight in spite of what you might have thought were your best efforts.
4. Testosterone
Testosterone is a key sex hormone that is required by both men and women. Testosterone is essential for fertility, muscle mass and growth, fat distribution and bone health. It can be common in women (and men) for testosterone to decline naturally with age; however, it is very important to not take the hormone testosterone without doing a hormone panel.
Taking endogenous testosterone can lead to a build-up of androgenic hormones and unpleasant side effects for women, including facial hair, muscle growth, headaches, mood swings, and weight gain.
Not having or producing enough testosterone can also make you gain weight and not be able to build any muscle.
On the topic of androgens, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can also be an issue and influence hormone balance and weight. Typically, this includes high fasting glucose, high sex hormones and their precursors such as testosterone and DHEA.
Symptoms of PCOS include:
Acne
Facial hair
Elevated blood sugar
And weight gain
With PCOS your body cannot clear hormones effectively.
5. Estrogen
Estrogen is the fifth hormone which is mainly responsible for giving women their figure. Estrogen is made in the ovaries and needs to be in balance with progesterone. There is a delicate line between having too little and too much estrogen.
High estrogen or estrogen dominance can make weight loss very challenging for both men and women.
Signs of High Estrogen:
An increase in appetiteIncrease in water retention
And fat storage “in weird places”
& cellulite
If you are over 45, be sure to check out our blog about estrogen and to find out if taking bioidentical hormones is a smart choice for you. This hormone should not have been demonized as it has been, especially with regard to our menopausal years.
When I was in private practice, I saw hundreds of women who were so frustrated because they were not eating much and they were exercising but still not losing weight, or worse, steadily gaining it with no known explanation.
They felt like their body was being invaded and they were becoming someone different on the outside than they were on the inside. While this is a horrifying feeling, the good news is that it is possible to balance your hormones at any age and to reclaim your sense of self.
When we are experiencing the above symptoms, it is all too common to add more hormones through bioidentical hormone therapy or other methods. While this can work wonders for some, if we add additional hormones into a stressed body that is already in chaos, the body will often react negatively or will not know what to do with the extra hormones. This results in hormones going through the wrong pathway or not being detoxified correctly, leading to weight gain, anxiety, skin or immune reactions, and added stress.
There are two strategies we have used with wonderful results in private practice and just recently in the Adrenal ReCode program. (right now its 50% off, ask me for the code!)
These 2 pillars include:
Converting food efficiently to fuelAnd reviewing the importance of macronutrient ratios
These two well executed, alone, take care of insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormone by helping to regulate blood sugar, balance stress hormones, and shuttle active thyroid hormone into the cell, therefore creating balance.
From there, the liver will get healthier and be able to detoxify excess estrogen and you will be able to get the sex hormone balance your body needs because it will be able to pull from healthy stress hormone precursors to create the testosterone it needs.
Converting Food To Fuel
Over 80% of the population is not able to actually utilize the food they consume into appropriate fuel for the body, which is part and parcel of why our society is so darn tired all the time and reaching for quick fixes like coffee or processed sugar.
The foods we eat should benefit us to the fullest, revving our cellular energy centers (mitochondria) and brain, and supporting our microbiome. If we can include foods which are synergistic to our adrenals, thyroid, brain, and nervous system, we can then effectively kick-start the healing process.
Nutrients Necessary For The Adrenals:
ChromiumMagnesium
B-vitamins
Vitamin-C
And sodium
Food sources include:
BananasBroccoli Sprouts
Bison
Bone Broth
Celery
Celtic Sea Salt
Camu Camu
Cauliflower
Cottage Cheese (organic)
High-quality milk
Kiwi
Liver
Orange Juice
Papaya
Pink Salt
Red Bell Peppers
Turkey
Nutrients For The Thyroid:
IodineSmall amounts of copper
Selenium
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
B vitamins, such as B1, B2, and B12
And tyrosine
Food sources include:
AvocadosBeef
Bone Broth
Cashews
Egg Yolks
High-Quality Milk
Liver
Low Fat White Fish
Organ Meat
Pumpkin Seeds
Raw Cacao
Ricotta Cheese
Sea Vegetables
Shellfish
Shiitake Mushrooms
Spinach
Sunflower Seeds
Yogurt
Nutrients For The Brain:
Amino acids are essential to balance neurotransmitters and play a great role in maintaining a balanced, healthy weight, such as:
GABADopamine
Serotonin
Foods and herbs which are great for neurotransmitters include:
BasilBeets
Cayenne
Chamomile
Garlic
Ginger
Green Tea
Oregano
Red cabbage
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Turmeric
Nervous System Support:
All the following are all necessary for nervous system function and development:
ElectrolytesEPA
DHA
Zinc
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
Manganese
Melatonin
And iron
Food sources include:
Avocados
Bananas
Bone Broth
Carrots
Cherries
Coconut Water
Collagen
Leafy Greens
Liver and other organ meats
Orange Juice
Oysters
Sunflowers
Tropical Fruits
Walnuts
Wild-caught salmon
The Importance Of Macronutrient Ratios For Hormonal Health
Macronutrients include:
CarbohydratesFats
And proteins
The issue with diets today: they often cut out one group, such as low-fat, low-carb, high-fat.
When we do that, we cannot expect our body to succeed long term.
There is a reason we have three types of macronutrients; they all have important benefits for our health.
The number one question we get when speaking about macronutrient ratios is, “what percentage do you recommend?”
The answer to this is so unique and is dependent on your own body's feedback
If you are coming from a low or no carbohydrate diet, start slow with adding carbohydrates back in, like ⅛ cup twice a day. You will need to train your body to metabolize carbs once again, versus storing them as fat.
Alternatively, if you have been consuming a low-fat diet for a long period of time, see how you feel adding a ½ teaspoon of fat into your meals and gradually work up from there.
To go into more depth on what to eat and do in order to achieve hormone balance take THE WHOLE JOURNEYS free mini-course, where sample meal ideas and recommendations are provided along with downloadable recipes.
