In this episode I get back to the basics with health coach Melissa Lee on periods, PCOS and hormonal birth control. This episode is for you - or perhaps for your sister or daughter - if you’ve been considering starting hormonal birth control due to wonky period issues. Melissa shares her own experience with PCOS and birth control, how she transitioned off the pill and how she’s helped herself and other women regain hormonal balance by applying foundational food and lifestyle principles.

Melissa is a health coach who supports ladies with hormonal imbalances, including PCOS. She uses both her own experience living with PCOS and the creation of a natural healing toolkit to help her clients improve their symptoms through natural means. Melissa works with clients remotely and creates an engaging community in her FB group, Find Natural Ways to Balance Hormones with NourishMel.

In this episode:

-The 80/20 rule, and why the basics are the biggest needle movers [2:07]

-Melissa’s journey with PCOS and hormonal birth control [8:10]

-Effects of the birth control pill [15:16]

-Important nutrients and lifestyle considerations for period maintenance, or when someone considers coming off the pill [17:49]

-The misconception surrounding your period while on the birth control pill [21:09]

-Why carbohydrates are needed for a period [23:22]

-The message your painful period is telling you, and the foods/nutrients that can help it [29:42]

-Foods and herbs that help with hormonal acne [36:24]

-Impact of xenoestrogens on periods [38:14]

-The role of detoxification in alleviating acne [39:36]

Resources mentioned:

Natural Ways to Balance Hormones with NourishMel https://www.facebook.com/groups/576858976311822/

Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones

Organifi Gold powder (enter code FUNK for 15% off!) https://www.organifi.com/funk

Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/

Follow Melissa on Insta https://www.instagram.com/nourishmelhealth/