A new study by a group of researchers has further shown the damages of Glyphosate on honeybees at or below recommended levels. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup.

Image credit: VAN AZIMOV SHUTTERSTOCK

The research was published in Scientific Reports, and conducted by researchers associated with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing and the Chinese Bureau of Landscape and Forestry.

Honeybees were found to be significantly impaired after being exposed to Roundup, indicating that exposure to Roundup may “negatively affect the search and collection of resources and the coordination of foraging activities” by the honeybees. The climbing ability of the bees was also negatively affected after exposure to Roundup.

Related: How To Heal Your Gut 

The researchers said there is a need for a “reliable herbicide spraying early warning system” in rural areas of China because beekeepers in those areas are “usually not informed before herbicides are sprayed” and “frequent poisoning incidents of honeybees” occur.

New study examines Roundup herbicide impact on honeybees

This is not the first study of its kind. Many studies have shown the negative effects of Roundup. Roundup has done significant damage to all aspects of the environment.

Related: Foods Most Likely to Contain Glyphosate

Despite warnings about the levels of arsenic in U.S rice potentially increasing cancer risk, a study by Harvard has shown that long term consumption of rice (white or brown) was not associated with a risk of developing cancer.

That being said, the levels of arsenic in brown rice has still been a cause for concern. Do the benefits of brown rice outweigh the risk?

My Daily Dozen recommendation of at least three servings of whole grains a day was associated with a 10 percent lower risk of dying from cancer, a 25 percent lower risk of dying from heart attacks or strokes, and a 17 percent lower risk of dying prematurely across the board, whereas rice consumption in general was not associated with mortality and was not found to be protective against heart disease or stroke.

Do the Pros of Brown Rice Outweigh the Cons of Arsenic?

Related: Stop Eating Like That and Start Eating Like This – Your Guide to Homeostasis Through Diet

Many studies have found brown rice to have benefits. One study showed an improvement in insulin levels after five days of eating brown rice compared to white rice. Another study showed that eating a cup of brown rice a day could reduce weight, BMI, and diastole blood pressure.

You should be prioritizing fresh produce above grains in your diet to be as healthy as possible but you don’t have to completely cut out brown rice. Lundberg Farms, in California, produces brown rice with low levels of arsenic and continues to find ways to lower their arsenic levels further.

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

I used to have terrible anxiety. Throughout high school, I had panic attacks so severe I felt like I couldn’t breathe. At my worst, I would shut down, in tears, unable to take a deep breath, while my whole body shook. The pit in my stomach would get so heavy I was sure I would be sick. Sometimes, I did get sick.

Image credit: Antonioguillem/Adobe Stock

I remember the progression from being a nervous person to realizing I had anxiety, to being able to recognize I was having a panic attack. Yet, I didn’t even realize how bad it was because I was used to living with chronic pain. But when I was 16, I had a severe panic attack, severe enough that I finally thought to myself, “This is not normal, and I am not okay. I can’t live like this.” It was another two years before I fixed the root of the problem.

For two years after that debilitating panic attack, I would practice deep breathing, and on rare occasions, take an anxiety pill to try and help calm my nerves. Unfortunately, my endocrine system was so messed up, there wasn’t much I could do to quell the anxiety without fixing the root of the problem.

I also used to weigh 320 pounds. I woke up anxious; I went to bed anxious. Every moment of my life was full of anxiety. After graduating from high school, I began to learn about the endocrine system. I’ve learned how my toxic lifestyle (diet, prescription drugs, and poor sleep habits) caused my hormonal imbalance and was at the root of my anxiety and numerous other health problems. If you would like to take a deep dive into how hormones work and how to fix the endocrine system, check out the following article:

The endocrine system is the collection of glands and glandular organs that produce hormones to regulate metabolism, tissue function, growth and development (which includes repair), sexual function, reproduction, sleep, mood, the immune system, and more.

HOLISTIC GUIDE TO HEALING THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND BALANCING OUR HORMONES

My anxiety was caused by two major things that were totally within my control:

• Poor diet
• Poor sleep

I’ve learned that my endocrine system was functioning so poorly because of my diet and poor sleep, which was also affected by my poor diet.

Diet

Diet is imperative to fixing the endocrine system and getting rid of anxiety. Just like with most everything else, it starts in the gut. When I eliminated refined sugars, gluten, and processed foods, I felt better within days. When I started eating a salad and drinking a gallon of cranberry lemonade every day, my life changed for the better, irrevocably.

We have an excellent article about the hormonal system that I urge anyone to read if they want to learn how to balance and heal the endocrine system. It goes into why diet is paramount to healing the gut, the endocrine system, and chronic illness in general:

As OLM always says, it starts with diet. Supplemental therapies are much more effective with a healthy diet, and for most people, the right diet is all they need. But there are plenty of people who do not have access to healthy foods, and there are many who have such a depleted endocrine system that the body is just plain going to need a lot of help.

HOLISTIC GUIDE TO HEALING THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND BALANCING OUR HORMONES

Two months after fixing my diet, I decided to fast for a week. Within days my depression was back. I wasn’t as anxious as I had been, but the anxiety made it difficult to talk about how I was struggling. I had stopped eating vegetables, and I had stopped working out. I don’t think my gut was healthy enough for me to reap the benefits of fasting. A week later, the first thing I ate was a salad. I felt better immediately. As I incorporated exercise back into my life, my anxiety continued to fade.

I start to feel a little anxious when I don’t eat well enough as well as when I don’t take time to get enough sleep. When I say I’m not eating well I should be clear. My idea of junk food is stuff like homemade pesto with brown rice pasta, or organic brown rice chips with a chunk of goat cheddar cheese. Sometimes we make raw food chocolate pie or sourdough bread. While the average person wouldn’t notice any problems with these foods, and may even feel better compared to a typical diet, I get anxious when I eat wheat or pre-packaged processed “healthy” snack foods.

Sleep

Throughout high school, I would regularly sleep between 12-14 hours a day. I would often joke with my friends about how much sleep I got. While they were on one end of the spectrum, pulling all-nighters, I was on the other end, sleeping as much as possible. None of us were healthy. I struggled with depression throughout high school. I was always exhausted, no matter how much I slept.

Fixing your sleep schedule can be difficult or impossible if you’re not taking care of yourself in other ways. I sleep well when I eat well. Exercise helps, too. When I mess up my sleep schedule (which doesn’t happen often, but it does happen), I find that exercise is the best way to help me get back on track. No matter how mentally tired I am at the end of the day, I can still have a hard time falling asleep if I don’t go for a run or work out in some other way.

I also find that having a set bedtime and wake-up time helps. I generally go to bed by 9:30 or 10:00 every night. My wake-up time is not yet as consistent. Sometimes I’m up at 6:00 am, but other times, if my REM sleep is off, or I’m working out very hard, I can sleep past 8. I’m almost always awake by 9.

I find that my sleep schedule and my endocrine system are intertwined. It can be a vicious cycle when things aren’t going well! An unhealthy endocrine system makes it difficult to impossible to fix one’s sleep schedule, and a messed up sleep schedule makes it difficult to impossible to have a healthy endocrine system.

I find it interesting to pay attention to what happens when I don’t get enough sleep, and I get to experiment with this regularly. I have friends in college who often aren’t ready or able to talk or hang out until 8:00 or 9:00 pm when I’m ready to go to bed. And sometimes I can’t help myself, and I find I’ve pulled all-nighters or had too many consecutive days running on 3-4 hours of sleep while sticking to my very healthy diet.

when I don’t get enough sleep, the first thing that happens, obviously, is exhaustion. I have a hard time focusing and I feel very drained. Then I notice the anxiety. I notice a small pit in my stomach at the thought of doing something I don’t want to do. Something as simple as going on a run when I don’t want to can cause a slight twinge of anxious nausea.

The longer I go without sleep the worse my anxiety gets. It goes from that small twinge of nausea to a constant knot in my stomach at the thought of the unknown. My heart rate will spike unnecessarily at any unease. Happy excitement can turn into anxiety very quickly.

After one all-nighter or 2 days with less than 6 hours of sleep, I notice the bags under my eyes. They’re faint. Someone who doesn’t know me might not even notice them, but they’re there. Shortly after the sun comes up, I can barely see the purple-blue hues beginning to appear under my eyes.

I also experience dizziness when standing up if I’m not getting enough sleep. Recently, for two weeks, I did not get nearly enough sleep and was alternating between all-nighters and getting a couple of hours of sleep a night. Every time I stood up I would get lightheaded. I nearly fainted twice. There are multiple factors that go into this, but I believe that had I been getting proper sleep, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Since correcting my sleep schedule, the issues have gone away.

Conclusion

I remember what it was like to have severe anxiety. I know how hard it can be to treat. I find that like almost all other things health related, it starts in the gut. Fixing anxiety can take time. My panic attacks went away within days of fixing my diet, but it took months of regular exercise and a healthy diet to fix my endocrine system enough to alleviate my anxiety completely.

• The Effects of Anxiety on the Endocrine System
• Anxiety disorders are linked to inflamed thyroid glands
• 10 Ways to Naturally Reduce Anxiety

Although many people view acne as merely a part of life, it is definitely a health problem. In simplistic terms, it’s caused by too much toxicity in the body.

It’s estimated that nearly 85% of Americans have dealt with acne at one time or another. The good news is that with proper diet and time you should be able to completely eliminate acne.

The pores in our skin produce sebum, a waxy substance that coats the skin. Sebum that gets clogged inside the pores forms whiteheads or blackheads. When the pores become infected, they form pimples. Infection in the body is caused by poor diet and poor nutrition, an abundance of candida, and toxicity in the body.

The Acne Diet Connection

Many studies have shown a connection between acne and diet. Certain foods have been shown to help with acne whereas other foods, and food groups, have been shown to trigger outbreaks or make acne worse.

Gluten, dairy, refined sugars, and other refined foods have all been shown to play a significant role in worsening or prompting breakouts.

Studies have found that low-glycemic diets (diets rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes) can help prevent acne. One study found that after patients followed a low-glycemic diet, almost all of them improved.

USA: 2,258 patients were placed on a low-glycemic diet so that they could lose weight. This diet also reduced their acne, with 87% of patients saying they had less acne and 91% saying they needed less acne medication.¹

Australia: 43 males with acne (aged 15 to 25 years of age) ate either their normal diet or switched to a low-glycemic diet for 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, those who followed the low-glycemic diet had significantly less acne than those who ate their normal diet.²

Korea: 32 patients with acne (aged 20 to 27 years old) ate either their normal diet or a low-glycemic diet for 10 weeks. Those following the low-glycemic diet had significantly less acne at the end of 10 weeks than the patients who ate their normal diet.³

Turkey: 86 patients (50 with acne) kept food logs for 7 days. Those with the most severe acne consumed a high-glycemic diet.⁴

CAN THE RIGHT DIET GET RID OF ACNE?

Studies have also found a correlation between gut health and acne, and improvements in the skin were seen after fixing the gut. People with gastrointestinal illnesses often have skin problems, showing just how connected our gut and skin can be. Inflammation can also be a key contributor to acne, in addition to creating problems in the gut.

Through complex immune mechanisms, the influence of the gut microbiome extends to involve distant organ systems including the skin. With intentional modulation of the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have proven beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory skin diseases including acne vulgaris, AD, and psoriasis.

The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis

You are what you eat. If you live off greasy fast food and refined sugar, it shows in your skin, hair, eyes, and teeth. The same can be said for when you eat fresh whole foods. If you want to truly fix the root of your skin problems, you need to fix your gut first, as opposed to treating the problem topically. This article goes into how to fix the gut. It’s not complicated. Cut out refined sugar and other refined foods, start eating salads every day, and always cook at home from scratch.

Every morning I start off the day with a salad and drink lots of cranberry lemonade (click here for recipes for both). For lunch, I’ll have a scramble with eggs lots of vegetables, or maybe a smoothie. For dinner, I’ll have grains and legumes with lots of vegetables.

The Problem with Your Face Wash

Topical acne treatments are not going to fix the root of your problem, and in many cases it can be difficult or impossible to treat the problem entirely without fixing the root cause.

Chemically laden conventional skin care can seriously age the skin. And the skin can become dependent on its use. For instance, oily skin seems to be controlled by the chemical cocktail that causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Or dry skin feels better for an hour or two, but the sebaceous glands don’t produce more oil.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ACNE

Chances are, your face wash has all the same problems your regular soap does. You can read more about the problems with your soap and over showering in this article. Many face washes can strip your skin of its natural oil and cause irritation. Often times your facial cleansers are full of harsh chemicals and toxins that are counterproductive to what your skin actually needs.

Parabens, fragrances, Propylene Glycol, petroleum, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate are all among the harsh chemicals you find in your face wash that you do not want to use on your skin.

If you’ve ever turned over the packaging of your favorite facial cleanser, you noticed a long list of ingredients you didn’t recognize. From sulfates to parabens, the cosmetic industry uses all kinds of chemicals in its products.

5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Face Wash

While you’re detoxing the body from the inside, you can treat topically to speed the process along with natural products. When my skin does start to break out, I use coconut oil and apple cider vinegar on my whole face. This is good to do on a regular basis while you’re fixing your skin.

Coconut oil acts as a mild antimicrobial and helps coat the skin as a lube to help the sebum escape without clogging the pores. Apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and it helps balance the pH of the skin, allowing the skin to maintain a healthy microbiome. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and it is also known to help with sunburn and wrinkles.

I don’t use soap on my face, and I rarely shower. You can read more about that in this article. I also don’t wear makeup, ever. I view it as a credit card. The more you use it now, the more you’ll pay for it later. Makeup is not good for you or your skin and makes it much harder to give it up later on. The reason I’m able to do these things is due to my diet. Eating a salad every day and cutting out refined sugars and other refined food has given me a balanced microbiome that keeps my skin clean all on its own.

If you’re searching for skincare products, stick to products that are organic, and have minimal ingredients. I don’t have many personal recommendations. The only soap I’ve used on my skin in the last year and a half is Moon Valley Organics bar soap.

Conclusion

When you begin detoxing through a healthy diet you may notice your skin break out even more than before. Although this isn’t fun, it’s normal and part of the detoxification process. I often find that if I’m traveling and not taking great care of myself, my skin doesn’t break out until I get home and start eating properly again. As frustrating as this can be, don’t give up!

My skin isn’t perfect. Up close, you can still see blackheads and other problem spots. My diet isn’t perfect either. I’ve also lost lots of weight throughout the process of fixing my skin. If you are trying to lose weight, fixing your skin will likely take longer as the fat cells in your body continue to release toxins. Additionally, if you’re young (18-24) you are more prone to breakouts than those who are older.

My advice is to stay diligent. Keep with the diet and know that fixing problems like this takes time when you’re doing it right. Remember, as slow as the process may be to fix all the problems on the outside, you’ll feel radically better in just a short amount of time.

Sources:

• 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Face Wash
• Effects of soap and detergents on skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration and fat content in infants
• What *Really* Happens to Your Skin When You Are Not Washing Your Face
• NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ACNE
• The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis
• CAN THE RIGHT DIET GET RID OF ACNE?

A 2019 study conducted by WWF International showed that the average person could be ingesting as much plastic as the equivalent of a credit card every week. The study found that one of the main sources of plastic comes from the water we drink and they also mentioned certain food like shellfish, “…which tends to be eaten whole so the plastic in their digestive systems is also consumed.”

Photo: Stephanie Wright

Reuters used the information from this study to illustrate how this plastic consumption adds up over time.

In a month, we ingest the weight of a 4×2 Lego brick in plastic, and in a year, the amount of plastic in a fireman’s helmet. This may not sound like much, but it can add up. At this rate of consumption, in a decade, we could be eating 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in plastic, the equivalent of over two sizable pieces of plastic pipe.

How much plastic are you eating?

Plastic production has drastically increased over the last 50 years. Plastic is not biodegradable and only breaks down into smaller microparticles over time. Plastics are known carcinogens. Microplastics are everywhere from our rain, to our food, and even the highest and lowest points of the Earth.

If you’re worried about plastic toxicity and the consequences of it, read this article to learn more about how to detox from plastics and other endocrine system disruptors.

Birth control is a personal choice for each user. It’s important that proper planning and research is done before making decisions on birth control, especially if you’re looking at a long term option.

I did not feel that I was properly warned about the side effects of most of my birth control options when making this decision for the first time. The reality is that any hormonal birth control option is likely to have major side effects.

I’ve put together a guide of some of the most popular forms of birth control, both hormonal and nonhormonal, as well as my personal recommendations. 

Hormonal birth control is known to cause serious health problems in many cases. Taking hormonal birth control can cause everything from serious mood swings and emotional changes to a variety of different cancers and other life-threatening conditions.

Not all non-hormonal birth control options are perfect though. Many non-hormonal birth controls have health draw-backs, although most of them are minor compared to hormonal options.

When talking about the effectiveness of birth control, the numbers report how many people get pregnant each year on that particular form of birth control. For example, if you’re birth control is 90% effective, one in 10 people using that form of birth control will get pregnant each year.

Non Hormonal Birth Control

Copper IUD 

The copper IUD is the only non-hormonal low maintenance, long term birth control method that I am aware of. It is better for your health than a hormonal birth control option, but it’s not great. The copper IUD is a T-shaped device placed into the uterus by a doctor. The copper IUD makes the uterine environment inhabitable to sperm.

The copper IUD can cause heavy bleeding and cramps. The extra stress of having a foreign object inside the uterus causes heavy periods as the body tries to dispel the foreign object. It has other risks as well. The copper IUD can cause:

• Menstrual problems (irregular periods, heavier periods, longer periods, etc.)
• Cramps and dizziness after insertion
• Ovarian cysts
• Expulsion (the body rejecting the IUD)
• Infection
• Puncturing the uterine wall
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriages
• Intrauterine pregnancy

The copper IUD can have serious health side effects, but it is a very convenient, hassle-free form of birth control after implantation, in many ways (side effects aside). The copper IUD requires a prescription from a doctor and implantation by a doctor. It can be free if covered by your health insurance, but otherwise, it can cost upwards of $900. 

Spermicide 

Spermicide is a chemical that prevents pregnancy by killing sperm. The active ingredient is nonoxynol-9, and it is available in multiple forms.

Spermicide can cause mild skin irritation. Some people may be allergic to the ingredients. An unhealthy gut generally causes allergies, so if your gut is healthy, this shouldn’t be a problem. Spermicide needs to be inserted at least 10-15 minutes before you have sex, which can be inconvenient for some. Spermicide is also only effective for about an hour, which can also be inconvenient. Some spermicides have a funny taste.

Spermicide alone is anywhere from 70-80% effective. Combined with condoms and used properly, this method is 97% effective.

Spermicide does not protect against STDs. Long term spermicide use can make some more susceptible to HIV and other STDs, but again, I wouldn’t worry about this if you are healthy.

Spermicide is available without a prescription at any pharmacy or store where you would buy contraceptives. It usually ranges in cost from about $8-$15 per kit. Read and follow the directions carefully.

Fertility Awareness

Fertility awareness involves tracking your cycle and avoiding sex on the days you’re most fertile. When done correctly, it can be an effective form of birth control, but it can be difficult (or impossible) to track your fertility effectively if you aren’t extremely healthy.

This method can also be inconvenient, as it means not having sex on your most fertile days, or at least not having sex on those days without relying on other forms of protection. Irregular periods make it difficult to track your most fertile days. And it is important to note that sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for as long as five days. If avoiding pregnancy is your number one priority, I would not recommend this method of birth control.

Breastfeeding

Obviously, breastfeeding is only a valid form of birth control after you’ve already had a baby, and it only works for so long. The longer you are able to breastfeed, the better for the baby and the longer you have a natural form of birth control. Most of the mainstream sources consider this method of birth control to be effective for 6 months postpartum, but the healthier you are the longer you’ll be able to use breastfeeding as a form of birth control. This is an extremely effective method of birth control when done right, and it’s free. This method of birth control can work for 2-3 years if you’re healthy, but when your period returns, you’ll want to find another form of birth control. 

Barrier Method Birth Control

Barrier method birth control coupled with spermicide is my recommended form of birth control. Many barrier methods are only 80-85% effective with typical use. This accounts for user error and malfunctions. For this reason, barrier methods coupled with spermicide make for an extremely effective method of birth control with little to no side effects. 

The Birth Control Sponge

The birth control sponge is a round piece of foam-filled with spermicide that you insert into your vagina close to the base of the cervix before having sex. It prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg by covering the cervix and continually releasing spermicide. The sponge also absorbs sperm.

The sponge must be kept in at least 6 hours after having sex. According to doctors, the sponge can be inserted up to 24 hours before sex, although you should not keep the sponge inside for more than 30 hours. I personally wouldn’t leave it in for more than 6 hours.

Sponges are available at most drugstores and available without a prescription. With perfect use, the sponge is about 91% effective if you’ve never given birth. If you have given birth, with perfect use, the sponge is about 80% effective. Using the sponge perfectly every time can be difficult, so in reality, the sponge is about 88% effective for those who have never given birth, and 76% effective for those who have.

The sponge coupled with a condom is a highly effective form of birth control. The planning required to use the sponge is not ideal for everyone. The sponge has all the side effects of spermicide, as it has spermicide in it. The sponge can also increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). For this reason, the sponge is not considered a safe birth control option when you’re on your period. Overall, this method of birth control isn’t the most effective option, and I recommend just spermicide over the sponge. 

Cervical Caps

A cervical cap is a small cup made from soft silicone that you put inside your vagina to cover your cervix. In order to be as effective as possible, the cervical cap should be paired with spermicide.

The cervical cap is 86% effective if you’ve never given birth and 71% effective if you have given birth. Doctors say the cervical cap is safe to leave inside for 48 hours, although I wouldn’t recommend leaving any foreign object inside your body for that long.

The cervical cap needs to be left in at least 6 hours after having sex in order to be as effective as possible. Like the sponge, the cervical cap has all the same side effects including increased risk for TSS, HIV, and other STDs and is not considered a safe birth control option when you are on your period.

Compared to the diaphragm, a cervical cap fits more snuggly against the opening of the cervix. The cap is shaped like a small sailor’s hat. The diaphragm is shaped like a shallow latex cup. (Read more about diaphragms below.)

The cervical cap comes in different sizes. In order to get one, you’ll need to be fitted for one by your doctor and given a prescription. The cost range is $0-$75, depending on your health insurance.

Diaphragms

The diaphragm is similar to the cervical cap and the sponge in that it blocks sperm from the cervix. It is a shallow cup that covers the cervix and surrounding areas. It is best coupled with spermicide to be as effective as possible.

The diaphragm is more effective at preventing pregnancy than the cervical cap. With perfect use, the diaphragm is about 94% effective, but with typical average use, the diaphragm is about 88% effective.

The diaphragm cannot be left in as long as the cervical cap, (24 hours compared to 48 hours). Like the cervical cap, you have to leave the diaphragm in for 6 hours after having sex.

The diaphragm has all the similar side effects and problems as the sponge and the cervical caps. Any solid foreign object that you insert into the body for long periods of time, isn’t great for you.

Diaphragms come in different sizes so you’ll need to be fitted for one and given a prescription from a doctor.

Condoms

Condoms are the only birth control method on the market that protects against STDs. It wasn’t until recently that I realized, just like any other disease or infection, contracting an STD is a sign of a poor immune system and overall poor health. If you have a healthy gut and a strong immune system, it’s very likely that STDs won’t ever be a problem for you.

With typical use, condoms are about 85% effective. With perfect use, condoms are 98% effective. Condoms are relatively cheap and easily accessible at any pharmacy or store where you would otherwise buy contraceptives. 

Hormonal Birth Control

My only personal experience with hormonal birth control is the pill. I took the pill for about 6 weeks when I was 18. I found that it made me extremely nauseous on a daily basis, though this was prior to my conversion to an organic lifestyle.

I have friends who use hormonal IUDs and friends who have used the NuvaRing. My friend who uses the NuvaRing just had a lump removed from her breast, at age 19. My friend who uses the hormonal IUD is plagued with horrible cramping and menstrual cycle problems whenever she does have a period, although they are irregular and infrequent.

Any hormonal birth control requires a prescription and can be difficult to get without health insurance. Generally, hormonal birth control methods are much more effective than other methods, and people like them because they are usually a hassle-free way to prevent pregnancy. 

Many doctors will say that hormonal birth control is safe to use and that it’s completely safe to skip periods. I don’t agree with this. Messing with your body’s natural cycle is not good for you and can have consequences. Some of the side effects of hormonal birth control include:

• Mood swings
• Menstrual changes (heavier periods, irregular periods, etc)
• Reduced sex drive (or overall changes in sex drive)
• Headaches and migraines
• Nausea
• Thyroid imbalances
• Adrenal problems
• Anxiety and depression
• Fertility problems
• Gut imbalances (increased risk for IBS, Crohn’s disease, leaky gut, etc)
• Increased risk for blood clots, stroke, and heart attack
• Increased risk for certain cancers, such as cervical cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer

These are general side effects of any form of hormonal birth control. Below I’ve gotten into the specifics of the different hormonal birth controls and how they work. Keep in mind, the side effects and problems with hormonal birth control are fairly similar across the board, and they all work in similar ways. Because all hormonal birth control works using progestin and estrogen to stop ovulation and thicken the mucus lining in the cervix, all hormonal birth control methods have similar problems and side effects.

The Pill 

The birth control pill is a hormonal pill that blocks ovulation and thickens the mucus in your cervix to prevent pregnancy. With perfect use, the pill is 99% effective, but many people forget to take it every day, and for that reason, it’s realistically around 91% effective. Like all hormonal birth control methods, the pill has a plethora of side effects. The pill requires a prescription by a doctor and can be upwards of $50 without health insurance. 

Nuva Ring

The NuvaRing is 99% effective with perfect use, but only 91% effective with average use. It’s is a small flexible ring that you wear inside your vagina. You can wear the ring for up to 5 weeks at a time. If you want to skip periods, you put a new ring in immediately. If you don’t want to skip periods, you wait a week before putting a new one in. The NuvaRing needs to be taken out at the same time each time you change it. The NuvaRing is another convenient minimal effort form of birth control. It can be left in during sex and requires very little forethought. Of course, like all hormonal birth control methods, the Nuvaring is not good for you and can have some serious side effects. People often experience headaches, nausea, sore breasts, changes to their periods, and spotting or brown discharge.

The Patch

The patch works like the pill and other methods of hormonal birth control. It releases progestin and estrogen to stop ovulation and thicken the mucus on the cervix wall. With perfect use, the patch is about 99% effective, but in reality, the patch is 91% effective with typical use. The patch needs to be changed once a week and goes on the belly, upper outer arm, buttocks, or back. People commonly experience headaches, nausea, sore breasts, change in periods, and sore skin where the patch goes. The patch requires a prescription and can cost upwards of $150 without health insurance.

Implants

The implant is a tiny rod the size of a match that your doctor implants into the skin on the upper arm. The implant can last up to five years but can be removed at any time. Common side effects are light bleeding, brown discharge, and heavier and longer periods. People also report their periods go away with the implant. Anything that deviates from your body’s natural cycle is not the best thing for you. People also experience headaches, breast pain, weight gain, and ovarian cysts. The implant is more than 99% effective and extremely convenient, but we don’t recommend sacrificing your health for convenience especially in a way that messes with your body’s natural cycle. 

Shots

The shot uses progestin to block ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus. You have to get a new show every 12-13 weeks. With perfect use, the shot is 99% effective, but many people forget to get their shots on time, making them 94% effective. The shot can have serious side effects, like all hormonal birth control. The shot requires a prescription, and administration by a doctor and typically ranges from $0-$150 per shot, depending on your insurance. The last time I saw a conventional doctor, nearly three years ago, she did not recommend the shot for health reasons.

Hormonal IUD

The hormonal IUD goes in just like the copper IUD, but releases hormones into the uterus. The hormonal IUD releases progestin to stop ovulation and thicken the mucus of the cervix wall. The hormonal IUD has all the side effects and problems that other forms of hormonal birth control have. It is, however, one of, if not the most effective form of birth control. After the IUD is inserted, it’s good for several years. It’s 99% effective and hassle-free after implantation (minus the side effects, of course). The IUD has to be prescribed and inserted by a doctor. While this is probably the most effective form of birth control, it’s likely the most dangerous as well. Not only does this birth control release hormones, but your body also has to constantly compensate for the foreign object in your uterus, and it can take quite the toll. If you continue to have periods while using an IUD, it’s likely that they will be much more uncomfortable and hard on the body. Unlike the other forms of birth control (with the exception of the implant) your body gets no break from the contraceptive.

Conclusion

Choosing the best method of birth control for your needs can be time-consuming and difficult. There’s a lot of options to consider, and everyone has different needs and priorities when it comes to what kind of birth control works best for them. If health is your top priority when considering birth control, the condom spermicide route may be the best option for preventing pregnancy with fewer side effects than other methods.

Sources:

• Spermicides: How Effective Are Spermicidal Foams and Jellies?
• Copper IUD (ParaGard)
• About the Birth Control Sponge
• Birth Control Methods & Options | Types of Birth Control
• Paraguard Drug Precautions

Sourdough baking is a method of baking that has been around for centuries. We’ve been baking bread, in some form, for thousands of years (at least). The first record we have of the sourdough baking method dates back to around 1500 B.C. in Egypt.

With the use of modern store-bought yeast, sourdough is not as common as it used to be, but it has made quite the comeback in recent years. People have discovered the benefits of sourdough as they discover the problems with regular bread.

I use sourdough starter in much of my baking; I’ve used it to make pie crusts, bread doughs, hamburger buns, and pizza doughs. 

What is Sourdough?

The key ingredient in sourdough bread, what it gives it its texture and sour taste, is the sourdough starter. Sourdough starter is a mixture of flour and water (usually 50/50) that has been fed enough to develop its own collection of yeast, bacteria, and lactic acid. Sourdough starter has its own microbiome made up of bacteria and wild yeast collected from its environment. No two sourdough starters are exactly the same. Each one develops its own unique microbiome that gives it a unique smell and taste. 

Sourdough is also unique from other yeasts in the way it develops the gluten in bread. The wild yeast and bacteria in the sourdough starter begin to digest the gluten in the bread during the fermentation process. The longer the dough ferments and the more it rises, the more gluten is broken down. Many people who have previously had problems with gluten have found that, after fixing the gut, they can occasionally enjoy sourdough bread.

Storebought sourdough bread is not the same as homemade sourdough. When you buy sourdough from the store, you have no idea how long the bread fermented or if it’s even real sourdough. If you do want to buy your bread, I recommend looking at a small local bakery or a farmers market where you can ask questions about the baking process.

I’ve linked my favorite sourdough recipes below and given a brief description of our favorite way to use them.

Artisan Sourdough Bread 

This is the classic sourdough loaf of bread.

I get all of my sourdough recipes from Baking Sense, but generally, I don’t follow an exact recipe. I prefer to experiment. I follow this recipe’s measurements, but usually, I mix up the type of flour I’m using. I like the majority of the flour I use to be all-purpose flour, and then I add a little bit of rye flour, bread flour, or einkorn flour (or a mix of all three). Adding a variety of different flours can add nuttiness to your bread that would be lacking if you just used all-purpose flour.

The most important thing, in my experience, is making sure that your sourdough starter is very active, (the recipe I linked goes over this) before baking. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a loaf that doesn’t properly rise. 

We like to make sandwiches with sourdough bread. Generally, we’ll use whatever we’ve got on hand, but whatever we do, we always throw on lots of different vegetables. I’m a fan of caramelized onions with bacon, greens, tomatoes, mustard, and a fried egg. Homemade pesto is also great on sandwiches or plain on toast. This bread is so good, it doesn’t need much else, though.

Hamburger Buns 

I have not eaten storebought hamburger buns since I made my own for the first time. I can’t imagine going back (not to mention regular storebought buns are terrible for you.) I use this recipe from Baking Sense for my hamburger buns. I just skip the sugar and use goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk.

We don’t eat burgers often, but when we do, we eat organic grass-fed ground beef from a local farm and our sourdough buns. Personally, I like to add caramelized mushrooms and onions on top, with tomatoes, greens, cheese, homemade mustard, and an egg. Eggs are a staple. I’ll put eggs on pretty much anything. 

Sourdough Pizza Dough

I use this pizza dough recipe. I don’t even remember what regular pizza tastes like, but I’m almost positive that it’s terrible compared to our pizza. When we do pizza night, we like to do one pizza with pesto sauce and one with tomato sauce. We’ll top the pizzas with cheese, tomatoes, Italian sausage, fresh basil, purple onions, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and olives. To each their own when it comes to pizza, but we recommend more vegetables, more variety, and less meat and cheese. 

Sourdough Pie Crust 

Sourdough pie crust is, in my experience, the best pie crust ever. The crust is flakey and buttery, but because it uses sourdough starter instead of water, you end up with a much more flavorful pie crust. I’ve also found that throughout my experimentation with different flours, including gluten-free flours, all-purpose flour still makes the best pie crust. 

Add 2.5 cups of your flour and a pinch of salt (I recommend Bob’s Red Mill organic all-purpose flour) to a bowl, and then add 1 cup of ice-cold butter. Begin to break up the butter and combine the flour and butter with your fingers into smaller pieces, until you have a mixture resembling kraft parmesan cheese (This is a tip from my Sister Pie cookbook. After lots of experimentation, I can confirm that this is the way to achieve the best pie crust.) Then add half a cup of active sourdough starter and mix until combined. Use your hands to bring the mixture together into a dough. You’ll want to refrigerate this dough for at least two hours or up to two days. If you’re not planning on making pie anytime soon, you can freeze the pie dough.

Conclusion

I generally only eat sourdough once or twice a month. It’s a nice treat, but I wouldn’t recommend it every day. If you’re still sick, you should avoid gluten completely until the gut is healed, and then eat it only in moderation.

Learning how to make sourdough bread can be a great way to incorporate more “normal” foods into your diet, while still knowing exactly what’s going into your body. 

I’ve really enjoyed the process of learning how to make sourdough bread and I love sharing it with other people! It’s not only a treat for me, but for others as well. When I cook sourdough for people who don’t eat as healthy as I do, they’re always impressed!