Most people understand that hormonal birth control can increase the risk of blood clots and breast cancer, but what most people aren’t told is that its use has also been linked to…

An increased risk of suicide...
A 330% increased risk of Crohn's Disease…
And maybe even an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.

Scary, right? The last time I took it, I felt SO anxious, I had to stop after only a few days. When I called my doctor to tell her what happened she said...

“That would definitely NOT have anything to do with birth control - call a psychiatrist and get some help.”

Turns out - she was wrong. Birth control DOES cause unwanted side effects for many women.

In fact, recent research and the clinical experience of this week’s BRILLIANT podcast guest, Dr. Jolene Brighten (author of the best-selling book, Beyond the Pill), has shown that birth control comes with a litany of side effects we’re just beginning to understand.

So if you’re taking birth control, if you’re thinking of taking it, or if you’re wondering what you can do instead to support healthy hormonal balance, do yourself a favor and tune into this week’s awesome podcast. Here’s what we cover...

• When fasting is NOT a good idea for women
• The digestive benefits of fasting
• The best time in your cycle to fast
• Great foods to break a fast
• A simple sign you have blood sugar issues
• The link between Alzheimer’s are birth control
• The hormone that makes you tired and hungry (and why that’s ok!)
• What Post Birth Control Syndrome is and why you need to know about it
• Where birth control exerts its main effects (This will surprise you!)
• The 3 prescription medications that often follow the use of birth control
• The link between suicide attemps and birth control
• The autoimmune disease that birth control increases the risk of by 300%
• Why birth control can increase suicidal attempts in teens
• Why synthetic progestin and progesterone are NOT the same thing
• How hormones affect our mood
• The link between “bad” cholesterol and birth control
• Why those with the MTHFR mutation should be weary of birth control
• The 3 tests you will definitely want to have before taking birth control
• The type of birth control that everyone should avoid
• How to talk to your doctor about your symptoms so they understand you
• The best 3 steps you can take to heal your hormones
• And. So. Much. More.

Don’t forget to SHARE this podcast and tag someone in the comments who needs to understand this very important topic.

Thanks for watching, friends!

<3

Resources We Mention

Beyond the Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten

Free E-Book: Dr. Brighten's Post-Birth Control Syndrome Detox Diet Quick Start Guide

Many Americans have been told to avoid dietary cholesterol at one time or another.

One of the unfortunate consequences of following this advice, is that many Americans also unintentionally eliminated the richest dietary sources of vitamin A - liver, eggs and cream. Given that we REQUIRE vitamin A (especially the retinol form found in animal products) for things like

• Eye health
• Immune function
• Healthy reproduction
• Clear skin
• Energy production
• Thyroid Health
• Autophagy

According to this week’s podcast guest, creator of the Root Cause Protocol, Morely Robbins, this avoidance of vitamin A rich foods,

“ is one of the most devastating events in our nutritional history.”

So if you’re getting sick more often than you’d like, suffer from skin issues, or feel tired all the time, drop what you’re doing and learn all about what most people (even experts) have gotten wrong about this critical nutrient and what you can do to optimize your intake!

Here are some of the surprising topics we cover…

Why paying attention to our mineral status is underrated
The downside of using most vitamin C supplements
Why copper is one of the most important minerals for vibrant health
Why there are iron filings in the American food supply
The difference between organic and inorganic iron
The role of copper in diabetes prevention
The truth about copper toxicity (and a little-known common cause)
The difference between retinol and beta carotene
How to accurately measure your iron status (we’re not talking about ferritin, either!)
Why taking vitamin D in isolation is dangerous (and may cause kidney stones)
The true cause of anemia (that almost no doctor talks about)
The food we KNOW has healed anemia since 1934
The 2 nutrients (other than iron) that are necessary to heal anemia
Why vitamin A deficiency can make fasting LESS beneficial
Whether or not he thinks a vegetarian diet can be nutritionally adequate
Why many people cannot convert beta carotene into retinol
The best dietary sources of bioavailable copper
Why whole food vitamin C (but not ascorbic acid) can improve copper status
One of the first nutrients to check if you’re hypothyroid
2 often-overlooked (yet critical) nutrients for thyroid health
Why copper is important for B vitamin metabolism
How to download his FREE Root Cause Protocol Guide!
And so much more!

Tune in, share this important conversation and tag someone in the comments who would benefit from this information.

<3

According to a 2018 Cigna survey HALF of Americans feel alone, isolated or left out at least some of the time.

Even more disturbing is the fact that, recent research has revealed social stress is a more powerful predictor of mortality than…

Physical inactivity
Having 6 drinks a day
Smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Which is why this week’s podcast is all about the power of community, the detriments of loneliness and the incredible power of functional medicine with best selling author and founder of the Functional Forum, James Maskell.

Here are some of the fascinating topics we cover...

• How functional medicine differs than other types of medicine
• How we know functional medicine is more effective
• The 3 underlying principles of functional medicine
• Why loneliness is the BIGGEST driver of poor health outcomes
• How to improve your social ties and build community
• How to leverage the power of community on your health journey
• Why it takes 17 years for research to influence medical policy
• How to find practitioners using functional medicine and community
• How he feels about growing up in a commune
• His New Year’s Resolution
• And so much more!

Many of us have set New Year’s resolutions to eat better and workout more in the New Year, but what I hope this podcast inspires you to do is also make finding community a priority, too.

I know what James has to say will surprise and inspire you, so have a listen and share this important information with anyone you think will benefit.

<3

To celebrate the first Weekend Wellness Episode of the year today’s podcast is going to be a little different - at the end of every podcast I’ve been asking the same “famous last question” that has resulted in SO many wonderful, impactful pieces of advice from hundreds of doctors, functional medicine practitioners and other health and wellness experts, that I wanted to bring them all together and share some of my favorite answers in one awesome episode to serve as inspiration for you in the new year…SO I chose my 10 favorite answers for the first round that I thought you’d benefit from most!

Many of the personal care products on the market today are FILLED with toxic chemicals linked to detrimental health outcomes.

And while we’d like to believe the FDA will protect us from these dangerous ingredients, it actually has FAR less oversight and power than we’d like to believe.

Which is why it's absolutely vital we educate ourselves and support companies making truly non-toxic products.

The only problem?

Many of the “clean” products on the market simply don’t work.

Most of the hair care products I’ve used, for example, leave my hair dry and dull.

Fortunately, that’s all about to change because one of the most influential people in health and wellness, The Wellness Mama, joins us today to talk all things fasting, toxins, non-toxic personal care products.

She’s spent the last decade researching and perfecting products that not only eliminate toxic chemicals, but that also add nourishing ingredients.

So if you’re ready to ditch the toxins (and dull, dry hair) and upgrade your personal care routine, tune in NOW!

We cover these fascinating topics:

• The ingredient found in “natural” toothpaste that can harm your teeth
• The ingredient that can actually HEAL certain cavities
• The herb that makes your hair to grow stronger and longer
• The vitamin that can cure acne
• The 3 healthy habits Katie does daily
• The health hack Katie wishes she used more
• The benefits of cold water therapy and sauna (and when to use them!)
• How to curb cravings during a fast
• Body image issues (and how to break through them)

This was one of the most inspiring podcasts I’ve recorded to date, which is why I couldn’t wait to share it as we start the new year.

I hope you love it as much as I did.

Happy New Year, Wellness Warriors!

Links / Offers

Wellnesse Website
Safe, natural, and truly non-toxic personal care products that work better than conventional alternatives.

Wellnesse Facebook Page
Follow Wellnesse on Facebook to learn more about high-quality and responsibly sourced personal care products.

Wellness Mama Website
The most trusted online resource for naturally minded moms and health conscious consumers.