About this episode
Monthly menstrual cycles provide hormones a woman’s body needs regularly to stay healthy and keep her immune system strong. But what happens when that process is interrupted? Scientist, author and naturopathic doctor, Lara Briden believes hormonal birth control can have tremendous effects on the body’s longterm health and ability regularly to produce hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Halting the body’s natural monthly menstrual cycle with hormones is akin to castration, Lara believes. In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, Lara, author of Period Repair Manual, describes what happens to a woman’s body when she is taking hormonal birth control pills, and what this could mean for immune and brain health later in life. She also discusses birth control alternatives, and what she does to keep her body’s sleep cycle on track and lead a healthy life.
In the episode we cover:
- When women produce the bulk of their hormones, and what this means.
- How hormonal birth control could affect your health span.
- What should a healthy menstrual cycle schedule be like?
- How important are healthy estrogen levels in relation to brain health later in life?
- What special factors do women need to consider when dieting and intermittent fasting.
- How important are carbs for ovulation.
- How does stress affect women’s ovulation cycles.
- How does the health of women on birth control compare to women with natural cycles?
- Which increasingly common behaviors does Lara sees in her patients that could be causing irregular periods.
- Women with very few periods a year should check for pre-diabetes, says Lara.
- Why it can be difficult for women who have been on birth control pills from a young age to establish a regular ovulatory cycle once they come off birth control, according to Lara.
- What are the alternatives to hormonal birth control, besides condoms.
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The Live Long podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.
