We know that the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is widely used as a contraceptive measure, however, the OCP is often recommended for other hormonal imbalances such as acne treatment, irregular or painful periods, PMS and PCOS. 

If you experience acne or irregular or painful menses and are on the OCP for this reason, there are some natural alternatives you could try to support your hormones back to balance. While the OCP is good at managing symptoms, it is not often found to heal conditions, which can cause trouble when it coming off the OCP.

In this blog, we will look at what you can do to support your hormone health using some natural alternatives, specifically for your skin health and to help with irregular or heavy menses, or severe PMS. Note that this information is not intended to cure or treat, but may help with supporting the alleviation of symptoms.

For your Skin

Dealing with acne as an adult just does not seem fair. Many people are prescribed the OCP for acne or skin issues, but there could be more going on underneath the surface. While cleanliness plays apart, it is not normal for adult women to experience ongoing acne issues. Here are some steps you can take for to clear your skin naturally:

Take a look at your diet. Are you eating lots of foods containing gluten and dairy? If you are, try going gluten and dairy free. For many people grains (especially gluten-containing grains) can cause problems affecting everything from digestion, mood, skin conditions like rashes and eczema, to joint pain, weight gain, migraines and thyroid disorders as well as acne breakouts.

Eliminate refined sugar. We are bombarded with sugar everywhere from pasta sauce, bread, and cereals to tinned vegetables. Our exposure to processed foods means our bodies cannot keep up and so we store this excess sugar as fat. Too much sugar can affect your mood, your blood sugar control, your hormonal health which includes skin health and so much more. While we know sugar is not great inside the body, you can use it on the outside as a natural exfoliant for your skin. Try our Natural Mocha Body Scrub.

Supplement with specific nutrients. Zinc and omega 3 are particularly important for skin health. Those white marks that sometimes appear on your nails are likely due to a zinc deficiency, which can be a sign that your skin health will improve with some extra zinc. Omega 3s are strong anti-inflammatory molecules are very important for skin health. They control inflammation in the body and are particularly helpful for stabilising inflamed skin.

Our skin appearance represents our current inner health. Our bodies are intelligent, so when our hormones are in balanced our bodies will radiate on the outside too. 

For Irregular or Heavy periods and Severe PMS

At the BePure Clinics, we commonly see the more severe PMS symptoms associated with either increased oestrogen or decreased progesterone, or both! It is the relative difference between these two hormones that result in PMS symptoms.

Here are some natural alternatives to help with irregular or heavy menses and severe PMS:

1. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables. These are vegetables like broccoli sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collard greens, radish, bok choy, brussel sprouts and watercress.  These liver loving vegetables support the liver and are especially rich in di-indolylmethane (DIM), which help mop up excess oestrogens. Try and eat some of these foods at least once a day.
2. Reduce alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine inhibit the absorption of some nutrients and causes the excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals. These are nutrients that are essential for our hormone health.  They also need to be detoxified by the liver na 
3. Get enough protein for liver detoxification and blood sugar stabilisation. Amino acids from protein are essential for liver function and detoxification. Eating the right level of protein and carbohydrate for you on a daily basis is a good long-term strategy for hormone balance. If you don’t know what the right level of protein is for you, see the BePure Programme, where we take you through a series of tests to determine your macronutrient profile, so you can start eating right for your unique genetics and metabolism.
4. Minimise environmental toxins. Xenoestrogens are molecules which disrupt our hormone balance. They’re found in PCB’s - man-made chemical compounds - such as BPA in plastic water bottles, parabens and phylates in skincare products, makeup and sunscreen. Normally our bodies would process this extra oestrogen through our liver. But because of nutrition choices, stress and liver-loaders such as alcohol and caffeine, our liver function is often compromised and we struggle to clear it. Try these 10 tips to low tox your life and support your liver function. 
5. Take a high-quality multivitamin. Taking a high-quality multivitamin with a range of key nutrients we commonly lack, helps underpin your dietary choices. Because of deficiencies in our soil, even eating a healthy diet can still leave us lacking in vital nutrients. This is why I’ve put specific nutrients into BePure One to help with detoxification from xenoestrogens. Nutrients such as broccoli sprout extract, spirulina, B vitamins and selenium were chosen specifically to help support your liver.
6. Manage your stress levels: For anxiety and irritability around your menses try to manage your stress levels. Here’s are three things you can do for stress that includes switching off and focusing on being in the present moment.

• Mindfulness
• Yoga
• Going for a walk

BePure Estroclear is designed to support anyone experiencing oestrogen dominance. It is an active daily detoxifier, scientifically formulated to support you to live with healthier, balanced hormones. Note that to gain the best benefit from BePure EstroClear it is recommended you take this alongside BePure One.