There’s been some debate as to whether it’s preferable to synthesize vitamin D naturally from sun exposure or from supplements.

The short answer is to think about how nature designed humans. Are we designed to take supplements or to be out in the sun? No.

Check out my previous post that explains how vitamin D is synthesized in the body and the numerous health benefits here. Yet, many physicians and dermatologists recommend avoiding sun exposure because it can increase the risk of melanoma. But is this really true?

Contraception can be a controversial topic, but regardless of your personal beliefs, it’s important to know what your options are so you can make an informed decision that’s best for you and your partner. It’s also important to be aware of the potential side effects especially of hormonal birth control, which most doctors don’t tell you.

There are four types of contraception: hormonal, barrier methods, permanent methods and family planning (which includes fertility awareness method otherwise known as the symptothermal method). I highly recommend you read my previous post about How the menstrual cycle works and 7 signs of a healthy period first to give you some background about how female hormones are supposed to work throughout your cycle.

Diet and lifestyle have a major impact on your hormones and levels of inflammation all of which can in turn affect your period and menstrual pain. Most people blame their hormones directly for their period problems, but in reality, following an anti-inflammatory diet can be just as effective as taking ibuprofen (Motrin) or paracetamol (Advil). In fact, several studies have shown that an anti-inflammatory diet can be very effective at reducing menstrual and endometriosis pain.

Sneezing, sniffles, hives, headaches and dizziness— what do allergy symptoms have in common with PMS?

Many women don’t realize that a histamine intolerance may be the cause of their period pain.

Histamines are chemicals that are stored in mast cells which are a type of immune cell. Estrogen causes the release of histamine from mast cells in the uterus and ovaries. If you have higher estrogen levels, it can cause an increase in histamine levels and vice versa.

Women are cyclical creatures by nature in part because of our menstrual cycle. Unlike men, our hormones fluctuate throughout the month and even daily in most cases. Traditionally the menstrual cycle has been associated with the lunar cycles and seasons of the year. Unfortunately, the sacred nature of the menstrual cycle, its rituals and rites of passage from menarche to menopause has become lost in modern society, and as a result, the menstrual cycle has become a mystery and something to be ashamed of or even hated.

One of the reasons so few women let alone men know how the menstrual cycle works is because we’ve been taught that it’s gross and should be suppressed with hormonal birth control or stopped completely. Newsflash— without menstrual cycles, none of us would exist!

Just like no body is exactly the same, no two women have the same period. While many women consider their period a monthly pain in the ass, several experts consider the period a woman’s fifth vital sign because it acts as your monthly health report card. Our bodies are telling us things all the time, and we just need to listen to it. Unlike men, we women are lucky to have our periods which let us know our health status!

So what’s going on down there and what’s normal?