For decades women have been told that taking the birth control pill is the best approach to controlling their cycle and regulating hormones. But as more research has been done in recent years, it’s become apparent that maybe this isn’t the best choice for all women. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Alice Nguyen—Stark’s head of functional medicine—this time to take a realistic look at the birth control pill and its overall effect on a woman’s health.  Todd begins the episode with a brief overview of the history of the birth control pill and why that matters in light of the way women are using it today. He then invites Alice to share her perspective—both as an expert on the topic and as a woman herself—on some of the common misconceptions surrounding the pill’s impact on a woman’s overall health, natural birth control alternatives, and the sizeable role diet and exercise play in hormone regulation and decreasing menstrual pain.  Whether you’re a woman yourself or simply have women in your life that you care about—this episode is one you can’t miss!  Get access to Todd's free health resource: https://podtodd.com    Learn more about Stark at: https://www.stark.health   CHAPTERS  00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Birth Control 02:52 The Wheel of Health Concept 05:47 Pharmacology and Women's Health 09:10 The Impact of the Pill on Society 11:51 Misconceptions About the Pill 14:55 Negative Side Effects of Hormonal Birth Control 17:46 Acne and Hormonal Imbalances 21:06 Long-term Effects of Birth Control 24:08 Managing Menstrual Symptoms 26:49 Non-Hormonal Approaches to PMS 28:39 Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies 31:55 The Role of Omega-3s in Hormonal Health 35:43 Natural Alternatives to Birth Control 40:53 Dietary Influences on Menstrual Health 44:32 Environmental Factors Affecting Women's Health 47:47 Stress Management and Hormonal Balance 52:46 Optimizing Hormonal Health Beyond Birth Control Connect with Stark Personalized inside‑out health programs at stark.health Enjoying the show? Follow, rate, and review to help more listeners master the skill of health. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 🤔 ABOUT Todd Vande Hei 🤔 Welcome to Todd Vande Hei's channel, where health mastery meets real-life transformation. Todd as he shares invaluable insights and practical tips to help you unlock your full health potential. Whether you're struggling with chronic pain, seeking sustainable weight loss, or simply striving to live your best life, Todd's journey and expertise will inspire and empower you to take control of your health and well-being. our community of health enthusiasts committed to making positive changes and thriving at every stage of life. Let's embark on this journey to vibrant health together! DISCLOSURE We focus on optimizing every aspect of your well-being. At Stark, our team of expert trainers, doctors, nutritionists and a complete medical team, led by CEO Todd Vande Hei, is dedicated to helping you become the BEST version of yourself. We specialize in coaching executives, athletes, pop stars, astronauts and other noteworthy individuals in all forms of exercise, diet, lifestyle, stress management and personalized supplement protocols. Our methodology is designed to tackle each facet of well-being comprehensively. We believe that optimal health encomes ten key aspects, which... 10px