Good to Know: My Experience with the Paragard Copper IUD

First, a little background about my experience with birth control. I started taking hormonal birth control when I was 16, but after stopping and starting it again in college, I hated the way it made me feel, so I opted not to take it. I still used condoms in conjunction with the pill. I had researched other options but none of them really appealed to me, plus most of them still had hormones. Even before I knew about the dangers of hormonal birth control, my body intuitively knew that it didn't feel good on it.

So for the next few years I relied on condoms as birth control. My friend had gotten a Mirena IUD. I loved the fact that it was so effective and hands off and that it was a long term solution. I was still hesitant about the hormones, even though they are a low dose. Then I heard about the Paragard copper IUD - no hormones, 99% effective and could be left in for 10 years? Sounds too good to be true!

Screenshot from what comes up on Google when you search "paraguard IUD".

Even though I didn't know almost anything about holistic health compared to what I know now, I still had a feeling that a foreign object in my body could have consequences. I remember googling what copper does in the body and found little research. As someone who is hyper-paranoid about getting pregnant, the pros seemed to outweigh any potential cons. I decided to get a copper IUD in the spring of 2014, just after my 25th birthday.

Long story short: it worked for me until it didn't.

The first few years I loved it. I couldn’t feel it. The copper IUD is known for increasing heavy bleeding and cramping. I did experience these symptoms, but they weren’t that bad. Perhaps the most annoying thing that happened was that I would spot up to a week before my period.

In the last year or so (year 4), my IUD began bothering me. I started having cramps at random times and sometimes I would get sharp pains. I became much more aware of its presence in my body.

In the last few months before I decided to have it removed, I started experiencing fatigue and occasional brain fog. I had NEVER experienced these symptoms before, so it was very unlike me. I'm a wake-up-bursting-with-energy kind of person (you're probably rolling your eyes, but it's true). So when it's hard for me to wake up, it means something's off.

The brain fog is what bugged me the most. I'm normally super sharp and focused, and all of a sudden it felt like my brain was just above my head. I was having a hard time working on the computer. It was like whatever was in front of me just wasn't fully registering.

The reason I started the think it was the IUD was this - I had been taking a zinc supplement because you're supposed to take one if you have the Paragard because it helps balance copper in the body. I ran out of zinc and didn't immediately order more. My fatigue/brain fog seemed to get worse. When I got more zinc, I felt almost immediate relief. But then the symptoms continued to come and go.

On a spiritual/energetic level, it felt like a block. I felt that energy in my body wasn't flowing as freely as it could be, and I felt like this physical thing was preventing me from connecting to my intuition (as women, a lot of this resides in our wombs).

This is a screenshot from a Google search. Copper toxicity CAN cause headaches. Weight can be affected since excess copper can affect the thyroid.

After looking into copper toxicity symptoms, I decided that's most certainly what I was experiencing and I made an appointment to get the IUD removed. Getting it out was not too bad, but they do just yank it out - which is still painful and jarring.

After the IUD was out, I designed my own little detox program to help my body get any excess copper out. In doing research for this, two big things came up for me: 1. the process of detoxing copper can take years and can be pretty brutal. This freaked me out and I hoped that I hadn't waited too long. 2. Vegetarian diets tend to be higher in copper. I didn't know this and had been eating primarily vegan for the past 5 years. I had been feeling the pull to reintroduce some good quality animal products into my diet for the past few months, and this was the push that made me decide to go for it.

The first few days after it was out, I was still feeling some of the brain fog come and go - I was super worried I would be experiencing this for awhile. Thankfully, it improved a lot after the first week. I focused on taking a high quality zinc supplement (this is the one I used and I would recommend you take if you currently have a copper IUD), drinking juice, incorporating lots of parsley and cilantro which help to detox heavy metals, incorporate seaweed which supports the thyroid which can be affected by too much copper. I followed my own little program for about a month and the brain fog and fatigue subsided significantly.

A few other things I noticed: my mood improved - like, a lot. I found myself just smiling for no reason, and generally feeling upbeat. I hadn't realized that I hadn't been feeling that way in quite some time. This came as a big surprise to me. Another big thing I noticed - and sorry if this is TMI for you, but sexual health and experience is super important - is that my orgasms were better and stronger. Yep. I had just kind of thought that maybe getting older was affecting my experience or something, but it turns out having a foreign object in your prime sexual area can really impact sensation! I overall just felt so much better, so much more in tune with my body.

As for birth control now, I’m just sticking to condoms. At some point in the future I will probably become more dedicated to natural birth control options like the Fertility Awareness Method.

So now you're probably thinking - so what are signs of copper toxicity? I've listed a few big ones below, but I encourage you to check out CopperToxic.com to find out more about toxicity symptoms.

• fatigue and exhaustion

• hypothyroid

• racing mind (feeling wired but tired)

• panic attacks

• anxiety

• depression

• brain fog and concentration problems

• headaches

• joint aches and pains

• emotional numbness

• ruminating negative thoughts

I know, these seem general and we tend to chalk them up to other things going on in our lives, but if you have a copper IUD, give some extra thought to these symptoms. A lot of the time, we women know intuitively what's going on with our bodies.

I wanted to share my experience because frankly, there's not a lot of information about the copper IUD out there. Specifically, there's not a lot of information about copper toxicity and it can have pretty dire consequences that take years to resolve. I'm extremely grateful that I decided to get mine out pretty quickly after noticing symptoms, but I've read about it taking years for women to feel "normal" again.

Do you have any questions about the Paraguard IUD? Leave them below!

Good to Know: Why Water Filtration Matters

This blog post contains affiliate links. If you use them, I might be rewarded a commission of the sale (at no extra cost for you). Please note that I only recommend brands that I personally use and love and I always have my readers' best interest at heart.

I never really thought about the quality of my water much until a couple of years ago. Growing up in the Midwest, we always drank tap water. When I moved to Portland in 2012, I was vaguely aware of the fact that the city doesn't fluoridate its water. When I moved to Camas, WA in 2016 I was way more into health and wellness than ever before and it occurred to me that the city most likely fluoridates its water.

What's up with fluoride?

When I thought of fluoride, I thought of those weird styrofoam trays stuffed with slightly fruity sour foam that you clenched down on for a couple minutes at your dentist appointment. That kind of fluoride - topically applied - can benefit your dental health by making your teeth more resistant to acid from bacteria in the mouth.

This was the reasoning behind adding it to the public supply of drinking water. Except there's one problem - ingesting fluoride doesn't provide the same protective benefits as applying fluoride to your teeth topically. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that there's no dental benefit to adding fluoride to the water. Please note, fluoride is a naturally occurring compound and humans do fine with small amounts of it. In excess is where we start to have trouble.

A few other things you should know:

1. The United States is one of the only countries in the world that fluoridates its public water supply. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there's no difference in incidence of tooth decay between countries that fluoridate vs. those who do not.

2. The fluoride that's used in drinking water is NOT the same kind that's found in natural sources. It's actually a by-product of industry (gross).

3. There's a considerable body of evidence that shows the fluoride in our water is an endocrine disruptor that can affect our bones, thyroid, pineal gland, brain and more. There are over 100 animal studies and 34 human studies that link excess fluoride to brain damage.

So why is fluoride added to the water supply?

Good question. A lot of people don't know about fluoride, and if people don't know they aren't out there voting to take it out of our water supply.

The more conspiracy-theory side of me (and many others) believe that since fluoride causes all sorts of health issues, there's incentive for the US to keep it in the water supply. When people are sick, they're going to the doctor. They're taking medications for their symptoms. There is potentially huge profit for the pharmaceutical industry by keeping us a little sick.

Another, perhaps more out-there, point is that fluoride builds up and calcifies in your pineal gland. Your pineal gland is your major control center - it regulates your circadian rhythm and affects your hormone levels which impact stress levels and physical performance. It's also known as the "principal seat of the soul" or your "third eye" point. Aside from the fact that this can cause health problems, I've heard some people theorize that it makes populations easier to control and that's why it's continually added to our drinking water. Hey - I'm just putting it out there.

What can you do?

The only way to be sure your water is as clean as possible is to filter it. But you want to know what's really annoying? Fluoride isn't easy to get rid of. It doesn't boil off and standard water filters typically don't filter it out - it requires a higher-tech filter. When I was looking at water filters that got rid of fluoride a couple years ago, the only options were those large countertop filters which run around $250 on the low end. Or under-sink filters that were even more expensive and required installation. Considering I'm a renter, I'm not interested in investing that kinda money into a place I don't own.

I ended up going with a popular pitcher that filtered other things like chlorine and lead, but not fluoride. It felt like better than nothing.

Enter - Aquagear. When I found Aquagear - I was THRILLED! It's literally exactly what I was looking for two years ago and I was so excited when I saw it on my friend's Instagram. I immediately contacted the company and applied to be an affiliate. I was going to buy the pitcher regardless of whether or not I got accepted, but this way I could represent a company whose product I was stoked about.

I've been using the Aquagear pitcher for about two weeks now and I LOVE IT. I was actually shocked at how different this water tastes. It's noticeable. Like I said, I've been using a top brand filter pitcher but it definitely doesn't compare to how clean this water tastes.

The best part? My water is free of fluoride. Aquagear also filters out all the other usual suspects that show up in our drinking water: lead, chlorine, mercury, chloramine and chromium 6.

The other best part? It's affordable. The pitcher + your first filter only runs you about $70. The other brand I was using costs about $40 for the pitcher + 1 filter, which needs to be replaced every 2 months. The Aquagear filter is a little more expensive, but only needs to be replaced once every 6 months. All in all, you end up paying $20 more you first year of using Aquagear. (Can you tell I'm a budget shopper?). But am I willing to pay $20 more a year for NO FLUORIDE in my water? Heck yes. Based on everything I just told you about fluoride and all the potential effects in can have on your health, it feels like a small price to pay.

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I urge you to think about the quality of the water you're drinking and using in your home. It's something that's often overlooked - I overlooked it for a long time myself. But every little thing we put in our body adds up. Aquagear is one of the most simple and affordable ways for you to have access to fluoride-free water. They even have a 30-day trial period and they offer discounts for students and military personnel. They're also a mission-driven company - for every filter purchased, they provide 6 months of clean drinking water by installing water filters in developing communities. Like, come on?! That's pretty amazing.

Interesting in having one of your own? Get yours here.

Still have questions about fluoride or water filtration? Please leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.
 

Sources:

1.  http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/fluoride.pdf

2.  https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/30/water-fluoridation-facts.aspx

3.  https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/how-fluoride-damages-pineal-gland-health/

4.  https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-pineal-gland/

Good to Know: My Philosophy

I prescribe to the idea of bio-individuality. I believe each person is totally unique and that they need to find the foods that work best for them. 

I believe that eating real foods in their whole form as often as possible is in the best interest of our health. Chips, crackers, cereal, cookies, baked goods, highly processed forms of cheese and meat - they're not real food, they're "food-like" items. They don't make anybody feel their best. Does that mean never eat them? No. It just means eat plenty of whole foods, and occasionally you can choose to eat these things.

In terms of macros, I definitely lean into the fat first camp. I think healthy fats should make up the majority of your calories. Moderate protein. Moderate carbs, mostly from fruits and veggies. Again, this largely depends on the individual and some may have a hard time tolerating a lot of fat, or some may require more protein than others.

People often ask me how I feel about specific food groups, so I wanted to share that with you. I'd love to hear your thoughts! And please let me know if I missed a food group or item that you're curious about!

“People have been & will continue to try to tell you what you should or should not be eating. At the end of the day, you have to eat what’s best for YOUR body.”

Vegetables: Unless you have an allergy or sensitivity to certain veggies, I say eat them all and eat lots of them. Make them the foundation of every meal. Greens are so ridiculously good for you. Aim to eat one huge salad every day.
 

Fruit: There is A LOT of debate about fruit. Some people argue it's just as bad as candy, others are fierce defenders. Some people are less carb-tolerant, meaning they can't handle sugar or carbohydrates very well (it spikes their blood sugar, affects mood, digestion, etc.) I think moderate amounts of fruit are totally fine - just don't overdo it. In the summer, I tend to eat more because it's available.
 

Meat: I don't personally eat that much meat and for about 4 years I didn't consume any. The more I studied and learned about meat, I realized that it wasn't so much meat itself that's harmful - it's the way we raise our animals that can have effects on our health. Opt for organic, grass-fed meats. That being said, I do think that in general people tend to overeat meat and under-eat vegetables. Have one plant-based meal a day (like Jessica Murnane says) and eat a smaller portion when you do eat meat.
 

Fish and Seafood: Wild-caught fatty fish are full of anti-inflammatory omega-3s which is awesome. The way we are treating our oceans, rivers and lakes is not awesome. Consume seafood and fish in moderation if you like it, but be careful not to overdo it. Heavy metals, pollutants and other chemicals can be present in wild-caught seafood.

Dairy: I don't believe dairy is necessary for health. Every nutrient in dairy is available from other sources. Plus, dairy tends to cause a lot of issues for people. Aside from the fact that most of us are lactose-intolerant, a lot of people find that it produces mucus, so they are stuffy or have excess phlegm. Personally, when I stopped eating dairy I effortlessly lost about 5 pounds. Many people who are intolerant to gluten are also intolerant dairy. People are very attached to dairy - especially cheese - and it's been shown that cheese can cause addictive tendencies. I don't think any food that you feel "addicted" to is a good choice.

In addition, most of the milk in America is pasteurized and homogenized. "Homogenization allows the enzyme xanthine oxidase in the milk cream to enter the bloodstream instead of being excreted, as would normally occur. When this enzyme enters the heart and arteries, it damages the membranes, creating scar tissue. Cholesterol accumulates on the scars and gradually clogs the articles." (1) I don't know about you, but that sounds like kind of a bum deal to me.

If you are going to go for dairy I would recommend organic, grass-fed and full fat. Fermented forms of dairy, like yogurt, are preferable because they're easier to digest. Same goes for aged cheeses. If you can find raw milk, that's a better choice because it retains the enzymes that help your body break down the milk. Grass-fed butter has some redeeming health qualities. I personally opt for ghee since the milk solids have been cooked off.

Eggs: I don't have a problem with eggs. We now know that dietary cholesterol has very little impact on cholesterol levels in the body (2). I would recommend buying organic. Get them locally if you can.

Beans/Legumes: Beans and legumes are packed with fiber, protein and many other nutrients. If you tolerate them (ie, if they don't make you feel gassy or bloated) eat them a few times a week. Some people who are less carb-tolerant may find it doesn't work with their blood sugar.

Grains: Another hot topic of debate! I think the biggest issue with grains is that they are the basis of processed foods and many of them are stripped of their outer germ - the part with all the nutrients. They're cheap and subsidized by the government. The US government used to recommend we eat 6-11 servings of grains DAILY - which is no coincidence!

Most people feel better with fewer grains in their diet. Again, if you're carb-intolerant, they might not be the best choice for you. I don't eat that many grains anymore, but I'm not militant about it. Oats are probably the grain I consume most frequently and every once in awhile I'll have some brown rice or quinoa.

If you do consume grains, I recommend eating whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet, etc.) and soaking them and preparing them at home. This ensures you're getting the beneficial nutrients from them. 

Nuts and Seeds: Packed with fiber, healthy fats, protein and antioxidants - nuts and seeds are a great choice! I eat nuts and seeds daily. Hemp seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, almonds and pecans are what I keep stocked in my pantry. I splurge on macadamia and brazil nuts sometimes. One thing to keep in mind - it's important to rotate your consumption of nuts/seeds. Eating the same ones day after day increases your risk for developing a food intolerance. I also do cleanses 3-4 times a year where I opt not to incorporate nuts/seeds to give my body a break.

Protein Powders: I opt for plant-based protein powders with minimal ingredients. I rotate which ones I use and I don't use them every day. I often reserve them for after a gym session or intense workout. My favorite brands are Aloha and Genuine Health.

Coffee: Coffee has valuable antioxidants and can give us a nice perk in the morning. And it is delicious! I think 1-2 cups a day is fine, but more than that is where you start to see trouble. The excess of caffeine can tax adrenals and actually spike blood sugar. Some people just don't do well with the caffeine from coffee and in that case, definitely avoid it.

Tea: Herbal teas - all day, every day. Green tea is amazing for its antioxidant content and a more gentle form of caffeine. I've been loving on matcha ever since I tried it. Black tea is a little higher in caffeine, but still a good choice. Just don't overdo it with the caffeine!

A date-sweetened dessert.

Alcohol: In excess, alcohol causes a lot of issues - damage to the gut, nutrient-deficiency, blood sugar issues and more. Some people really enjoy drinking and for them I recommend sticking to 1-2 drinks, a few times a week. I personally rarely drink. I found that as I got healthier and felt better, I wanted alcohol less and less. 

Sugar: Nope. There's no redeeming qualities when it comes to refined sugar. Coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, and dates are my favorite ways to sweeten things. I will say these ingredients are more expensive than refined white sugar, but ideally you're not eating it everyday so a little goes a long way. Even if you're using natural sugars, I would still suggest consuming only occasionally. The only thing I eat with refined sugar is dark chocolate (1 square on some days).