The Happy Balance: A Holistic Approach to Hormone Health with podcast guest

Megan Hallett is a practicing nutrition and holistic health coach currently studying to be a nutritional therapist at London’s college of naturalistic medicine. She’s a huge wellness enthusiast, recipe developer, and voice behind the blog Plant-Based Londoner. Megan’s interest in hormone health came when she was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager and was left frustrated to find doctors simply prescribed pills to mask the symptoms, rather than providing any information to enable her to tackle the root cause. Megan is also the author of The Happy Balance: The Original Plant-Based Approach For Hormone Health, which features a chapter I contributed on hormonal health and periods throughout the lifecycle. It is now available in bookstores everywhere.

In this episode, we talk about how Megan’s health journey led to her fascination with hormonal health, our motivation to write The Happy Balance, what you can learn from the book, why every diet doesn’t work for everybody, how to take a healthy approach to starting a plant-based diet, and so much more!

Episode Highlights

How Megan’s health journey led to her exploration of hormonal health

The problem with the medical profession’s persistent recommendation to use birth control pills to treat hormonal issues

How The Happy Balance goes beyond the recipes to teach women about hormonal health

Why Megan and I decided to take a flexible plant-based approach in the book

How increasing our vegetable intake positively impacts our hormonal health

Why you shouldn’t become attached to specific dietary labels

The importance of recognizing that every diet doesn’t work for everybody

Why healthy fats and protein are essential for good hormonal health

Why being vegan doesn’t work well for everyone

How to take a healthy approach when starting a plant-based diet

The types of recipes included in The Happy Balance

Why it was important to Megan and me for the book to be positive and accessible

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from this episode — and how Fix Your Period can help.

What happens to your hormones when you stop the pill?

When you stop hormonal birth control, your body needs time to reactivate its own hormonal feedback loop. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, and some women experience a 'post-pill syndrome' involving acne, hair loss, irregular cycles, or mood changes as their natural hormones reassert themselves.

What nutrients does hormonal birth control deplete?

Hormonal birth control is associated with depletion of B vitamins (particularly B6, B12, and folate), zinc, magnesium, selenium, and CoQ10. Replenishing these after stopping the pill is an important part of hormonal recovery.

How long does it take for cycles to return after stopping the pill?

Most women see their cycle return within 1–3 months of stopping hormonal contraception. However, some women — particularly those with underlying hormonal imbalances like PMOS (formerly PCOS) or low progesterone — may experience a longer recovery period.

Is there an app to help women coming off birth control?

Yes. Fix Your Period's free Hormone Health Assessment gives you a personalised picture of your current hormonal health. Fix Your Period Premium unlocks Nicole's Birth Control Pill Support protocol, Period Pillars education on what to expect, and Nicole.AI for ongoing guidance.

Can I use Fix Your Period while still on hormonal birth control?

Yes. The cycle tracking and assessment features are available at any stage. Fix Your Period Premium — including the Period Pillars and protocols — is valuable whether you're still on contraception or planning to stop.

The Happy Balance: A Holistic Approach to Hormone Health

Episode Highlights

Resources Mentioned

How Fix Your Period Supports Women Coming Off Hormonal Birth Control

Frequently Asked Questions