Blog by Kate Vazquez
The Radiant by Design Blog with Kate Vazquez: Health and Faith for Women
Post Birth Control Syndrome: Irregular Periods, Acne, and Feeling Off After the Pill
I started taking the birth control pill when I was 15 to help with acne. I stayed on it for 15 years and eventually stopped after turning 30 because I wanted to prepare my body for pregnancy. What I didn't expect was how different my body would feel afterward. My...
Why Is My PMS Getting Worse in My 30s (and After a Baby)? PMS vs PMDD and Where to Start
Maybe it was the week your patience disappeared. You snapped at your kids over spilled milk, cried in the car for no reason you could name, couldn’t sleep, wanted every sweet thing in the pantry, and then your period showed up and hit harder than it used to. And you...
Painful Sex After Baby While Breastfeeding: Why It Happens and What Helps
I remember those early months of motherhood. I loved being a mom, but I was also exhausted. My nights were broken, my days were filled with caring for my baby, and by the end of the day, I had very little left for myself. Intimacy with my husband was not something I...
What to Expect at Your First Functional Medicine Appointment (and How to Prepare)
Maybe you've already booked a call. Or maybe you've had the page open for a week, wondering if you're ready. Either way, it's normal to feel a little nervous. What if I forget something important? What if they want me to buy everything? What if I'm told it's all in my...
Is Functional Medicine Legitimate? What the Evidence Says (and Doesn’t)
You've probably heard both. One friend says functional medicine changed her life. Someone else calls it pseudoscience and an expensive way to buy supplements. And you're somewhere in the middle: tired of not feeling like yourself, but not wanting to waste money or be...
How Faith and Health Work Together: What Research Shows and What Scripture Says
Maybe you pray about everything: your kids, your marriage, your work, the decision you can't quite make. Everything except your body. Somewhere along the way, you may have been told that health is "just science," something for doctors and lab results, not for prayer....
Coming Off Birth Control After 10 Years in Your 30s: What to Expect
After 10 to 15 years on the pill, you may be wondering what will happen when you stop taking birth control. Many women experience a withdrawal bleed within a few weeks, followed by natural cycles that may take a few months to become regular again. You might also...
When Health Becomes an Idol: A Christian View of Wellness
Caring for your health is a good thing. God created your body with incredible wisdom and intention, and we have a responsibility to care for what He has entrusted to us. But what happens when caring for our health slowly becomes something we put our faith in? When we...
Hormonal Acne in Your 30s and 40s: Blood Sugar, PCOS, Perimenopause, and What Helps
Hormonal acne in your 30s and 40s often shows up as deeper breakouts along the chin and jawline. Shifting hormones, androgens, blood sugar and insulin, PCOS, perimenopause, stopping birth control, and stress can all play a role. Looking at the whole picture with your...
Thyroid Labs Normal but Still Have Symptoms? A Functional Medicine Look at Hashimoto’s
Can you have Hashimoto’s with a normal TSH? Yes. In the early stages of Hashimoto’s, thyroid antibodies may be elevated even when TSH and free T4 are within the normal range, according to the American Thyroid Association. But what if your thyroid labs are normal and...
Is My Rage Hormonal? A Christian Mom’s Guide to Postpartum, Pre-Period, and Perimenopause Anger
Quick answer: Rage can be hormonal. Shifts after birth, in the days before your period, and in perimenopause can make anger sharper, and exhaustion adds fuel. But it can also signal postpartum depression or anxiety or another condition, so talk with your doctor,...
Why Do I Wake Up at 3am? Perimenopause, Cortisol, Blood Sugar, and a Biblical Look at Sleepless Nights
Quick answer: Waking at 3am in perimenopause can come from shifting hormones, night sweats, stress, or a mix of these. The time on the clock doesn't point to one cause, so notice your patterns and talk with your doctor if it keeps happening. Have you ever woken up at...