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In this episode of SheMD, Clea Shearer, co-founder of The Home Edit, opens up about her breast cancer journey, sharing lessons in resilience, self-advocacy, and home organization. From navigating treatment while balancing family and career to leaning on support systems, Clea's story reminds us that life does not stop with a diagnosis. Tune in for insights on courage, early detection, maintaining control, and using home organization to support well-being and women's health.Subscribe to SHE MD Podcast for expert tips on PCOS, Endometriosis, fertility, and hormonal balance. Share with friends and visit SHE MD website and Ovii for research-backed resources, holistic health strategies, and expert guidance on women's health and well-being.Sponsors: Cymbiotika: Go to Cymbiotika.com/Shemd for 20% off plus free shippingTimeline: Timeline is offering 10% off your order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/SHEMDNutrafol: Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter promo code SHEMDPeloton: Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.comDavid's Protein: David is giving my listeners an exclusive offer – buy four cartons and get the fifth free at davidprotein.com/shemdHoneylove: Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/SHEMD WHAT YOU'LL LEARNClea Shearer's personal breast cancer journey and lessons in resilienceHow to advocate for yourself in healthcare, fertility, and hormonal healthBalancing career, family, and treatment during life's challengesThe power of support systems and asking for helpPractical strategies for self-care, organization, and maintaining controlKEY TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction04:40 Receiving a cancer diagnosis and initial reactions09:00 Navigating treatment options and decision-making15:13 Balancing career, family, and personal health22:47 Coping strategies & self-care practices28:53 What Clea brought to chemotherapy32:18 How to start navigating your cancer journey45:48 Where Clea is now on her cancer journey49:45 Final thoughts and Clea's tipsKEY TAKEAWAYS1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, highlighting the importance of early detection and screeningsSelf-advocacy in healthcare is crucial — trust your instincts and push for answers when something feels wrongSupport systems of family, friends, and community are essential for navigating treatment and recoveryOrganization and routines can help create a sense of control during overwhelming timesSharing your personal story can empower others facing similar health challengesGUEST BIOClea Shearer is the co-founder and CEO of The Home Edit, the organization behind the viral organizing brand and Netflix series Get Organized with The Home Edit. Known for her innovative approach to home organization, Clea has transformed spaces for celebrities, brands, and everyday clients alike. She is also a New York Times bestselling author, sharing her signature style and practical tips for decluttering and organizing. Clea's work combines creativity, functionality, and a love for beautiful design, inspiring millions to create order in their lives.RESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Home Edit Clea's Book: Cancer Is Complicated Watch Get Organized with The Home Edit – Netflix series featuring Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin.LINKSInstagram: @thehomeeditTikTok: @thehomeedit SHE MD Podcast WebsiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Join Patreon to listen to our bonus episode on leptin and PCOS here.What if everything you've been told about PCOS is too simplistic to actually help you heal?In this episode, I sit down with Ava Nouri, a registered dietitian on my nutrition team who works closely with women navigating PCOS. Her own health journey through fatigue, brain fog, blood sugar issues, and hormone imbalances led her to integrative and functional nutrition, where she now supports clients with the same challenges she faced.We get into the real spectrum of PCOS, why the conventional boxes don't fit, and the deeper metabolic and gut factors that drive symptoms. The second half of the conversation unpacks the pro-metabolic movement, what works, what backfires, and why so many women feel stuck trying to make it fit. It's a raw and nuanced look at one of the most common questions women in my community ask.You'll Learn:The reason PCOS is more of a metabolic disorder than just a hormone issueWhat happens in the body when insulin resistance drives high androgens and irregular cyclesThe link between gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and worsening PCOS symptomsWhy so many women with PCOS lose minerals faster and end up depletedThe damage of excess iron and how it fuels inflammation and gut issuesWhat it feels like to follow a pro-metabolic diet that backfires with PCOSThe missing role of fiber, beans, and vegetables in restoring gut health and hormone balanceWhy one-size-fits-all PCOS protocols rarely work and what to focus on insteadHow mineral testing and stool testing reveal hidden drivers of stubborn symptomsThe importance of self-experimentation and trusting your body over rigid food rulesTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[06:22] Defining PCOS and why the conventional view misses the mark[13:24] Insulin resistance as the core driver of PCOS symptoms[16:23] The role of gut health and microbiome imbalances in driving PCOS symptoms[23:25] How mineral depletion and excess iron fuel inflammation and worsen PCOS symptoms[39:33] The pro metabolic approach as a nourishing alternative to restriction and fear of food[42:49] Reframing the pro metabolic approach for PCOS[58:09] Finding balance with pro metabolic nutrition by avoiding extremes and trusting your body's feedbackResources Mentioned:Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden | BookHeal Your Metabolism by Kate Deering | BookArticles and Writings by Ray Peat | WebsiteThe Feminine Periodical Newsletter | WebsiteMaster your minerals. Harmonize your hormones. Start your mineral journey here.You can work with Ava one on one here.Find more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok
Have you ever felt a surge of anger or anxiety so suddenly it almost scared you? Like that moment when a simple request from your child suddenly sends a wave of frustration through you. We've all been in that place, and the guilt that follows is just as heavy.I had a deeply comforting conversation with Misty McFadden about this exact struggle. As a mom of four, she spoke openly about her own journey through seasons of anxiety and feeling completely overwhelmed by her emotions. She opened up about how, even with strong faith, there were times when everything felt overwhelming, and it was hard to keep going.In our talk, we walked through some of the most helpful perspectives she's learned:Why "I don't know why I'm so angry!" is usually a lie we tell ourselvesHer super simple "brain dump" trick that stops the mental spin cycle in under two minutesHow our emotions and our faith are totally meant to work together, and what it really means to "guard your heart"This is one of those chats that makes you feel normal and gives you a real, tangible next step. No magic pills, just compassion and practical ideas. If you're feeling a little frayed around the edges lately, press play now. I think you'll really love this one. CONNECT WITH MISTYNEW Private Podcast - 3 Steps to Making Hormones WellBook a FREE Hormone Strategy Call with meNEED HELP FIXING YOUR HORMONES? CHECK OUT MY RESOURCES:Hormone Imbalance Quiz - Find out which of the top 3 hormone imbalances affects you most!Join Nourish Your Hormones Coaching for the step-by-step and my eyes on YOUR hormones for the next 4 months.Send us a text with episode feedback or ideas! (We can't respond to texts unless you include contact info but always read them)To get the Restored Mini-Course for free leave a rating & review on the show OR share this podcast in your IG story (tag me @leishadrews) or send it to 3 friends - DM or email me a screenshot and I'll send the course your way!Email: support@abundant-lifewellness.comDon't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more women looking for answers.Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.This podcast is for women and moms to learn how to balance hormones naturally in motherhood, to have pain-free periods, increased fertility, to decrease PMS mood swings, and to increase energy without restrictive diet plans. You'll learn how to balance blood sugar, increase progesterone naturally, understand the root cause of estrogen dominance, irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, hormonal acne, post birth-control syndrome, and conceive naturally. We use a pro-metabolic, whole food, root cause approach to functional women's health and focus on truly holistic health and mind-body connection.If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too! Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, Found My Fitness with Rhonda Patrick, Just Ingredients Podcast, Wellness Mama, The Dr Josh Axe Show, Are You Menstrual Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Freely Rooted Podcast with Kori Meloy, Simple Farmhouse Life with Lisa Bass
Struggling with PCOS belly? Hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance are major contributors, but there's hope! From low-GI diets and targeted exercise to stress management and supplements like inositol and magnesium, small lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Take control of your health and feel your best—because you deserve it!Trying to find an integrative medicine or functional medicine doctor who understands what you're going through? Lam Clinic does Telemedicine all over the world and is only a phone call away.1. Educate yourself by visiting our website: www.lamclinic.com2. Call our office at 714-709-8000 to schedule an appointment.FIND US ONLINE HERE:» Website: https://www.lamclinic.com/» Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamclinic» Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lam_clinic/» Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lamclinic» YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/LAMCLINIC
Intro: Hello, and welcome to episode 178 of the Childless Not by Choice Podcast. My name is Civilla Morgan. My mission is to recognize and speak to childless women and men worldwide, reminding us that we can live joyful, relevant, and fulfilled lives. And whether you have children or not, thank you for tuning in! What is today's show about? Ectopic Pregnancies I have not forgotten that this podcast is about childlessness. Indeed, being childless not by choice. And we all know there are many reasons for childlessness, including medical issues such as endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, miscarriage, PCOS, and so many other physical and physiological issues. Trauma, both physical and emotional, can be a cause. Being born without a uterus, which I have discussed on this podcast before. I will put a link to that interview in the show notes for this episode. And then just the unknown, also known as idiopathic infertility. I want to talk about ectopic pregnancy because I have never discussed it. But let's step back a little. Let's talk about the uterus. And I realize I am speaking to the choir here. I think most of you know what a uterus is and what it does. So let me say this in one or two sentences: The uterus is where a baby grows once the sperm fertilizes the egg. So if the egg, sperm, and fertilization end up anywhere outside of the uterus, the pregnancy will not thrive. In fact, the pregnancy will not go to term. And most times that ending up outside the uterus means the components I just mentioned: the sperm and egg, end up in the fallopian tubes. It's like driving down a highway, the fallopian tubes. You are supposed to end up at a destination, the uterus, but you get stuck on the highway instead. And sometimes getting stuck on the highway can cause irreparable damage. Meaning the possibility of no future natural pregnancies. Although we have two fallopian tubes, so if one is affected by an ectopic pregnancy, if the other one is healthy, a viable pregnancy is possible. The risk of an ectopic pregnancy is 1-2%. It sounds like a small percentage, but a percentage is a percentage, isn't it? It's small until it happens to you. And human physiology is not something that can be contested. In other words, there is no way to have a baby successfully grow outside of the womb, the uterus. And again, I know I don't need to say this, but I am not referring to other types of creating pregnancy, like the gift of a successful IVF. I am talking about how a pregnancy starts biologically, and the only way it can continue. So, ectopic pregnancies. ‘An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube.'--AI. Ectopic pregnancies are often caused by damaged fallopian tubes, which prevent a fertilized egg from reaching the uterus, leading it to implant and grow elsewhere. Risk factors for tubal damage and subsequent ectopic pregnancies include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, Previous abdominal pelvic surgery Smoking. Other risk factors include conception while using an intrauterine device (IUD) After a tubal ligation (sterilization), Ongoing fertility treatments. Age: Being older than age 35 can also be a risk factor. I want to stop here and note that an ectopic pregnancy can be very dangerous. It is suggested that if you believe or have been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, you should see your physician immediately. Symptoms: Vaginal bleeding or spotting Abdominal pain, often one-sided Shoulder pain Nausea and vomiting Dizziness or fainting Now, the good news in all of this is that the chances of a successful pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy are good, ranging from 65 to 85%, especially as time goes on. Meaning if you get pregnant again in 18 months, a successful pregnancy is 65% likely. In two years, it is 85% likely. I will say again, if we have arrived at the fact that we will not be having children. Maybe we have already had the hysterectomy. Maybe we have stopped IVF. We have just come to terms and decided to move on with our lives as childless not by choice people. That's what this podcast was created to address. But I also believe it is important to know more than our own journey. And that if we ever want to discuss more than our own journey, we are in the know. We can intelligently discuss as much or as little as we would like. Knowledge allows us to have the ball in our court. Maybe you have a family member or friend who is or has suffered from an ectopic pregnancy. Maybe you have, and then the pregnancy never happened for you. Either way, this is a slice of knowledge. And I hope it was helpful. As I close out this episode, I want to remind you that we are approaching our final episodes. It is a bittersweet feeling, as I have said before. But I know I am doing the right thing. I am feeling a shift and I need to go along with that shift. I will keep the Facebook group open, I will keep the website up and running. And in fact, I may now find time to refresh the website. www.childlessnotbychoice.net. Usually I go on hiatus for October and November. I have decided to do an October episode, and hiatus for November only. Back in December with a final episode. Any questions, please feel free to reach out. My contact information is in the show notes, at the very end. Useful links: https://childlessnotbychoice.net/episode-86-longing-for-motherhood-holding-onto-hope-in-the-midst-of-childlessness-my-interview-with-chelsea-patterson-sobolik/ Research links: AI My contact information: Website: www.childlessnotbychoice.net and www.civillamorgan.com Facebook: booksbycivillamorgan Instagram: @joyandrelevance Pinterest: Civilla M. Morgan, MSM LinkedIn: Civilla Morgan, MSM Thank you for listening to this episode of Childless not by Choice! Until next time! Bye!
What I'm into this week - these declarations have really been shifting my mood and focus in a powerful way so I wanted to share them with you!Credit to Igniting Hope MinistriesDownload these declarationsSend us a text with episode feedback or ideas! (We can't respond to texts unless you include contact info but always read them)Don't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more women looking for answers.Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.This podcast is for women and moms to learn how to balance hormones naturally in motherhood, to have pain-free periods, increased fertility, to decrease PMS mood swings, and to increase energy without restrictive diet plans. You'll learn how to balance blood sugar, increase progesterone naturally, understand the root cause of estrogen dominance, irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, hormonal acne, post birth-control syndrome, and conceive naturally. We use a pro-metabolic, whole food, root cause approach to functional women's health and focus on truly holistic health and mind-body connection.If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too! Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, Found My Fitness with Rhonda Patrick, Just Ingredients Podcast, Wellness Mama, The Dr Josh Axe Show, Are You Menstrual Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Freely Rooted Podcast with Kori Meloy, Simple Farmhouse Life with Lisa Bass
Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website. Today, I'm excited to be talking all about hormones, fertility, and PCOS with dietitian and nutritionist Melissa Groves Azzaro. Melissa is the host of the "Hormonally Yours" podcast, and author of the book "A Balanced Approach to PCOS." Her podcast focuses on science based information about PCOS, fertility, and other hormone imbalances. She works with clients to figure out the root cause of their PCOS symptoms, and creates personalized plans for clients that go way beyond their diet to get them feeling better. In this interview, Melissa walks us through some diet options that help balance blood sugar and hormones, which can help with PCOS symptoms. She uses the acronym PFF (protein, fat, and fiber), and I can't wait for you to hear her explain it! We're going to be talking about the role a stressful lifestyle may play in infertility and PCOS, how diet impacts PCOS, and how you can make simple changes to improve your health and fertility outcomes. Tune in to hear Dr. Aimee on Melissa's podcast. Do you have questions about Egg Freezing?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The Egg Freezing Class. The next live class call is on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain Egg Freezing and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org. Other ways to connect with Dr. Aimee and The Egg Whisperer Show: Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates
What if I told you that 75% of women with PCOS may be struggling with hidden symptoms and most haven't even been diagnosed yet? In this episode, celebrity OB/GYN Dr. Thais Aliabadi and women's health advocate Mary Alice from the SheMD podcast are back to reveal what truly moves the needle for PCOS. You'll get a step-by-step breakdown of the lifestyle shifts, nutrition tweaks, supplement strategies, and up-to-the-minute medical options (from Metformin to GLP1s and beyond) that work for REAL, busy women navigating PCOS. We're talking how to advocate for yourself at the doctor's office, what tests truly matter, and why your mood, gut, and hormones are all connected (plus, why that matters for YOU).You'll walk away knowing exactly how to take control instead of feeling lost, with new confidence in understanding your body and relief that you are on the right path to heal. Ready to find out the next step you might be missing—one that could finally make the difference? Hit play and let's dive in.3:23 – Why “Healthy Lifestyle” Isn't Just a Buzzword—It's the First Line of PCOS Treatment4:12 – The Surprising Reason Walking After Every Meal Is A Game-Changer for Your Symptoms4:34 – How Insulin Resistance Drives PCOS and What Really Works to Manage It4:50 – The Real Deal on Metformin Dosing for PCOS (Most People Start Too Low)5:27 – Supplements, Birth Control, or IUDs? What to Consider If You're Struggling With Mood Swings6:48 – Why Chronic Inflammation Deserves Your Attention and the Antioxidants That Can Help7:10 – The Link Between Stress, Adrenal PCOS, and That Stubborn Acne or Hair Growth8:28 – Stubborn Skin and Hair Symptoms: Why Patience Is Key and What Really Helps8:45 – The Overlooked Mental Health Side of PCOS And Why PMDD Isn't “Just PMS”10:12 – GLP1s, Weight, and PCOS: How Medications Can Be Game-Changers (and What to Know Before You Start or Stop)11:16 – Why Losing Weight Isn't the Only PCOS Fertility Barrier (And What to Do If You're Still Struggling)13:27 – How PCOS and Endometriosis Are More Connected Than You Think And What Most Doctors Miss14:46 – Egg Count 101: Why Every Woman (Even in Her 20s or 30s) Needs to Know Her Number19:38 – Why Women's Symptoms Get Dismissed And How You Can Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor23:36 – The One Must-Do If Your Appointment Is Only 15 Minutes: Walking In With a Clear ListEpisode Links:Take the Ovii PCOS Quiz by Dr. Thais AliabadiLearn more about Ovii: Website | InstagramConnect with Dr. Thais Aliabadi: Website | InstagramConnect with Mary Alice: InstagramCheck out their podcast: SHE MD Podcast | InstagramOther Episodes You'll Love:Episode 121: Dismissed By Your Doctor? Here's How to Finally Get Answers About Your PCOS with Dr. Thais Aliabadi & Mary Alice Haney of SheMD Podcast
Hiring is tough. Retaining great technicians? Even tougher. The pest control industry is facing one of its biggest challenges yet: keeping good employees from walking out the door.In this episode, Allan is joined by Erik Osborne and Anthony Eshaghi from Journey Health to talk about a game-changing strategy that most PCOs overlook when it comes to employee retention. Spoiler: it's not higher pay, flashy perks, or pizza Fridays. It's healthcare.Eric and Anthony break down why health benefits have become one of the biggest pain points for business owners, how skyrocketing insurance costs are eating into profits, and why offering the right kind of coverage can not only save you money but also keep your team loyal for years. They share real numbers, real options, and the little-known alternatives that are cutting expenses by 30–40% for pest control companies across the country.If you've ever asked yourself:• “Why do my techs keep leaving, even when I pay well?”• “How can I compete with big companies when it comes to benefits?”• “Is there a smarter way to provide healthcare without draining my margins?”…then this episode is for you.Tune in to learn how rethinking healthcare can give you a serious edge in today's competitive hiring market—and why this might be the most important investment you make in your business this year.Check out Journey Health: journeywholecare.com/bug-bux
In this episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi welcome Dr. Gina Campbell from Myriad Genetics. They explore the importance of genetic testing in women's health and its potential to revolutionize cancer prevention and early detection. The discussion also provides insights into the MyRisk® Hereditary Cancer Test, the BRCA genes, and insurance coverage. Sponsor: Myriad Genetics: To learn more, visit getmyrisk.comWhat you'll learn in this episode:Genetic testing for cancer isn't just about BRCA. Myriad checks 48 cancer-causing genes, with 11 linked to breast cancer risk.Your risk isn't just in your genes. Family history, lifestyle, and even tiny DNA markers all play a role. So using tests like the MyRisk® test and Tyrer-Cuzick score or IBIS model can provide more information.Knowledge is power. Knowing your risk can lead to early screening and prevention strategies.Alcohol is a major, often overlooked cancer risk factor. Even one drink a day can significantly increase breast cancer risk.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:23 Genetic testing criteria and insurance coverage11:40 Importance of genetic testing for breast cancer risk16:29 Breast cancer screening recommendations and guidelines20:22 Data privacy concerns and benefits of testing24:48 Future of genetic testing and personalized medicine28:57 Advice for maximizing doctor visits and insurance31:33 How to get the MyRisk® genetic testDr. Gina Campbell's Key Takeaways:
Are your mornings secretly sabotaging your fertility before the day even begins?Many women trying to conceive unknowingly set their hormones into chaos by following "healthy" morning routines. This episode reveals how your daily breakfast choices may be standing between you and a positive pregnancy test.In this episode, you'll discover:-Why breakfast is the most critical meal for balancing hormones and egg health.-The nutrients your ovaries need in the morning to support conception.-How a fertility-focused breakfast can stabilize blood sugar, lower cortisol, and create the ideal environment for pregnancy.Press play now to learn the easiest morning shift you can make to nourish your hormones, protect your fertility, and boost your chances of conceiving.
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Aisha Dee isn’t afraid to speak her truth. On this epsiode of No Filter, guest hosted by Laura Brodnik, The Bold Type star opens up about stepping into her queerness on screen, the ways her iconic character helped her explore her own sexuality, and the struggles of being a young woman navigating Hollywood while staying true to herself. She gets candid about her decade-long battle with endometriosis and PCOS - the chronic pain, the surgeries, and the fight to have her experiences taken seriously. Aisha also talks about her latest project, Watching You, an intense psychological thriller, and why she’s drawn to messy, morally gray characters that push her to take risks. From the highs of red carpets to the quiet victories at home with family, Aisha shares the moments that shape her life, career, and identity, all with honesty, humour, and heart. You can follow Aisha Dee here. THE END BITS: Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here Discover more Mamamia podcasts here Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP. Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review CREDITS: Guest: Aisha Dee Host: Laura Brodnik Executive Producer: Naima Brown Senior Producer: Bree Player Audio Producer: Jacob Round Video Producer: Josh Green Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The podcast captures the remarkable journey of Dimple Jangda, an investment banker turned Ayurvedic health coach, who overcame serious health challenges, including epilepsy, migraines, insomnia, and cancer scares, through Ayurveda and preventive healthcare. Her story highlights the power of food as medicine, the dangers of processed and genetically modified foods, and the critical role of gut health in preventing and reversing chronic diseases like PCOS, thyroid disorders, and infertility. With a blend of personal experience, modern research, and ancient wisdom, Dimple emphasizes empowering individuals, especially women and children through conscious food choices, lifestyle changes, and preventive practices like panchakarma, thereby inspiring holistic healing and long-term wellness.
Irregular periods aren't random—they're your body's way of signaling that something deeper may be going on. In this episode of Cycle Wisdom, Dr. Monica Minjeur unpacks the most common causes of irregular cycles, from PCOS and thyroid dysfunction to stress, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and more. Through Nora's story, you'll see how cycle charting plus timed labs uncover hidden issues that “normal” tests often miss. Discover how identifying the real cause of cycle changes can restore balance, improve fertility, and bring clarity to your health.Ready for answers beyond “just go on the pill”? Visit radiantclinic.com to book a discovery call today.
Canada is facing a women's health crisis: three in four women over 40 experience menopausal symptoms that disrupt their daily lives — yet access to care is inconsistent, fragmented, and often out of reach.In this episode of The Brand is Female, highlighting Menopause Awareness Month, Eva Hartling speaks with Dr. Michelle Jacobson, a leading OBGYN who decided to take her expertise beyond the clinic and into entrepreneurship. As co-founder of Coven Women's Health, she is transforming how women access hormonal health support in Ontario with a virtual platform offering expert, continuous, and personalized care.Dr. Jacobson is joined by her co-founder and CEO, Jennifer Patterson — a seasoned business builder with experience at Google and TD, who, after her own frustrating experience of feeling unwell, became passionate about making women's health solutions easier to access.Together, they discuss why hormonal health remains stigmatized and overlooked in Canada, what's missing from our current system, and how Coven is reshaping the future of women's healthcare through integrated programs that support women navigating menopause, perimenopause, PCOS, postpartum recovery, PMDD, and more. This season of our podcast is brought to you by TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Please find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/ca/en/business-banking/small-business/women-in-business // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale
Could your irregular cycles, persistent acne, or stubborn weight really be undiagnosed PCOS—just like 75% of women who have it but don't know? That's why in this episode, I'm sitting down with the hosts of the SheMD podcast, top PCOS specialist Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi (celebrity OB, leading PCOS expert, and the doctor trusted by women like Halsey, Khloe Kardashian, and Rihanna) and women's health advocate Mary Alice Haney to reveal why PCOS gets missed, the real symptoms you should be watching for, and what your doctors might be getting wrong about diagnosis.We're breaking down the easy-to-miss red flags, debunking the biggest myths, and giving you the knowledge to confidently advocate for your body no matter how many times you've been dismissed. You'll walk away knowing exactly what to ask for, what matters most, and how to finally get answers.3:59 – Why Over 75% of Women with PCOS Are Undiagnosed And Why That Number Might Be Even Higher 4:30 – How Widely Symptoms Can Vary (and Why That Makes Diagnosis So Tricky) 9:37 – The Three Simple Criteria Doctors Should Use (But Often Don't) for PCOS Diagnosis 11:11 – Why You Don't Need High Testosterone on Bloodwork to Be Diagnosed with PCOS 12:12 – The Top Causes, Symptoms & Family Patterns to Look Out For, Especially If You've Been Told “It's All in Your Head” 17:16 – How Personal Advocacy Beats Medical Dismissal (and Why You Should Never Throw in the Towel) 21:20 – The “Pillars” of PCOS and What Actually Drives Symptoms32:10 – Why Standard Treatments Like Birth Control Miss the Real Root Causes And What You Actually Need for Real Relief 34:38 – What to Ask Your Doctor (or Do at Home) If You Suspect PCOS36:32 – Why Building Knowledge (and Community) Is the #1 Step to Becoming Your Own Health Advocate34:38 – The Overlap with Endometriosis & Why It Matters for Fertility and Long-Term Health36:32 – Why Moms Should Watch for PCOS in Daughters and How One Founder Didn't Get Properly Diagnosed Until Age 45Episode Links:Take the Ovii PCOS Quiz by Dr. Thais AliabadiLearn more about Ovii: Website | InstagramConnect with Dr. Thais Aliabadi: Website | InstagramConnect with Mary Alice: InstagramCheck out their podcast: SHE MD Podcast | Instagram
Use the code ROOT at check-out for 10% off Rayvi: https://rayvishop.com/ In this episode of To The Root, Robyn Spangler unpacks one of the most confusing—and frustrating—skin-health mashups: PCOS and acne. Far beyond the misconception that PCOS is simply “cysts on the ovaries,” Robyn explains how insulin resistance, elevated androgens, and stress responses can directly influence breakouts.She outlines the diagnostic criteria for PCOS, discusses lesser-known subtypes such as post-pill and inflammatory PCOS, and emphasizes why personalized lab testing is essential to uncovering the true root causes of persistent skin concerns. Rather than trial-and-error with supplements, diets, or topicals, Robyn highlights the importance of data-driven strategies that provide clarity and direction for long-term skin health.This episode is designed for women seeking a deeper understanding of how PCOS can present through the skin, and why individualized approaches—based on comprehensive lab work—are key to sustainable results.Don't miss this episode—tune in now!Get root cause answers with data - check out our Acne Labs Panel!Highlights:Clarifying what PCOS is (and is not) beyond common mythsThe Rotterdam criteria and challenges of conventional diagnosisHow insulin resistance contributes to elevated androgens and breakoutsThe role of stress and adrenal hormones in PCOS-related acneSubtypes of PCOS: post-pill, inflammatory, and stress-driven presentationsWhy conventional testing may miss early warning signsThe impact of iron metabolism on PCOS and acneHow functional lab testing provides actionable insights for personalized careConnect with Robyn:Instagram: @nutritionbyrobyn Website: https://www.theclearskinlab.com
In this episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi interview Micaela Riley, a board-certified functional nutritionist and founder of the Be Balance Method. They explore Micaela's personal journey with PCOS, diet, hormonal balance, and how it led her to develop a holistic approach to women's health. The conversation covers hormone health, metabolic balance, dietary considerations for individuals with PCOS, and practical strategies for achieving wellness.Access more information about the podcast and additional expert health tips by visiting SHE MD Podcast. Sponsors: Cymbiotika: Go to Cymbiotika.com/Shemd for 20% off plus free shippingOPill: Opill is birth control in your control, and you can use code SHEMD for twenty five percent off your first month of Opill at Opill.com.iRestore: For a limited time, get a HUGE discount on the iRESTORE Elite + Illumina Face Mask Bundle with code SHEMD at iRestore.comMyriad: Learn more about MyRisk with RiskScore at GetMyRisk.comMirena: To learn more, visit mirena.com and ask your provider ifMirena could be an option for you. To view the full prescribing information, visit mirena.com/piWhat you'll learn in this episode:Which foods to eat and which aren't good for PCOS to have a healthy dietWhat to do to support your metabolic healthHow to improve your hormone balanceThe effects of cortisol levels on PCOS and Women's CycleTimestamps:00:00 Introduction03:28 Healing PCOS through a functional medicine approach16:42 Lifestyle changes and PCOS Diet to regulate cortisol levels23:27 Understanding metabolic dysfunction and symptoms34:15 Tips to jumpstart hormone health40:18 What is Be Balanced by Micaela RileyMicaela Riley's Key Takeaways:Test Don't Guess: Micaela highlights the importance of taking the DUTCH test and any other tests needed to understand hormonal imbalances.Metabolic Health Impacts Hormones: 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. Addressing insulin, blood sugar, and metabolism is vital for hormone balance.Cortisol Regulation Is Crucial For Hormonal Balance: Michaela found that addressing stress and cortisol levels was key to resolving her PCOS symptoms and regulating her cycle.Implement Lifestyle Change: Be aware of the foods to eat and not to eat in a PCOS diet. Focus on protein intake, whole foods, smart exercise, quality sleep, and basic supplements.ABOUT THE GUEST:Micaela Riley is a Board-Certified Functional Nutritionist and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) Practitioner specializing in gut health, hormones, and metabolism. With advanced training in DUTCH, GI-MAP, and functional blood chemistry, she helps clients uncover the root causes of their health struggles and create personalized protocols for healing. After overcoming her own chronic gut and hormonal issues, Micaela is passionate about bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and functional wellness. Through in-depth lab testing, targeted nutrition, and strategic lifestyle shifts, she empowers individuals to restore balance, optimize metabolism, and feel their best.Instagram: @bebalancedbymicaela Be Balanced Website: https://welcome.bebalanced.co RESOURCES MENTIONED:OVI Supplements: ovi.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Have you ever wondered if your metabolism—not just your hormones—is the hidden reason you're struggling to conceive?Most women think metabolism is only about weight loss or calorie burning, but it's actually your body's entire energy system. When it slows down, your thyroid, ovaries, and uterus don't get the fuel they need, and fertility often suffers first.In this episode, you'll discover:-The surprising signs of a sluggish metabolism that often go unnoticed-Why metabolism is the foundation for balanced hormones, ovulation, and implantation-Simple, practical shifts to restore your energy system and naturally support fertilityPress play now to uncover the hidden connection between metabolism and fertility—and learn how to give your body the energy it needs to conceive naturally.
In this episode of the Heal Your Hormones podcast, Dr. Danielle Desroche discusses the importance of tracking menstrual cycles for women with PCOS, despite the challenges of irregular cycles. She explains the phases of the menstrual cycle, signs of ovulation, and the benefits of tracking symptoms and using technology to aid in understanding hormonal health. The episode emphasizes the need for patience and the value of working with healthcare providers to manage PCOS effectively.--------------------------------------------------------------------Interested in becoming a client? Schedule your strategy call here.Join the newsletter here!Fullscript Supplement Dispensary
In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, I'm excited to share Jasmine's story, a former patient whose struggles with PCOS, body image, and burnout may sound all too familiar. Jasmine's experience reflects the pressure many women feel to constantly push harder, dieting, overtraining, and trying to force their bodies into submission, only to feel like they're getting nowhere. If you've ever felt like your efforts weren't enough or your body was working against you, this episode offers a powerful shift in perspective and practical encouragement.When Your Body Says "Enough": The Turning PointAt just 26, Jasmine felt completely burned out. Her periods had stopped, her energy was gone, and her hair was thinning. Despite years of eating “good” and intense workouts, her body felt like it was shutting down. Lab results revealed exactly that, low estrogen and progesterone, nutrient deficiencies, and sky-high stress hormones. But instead of labeling her body as broken, Jasmine began to understand that her symptoms were signals. Her body wasn't failing, it was crying out for help. Rebuilding from the Inside Out: Food, Movement, and MindsetIn this episode, you'll discover what Jasmine did differently that finally helped her make lasting progress. How she stopped eliminating things from her diet and began nourishing her body instead. How her exercise routine shifted from punishment to partnership with her body. Along the way, she dismantled the shame and perfectionism that had fueled her yo-yo cycles for years. She didn't do it perfectly, but she kept showing up for herself in a new, more supportive way.The Power of Listening to Your BodyOne of the most inspiring parts of Jasmine's story is how her emotional transformation mirrored her physical healing. As her cycle returned, her energy lifted, and her hair thickened, she also began to feel like herself again—confident, calm, and empowered. She stopped measuring her worth by her weight or workouts and started tuning in to what actually made her feel strong, alive, and aligned with her body. That's the magic of healing from PCOS, not just fixing symptoms, but building a relationship with your body that's rooted in trust and care.If you've been stuck in patterns of restriction, shame, or frustration, this episode is your reminder that you are not broken. You don't need to try harder, instead listen, support, and nourish. Jasmine's story shows what's possible when you stop fighting your body and begin to work with it. Healing may not be fast, but it is possible, and it starts with intention, not perfection. You'll walk away from this episode with a renewed sense of hope and clarity for your own PCOS journey.You can take the quiz to discover your root cause hereLet's continue the conversation on Instagram! What did you find helpful in this episode and what follow-up questions do you have?The full list of Resources & References Mentioned can be found on the Episode webpage at:https://nourishedtohealthy.com/ep-166
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In this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with powerhouse Lateshia Pearson, Certified Life Coach and breakout star of OWN's Bell Collective. Lateshia opens up about her road to television, the inner work that got her there, and how community has helped her rise above limiting beliefs.Together, we explore the impact of ambiguous grief, especially for women of color, and the healing power of aligning with your inner child. Lateshia shares her personal journey with PCOS, her struggles with infertility, and the moments of pain that led to purpose. We also talk about the real behind-the-scenes of building a brand, choosing collaboration over competition, and redefining what success looks like after grief.Lateshia reminds us that manifestation is more than vision boards. It's about trusting the process, surrendering control, and giving yourself permission to evolve. I share my own growth around love and loss and how I manifested my partner by getting clear on the qualities that truly matter.This episode is a call to action for every woman who has grieved silently, for those battling PCOS with little support, and for those ready to build community instead of sitting in the background.Connect with Lateshia: https://www.lateshiapearson.com/
On this episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Brie goes solo and welcomes a very special guest—her friend and wellness guru, Emily Brown, a functional nutritionist and founder of Genetic Garden. Emily has been a total game-changer in Brie's health journey, helping her family reset their habits through natural medicine, bio-genetic testing, and personalized nutrition. From gut health to parasite cleanses, Brie and Emily dive deep into holiday prep, morning routines, and the powerful connection between food, inflammation, and burnout.They talk about what really happens to your body during the holidays (spoiler: it's more than just sugar overload), how to eat more without the guilt, and why self-compassion is the ultimate wellness hack. Plus, Brie shares her personal shifts, from ditching food guilt to embracing high-protein mornings. Emily also answers listener questions about bloating, PCOS, and eating fruit the right way. It's an empowering, informative episode with practical tips you can use right now—whether you're prepping for the holidays or just trying to feel more like you again.Press play and get ready to glow from the inside out! Call Nikki & Brie at 833-GARCIA2 and leave a voicemail! Follow Nikki & Brie on Instagram, follow the show on Instagram and TikTok and send Nikki & Brie a message on Threads! Follow Bonita Bonita on Instagram Book a reservation at the Bonita Bonita Speakeasy To watch exclusive videos of this week's episode, follow The Nikki & Brie Show on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok! You can also catch The Nikki & Brie Show on SiriusXM Stars 109! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Still dreading that week before your period when the smallest things set you off and you feel like you're walking around with no buffer? Even though I talk a lot about PMS having a physical root cause, it's not all in your body, some of it really is in your head. In this episode, I'm sharing four mindset shifts that have made a real difference for me and so many women I've worked with. They're simple things you can lean on when irritation, sadness, or overwhelm start creeping in.You'll learn:05:42 My favorite "bubble" mindset to keep your fuse from being extra short09:53 A surprisingly small habit that can shift your mood in minutes12:54 Why a victim mindset may be causing you more issues than you think - and what you can do about it right away. PMS may still show up, but with these shifts, it doesn't have to take over. So grab your earbuds, let's take a little walk together, and talk about how to make these days feel lighter.NEW Private Podcast - 3 Steps to Making Hormones WellBook a FREE Hormone Strategy Call with meNEED HELP FIXING YOUR HORMONES? CHECK OUT MY RESOURCES:Hormone Imbalance Quiz - Find out which of the top 3 hormone imbalances affects you most!Join Nourish Your Hormones Coaching for the step-by-step and my eyes on YOUR hormones for the next 4 months.LET'S CONNECT!IG: @leishadrewsMy story+more hormone resources hereSend us a text with episode feedback or ideas! (We can't respond to texts unless you include contact info but always read them)Don't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more women looking for answers.Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.This podcast is for women and moms to learn how to balance hormones naturally in motherhood, to have pain-free periods, increased fertility, to decrease PMS mood swings, and to increase energy without restrictive diet plans. You'll learn how to balance blood sugar, increase progesterone naturally, understand the root cause of estrogen dominance, irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, hormonal acne, post birth-control syndrome, and conceive naturally. We use a pro-metabolic, whole food, root cause approach to functional women's health and focus on truly holistic health and mind-body connection.If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too! Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, Found My Fitness with Rhonda Patrick, Just Ingredients Podcast, Wellness Mama, The Dr Josh Axe Show, Are You Menstrual Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Freely Rooted Podcast with Kori Meloy, Simple Farmhouse Life with Lisa Bass
Free Event — Unwritten: Healing Beyond the Diagnosis Join me for a FREE live event where six women share how we turned tough diagnoses into healing journeys. The event kicks off on October 9th with me speaking on: How to Talk So Your Doctor Will Listen. You'll find talks on fibromyalgia, PCOS, gut health, autoimmune issues, Hashimoto's & more. The event will be held LIVE, which means you can ask the speakers questions live — or you can catch the replays later. Click here to save your free spot.
Hello! We're back with another episode of the Owning Your Sexual Self podcast! I am so excited to welcome Cory Ruth to the podcast this week! Cory is a registered dietitian and women's health expert who has helped countless women better understand PCOS, fertility, and hormone balance. She is the creator of the PCOS Boss Academy, the Get Pregnant with PCOS program, and the Vita PCOS supplement line. Cory's mix of knowledge, passion, and straight talk makes her such an empowering voice for women navigating PCOS.In this episode:What PCOS is and how it is diagnosedWhy PCOS can look very different from one person to anotherThe link between PCOS, blood sugar, and insulin resistanceHow nutrition plays a key role in managing symptoms and feeling betterHow to approach supplements and what to look out for when choosing themA message of empowerment and hope for anyone navigating a PCOS diagnosisThank you so much for listening! Don't forget to share on your social media and tag me if you loved this episode! Connect with CoryInstagram - @TheWomensDietitianWebsite - TheWomensDietitian.comSupport the showConnect with Rachel!Instagram: @The_Rachel_MaineWebsite: https://linktr.ee/WellnessSexpertiseYouTube: YouTube.com/@OwningYourSexualSelfFacebook: Rachel MaineEmail: therachelmaine@gmail.com
In this episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, Sera and Corby share their heart-breaking journey through infertility, miscarriage, and the devastating loss of their baby girl, Tia, to Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18).They open up about:Living with PCOS, infertility, and fertility treatmentReceiving a Trisomy 18 / Edwards Syndrome diagnosis during pregnancyFacing the impossible decision between termination for medical reasons (TFMR) or waiting for nature to decideThe emotional impact of stillbirth and baby loss on both parentsSupporting older children through sibling griefReturning to work after baby loss and the urgent need for better workplace baby loss policiesHow families, schools, and employers can support grieving parentsThe healing power of peer support, counselling, and remembering your baby's name and legacySera and Corby's story is raw, honest, and full of love for their daughter, Tia. By speaking out, they are breaking the silence around miscarriage, stillbirth, and baby loss — and helping other families feel less alone.Whether you've experienced miscarriage, TFMR, infertility, or are supporting someone through loss, this episode offers compassion, understanding, and solidarity.About The Worst Girl Gang EverThe Worst Girl Gang Ever is a real, honest, and emotive podcast that covers the heartbreaking subject of miscarriage, infertility, and baby loss. Expect raw conversations about unspoken experiences, hosted by TWGGE founders Bex Gunn and Laura Buckingham. This show aims to break the silence and open dialogue around miscarriage and pregnancy loss. No more shame, no more taboo—let's change the narrative for future generations.Support and Resources:Access The WarriorshipThe Warriorship is our free peer to peer membership platform, connecting you with others who ‘just get it' through whats app groups, online drop in sessions, a book club, creative workshops and informative webinars. Join now and instantly connect with others who understand the challenges you face.https://theworstgirlgangever.co.uk/membership/ Our bookWe are here to tell you that you are entitled to grieve, and that your grief is not disproportionate to your loss. We are here to open up the dialogue around miscarriage, so we don't perpetuate the shame, judgement and isolation so many of us feel following pregnancy loss. We are here to equip you with knowledge, tools and guidance to support and help you in whatever way you need.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0008524998/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&
PCOS isn't just a diagnosis — it's a lived experience that impacts every part of a woman's life. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Faiza Rafi, Ph.D., LSSP, who not only brings her expertise as a psychologist but also shares her personal journey of living with PCOS. From the struggles she faced, to the lifestyle changes that made a difference, to her heartfelt message of hope — this conversation is both real and inspiring. For every woman walking a similar path, this episode offers honesty, encouragement, and empowerment. Text to get in touch!Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share! To help us continue this important work, become a sustainer at www.empowherhealth.org
Welcome to Fertility & Sterility Roundtable! Each month, we will host a discussion with the authors of "Views and Reviews" and "Fertile Battle" articles published in a recent issue of Fertility & Sterility. This month, we welcome Dr. Lydia Hughes and Dr. Eric Widra to discuss the ethics of egg-sharing, or "split-cycles" for fertility preservation. This is where an egg donor freezes their eggs for their own future use for reduced or no cost in exchange for donating a portion of the cohort. Dr. Hughes is a second-year REI fellow at Northwestern University in Chicago, where she also completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Hughes's clinical and academic interests include reproductive ethics, PCOS, and ovarian aging. Dr. Widra currently serves as Executive Senior Medical officer and Vice President, Development for Shady Grove Fertility and US Fertility, respectively. He was formerly Chief Medical Officer of SG Fertility, and Associate Director of the Combined Federal Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, operated through the NIH, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and SG Fertility. View Fertility and Sterility at https://www.fertstert.org/
>>Join our FREE monthly Gut Health Webinar, so you can begin your Healing Journey. https://modernendocrinewellness.com/join-gut-health
In Episode 61, we learned that blood sugar dysregulation is a compounding factor at the root of nearly every metabolic disease or condition. While the science behind that statement can get complicated, balancing blood sugar doesn't have to be. In this “Quick Tips” episode of the Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Podcast, Ashley Lawrence, NTP—your “Blood Sugar Bestie”— returns to share her top five blood sugar tips you can start using today. Ashley is the founder of Magic and Wellness and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner passionate about helping women finally crack the code on their energy, mood, and hormones by addressing blood sugar first. Her approach blends science, strategy, and sparkle—making healthy habits not only doable but actually fun. In this episode: Protein-rich, savory breakfasts that stabilize energy, reduce cravings, and stop the 2:30 slump Why you should avoid eating naked carbs—and how to pair carbs with protein, fat, or fiber for steady glucose Simple movement after meals like squats and pushups during bathroom breaks or 15-minute power walks after meals How stress and poor sleep drive insulin resistance, plus practical hacks to calm cortisol and get better rest Why front-loading carbs earlier in the day improves sleep, energy, and overall metabolic health They also get real about practical swaps—like leftovers for breakfast, smarter chip and chocolate choices, and even adding butter or flax to balance out carbs. Remember, it's not about perfection; it's about small, consistent upgrades that add up to lasting freedom. If you've ever wondered how to fix fatigue, cravings, mood swings, or PCOS symptoms at their root, these simple steps are where to start for practical, real-life strategies to balance your blood sugar without the overwhelm. Continue your blood sugar journey: Episode 46: Wellness 101 – A Common Sense Start Episode 28: Blood Sugar 101 — a deeper dive into the basics of glucose, insulin, and cravings. Episode 61: PCOS Root Cause - It's Blood Sugar, Not Just Hormones Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @magicandwellness Website: magicandwellness.com Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, chat with us on Spotify, SHARE, and help us change the world! NOTE: To date, NTA/Jamie are neither affiliated nor receiving compensation of any kind for this or any other product or service featured on The Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Podcast. We simply love connecting good people with other goodness.
What I'm Into this week - Making myself happier and making my husband happier in the process. Anyone else need this?I listened to The Empowered Wife over the past few weeks and I'm giving you a quick recap + my takeaways that I'm implementing to try them out and see what changes in my own mood + marriage. Not married? Honestly this could still be for you and understanding how you can better relate to the men in your life! Grab The Empowered Wife on Amazon - not sponsored, just into it!Send us a text with episode feedback or ideas! (We can't respond to texts unless you include contact info but always read them)Don't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more women looking for answers.Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.This podcast is for women and moms to learn how to balance hormones naturally in motherhood, to have pain-free periods, increased fertility, to decrease PMS mood swings, and to increase energy without restrictive diet plans. You'll learn how to balance blood sugar, increase progesterone naturally, understand the root cause of estrogen dominance, irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, hormonal acne, post birth-control syndrome, and conceive naturally. We use a pro-metabolic, whole food, root cause approach to functional women's health and focus on truly holistic health and mind-body connection.If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too! Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, Found My Fitness with Rhonda Patrick, Just Ingredients Podcast, Wellness Mama, The Dr Josh Axe Show, Are You Menstrual Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Freely Rooted Podcast with Kori Meloy, Simple Farmhouse Life with Lisa Bass
You'll lose weight on a GLP-1. The real question? Will you keep it off. In this episode, I'm breaking down why I'm seeing an influx of clients coming to me on GLP-1s or wanting to get off them, how GLP-1s affect inflammation, PCOS, and metabolism, and the critical habits you must build while on them. From protein to hormones to baseline metabolism—this is what actually determines your long-term success if taking GLP-1s isn't your forever.Whether you're on a GLP-1, considering it, or just working on your health, this episode is your guide to long-term success because I'm sharing EXACT strategies I use with clients. You do not want to miss it!If you are ready to transform your health, let's chat 1:1 Coaching! Fill out the application below —> 1:1 Health Coaching ApplicationDo you feel like your metabolism has slowed down? Get my FREE course to truly learn how your body works so you can see long term success. Enroll here.Shop my FAVE things HEREWant access to exclusive content? Sign up for my newsletter here!
If you're looking to quit birth control, you'll want to make sure to do so safely. Does it matter when you stop taking it? What do you need to do before hand? What can you expect when you stop taking the birth control pill? We invited OBGYN, Dr. Monica Minjeur, to share her top tips, including her key advice: make a plan before you quit. She walks through making a solid plan and what to consider. NOTE: This episode is appropriate for all audiences.GUEST BIO: Dr. Monica Minjeur is the founder and CEO of Radiant Clinic in Cedar Rapids, IA and also provides telehealth services to multiple different states across the USA. The mission of Radiant Clinic is to restore natural menstrual cycles to improve health and promote fertility. Dr. Minjeur is also the host of “Cycle Wisdom” podcast. As a board-certified family medicine physician, she specializes in testing and treatment for irregular or painful periods, PCOS, recurrent miscarriages, infertility, postpartum depression, PMS/PMDD and other gynecological conditions. She is a member of the International Institute of Restorative Reproductive Medicine and has completed additional medical training in NeoFertility, NaPro Technology, and FEMM Medical Management.Connect with Dr. Monica Minjeur:Instagram: @radiantclinic_ Website: radiantclinic.com Facebook: Radiant Clinic Podcast: “Cycle Wisdom” Email: hello@radiantclinic.comSend us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...
Join Trish in this enlightening episode as she chats with Dr. Kay Waud, a seasoned reproductive endocrinologist specializing in PCOS and fertility outcomes. They discuss the complexities of polycystic ovarian syndrome, from its ancient history to modern-day diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Kay shares invaluable insights about symptoms, diagnosis, and the promising treatment options available for women with PCOS. Trish and Dr. Kay also discuss the emotional challenges and offer a hopeful perspective for those looking to conceive. If you or someone you know is dealing with PCOS, this episode is a must-listen for empowering information and encouragement.More from Dr. Kay Waud:Visit HavingBabies.com Join the Calm Mama Membership: labornursemama.com/cmsLeave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!Helpful Timestamps:00:25 Dr. Kay's Background and PCOS Overview01:13 Personal Story and PCOS Diagnosis02:23 Understanding PCOS Symptoms and Misconceptions14:31 PCOS and Insulin Resistance18:26 Birth Control as a Treatment Option19:06 Long-Term Health Risks of PCOS23:25 Hopeful Treatments for PCOS26:55 Encouraging News for PCOS Patients30:28 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsJoin the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.
Send us a textI'm Bridget Walton, a Women's Hormone Coach helping ambitious women ages 25-40 naturally restore hormone balance, fix irregular periods, feel confident in their fertility, and resolve gut health issues without restrictive dieting.If you struggle with missing periods, PCOS symptoms, bloating, or unpredictable cycles, this women's health podcast will teach you how to support your hormones through strategic nutrition and lifestyle changes that actually fit your busy life.On I'm Hormonal, you'll discover natural solutions for period problems, learn how gut health impacts your hormones, and get practical hormone balance tips from a functional nutrition perspective - no more guessing what your body needs.This episode walks you through what short menstrual cycles (25 days or less) and short periods (2 days or less) could be indicating about your hormone levels. You'll learn what's the most important question to find an answer to: are you actually ovulating? And you'll learn two methods to get more clarity on that answer so you can make the best next step to restore balance to your hormones.
Allan is joined by his business partner, Mat Rogers, for a powerful deep dive into what Mat calls the second digital marketing renaissance. They break down how AI is completely changing the way pest control companies are found online, why websites built before 2025 are already out of date, and what PCOs can do right now to stay ahead of the curve.Mat shares the story of a brand-new client who launched into a market with zero presence — and generated leads within six hours of launching their AI-optimized site. They discuss what it means to build a website that “speaks” to Google's AI (Gemini), how to structure content for EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust), and practical steps for pest control owners who don't want to be left behind.If you're serious about scaling your company and dominating your market, this is a must-listen episode packed with real data, proven strategies, and next steps you can take today.
For years, women have been told that birth control or IVF are the only solutions to reproductive issues. Dr. Naomi Whitaker knows that's not the full story. Through Restorative Reproductive Medicine, she helps women identify the deeper health imbalances that fuel infertility, endometriosis, PCOS, and hormones, and shows how healing the body's natural rhythms can change everything. In this episode, Dr. Whitaker reveals why standard lab ranges are often misleading, how cycle charting can act like a “health report card,” and why bioidentical hormone support is a game changer for energy, mood, and long-term vitality. She also shares her perspective on endometriosis surgery, PCOS subtypes, and the future of reproductive care. If you are tired of one size fits all advice and want science based, patient focused solutions that aim to fix root causes, this conversation gives straightforward clarity and practical next steps.Chapters:00:05:22 - Introduction to Restorative Reproductive Medicine00:08:14 - The evolution of medicine and limitations of traditional research00:17:24 - Core principles of Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM)00:19:36 - Challenging the concept of "incessant ovulation" as a cancer risk00:25:27 - Importance of thorough patient intake and cycle charting in RRM00:33:19 - Practical tips for Creighton Model cycle charting00:45:27 - The role and importance of bioidentical progesterone in women's health00:59:05 - Reversing high FSH with DHEA for ovarian longevity01:10:27 - Comprehensive insulin resistance testing and management strategies01:43:22 - Surgical options and novel treatments for PCOS01:55:53 - Adhesion prevention and delicate surgical techniques in pelvic reconstruction02:19:57 - Understanding endometriosis in DetailGuest's socials + websiteInstagram: @napro_fertility_surgeonWebsite: https://bio.site/napro_fertility_surgeon Kayla's social + website:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevityTwitter: https://x.com/femalelongevity Website: https://www.kaylabarnes.com/Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com/Become a Member of Kayla's Female Longevity Membership: https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member
Did you know that this missing nutrient could be silently blocking both you and your partner from getting pregnant?If you've been trying to conceive without success, omega-3s might be the overlooked factor. This episode reveals why an omega imbalance matters and how it could be affecting your egg quality, hormone balance, sperm health, and implantation.In this episode, you'll...-Learn exactly how omega-3s support egg quality, sperm motility, and DNA integrity.-Discover the best food and supplement sources to fuel your fertility naturally.-Understand the balance between omega-3s and omega-6s and how to optimize it for conception.Press play now to uncover how omega-3s can become a powerful building block for your fertility journey.
Have you ever been told you have PCOS but left with more questions than answers? You're not alone... If you've felt stuck or overwhelmed by PCOS, it's important to understand that there are multiple subtypes and by uncovering your specific type, you can finally take the right steps for your unique body. So on today's show, I want to bring clarity to what's really going on, why a “one-size-fits-all” approach rarely works, and what you can do instead. Tune into today's Cabral Concept 3519 as we go over the PCOS breakthrough healing protocols and help you discover which type you may have, and the first steps you can take to begin rebalancing. Enjoy the show and let me know your thoughts. - - - For Everything Mentioned In Today's Show: StephenCabral.com/3519 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!
On today's episode, WHOOP SVP of Research, Algorithms, and Data, Emily Capodilupo, sits down with Dr. Natalie Crawford, OB-GYN and leading voice in fertility education, to unpack the science behind fertility, the menstrual cycle, contraception, and long-term health.Together, Emily and Dr. Crawford explore why fertility is more than just about having kids—it's a vital sign for overall wellbeing. Dr. Crawford breaks down how hormonal birth control works, the misconceptions it often carries, and why advocating for yourself in the doctor's office is so important. Emily and Dr. Crawford dive into endometriosis, PCOS, and other common, but often overlooked, hormonal conditions that impact fertility. Whether you're actively thinking about family planning or simply want to better understand your body, this episode is full of empowering insights to help you take control of your hormonal health.(00:45) WHOOP Podcast Rapid Fire Q's(01:46) When Does Fertility Matter?(03:56) Birth Control, Understanding Your Cycle, and Impact on Fertility(06:23) How Does Hormonal Birth Control Actually Work?(12:58) Advocating For Your Health: How To Talk To Your Doctor(19:26) Birth Control and Hormonal Health(24:19) Preventative Fertility Care: How Women Can Better Understand Their Body(39:41) Cycle Tracking: Hormonal Health Indicators To Look For(45:42) Endometriosis and Infertility Signs and Symptoms(59:11) Irregular Cycles and PCOS: The Rotterdam Criteria(01:05:02) Symptoms of PCOS and What To Look For(01:09:54) Lifestyle Changes To Aid Hormonal Health(01:12:55) Importance of Exercise and Movement (01:16:31) Your Fertility Isn't Just Luck: What Needs To Change In Fertility TreatmentsDr. Natalie Crawford:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeLinkedInTikTokFacebookSupport the showFollow WHOOP: www.whoop.com Trial WHOOP for Free Instagram TikTok YouTube X Facebook LinkedIn Follow Will Ahmed: Instagram X LinkedIn Follow Kristen Holmes: Instagram LinkedIn Follow Emily Capodilupo: LinkedIn
Hello and welcome back to The Fertility Podcast. I'm Natalie, your host, and if you're new here, I went through fertility treatment over a decade ago. I have a 10-year-old son and a background in broadcasting, and I started this podcast before podcasting was even really a thing. Today, I'm proud to share that The Fertility Podcast is now the official podcast of Fertility Action, the UK's new charity for fertility awareness and support.In this episode, I'm joined by Ro Huntriss, an award-winning fertility dietitian and founder of Fertility Dietitian UK. If you're listening in real time, it's September, which means it's PCOS Awareness Month, and that's exactly what we're focusing on today. Ro breaks down what PCOS is, how nutrition and lifestyle changes can make a real difference, and how to advocate for yourself, especially when you feel dismissed or misunderstood by healthcare professionals.What we talk about● Why conversations about fertility nutrition are finally becoming more mainstream● What PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) actually means and how it shows up differently for everyone● The emotional impact of being dismissed by your GP and how to push for answers● How to identify insulin resistance and support your body through nutrition● The truth about carbs – why reducing carbohydrate load and choosing low glycaemic index foods helps● What a balanced, PCOS-friendly breakfast, lunch, and dinner can actually look like● The role of resistance training, HIIT, sleep, and stress in PCOS management● Understanding supplements like inositol and when they might help● How to advocate for yourself with your GP using NHS resources and tracking symptoms● Misconceptions about fertility and PCOS – and why hope and progress are still possible● Managing the mental load of trying to conceive while navigating PCOS● Why support, education, and specialist care can change the journey completelyLet's keep the conversation goingFollow Ro on Instagram for practical fertility nutrition advice: @fertility.dietitian.ukLearn more about PCOS at NHS Choices and Fertility Nutrition CentreRevisit our previous episodes with Ro and with PCOS specialist Kate DaviesSign up for support groups and advocacy through Fertility ActionExplore more about the Fertility Matters at Work initiative and join us for our 5 November eventEnter your organisation in the Fertility Friendly Employer Awards – deadline extended until Friday 26, SeptemberFinal thoughtsIf you've just received a PCOS diagnosis, give yourself a moment. It's okay to feel upset or overwhelmed. When you're ready, know that there are lifestyle strategies that can help you feel better and regain a sense of control. Nutrition, sleep, movement, and self-compassion all play a role. And you're not alone. Support is out there. Please take a moment to subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you're listening. It really helps more people find these conversations and lets us know you're finding them helpful. Thanks as always for being here. Unti next time.
#285: Ever wonder if your pain, bloating, or fatigue might be more than just PCOS? In this empowering episode, we sit down with integrative medicine expert and bestselling author Dr. Taz Bhatia to untangle the confusion between PCOS and endometriosis—two conditions that are often mistaken for each other but need very different approaches to healing. We chat all about the real differences between PCOS and endo, how to know if you might have both, why diagnosis can be so frustrating, and what tests and lifestyle shifts can actually help you start feeling better. This episode is for you if: - You're feeling confused about whether your symptoms are PCOS, endometriosis, or both - You've been dismissed by doctors and want to advocate for better care - You want to learn natural ways to manage endometriosis and hormonal imbalances To work with Dr. Taz and get access to more resources, tools, and support for managing PCOS or endometriosis, visit her website at www.doctortaz.com. Download The Cysterhood App, the largest community of PCOS women learning to lose weight & reverse symptoms with daily meals & workouts designed for PCOS! What's Your PCOS Type? - Take the quiz! Metabolism Plus - Our PCOS Supplement Line! Ovasitol: 15% OFF CONNECT WITH US: Website Instagram Tik Tok YouTube Pinterest While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (bit.ly/PCOSPrivacyPolicy) Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting our channel so we can continue to provide you with free content each week!
We're diving into sperm health today! I'm breaking down how caffeine, coffee, and energy drinks affect sperm quality, why “normal” sperm analysis results aren't always optimal, and simple steps men can take to boost fertility. Share this with your partner—because it takes TWO!Chapters in this episode: 00:00 Understanding Male Fertility and Its Impact02:50 The Role of Caffeine in Fertility06:05 Sperm Quality: Myths and Facts08:55 Optimizing Male Fertility for Conception12:07 The Importance of Male Support in the Fertility JourneyWays to work with Corinne: Join the Mind Your Hormones Method, HERE! (Use code PODCAST for 10% off!!)Mentioned in this episode: Shop Needed products here! (Use code CORINNEANGELICA)Supplement Masterclass with protocols for men and women (TTC, pregnancy, postpartum, PCOS, endo & more!) Grab access here! Purity Coffee (Use code CORINNE) MudWtr (use code CORINNEANGELICA) 514. Optimal vs. normal sperm levels- your partner could be the reason you're not getting pregnantFREE TRAINING! How to build a hormone-healthy, blood-sugar-balancing meal! (this is pulled directly from the 1st module of the Mind Your Hormones Method!) Access this free training, HERE!Join the Mind Your Hormones Community to connect more with me & other members of this community!Come hang out with me on Instagram: @corinneangealicaOr on TikTok: @corinneangelicaEmail Fam: Click here to get weekly emails from meMind Your Hormones Instagram: @mindyourhormones.podcast Disclaimer: always consult your doctor before taking any supplementation. This podcast is intended for educational purposes only, not to diagnose or treat any conditions.
In today's episode, I dive into the rising phenomenon of so-called “Ozempic pregnancies” and uncover what's really happening behind the headlines. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy were originally developed for type 2 diabetes, but are now being used by many women with PCOS, insulin resistance, or weight challenges to support fertility. I'll break down how these medications work, why they may help some women conceive, and the important risks and limitations you need to know. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, we'll explore why simply taking a drug isn't enough to address the root cause, and how digestive health, spleen qi, and lifestyle habits hold the key to lasting fertility and hormone balance. I'll also share practical strategies you can start today, like mindful eating, warming your digestive fire, and syncing with your circadian rhythm, that can naturally support your fertility journey. Key Takeaways: GLP-1 medications like Ozempic can temporarily improve insulin sensitivity but don't resolve the root causes of infertility. Insulin resistance impacts ovulation, egg quality, and hormone balance, especially in women with PCOS. TCM approaches fertility by strengthening the digestive system and restoring balance, rather than suppressing symptoms. Mindful eating, warm digestion-supporting practices, and aligning meals with the body's circadian rhythm are powerful fertility boosters. Sustainable lifestyle changes are essential for lasting fertility health, beyond short-term medication use. Links mentioned:
Mark 2:27 NIV "Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." *DISCLAIMER* This episode contains adult themes and is not intended for little ears. *Transcription Below* Emily MacLeod-Wolfe is a Nurse Practitioner wellness professional with a passion for helping individuals achieve their health goals in a holistic and practical way. With 5 years of invaluable experience in the field, Emily has developed a deep understanding of the importance of a balanced lifestyle for a vibrant life. Emily firmly believes in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms, and takes a comprehensive approach to healthcare. She learned these from her own personal experience of dealing with Hashitmotos thyroiditis and eczema and found the root causes to treat them naturally. She is passionate to help others with the personal knowledge and health freedom she has received. By combining her medical expertise with a focus on nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness, she empowers her clients to take control of their health and make sustainable lifestyle changes. With a warm and empathetic demeanor, Emily creates a safe and supportive environment where clients feel heard and understood. She works closely with each individual to develop personalized wellness plans that are tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. Whether you're looking to improve your physical fitness, manage stress, or simply lead a healthier life, Emily is dedicated to guiding, encouraging & supporting you on your wellness journey. Emily's Website Questions and Topics We Cover: Will you give us an intro lesson for hormones 101? Is it normal to have really painful and heavy menstrual cycles or is that an indicator that something is not right? What are the best practices you recommend for women to support healthy hormones and healthy adrenals in their body all month long? Thank you to our sponsor: Leman Property Management Episode Mentioned Today: 256 Gut Health, Allergies, Inflammation and Proactive Solutions with Emily Macleod-Wolfe Other Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce Podcast: 81. Sacred Rest with Doctor, Wife, Mother, and Author, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith 167. Pursuing Health in Four Key Areas with Debra Fileta 205. Power of Movement with Alisa Keeton (Revelation Wellness) Hormones and Simple Changes to Feel SO Much Better with Functional Medicine Expert, Dr. Jill Carnahan Practicing Sabbath with Shireen Eldridge Special Patreon Re-release: Out of the Box Stress Relievers to Apply Today with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith 215 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part One with Dr. Kris Christiansen 216 Enriching Women's Sexual Function, Part Two with Dr. Kris Christiansen 217 Tween/Teen Females: How to Navigate Changes during Puberty with Dr. Jennifer Degler Connect with us through The Savvy Sauce Website Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:12) Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:29) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message. Leman Property Management Company has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com, or connect with them on Facebook. Emily McLeod-Wolfe is my returning guest for today. Last time we talked about everything related to gut health, and I'll make sure to link that episode in the show notes for today's episode. I would highly recommend that you begin there, because there's a lot of overlap with solutions, as then we transition today into our topic about female hormones, the menstruation cycle, and how to make everything better, and even end up grateful to God for our female cycle. Here's our chat. Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Emily. Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (1:30 - 1:34) Thank you so much for having me again, Laura. I'm so excited about this section. Laura Dugger: (1:35 - 1:40) Yes, can you just give us a brief reminder of the work that you get to do before we dive in? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (1:41 - 2:08) Yes. I am a holistic nurse practitioner. I was trained traditionally in traditional medicine at Vanderbilt, and then I went on to do ... Well, from my own personal health journey, I knew I wanted to do more holistic medicine, so I went on and did functional medicine, natural medicine training, so, now I have a practice called Pure Integrative Health, which is to blend the best of both worlds, and to basically to root cause medicine. Laura Dugger: (2:08 - 2:19) Well, and we covered all things gut health last time, but I've been so excited to interview you about hormones, so as best as you can, could you just give us Hormones 101? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (2:21 - 3:02) Yeah, yeah. And first of all, if you didn't hear the last episode, I would recommend go back to listen to the previous one, because the gut health is the precursor that builds to the hormones, and I don't recommend even trying to address the hormones unless you've got some of the gut healing going, because they are so interconnected, even in the way in which we don't want to be recycling hormones, so constipation is causing an excess hormone recycling that should not be happening. So, again, healthy gut health is going to help the hormones, but yes. So, for women, or for men, or what hormones would you like me to describe? Laura Dugger: (3:02 - 3:11) I think we're just going to focus on women's hormones today, because I want to get more into our cycle as well. Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (3:11 - 10:59) Oh, great question. Yeah. Okay. So, for women, we have the sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, not nearly as high levels of testosterone as men, they can be highly driven off of it. If the testosterone is too high in women, then we look at things like PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, excess androgen, so it could be like abnormal hair growth, extra oily skin, acne, those are some signs of like maybe high testosterone, but also could be from high cortisol, which is the stress hormone that's made in the adrenal glands that sits on top of the kidneys and produces stress hormone. Now we'll explain how the adrenals and the stress hormone cortisol affect some of the sex hormones, but those ones, and then there's one called DHEA, and that is the precursor hormone to testosterone. So, we've got estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, pregnenolone is like the master hormone in which all the hormones can be made out of, and the cholesterol actually funnels into pregnenolone. So, our cholesterol is necessary, we do need good cholesterol to help all the hormones, so, yes, that's why good healthy fats and things like that are really helpful, like olive oil and avocado and baking, broiling and grilling things and all of that, the cholesterol, pregnenolone master hormone, we got DHEA, which is the precursor to testosterone. And then testosterone can be the hormone that converts into estrogen, so, they're all connected, they're all very connected, so excess estrogen could be from too high testosterone. Anyhow, they're all over the place sometimes for women, and they do fluctuate just even within 28 days, so I'll kind of explain that, and then we can kind of go from there. So, we talked about cortisol, there's a lot of other hormones, but I was just telling you about the sex hormones, so that's necessary to understand a cycle of a woman. So, when we start cycling, and then we have a couple different phases, we have the follicular phase, which is the first, day one is the day you start bleeding, and then day 14 is typically the day that we ovulate. So, day one, we have, estrogen starts to increase, we've kind of bottomed out, usually on our cycle, most women feel a little bit lower energy, I mean, we're bleeding and menstruating, and so some women lose a lot of iron, and ferritin levels can go down a lot during that, so we want to eat very iron-rich, lots of leafy greens, vegetables, good healthy fats to support. I kind of describe each week of our cycle, almost like a season, it's like winter is the first seven days of the bleeding, and then we've got spring, but then we start to feel really good, and everything is good, and then we've got summer, and we're doing great, and then we've got fall, and so we can kind of eat accordingly to, almost seasonally for the hormones, too. So, we've got the first seven days, lower energy, because estrogen and progesterone are pretty bottomed out, but they start to gradually increase. Now estrogen really starts to increase, and then right around day 14, it comes down, and then progesterone takes over, and so right there is the ovulation, and that's where the ovaries will release an egg, and has the opportunity to be fertilized or not in the middle of the month, and it all very much interconnects with our moods and how we're feeling, and people have heard of PMS, premenstrual syndrome, you felt the hormonal changes and all of that, but there's definitely ways that we can kind of mitigate the extreme highs and lows, like some people deal with depression-like feelings and really big mood swings, we can work on leveling those things more so that they're not so drastic through certain things I'll describe, but anyhow, we've got follicular phase, estrogen, we've got the luteal phase, we've got ovulation, then we've got the luteal phase is where progesterone is really increasing and decreasing, and that's days 14 to 28 of the cycle. So, we've got first phase and second phase. And two, we can break it down even more to four weeks. We've got like the first week, lower energy, but that's like, you can even connect it to emotions and how, like, maximizing efficiency for work based off of your cycle. Because even, you're not supposed to make a really big life decision during the menstruating week, because that's just low energy and all that. But it's a good time to dream, brainstorm, hopefully you're taking time to rest, take care of your body, have some salt baths, rich in magnesium, eating those good foods, giving nutrients, if your body needs, you get your iron levels checked and your ferritin levels. Your practitioner might give you an iron supplement that you're kind of taking in conjunction, depending on that. And so, we're resting and resetting and having time to journal, dream, and brainstorm things for the, you know, hopefully the next and then the next week, the estrogen is coming up a lot, and starting to feel back to normal self, usually really good and feeling that surge, the mood starts to get better, it's a great time to start to do like some good heavy weightlifting and exercise can even be based around cycle two. For menstruation, you're probably going to want to do a little bit more lower impact and walking and stretching, Pilates, things like that. And then a bar and all that and then weightlifting that second week is great. And then also, that's around ovulation is that's where we feel more loving and affectionate and different things and the way that God designed our body literally to want to be with a man around that time. And that's procreation time. And then right around the after ovulation, that third week, and fourth week can start to get challenging because that's where well, sometimes that third week is a good, sweet spot. But the fourth week, the week before the period. Yeah, like that day is 19 to 21. And then like after that, that's where some mood swings can start to happen. And the estrogens come down a lot progesterone depending on where the bodies at. Most women are deficient in progesterone overall. So, if it's already decreasing, it was a peak in the third week, and then it's decreasing, going towards menstruating again, then it's a recipe for not sleeping great mood swings, irritability, bloating, breast tenderness, that can be estrogen imbalances, excess estrogen, low progesterone like symptoms. And then yeah, that was a lot. Laura Dugger: (10:59 - 11:20) That's so helpful. I want right before we move on, because I want to hear how to mitigate some of those symptoms. But first, you mentioned eating seasonally, even each week. So, is that what you're saying that we eat more of those winter foods, that day one to seven? And could you give an example for each phase? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (11:21 - 14:19) One example, Sweet potato, you know, like the foods that you would find more in the winter. So, you're kind of doing like sweet potatoes. And like I said, the fatty food, like a healthy fat Mediterranean, definitely right around the cycle. Body craves, if you find yourself craving chocolate, it's probably because your body's deficient in magnesium. Most of us are. So, some women will use it as an excuse to have chocolate, guilty as charged. But actually, it's magnesium deficiency, but chocolate has magnesium in it. So, if you get a rich, like dark chocolate, if you're not sensitive to chocolate, and you can do one that's a really dark and, and doesn't have a ton of sugar, then that could be a good source. But just foods rich in magnesium, dark leafy greens, avocados, nuts, and really checking levels and magnesium, Epsom salt baths, things like that, that's going to be great. You're going to want to do that also kind of the week before the period to in the fall like food. So, you know, like the, the squashes, and you kind of like the baked vegetables and, and protein and, and then like in the spring, like the week after, then maybe you're doing more like, you know, berries and, and, you know, things that you would have in this in the springtime and summer, different types of meat that you would like lean chicken and turkey. Then harvest like food for that week before the period to give you good. There's something called seed cycling. So, the pumpkin seeds and well, sesame and sunflower are for days 14 to 28 of the cycle. So, the second half that gives the body the micronutrients needed to help support progesterone and then pumpkin and wow, I'm really blanking probably because I need to eat lunch. But we can come back well it's going to come back to me the pumpkin and the is it chia? No, flax. Flax. Okay, flax seed. Pumpkin and flax for days one, the day we start bleeding to ovulation day 14, and then sesame and sunflower days 14 to 28. So, like adding those into smoothies, handful of nuts, nut butter, sunflower seed butter, you know, those kinds of things. Those that can also kind of support the cycle naturally and give the body the nutrients that are needed to support the body like that. Laura Dugger: (14:19 - 14:37) Okay. I have heard about seed cycling before. It kind of ties into the other question I had. I wondered if it's normal to have really painful and heavy menstrual cycles? Or is that an indicator that something's not right and maybe we need to bring in something like seed cycling? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (14:39 - 18:15) Yes, painful, heavy menstruation. That's not normal. I personally have dealt with them. So, I understand they're awful and they can leave some women, you know, nauseous, throwing up, vomiting, breast tenderness. Now, that signs of excess estrogen that likely needs to be detoxed. And I would recommend going to a holistic practitioner and asking them to do a saliva hormone testing panel. Actually, we have no, I don't have it with me right now. But it's basically these vials of saliva that you spit right when you wake up, lunchtime, dinnertime, bedtime, and it'll check sex hormones between days 19 to 21 of the cycle. We're checking peak progesterone time so we can look at the most accurate depiction if you're cycling. It's still possible to do it if you're postmenopausal and want to do the test, we could do it at any time. But it's a saliva hormone test is the most accurate way to measure hormones and see exactly what's going on. We can check blood work, but it's just like a little shot in the dark. But the saliva is the more accurate picture of what's going on. So, I would recommend if you're having really heavy menstrual cycle, yes, you can try the seed cycling to start. That's harmless to try. But there might be more things going on that really need to be seen by a practitioner to help either support what hormone is low or detox another hormone that is excess. Now, we are overall in our society getting a lot of excess estrogen. And that can be through plastics, we get a lot like trying to switch even just a bottle as I'm drinking through. We don't want to try and drink as much plastic out of plastic, we want to do like glass water bottles. And like stainless steel water bottles better. Unless you're in a crazy rush and you forgot to bring one is better drink some water than no water. We've got to stay hydrated to have healthy bowel movements to have energy to our cells, all of that good water filter that filters out fluoride, chlorine, those things will affect the thyroid very much so. Thyroid hormones affect sex hormones and etc. So, we want to get a good filter for the water so that we don't have to deal with the after effects of thyroid imbalances or if you're already dealing with thyroid imbalances. I understand because I've dealt with that myself. And so, we want to remove as many stressors because the thyroid needs iodine just to function. And if we're getting fluoride and chlorine, those particular elements compete for iodine in the body. So, we got to get those out as best as we can get rid of excess estrogen. Through plastics, chemicals and detergents, like all of the chemicals that are exposed in detergents and cleaning products. As much as we can clean those up as well, it's going to be very, very helpful for thyroid, very helpful for sex hormones. Laura Dugger: (18:16 - 18:26) Oh, that's interesting. So, those I don't even think of that are like store brand names for detergents that those could be endocrine disruptors, you're saying? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (18:26 - 18:45) That's great. Yes. So, endocrine disruptors are things that are going to cause imbalances to the thyroid, the sex hormones, or any of their other hormones in the body. Yes. So, we definitely want to try and stay away from those things. Laura Dugger: (18:46 - 21:10) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. With over 1,700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton, Washington, and Canton, and with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Company. They have townhomes, duplexes, studios, and garden-style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. 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They're also hiring in their maintenance department, so we invite you to find out why so many people have chosen to make a career with them. Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at leasing at lemanprops.com. You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. That's L-E-M-A-N properties dot com. Check them out and find your place to call home today. Okay, so I'm even thinking, so females my age or friends or older or younger women listening, even we have four daughters and so as they grow and mature, all of this is helpful. I'm assuming to start at a young age with getting rid of some of those toxins or not microwaving food on plastic plates, but then also you said detox. Is that through hydration or did you mean something else with detoxification? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (21:11 - 22:47) I can't get into this unless I saw somebody as a patient because I can't give across the board recommendation for this, but I will say because there are certain supplements and things that might be needed. Say there's excess estrogen in the body, there might be supplements that that person needs to help bring down those excess estrogen levels aside from food. But one thing that I do know that you can eat that helps overall is the more that you love and detoxify the liver. It's what has to process all the hormones. One thing is broccoli sprouts, not broccoli, broccoli sprouts. So, you know, micro green sprouts, those ones, the broccoli sprouts are incredible at helping getting rid of the bad kinds of estrogen, detox those out of the body. So, that's really good. Cruciferous vegetables, cooking your cruciferous vegetables though, because if you eat them raw, it can affect the thyroid negatively. So, it's best to, it could cause goiters and so we don't want that. It can be goitrogenic essentially. So, we don't want that, but you could bake. I mean, you could cook cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, etc., those cruciferous vegetables, spinach, all that. And those are great also for that. So, that can help. The best one is the broccoli sprouts. Yes. And then getting saliva hormone testing done and seeing exactly where your body is at. Laura Dugger: (22:48 - 22:53) Okay. Cause I'm wondering then could that even be a mineral deficiency when you're talking about supplements? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (22:55 - 27:11) Yeah, there definitely can be mineral deficiencies. It just, like I said, I've seen a lot of different variations, right? Excess estrogen, low progesterone, low menopausal, low everything. Once the hormones bottom out, then they're kind of low across the board and the body might need bioidentical hormones to have extra support. It's cardioprotective, protective against cancers, protective for the bones, different things like that. Bioidentical is different than synthetic. Synthetic hormones is like birth control, but synthetic hormones can, go see the last episode when we talk about leaky gut intestinal permeability, but the birth control can actually cause intestinal permeability too. So, that's a problem. Leaky gut can be from birth control, the synthetic birth control, and then the body's not even able to ovulate. It's not able to release. There's just like the, the way that God designed it is we're actually, if you allow it to look at it as like a cleansing and a purging every month, that spiritually the Lord, if we allow the Lord, we don't have to dread it. It's so common in society to dread a period. Or, oh my gosh, again, here we go. But how beautiful it's a celebration of the ability to give life. It's an opportunity to take some time to rest. It's a beautiful time to take some time to sit back and reflect, especially that week before the period. Also try and not make big decisions the week before because the progesterone's bottomed out causing mood swings and then making decisions is going to be a lot more stressful and can lighten load and work a little bit that week before, a few days prior to your period. That would be very helpful. Stress levels really impact the cycle and also just trying to prepare the body for going through perimenopause and then menopause. Wherever you're at in your health journey, life journey, it's, it's just so good to educate younger women to be really taking care of their adrenals, which is this, you know, the organ that produces stress hormone because high cortisol, which is the stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands, zaps progesterone and most women, that's probably why I see a lot of progesterone dipping so quickly. You need progesterone to have a healthy pregnancy. So, we're seeing a lot more miscarriages and infertility problems could be from low progesterone. And, um, and then that will eventually bottom out with menopause because the ovaries are not producing it anymore. And the only place that we have progesterone left in reserves is in the adrenal glands. And so, if the stress has been going on for so long, then even the reserves of the backups of the backups are gone, the progesterone, which is why I see a lot of women going through a more extreme version of menopause than with the night sweats and the hot flashes and all those things that maybe didn't even have to happen. Because, uh, if we take care of it on, on the earlier end of managing stress levels, going to bed at good times, getting full amount of sleep, women need eight to 10 hours of sleep. We will, I will just go ahead and say that because our hormones are very independent, dependent on our adrenal function. Men, they don't really have to rely on their adrenals as much as their other, other sex hormones and locations. Um, so they don't have to deal with it as much as the women. So, we're constantly tied to a function of our adrenals really affects our sex hormones like crazy. And we're not getting the right amount of sleep. Then we're going to have high stress levels, high cortisol, and then the high cortisol is where it is at the sex hormones. So, we need those reserves to be replenished and the, and the cortisol levels drop and melatonin kicks in and we're going to sleep so much better and sleep so much deeper. Laura Dugger: (27:12 - 27:36) Wow. This is fascinating. And I love how you're even celebrating the cycle and how God created it because I'm forgetting one of them, but I heard that menstrual blood was tested, and they saw that it was detoxifying plastics and pesticides. And there was one other thing that the body was using to eliminate. And so that's a reminder just to be grateful for that too. Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (27:36 - 29:08) And, uh, the birth control pill, it's a temporary fix. There are alternative forms of birth control that do not have the synthetic hormones that are good, good options, you know, and the synthetic hormones though, I've firsthand seen it with patients negatively impact the thyroid. And a lot of them have had to end up on thyroid medication just simply due to years and years of birth control and it impacting the thyroid and the cellular health as well as the lining of the gut and a lot of other side effects that I'm not a weight gain, different things. And then the body not even being able to menstruate and fully excrete things. And, um, or even, you know, the, the cycle is an indicator, I think for women very much of like your monthly health, like how, how am I doing? Like if I'm having a really bad period, um, likely it was something that I had done this past month. Okay. Did I eat right? Was I sleeping? Was I incredibly stressed? Usually, you can trace it back to that. Now there's obviously other cases where, you know, PCOS and ruptured ovaries and different things like that, or ruptured cysts on the ovaries, sorry. Um, then that can contribute to longer term diseases, but on a, it's almost like a litmus test to see how, how our bodies are doing. Laura Dugger: (29:09 - 29:27) I like that perspective. And Emily, you're so great at giving proactive tips and I love easy wins. So, what are some of the best practices that you recommend for women to support healthy hormones and healthy adrenals in our bodies all month long? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (29:30 - 33:32) One is glucose management. So, protein, I cannot emphasize it enough protein sources, um, you know, good, healthy, as much as you can, grass fed organic meat. So, you're not getting the synthetic hormones from them because who knows what they're being fed and what they're being pumped with, but those sources, um, protein, other sources of protein, um, that's going to give you up to 15 hours of energy. So, that is incredible. As far as eating for energy, I will say, if you can do that, that's, um, it's incredible. It's a game changer, eating for energy, protein, vegetables give us up to five to six hours of energy. And then carbs, carbs give us, um, like if we had a piece of fruit, it only lasts in the system for 15 minutes. Or, um, potato chips, something like that, 15 minutes, that's not very long. And then the body says, ”I'm hungry again.” Then we ended up overeating because we just had the carbs and we're not full. And so, that's why pairing the meals around the protein and then the fiber and then a healthy fat. Or like the protein, the fiber and a complex carb (sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa). Things like that is going to stabilize the blood sugar. So, there will not be cortisol stress levels spiked when we don't eat for too long, then it can cause the body to go into, um, stress overload. And there's four different stages of adrenal fatigue, cortisol, and that can affect the body very much. So, spikes and crashes in glucose spike and crash the cortisol and then spikes and cortisol will steal your progesterone and then cause imbalances because progesterone keeps the estrogen in check. So, then you got estrogen and progesterone imbalances. Then there's DHEA, which is the other hormone that's made in the adrenals. So, sometimes DHEA, DHEA is incredible for building muscle, keeping muscle concentration, memory. It's, wonderful at libido, all sorts of those things. Now, DHEA just decreases as we age. It's the precursor to testosterone as well, but it's also made in the adrenal glands. And so, the more we can regulate cortisol and adrenal, sometimes high levels of stress, we've got to go back and think. Okay, um, we might not even feel stress, but if there's been physical abuse, emotional abuse, or sexual trauma, those are serious things that the body will hold on to. And unless you have gone to process, I recommend getting a Christian counselor and process those things because the body can literally still be holding onto it 20, 30, even 40 years, if it's not been let go and given to Jesus. And, um, so that is also a huge, we can't dismiss that or just try and fix the physical. If there's been some stressors and the body has just been in survival mode and has to just keep going, then maybe it only knows how to live off of high cortisol stress reserves to just keep going. It doesn't, but if you have a hard time falling asleep, a hard time unwinding, feel like you're always on the go, those are like adrenal stages one and two high cortisol, but then that eventually will start to plummet. And then it's, um, you know, more difficult time getting out of bed and jumping straight out crash in the afternoon with energy crash after dinner crash before bed, um, or like wired and tired, like wired the brain's wired. The body feels tired, but can't go to sleep. Then further stages waking up between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning could be blood sugar, adrenal issues as well. Laura Dugger: (33:32 - 33:41) Oh, could you speak a little bit more into that? Could be, the blood sugar related to the adrenal issues if you're waking up at that 2:00 to 4:00 AM time? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (33:42 - 34:47) Yes, it can be, the body signaling that the blood sugars drop too low. And then the cortisol has to, it can signal to the cortisol and the adrenals to spike to just keep the body going, survive. And then all of a sudden cortisol is spiking at night, which it should not, it should be done. And melatonin should be happening at night and then cortisol in the daytime. So, if there's a cortisol spike because of a glucose crash, then, um, then we need to support it with, a spoonful of almond butter before bed, a handful of nuts, something, some protein before bed is going to, help someone, you know, in the middle of the night, stabilize the blood sugar. It can be a blood sugar issue with, cause blood sugar and cortisol are interconnected, but also should just check your cortisol levels, get a saliva test. It's that saliva four point, um, test checks for sex hormones and cortisol, or we can. Laura Dugger: (34:47 - 35:06) So. Okay. One more thing with that. So, then the blood sugar dropping that low, is that somebody who's maybe completing their closing, their eating window too early in the day, or they're not getting enough sugar throughout the day. Is that what you're saying with, why would it drop to that level and require cortisol? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (35:08 - 36:51) Great question. It would be, it could be the person's not eating enough throughout the day and the body just doesn't have the right. So, if the person was fasting quite frequently and doing that a lot now, everybody, everyone's body is different. If you have adrenal imbalances, I do not recommend doing fasting because the body is already under stress and then fasting can put extra stress on the body. So then you're like, well, but then they said that if I fast and I should lose weight, and if you're fasting and you're gaining belly fat and you're gaining weight, it's a telltale sign cortisol because high cortisol level, puffy face, um, belly fat, stubborn, you can eat right exercise, try and do everything and it will not leave. That's usually survival mode. Body's trying to self-protect. Um, and so, yeah, so we don't want to be fasting very much if there's cortisol imbalances. Now, if there's not, and if you have your cortisol check, then there's great benefits to doing intermittent fasting and things. And even biblically spiritually, there's incredible benefits to fasting. The Lord knows there's the cells literally repair themselves, regenerate and can eat up cancer cells. If we put our bodies into that ketosis state for good bit, but that is not something I would recommend doing high intensity exercise, or that's going to put a lot of cortisol stress on the body, high impact, um, or skipping a lot of meals. So, that could be why the blood sugar is like dropping in the middle of the night. Laura Dugger: (36:52 - 37:37) I just wanted to let you know, there are now multiple ways to give when you visit TheSavvySauce.com. We now have a donation button on our website and you can find it under the donate page, which is under the tab entitled support. Our mailing address is also provided. If you would prefer to save us the processing fee and send a check that is tax deductible. Either way, you'll be supporting the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and helping us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. Make sure you visit TheSavvySauce.com today. Thanks for your support. Is there anything else that we haven't gotten to discuss yet that you want to make sure we don't miss out on? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (37:38 - 39:15) So what, when do you know if you're in perimenopause versus menopause? And like I said, if you're a woman in your twenties and you're like, that does not apply to me. Actually, it does because it's just, you don't want to get to menopause and have no reserves. Progesterone left because you depleted it from high levels of cortisol over the years. So, lifestyle changes, the protein, smaller, more frequent meals, the consistent bedtime, trying to go to bed before midnight, like 10:00 PM is like a sweet spot. 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM is when the liver detoxes, when cholesterol gets flushed, all these different things. Melatonin window for the body to like fall asleep and stay asleep is between 10 PM and like, there's sometimes it's even earlier. It just depends on the person. And I actually use a little app called Rise. It does a good job kind of helping you track where you're melatonin and when you're awake window, when to cut off eating and when to kind of wear blue light blocking glasses to prevent your body to blue light helps. We set this in the last one, but blue light actually tells your body to stay awake. So, you don't want to be on your screens too late at night, or your body's going to be sending the signals to stay awake when you're trying to wind down. So, using softer lighting, doing candle lit, doing, you know, just mimicking outside when the sun goes down, we should be going down, going down to bed and sleep when the sun wakes up. That's when we should be getting up as well. Laura Dugger: (39:15 - 39:38) So, and getting that morning sunlight that we talked about. So important. And I forgot one quick follow-up question. When you talked about cortisol, too high of cortisol contributing to belly fat, that stubborn or puffy face, what would the solution be? Is it just manage your stress better or what's the takeaway there? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (39:38 - 42:39) The takeaway is yes, there's things you can do glucose wise, blood sugar and food that we've talked about. Lifestyle wise, of course. I mean, a ton of it is we're American society that trophies busyness. And like the Bible literally talks about the importance of rest and the Sabbath and like even humans, we were made on day six, but the first day we were actually doing things, Adam and Eve was day seven, was the day of rest. My dad's a pastor and he actually just gave a sermon on rest and the Sabbath just last week at Harvest Sound. But it was just all about that we were created out of rest. Like we're there to start doing things out of that place of rest. And we just don't take that time. I mean, it's like, okay, we got to go, go, go, got to take care of the kids, got to go do this, go do this. How are you doing? Oh, I'm so busy. How about you? Like, it's almost like a trophy thing to say that, but really like, how about prioritizing that time? And it's so easy, especially as women and mothers to just say, oh, but I just want to take care of everybody else. But like, if you were to have a date with your friend, you wouldn't go overbook it with something else. You would prioritize that. Are you going to go do something for your child? You're going to prioritize that. So, I need you to also take time to prioritize your me time, prioritize the time. It's not selfish. It's necessary because you're going to be a better wife. You're going to be a better mom. You're going to be a better friend. If you take care of the needs, whether that's taking an Epsom salt bath once a week, and that's spending time mourning sunlight or writing a list of gratitude, doing things, write a list of things that bring you joy and just pick two or three of those a day. Like build that in - life's too short. Literally cortisol will kill you. Also, we didn't talk about that, but it's taking minutes off your life. So, life's too short to have cortisol, unnecessary cortisol spikes. So, as much as we can, it's prioritizing that learning the healthy boundaries saying no when needed to, and, not saying yes to everything. So, that is, it's a lot of those lifestyle things. And then, fine tuning it with a health practitioner is great because everybody's spikes and crashes are in different places. Some people have high cortisol. Some people further on into the adrenal fatigue have low cortisol because the body doesn't have any more cortisol to give. And that's a whole other list of symptoms of exhaustion and fatigue. And they might need actually glandular support and different, totally different supplements than someone that's got high cortisol, but they can present similarly as far as stubborn weight, puffiness, energy spikes and crashes and different things like that. Laura Dugger: (42:40 - 43:04) So how incredible to get to follow up with a health professional then, and you are certainly one that we would recommend. And so even if we're out of state, but we could make a first appointment with you and figure out some way to do telehealth, can you just give us your website or share what you have to offer so that we can maybe make a follow-up appointment after this conversation? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (43:05 - 43:38) So it's pureintegrativehealth.com. And I could click on the tab, become a patient, just fill that form out. And then we can talk about a plan if you're in Tennessee, great. We can just right away, we know you're in person. If you are out of state, I have to see you in person for the first initial eval and then we can come up with some hybrid plan of telemedicine in between visits and legally just need to be able to see you still once a year or something in person, but we could do the rest in telemedicine options. Laura Dugger: (43:39 - 43:58) So yeah, it's a wonderful option. We will link to that in the show notes for today's episode. And Emily, you're already familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so as my final question for you today, what is your Savvy Sauce? Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (43:59 - 46:04) Well, in regards to this topic today with hormones, I would say my Savvy Sauce is actually, it would be around getting that bedtime routine down packed in order to have an eight to 10 hours of like actual sleep because the mind does a brain sweep and gets rid of toxins in the brain between seven and a half hours and nine hours. It's happened somewhere in that window. And so if we're skipping out on sleep, we're missing out. If you're getting even six hours, you're missing out on the neural brain sweep that actually gets rid of the toxins that prevent Alzheimer's, dementia, a lot of other problems. The metabolism at nighttime, the body literally burns fat at night. We have to get sleeping. And so, and if you're having problems sleeping, you're like, I want to sleep, but I haven't, then I would recommend start looking into different forms of magnesium. I can't get into it fully today because there's seven different kinds of magnesium, but there are some that will actually help with sleep. And so talk with your practitioner about the best forms that could help you increase your sleep as well, because most of us can be deficient in that and creating that really, really healthy rhythm. Just knowing your why behind why you're sleeping is also really helpful because it's like, you can hear a lot of people say, you need to get more sleep. I should go to bed, do this, but why? It's actually getting a neural sweep, liver is detoxing, cholesterol is cleansing. God does an incredible thing with our dreams. We're literally flushing and processing all the things from the day. And so, talk about stress and adrenals. We got to help heal through our sleep. Laura Dugger: (46:05 - 46:26) Wow. Thank you for leaving us with that word. There's so much more we could cover. And ever since our first interaction, you have just been overflowing with kindness and graciousness and generosity with your time and sharing your knowledge. You're so kind, but I have just loved spending this time with you. Thank you so much, Emily, for being my repeat guest. Emily Macleod-Wolfe: (46:27 - 46:32) Oh, my goodness. Thank you so much, Laura, for having me again. This has been wonderful. I really appreciate it. Laura Dugger: (46:33 – 50:15) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes including where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
You know those times when you're eating well and doing your best, but something still feels off: you're dragging through the afternoon, snapping at your kids, or your period won't get on a schedule.I can't tell you how many women come to me with that same story: no processed food in the house, meals that look healthy, but deep down their hormones are struggling. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three big mistakes I see most often when women are eating clean but still not feeling results. From undereating without realizing it, to self-sabotaging habits, to cutting out food groups that your body actually needs, you'll see why your healthy diet might not be nourishing your hormones at all.You'll learn:01:28 Why undernourishment is the most common mistake women make06:31 How self-sabotage shows up in little daily habits 16:51 Why cutting out whole food groups often backfiresThis isn't about obsessively tracking every bite or hopping on another elimination diet. It's about finally understanding what your body is asking for, and how to feed it in a way that feels doable, and actually supports hormone health.Tune in now because the sooner you spot these mistakes, the sooner you can make simple shifts that move the needle for your hormones and your life.NEW Private Podcast - 3 Steps to Making Hormones WellBook a FREE Hormone Strategy Call with meNEED HELP FIXING YOUR HORMONES? CHECK OUT MY RESOURCES:Hormone Imbalance Quiz - Find out which of the top 3 hormone imbalances affects you most!Join Nourish Your Hormones Coaching for the step-by-step and my eyes on YOUR hormones for the next 4 months.Send us a text with episode feedback or ideas! (We can't respond to texts unless you include contact info but always read them)To get the Restored Mini-Course for free leave a rating & review on the show OR share this podcast in your IG story (tag me @leishadrews) or send it to 3 friends - DM or email me a screenshot and I'll send the course your way!Email: support@abundant-lifewellness.comDon't forget to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more women looking for answers.Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine.This podcast is for women and moms to learn how to balance hormones naturally in motherhood, to have pain-free periods, increased fertility, to decrease PMS mood swings, and to increase energy without restrictive diet plans. You'll learn how to balance blood sugar, increase progesterone naturally, understand the root cause of estrogen dominance, irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, hormonal acne, post birth-control syndrome, and conceive naturally. We use a pro-metabolic, whole food, root cause approach to functional women's health and focus on truly holistic health and mind-body connection.If you listen to any of the following shows, we're sure you'll like ours too! Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, Found My Fitness with Rhonda Patrick, Just Ingredients Podcast, Wellness Mama, The Dr Josh Axe Show, Are You Menstrual Podcast, The Model Health Show, Grounded Wellness By Primally Pure, Be Well By Kelly Leveque, The Freely Rooted Podcast with Kori Meloy, Simple Farmhouse Life with Lisa Bass