Podcasts about Progesterone

Many women start hormone therapy expecting relief from hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings - only to be frustrated when the scale starts creeping up. While providers often dismiss it, weight gain on HRT is a real experience for many. In this episode, Claudia explains why it happens, which hormones play a role, and what you can do to support your metabolism in midlife. What you'll learn in this episode: How progesterone can sometimes trigger water retention (even though it's a diuretic) Why estrogen balance matters for fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and fluid shifts The risks of too much testosterone and how it impacts weight and symptoms The natural metabolic changes over 40 that make weight management harder Key nutrition strategies: prioritizing lean protein, fiber, and smart carbs while watching hidden calories from fats The importance of gut health, daily detox, and pooping regularly for hormone balance   Links Mentioned: Ep. 67: Understanding Cortisol After 40: Why You Need It, Why It Becomes Imbalanced & What To Do About It Ep. 78: Undereating After 40: The #1 Habit Wrecking Your Hormones & Metabolism Progesterone Therapy & Thyroid Function Walking 7000 Steps a Day Oura Ring Optim Ring Pedometer to Track Steps Optimizing Adult Protein Intake   LOVE THE SHOW? Please subscribe, leave a 5-star rating, review, and share with other women, so they can get the support they need in perimenopause!    CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA:  Website YouTube Instagram Facebook Inquiries   FREE RESOURCES:  Mini Training: Why You're Exhausted, Moody & Inflamed - And Why It's Not Just Your Hormones Peri-What?! The Must-Have Guide for Women 40+ Navigating Hormone Changes Perimenopause Daily Checklist HRT 3-Day Crash Course   GET SUPPORT:  Perimenopause Clarity Session The Perimenopause Method Program Perimenopause HRT Roadmap Course   PRODUCTS WE LOVE: Equip Prime Protein (Save 15% w/ code: healthcoachclaudia) Microbiome Labs Total Gut Restoration (Save 15% w/ code: claudia123) BodyHealth Reds Powder Symphony Natural Health Melatonin Glow Below Vaginal Estrogen or DHEA For more products we recommend, click HERE.

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

In this powerful, myth-busting conversation, we dive deep with Dr. Mariza Snyder, the powerhouse voice redefining women's midlife health, to expose what's really going on during perimenopause—and how to thrive through it. From hormonal chaos and stubborn belly fat to mood swings and metabolic slowdowns, Dr. Mariza breaks down the science, shares the top labs to run before starting BHRT, and reveals why gut health and GLP-1s hold the keys to hormone harmony. Her upcoming book, The Perimenopause Revolution (Hay House, 2025), is the ultimate roadmap for turning this transition into your most energized and empowered chapter yet.Dr. Mariza Snyder is a powerhouse advocate for midlife women, leveraging 17+ years as a practitioner, author, and speaker to spark a massive movement for women in perimenopause and beyond. With her top-rated Energized with Dr. Mariza podcast (13 million downloads) and a passionate social media audience of over 400K and 8 million monthly views, she's a trusted guide—offering science-backed solutions for perimenopause, and metabolic health. SHOW NOTES:0:40 Welcome to the show!4:09 Dr. Mariza's Bio4:52 Welcome her to the podcast!7:35 Signs & symptoms of Perimenopause11:38 3 things to track13:55 Honoring hormonal fluctuations15:57 Lab work Dr. Mariza loves18:16 Belly fat and gut microbiome changes21:28 GLP-1s & Perimenopause22:45 Starting BHRT30:55 Dangers of not testing34:11 Assessing the individual38:11 * TROSCRIPTIONS *39:16 Dosing Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone50:08 Re-testing for BHRT51:49 Synthetic vs bioidentical estrogen1:03:18 Being a healthy host1:05:57 Her new book: Perimenopause Solution1:09:14 Her final piece of advice1:10:51 Where to find her1:11:47 Thanks for tuning in!RESOURCES:WebsiteBOOK PRE-ORDERFB: @drmarizasnyderIG: @drmarizaYouTubePodcastTroscriptions - code: biohackerbabes to save 10%Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/biohacker-babes-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What happens when a decade of birth control meets a fierce determination to rewrite a fertility story? In today's episode, I interview my client Lindsey who cracks open the real challenges behind her quest for pregnancy including unexpected gut troubles, hormonal confusion, and the frustration of a short luteal phase. After trying without success on her own, she signs up for 1:1 private coaching and begins a transformation that reshapes not just her health, but her future. What Lindsey discovered deep inside her healing journey changed everything before she saw those two pink lines. If you've ever wondered what's truly possible beyond the usual advice, don't miss this intimate look at what it actually takes to shift the path to conception and why getting pregnant is only the beginning. Episode Highlights: For years, Lindsey followed the rules for birth control until a pivotal moment changed everything and set her on an unexpected course. Mysterious symptoms left her searching for answers. What she uncovered about her hormones and skin will surprise you. The battle for better gut health wasn't easy and came with frustration, setbacks, and then the breakthroughs she never saw coming. Each cycle brought new questions, and as Lindsey dove deeper, she uncovered secrets about her body she'd never known. Hope and heartbreak marked Lindsey's quest for pregnancy until, finally, a breakthrough arrived in the most unexpected way. The first trimester brought challenges that tested her resolve and revealed why her healing journey mattered more than ever. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below.  PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Links: Need 1:1 support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Looking to do it on your own? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to help you get & stay pregnant Get Inito Starter Kit for just $89 by using code NORAPODCAST at checkout - click here  For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/160 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In this episode of the Living Well podcast, Liv Hill and Lyndi Mullinax, FNP discuss the critical aspects of hormone health, focusing on women's wellness. They explore the importance of understanding hormonal balance, the roles of various hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol, and the impact of lifestyle choices on hormonal health. Lindy shares her background as a family nurse practitioner and her passion for helping women achieve holistic health. The conversation emphasizes the need for education on hormone health, the significance of proper nutrition, and the importance of seeking help when experiencing hormonal imbalances.

What happens when you choose a normal birth with twins?In this episode, I speak with Nicole, a mother from South Africa now living in the U.S., who chose sovereignty in one of the most medicalized and “high-risk” experiences imaginable: an identical twin pregnancy. From the very beginning, she was met with fear-based narratives—warnings of stillbirth, premature labor, and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. But after enduring traumatic experiences in hospitals and with midwives, Nicole knew she would not birth her twins within the system.Instead, she underwent a profound process of deconditioning and committed to trusting her body. With the steady support of her husband, a Radical Birth Keeper graduate, and a community of women walking this same path, Nicole carried her twins to 40 weeks and welcomed them at home, in embodied sovereignty.Nicole shares the raw reality of holding responsibility for twins outside the system: the constant conversations about risk, the deep conviction it took to turn away completely, and the profound freedom of reclaiming birth on her own terms.Inside this episode:What Nicole witnessed in the hospital that made her vow never to returnHow she carried her twins to full term, trusting her body's wisdomThe support she found in a community of sovereign mothersWhat labor with twins looked like at homeThe double standard of blame when outcomes differ at home versus in the hospitalThe freedom and healing that come with birthing twins in sovereigntyTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[02:59] Two miscarriages and lack of support and answers from the medical system[07:05] Receiving news of a third unviable pregnancy and deciding not to take the pill[09:02] Discovering that the medical system was wrong about her third pregnancy, and that her baby was alive and healthy in her womb[11:19] Birthing her first son in a birthing center with a midwife, forced interventions, a fourth degree tear, and newborn separation[21:36] Postpartum hospital trauma, overreactions and threats[25:15] Another miscarriage and humiliating hospital treatment[32:13] Finding out she was pregnant with twins, midwife refusing to provide care, and choosing freebirth[1:00:00] Freebirthing her twins at home with her husband and birth attendant presentIf you want to connect more with Nicole, follow her on Instagram.Find more from Emilee on Instagram, YouTube and the Free Birth Society website.Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.

In this second installment of The Consistency Code Diaries: The Stories, Science and Strategies Behind the Book, I dive into the fascinating science behind why midlife women specifically struggle with consistency, and how my upcoming book addresses these unique challenges. Join me as I explore: The hormonal shifts that affect your energy, mood, and motivation during perimenopause and beyond How your nervous system changes in midlife, creating unpredictable “tolerance threshold collapses” that sabotage your best intentions The cognitive adaptations your brain undergoes, including shifts in executive function and memory that directly impact consistency Whether you're navigating brain fog, unpredictable energy levels, or heightened stress responses, this episode reveals why traditional consistency advice fails midlife women – and what actually works instead. You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-396 Don't miss this opportunity to understand the science that can transform your relationship with consistency for good! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Consistency Code Book Episode 395: Origin Story: When Frustration Became Innovation *** ⬇️ Tools to rock your second act. ✅ Start Here: https://graceandgrit.com/start-here/ ✅ The Consistency Code Book: https://graceandgrit.com/book ✅ Listen to the Podcast: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast ✅ Weekly Bit of Grace & Grit: https://graceandgrit.com/rumbleandrise ✅ ️Leave a Podcast Review: https://graceandgrit.com/podcastreview ✅ Rumble & Rise with Courtney: https://graceandgrit.com/readytorumble ✅ Subscribe on YouTube: https://graceandgrit.com/youtube-subscribe ✅ Visit us online: https://graceandgrit.com  #midlifewomen #womenshealth #podcast #confidence #selfleadership #consistency #theconsistencycode 

Is perimenopause really starting earlier than we thought? What's the truth about HRT and breast cancer risk? And does childhood trauma show up harder in menopause? In this special roundtable, I sit down with my menopause besties Karen Martel and Dr. Fiona Lovely to untangle some of the most confusing, and often controversial, topics in women's health today. Between the three of us, we've spent decades studying hormones, coaching women, and cutting through the myths that keep so many of us suffering in silence. We cover: Why perimenopause symptoms often start in the brain years before your periods change The real benefits of hormone replacement therapy (and why the risks have been overstated) How to optimize your HRT dosage and delivery for maximum results Groundbreaking research linking trauma and hormone receptor sensitivity Biohacking tools and supplements that may help smooth the menopause transition Karen Martel has a brilliant podcast called The Hormone Solution. She is a Certified Hormone Specialist and Transformational Nutrition Coach and has been working with women in this space with her online community and one to one for a decade now. She specializes in weight loss resistance. Fiona has one of the longest running menopause podcasts with over a million downloads now called Not Your Mother's Menopause. She is a women's health expert with specialties in functional medicine, neurology and restorative endocrinology and takes a holistic approach to healing, focusing on finding the root cause of a woman's issues, reaching all aspects of health and making space for wellness. Contact Karen Martel: Website: https://karenmartel.com Podcast: https://karenmartel.com/blogs/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenmartelhormones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmartelhormones/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfWWN_4IhMZJOXjvj8FDKIQ Group coaching: https://coaching.karenmartel.com/ - code ZORA50 for 50% off   Hormone Creams: https://karenmartel.com/collections/all-products code ZORA for 10% off   Contact Dr. Fiona Lovely: Website: https://drlovely.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfionalovely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drfionalovely Podcast: Not Your Mother's Menopause: https://drlovely.com/#!/podcast   Give thanks to our sponsors: Try Vitali skincare. 20% off with code ZORA here https://vitaliskincare.com Get Primeadine spermidine by Oxford Healthspan. 15% discount with code ZORA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get Mitopure Urolithin A by Timeline. 20% discount with code ZORA at https://timeline.com/zora Try Suji to improve muscle 10% off with code ZORA at TrySuji.com https://trysuji.com Try OneSkin skincare with code ZORA for 15% off https://oneskin.pxf.io/c/3974954/2885171/31050 Join ⁠⁠⁠Biohacking Menopause⁠⁠⁠ before November 1, 2025 to win Theranordic's Daily Healthy Fiber and Optimized Enzymes! Or go to theranordic.com for 10% off: code ZORA   Join the Hack My Age community on: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hackmyage Facebook Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠Hack My Age⁠     Facebook Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠Biohacking Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠  Private Women's Only Support Group: https://hackmyage.com/biohacking-menopause-membership/ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@⁠HackMyAge⁠    Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HackMyAge.com⁠    

Discover the latest science and proven strategies I've personally tested to finally conquer jet lag so you can adapt faster, boost your energy, and arrive clear-minded and ready to perform.New episodes every Friday!Episode brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠Alive Waters⁠⁠⁠ (Code: ASHLEY)Episode brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARAZA Beauty⁠⁠⁠⁠Hyperlinked show notes at www.ashleydeeley.com/jetlag1:06: Fluoride is more electronegative than oxygen (this means, do not drink tap water before, during, or after your flight!)1:34: Temperature minimum (brought to you by Andrew Huberman's episode on jetlag)3:00: Theralux (not available on Amazon)3:30: Avoid sugar, alcohol, and carbs three days before a flight and during the flight3:46: Non-negotiables: wearing a hat and blue blockers5:47: Fast on all domestic flights (fast as long you can on international flights)6:14: Echo hydrogen water bottle  6:31: Quinton minerals - Quintessential 3.3 Sachets7:03: Never consume LMNT or Liquid IV8:00: Move every hour on the hour, plus drink 8-10 oz of water every hour on the hour (except when sleeping)8:41: Dr Jack Kruse says "here's how to stay grounded while flying"9:21: My VivaRays blue blockers10:14: Don't wear contact lenses while traveling10:45: Don't use air vent from above (as it's mixed with engine air)11:17:  Matthew Walker says: sleep first when you get on a plane, not last12:03: Change settings on your device to emit an orange or red hue To set your iPhone screen to red, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters, turn on Color Filters, select Color Tint, then slide Intensity and Hue all the way to the right14:00: ⁠Melatonin from Synchronicity Health⁠14:16: ⁠Melatonin suppository⁠ (called the Sandman from Mitozen)15:50: Calm your nervous system (parasympathetic state) for travel16:09: 4-7-8 breathing by Dr. Andrew Wiel16:46: NuCalm (my FAVORITE jet lag hack)18:21: Apollo Neuro device19:27: KAATSU device20:22: VieLight redlight device Supplements for travel:21:51: Vitamin B622:09: 5-HTP22:21: Glycine22:46: MyVitalC23:43: Organic Astaxanthin24:04: NAD+ and Glutathione  bonus — Geroge Gavin: Founder of Synchronicity Health, episode 9325:58: Vitamin C from Cymbiotika / Vitamin C from BodyBio26:05: NAC26:06: CoQ10 26:09: Fish oil (THE ONLY fish oil I recommend!!!) 26:50: Glucosamine26:59: Methylene blue28:12: Dr. Tom Rogers, episode 71 on methylene blue28:35: CBD suppository (save 20% on first order with this link)   29:12: Dr. Ted Achacoso (his interview with Ben Greenfield - jet lag: start at 53:20 - Rolls Royce for hacking jet lag - uses Human Growth Hormone, thyroid hormone, testosterone at 50mg, digestive enzymes, & EPO)29:19: Portable oxygen concentrator, according to the FAA, here the approved portable oxygen concentrator brands (many require a prescription)These are apparently best brands:Inogen One (prescription required) Sequel Eclipse (prescription required) Airsep Lifestyle (or buy here too / or buy here)31:30: ⁠Progesterone⁠ (to assist females with sleep, males need a MUCH lower does) 31:49: ⁠Estrogen⁠ (for women with achy joints)31:58: ⁠DHEA⁠ 32:32: ⁠TimeShifter app⁠32:56: ⁠DSIP peptide (Delta Sleep Inducing Peptide)33:27: Grounding/Earthing upon arrival34:19: Wear silicone ear plugs and an eye mask34:38: Travel neck pillowComprehensive Supplement Guide:Stimulant:Methylene BlueNAD+MyVitalC (ESS60)Anytime:Quinton mineralsAstaxanthinGlutathioneCoQ10Vitamin CNACFish OilGlucosamineDHEAEstrogen (for women)Sleep Aid:MelatoninCBD suppository5-HTPGlycineVitamin B6Progesterone (for women)Where to find Ashley Deeley:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@ashleydeeley.com

Womanhood Wellness is where functional medicine meets feminine wisdom—guiding you to balance hormones, awaken libido, and prepare for pregnancy with intention. Join todayWhat if the hormone blocking your ovulation is the same one draining your desire?This episode is all about prolactin… a hormone made by the pituitary gland that plays a key role in breastfeeding. We get into how high prolactin can impact fertility, libido, and even dopamine, and why stress, sleep, exercise, and certain medications push it out of balance. There are natural ways to bring prolactin back into range, from nutrients like B6 and magnesium to lifestyle shifts. This is the hormone no one's talking about, but everyone should understand.You'll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[03:52] The surprising role prolactin plays in fertility, libido, and postpartum health[06:29] The push-pull between prolactin and dopamine that impacts desire and motivation[10:08] Why ADHD symptoms often worsen postpartum when prolactin rises[12:33] How high prolactin can block ovulation, your body's natural “birth control”[14:04] How elevated prolactin shortens luteal phases and lowers progesterone[15:30] Hidden triggers of prolactin imbalance[23:44] The critical lab-testing tip that prevents false high prolactin results[26:09] How nutrient deficiencies and marijuana use can silently drive prolactin higher[28:09] Symptoms that reveal a prolactin problem[35:38] Prolactin's purposeful role in suppressing sex drive during breastfeeding[38:17] How modern lifestyle stressors mimic postpartum and confuse prolactin levels[55:20] Natural supports that bring prolactin back in balanceFind more from Dr. Leah:Dr. Leah Gordon | InstagramDr. Leah Gordon | WebsiteDr. Leah Gordon | WebsiteFind more from Dr. Morgan:Dr. Morgan MacDermott | InstagramDr. Morgan MacDermott | WebsiteUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Dr. Natalie Crawford, OBGYN and REI, dives into the science of progesterone—one of the most important yet misunderstood hormones in women's health. Learn how it affects your cycle, fertility, mood, and more—so you can finally make sense of what your body's been telling you. Key Topics: 1. Progesterone Basics - What makes this hormone unique - Its role in the menstrual cycle - How it supports a potential pregnancy 2. Hormonal Harmony - The relationship between estrogen and progesterone - Identifying healthy hormone levels - When to be concerned about imbalances 3. Fertility and Progesterone - How progesterone impacts conception - Signs of potential hormonal challenges - Natural and medical support strategies 4. Navigating Hormone Health - Common myths about progesterone - Questions to ask your healthcare provider - Understanding your body's signals Pre-order Dr. Crawford's debut book, The Fertility Formula, now! ⁠https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book⁠ Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie's YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at learnatpinnacle.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling off but can't put your finger on it? Your hormones might be trying to drop you a hint. In this episode, we're diving into the five sneaky signs your progesterone is running on empty. From mood swings to sleep struggles, we'll break down the red flags your body is waving!UPCOMING EVENT:Register for The Progesterone Blueprint hereFIND NAT BELOW:Website - https://nataliekdouglas.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/natalie.k.douglasBook a Free Assessment Call - https://NatalieKDouglas.as.me/?appointmentType=50255874EndoNourish - Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Guide - https://nataliekdouglas.com/endonourish-holistic-endometriosis-adenomyoisis-care-guide/ SacredSeeds - Preconception Care Guidehttps://nataliekdouglas.com/preconception-care-guide/PCOS Wellness Guidehttps://nataliekdouglas.com/pcos-holistic-guide/Thyroid Rescue - Self guided programhttps://nataliekdouglas.com/thyroid-rescue/Coming Off The Pill/IUD Holistic Guidehttps://nataliekdouglas.com/coming-off-the-pill-mini-course/PMS/PMDD Natural Solutons Masterclass https://nataliekdouglas.com/pms-pmdd-natural-solutions-masterclass/Restore and Nourish Gut Reset - https://nataliekdouglas.com/restore-nourish-gut-reset/Perimenopause Masterclass -https://nataliekdouglas.com/perimenopause-masterclass-holistic-toolkit/Become a one-to-one clienthttps://nataliekdouglas.com/1-1-naturopathic-nutrition-consultations/FIND AMIE BELOW:Book a Free Discovery Call: https://p.bttr.to/3yBdmu3   Book Yourself In: https://l.bttr.to/ZDxWO Website - https://whatthenaturopathsaid.com   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thatnaturopath Join the mailing list - https://elysium-clinic-of-natural-medicine.ck.page/69663ce14a  

In this conversation, Dr. Sarah Daccarett and I delve into the complexities of women's hormonal health, discussing outdated practices in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the impact of birth control, and the importance of understanding hormonal changes throughout a woman's life. We emphasize the need for women to be informed about their hormonal health, the role of progesterone, and the connection between hormones and autoimmunity. This discussion also covers effective delivery methods for hormone therapy and the significance of early intervention in managing hormonal health.   Time Stamps:   (00:28) Introduction to Hormonal Health and HRT   (05:21) The Need for Early Hormonal Intervention   (10:28) Consequences of Long-Term Birth Control Use   (18:11) The Role of Progesterone in Women's Health   (25:29) Link Between Hormones and Autoimmunity   (31:13) Understanding Inflammation and Autoimmunity   (37:27) Delivery Methods for Hormone Replacement Therapy   (49:32) The Importance of Gut Health in Hormonal Balance   (56:31) Final Thoughts and Resources for Women ------------------- Website: https://www.innerbalance.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerbalancemd Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahdaccarettmd Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnerBalanceMD ------------------- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolcovinofitness/ -------------------- My YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/@carolcovinofitness -------------------- My Book:  FINDING PURPOSE IN THE PAUSE

If you've been told your AMH is “too low” for your age, or that it means your only chance is IVF with high doses of medication, this episode is for you. AMH is not the final word on your fertility it's a marker that should spark deeper investigation. You'll learn: How IVF clinics use AMH to predict drug response and egg retrieval What the research actually says about high vs. mild stimulation for women with low AMH Why no stimulation protocol can improve egg quality The four functional fertility pillars that truly impact outcomes: mitochondria, inflammation, nutrients, and hormones A client story of moving beyond repeated IVF cycles to conceive naturally I'm Sarah Clark, founder of Fab Fertile. For over a decade, my team and I have helped hundreds of couples improve their chances of pregnancy success, whether naturally or through IVF. We specialize in supporting those with low AMH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and recurrent pregnancy loss through functional testing and personalized fertility strategies. This episode is especially for you if: You've been told your AMH is too low and that aggressive IVF protocols are your only option You feel stuck in repeated IVF cycles with only minor protocol changes You want to understand how functional fertility strategies can change the environment where eggs are developing Not sure where to start? Download our most popular resource: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant This Year If You Have Low AMH/High FSH. It breaks everything down step by step to help you understand your options and take action. For personalized support to improve pregnancy success, book a call here. --- TIMESTAMPS [00:00:00] Does low AMH really mean IVF is your only option? Most women are told IVF or donor eggs are the only path forward, but AMH is more than a fertility “score.” Here's why it's misunderstood [00:02:00] What IVF protocols are used for low AMH? High-dose meds, mild stimulation, dual stim, and add-ons like DHEA are common. But do they actually improve outcomes? [00:04:30] Why do repeated IVF cycles often fail with low AMH? Many women get stuck in the loop of “protocol tweaks” while underlying health issues go unaddressed [00:05:00] Can IVF improve egg quality? Research shows protocols change egg quantity, not quality, here's why mitochondrial and cellular health matter most [00:07:00] What functional strategies support mitochondria for egg quality? From CoQ10 and omega-3s to sleep and stress balance, these are the foundations of better egg competence [00:09:30] How does stress and nervous system dysregulation affect AMH? Graduate school, 50-hour work weeks, and perfectionism can suppress ovarian function, here's how to spot the signs [00:12:00] Which labs uncover hidden inflammation affecting fertility? Markers like hsCRP and homocysteine reveal systemic inflammation IVF clinics rarely check [00:14:00] Which nutrient deficiencies impact ovarian reserve and embryo health? Vitamin D, ferritin, folate, B12, zinc, magnesium, selenium, subtle gaps can change outcomes [00:17:00] How do thyroid, prolactin, and cortisol influence egg development? Hormonal imbalances upstream are often missed, yet they shape ovulation, luteal support, and implantation [00:21:00] Can you conceive naturally with low AMH? A client with one ovary, endometriosis, and high FSH conceived naturally after addressing digestion, adrenal health, and nutrient absorption --- RESOURCES

In this episode of The Better Life, Dr. Marianne Pinkston and guest Ray Solano, owner of PD Labs, a compounding pharmacy, explore the intricate link between gut health and neurological well-being. They discuss how an integrative approach, combining functional medicine principles with modern therapeutics, can address the root causes of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The conversation covers the impact of diet, genetics, and lifestyle on mental health, and introduces natural and compounded solutions like L-theanine, oxytocin, and BH4. Chapters 0:00 - 4:14: Introduction and the Problem with Conventional Solutions. Dr. Pinkston introduces Ray Solano and the topic of neurological problems. They discuss the rising rates of conditions like depression and ADD and argue that conventional medicine often only treats symptoms with pharmaceuticals, ignoring the root causes. 4:14 - 8:40: The Gut-Brain Connection and Inflammatory Foods. Ray and Dr. Pinkston explain the direct link between gut health and brain function, highlighting how neurotransmitters are made in the GI tract. They emphasize that inflammatory foods like gluten, processed items, and alcohol can significantly impact mental health. 8:40 - 13:28: The Role of Genetics and Foundational Treatments. The discussion shifts to the role of genetic predispositions (SNPs) and how lifestyle and diet can either turn these genes on or off. They introduce the importance of a holistic approach, viewing health as a puzzle with multiple pieces, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and gut health. 13:28 - 19:38: Nutraceuticals and Hormonal Support. Dr. Pinkston and Ray detail natural, accessible remedies. Ray highlights L-theanine for its calming effects and introduces oxytocin, explaining its role in social bonding and mood elevation. They discuss its use as a compounded treatment for conditions like OCD and autism. 19:38 - 25:22: The Power of Compounded Pharmaceuticals. The focus returns to specific, targeted solutions. Ray explains BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), a pharmaceutical used to treat a specific genetic deficiency that impacts serotonin and dopamine production. They also discuss the compounding of natural thyroid medication and the importance of personalized medicine. 25:22 - 30:40: Progesterone and Metabolic Dysfunction. The conversation broadens to include hormonal balance, with Dr. Pinkston highlighting progesterone's role in sleep and anxiety. They also discuss metabolic dysfunction, the prevalence of belly fat, and its link to hormonal disruption and chronic disease. 30:40 - 34:25: Addressing ADD and Brain Inflammation. Dr. Pinkston and Ray focus on ADD and the importance of removing inflammatory foods from the diet. Ray introduces Synapsin, a compounded nasal spray containing RG3-Ginseng, as an effective tool for reducing brain inflammation associated with ADD and other neurological issues. 34:25 - 39:05: Conclusion and Final Thoughts. Dr. Pinkston and Ray encourage listeners to seek professional support for their health issues. They emphasize the value of telehealth and the growing field of longevity medicine, which aims to fix underlying problems rather than just treating symptoms. They conclude by providing contact information for their respective websites and podcasts. Visit my website: https://www.drpbetterlife.com/ Connect with me on social media:https://www.facebook.com/pinkston4lifehttps://instagram.com/drmariannepinkstonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-pinkston-md-857ba069https://twitter.com/pinkston4lifehttps://www.tiktok.com/@drmariannepinkston See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textAmy Alkon is an independent investigative science writer specializing in “applied science”—using scientific evidence to solve real-world problems. Amy critically evaluates and synthesizes research across disciplines and then translates it into everyday language, empowering regular people to make scientifically informed decisions for the best of their health and well-being.Amy is the author of several bestselling books, including Unf*ckology: How to Live with Guts and Confidence, and most recently, her “science-help” book Going Menopostal: What You (and Your Doctor) Need to Know About the Real Science of Menopause and Perimenopause.Amy has given two TED talks, and has been profiled in The New York Times, TIME, The Washington Post, The Independent/UK, and Macleans. She has appeared on numerous national TV and radio shows, including Good Morning America, Today, NPR, CNN, Nightline, Anderson Cooper, Coast to Coast, and Canada's The Agenda with Steve Paikin, along with podcasts by Adam Carolla, Joe Rogan, Michael Shermer, Robert Wright, and Scott Barry Kaufman.Find Amy at-Amazon- Going Menopostal: What You (and Your Doctor) Need to Know About the Real Science of Menopause and Perimenopausehttps://www.amyalkon.net/TW- @amyalkon.Find Boundless Body at- myboundlessbody.com Book a session with us here!

It is well-known that PMS symptoms can deeply affect how women are feeling, including their mood, pain, and energy levels. But why exactly does this happen? Today, we’re going to dive into the science of sex hormones and the menstrual cycle, including how hormone levels affect women’s sexual motivation and tips for navigating sex at different phases of the cycle. I am joined by Dr. Sarah Hill, the author of This is Your Brain on Birth Control. She has spent most of her 20+ year career studying women, relationships, and health. Her latest book is titled The Period Brain: The New Science of Why We PMS and How To Fix It. Some of the specific topics we explore include: What’s the deal with PMS? Why did women evolve to feel like crap for half of the menstrual cycle? How do the rise and fall of different hormones during the cycle affect women’s brains? Progesterone is a hormone that’s supposed to make us feel good. So why doesn’t it have that effect during the second half of the menstrual cycle? How do estrogen and progesterone affect sexual motivation and desire? You can check our Sarah’s website to learn more about her work. Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology. *** Thank you to our sponsors!  Expand your sexual horizons with Beducated! Featuring more than 100 online courses taught by the experts, Beducated brings pleasure-based sex ed directly into your bedroom. Enjoy a free trial today and get 50% off their yearly pass by using LEHMILLER as the coupon code. To redeem this offer, visit: https://beducate.me/lehmiller-sept Head to https://paired.com/JUSTIN and download the #1 app for couples to start maintaining your lasting love today. The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Be sure to register for the Sex and Aging Symposium, which will take place on October 4, 2025. *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Bluesky to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast! Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.

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.   In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to the OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices. Check out their brand-new luxury property in Peoria Heights overlooking the boutique shops and fine dining on Prospect. And in Morton, they offer a variety of apartment homes with garages, a hot downtown location, and now a brand-new high-end complex near Idlewood Park.   Their beautiful, spacious apartments with private garages in a quiet but convenient location await you in Washington. And if you're looking in Canton, don't miss Village Square Apartments. Renters may be excited to learn about their flexible leases, pet-friendly locations, and even mini storage units available in some locations.   Leman Property Management Company has a knowledgeable and helpful staff, including several employees with over 30 years working with this reputable company. If you want to become a part of their team, contact them about open office positions. 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.

In today's episode, I dive into the world of progesterone and reveal why this “pregnancy protector” might just hold the missing piece to your fertility puzzle. If you've ever wondered when you'll need progesterone suppositories, how ovarian function really evolves through your 30s and early 40s, or how to spot subtle hormone shifts before they impact your fertility journey, this episode is for you. You'll get insight into my actionable strategies, expert tips, and my top pick on hormone assessments that could help extend your reproductive health. You'll also learn about what root cause transformations look like, and how personalization in fertility makes all the difference in successfully getting and staying pregnant.  Episode Highlights A detailed explanation of how progesterone supports implantation and early pregnancy. Insight into how reproductive hormones work together for optimal cycle function. How ovaries change with age: get clear guidance on how cycles shift in the 30s and early 40s, and why monitoring is vital. The value of cycle charting and DUTCH hormone testing to understand personal hormone trends. How PMS symptoms can signal changes in progesterone and overall balance. Root Cause First: Why exhausting nutrition, lifestyle and egg quality interventions is essential before considering suppositories. The importance of functional testing, practitioner partnerships, and avoiding blanket treatments for fertility success. Suppositories Protocol: Evidence-based guidance on when to consider prescription support, timing, and how to maximize benefits safely. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR SEPT BRONZE PACKAGE (limited spots available) For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/158 Previous Bronze Package Success Stories Ep 157: Persistence Pays Off: How Rose got pregnant after overcoming fertility barriers Ep 148: Naturally pregnant at 37 after healing chronic BV, gut inflammation and hormone imbalance + Damaris's Story Ep 118: What to do when you've been told you can't get pregnant + Kira's Story Ep 115: Low progesterone, egg quality + Mel's Story Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Missed the Bronze Package Launch? → Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide   Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

Estrogen accumulates in your tissues even when blood tests show low levels, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment Hair and nail testing reveal long-term patterns of hormone and mineral buildup, offering clearer insight into chronic symptoms like fatigue, infertility, and fluid retention High prolactin levels often signal hidden estrogen activity and are especially important to monitor if your thyroid function is low Vegetable oils, plastics, and many common household products contain compounds that either mimic estrogen or promote estrogen dominance by disrupting thyroid function, impairing detox pathways, and driving chronic inflammation Natural progesterone and liver-supportive strategies like collagen-rich foods help reduce your tissue estrogen burden and restore balance

SHOWNOTES:

For more info on how I can help you, visit my site BetterByDrBrooke. Whether you are cycling and have symptoms or are on HRT and having issues, the ratio of these two hormones can be a real indicator of issues like low progesterone, estrogen dominance or estrogen metabolism issues. You can calculate this ratio from values on your serum testing or urine testing such as the DUTCH test. I talk about what this ratio should be, how to calculate it (units matter!), what you can glean from various types of testing (i.e. urine shows you something different than serum, both matter) and what to consider to feel better if your P:E2 ratio is off in this episode.    Resources mentioned in the show:   Dr Brooke Show #426 Why Some Women Can't Tolerate Progesterone   Dr Brooke Show #429 All About PMDD: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder   Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439 which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G+4R process to tackle it!   Stuff I Know You Will Love If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service and who are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available.   Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!   Follow Dr Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too. To work with Dr Brooke click here and if you loved this episode please leave a review! 

In this second part of my conversation with Dr. Felice Gersh, we shift the focus to progesterone and what it really means for your health. You've probably heard that progesterone is only important if you have a uterus, or that it's just about preventing uterine cancer, but that's far from the whole story.You'll hear why oral progesterone, the most common form prescribed, may actually be doing more harm than good, how it creates unnaturally high levels of certain metabolites that can sedate the brain, and why this could even impact memory long-term. We also talk about safer and more effective ways to use progesterone that actually work with your body.And if you're in menopause, or even decades past it, you'll discover why cycling hormones still matters and how it can support your brain, bones, immune system, and thyroid health. This conversation will challenge so much of what you've been told and open the door to thinking about hormones in a whole new way.For full show notes, please see:  https://innatopiler.com/podcasts/connection-progesterone-estrogen-hashimotos-dr-felice-gersh-2/Get ThyroLove - the first all in one bottle multi-nutrient comprehensive formula designed specifically for those with Hashimoto's at ThyroLove.com - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping For more information about everything Hashimoto's please visit InnaTopiler.comIf you are struggling to lose weight with Hashimoto's, Inna has a 10 day plan just for you at InnaTopiler.com/jumpstartIf you need help with fatigue or brain fog with Hashimoto's, please check out Inna's 9 Day Exhaustion Solution at innatopiler.com/energyIf you don't yet know your thyroid type, please be sure you sign up for Inna's next free training at InnaTopiler.com/zoomcall

Emotional lability, anxiety, crying jags. Welcome to perimenopause. 70% of women experience depressive symptoms and alterations in mood when estrogen levels plunge or start to fluctuate.  While many factors increase the risk, there is no denying that changes in hormone levels have something to do with anxiety, mood, and depression, even in people who never had issues before perimenopause.     Dr. Pauline Maki is a world-renowned expert in menopause, mood, cognition, and the impact of menopause on the brain. She has authored hundreds of scientific articles and leads a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research program on women, cognition, mood, and dementia.  In this episode, we take a deep dive into the science of why women have mood alterations and depression when estrogen levels start to fluctuate.   In this episode:  ·      What it was like to participate in Dr. Jill Biden's  White House Initiative on Women's Health Research ·      The difference between depressive symptoms, mood alteration and depression ·      The risk of recurrence if there is a history of depression during perimenopause ·      The risk of developing depression if there is no history of depression ·      The risk of developing mood alterations if there is no history of depression ·      Windows of vulnerability (pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopause)  ·      What is occurring hormonally in the brain at the level of progesterone and estrogen receptors  ·      The Science Behind Risk Factors for developing depressive symptoms or depression during perimenopause o   Early menopause o   BRCA mutations o   History of major depressive disorder o   Hormone sensitivity in the brain o   Severe menopause symptoms  o   Childhood experiences o   Current life stressors ·      Treatment Options for Perimenopausal Depressive Symptoms o   No treatment- when will it go away? o   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy o   SSRIs o   Hormone Therapy o   NK3 Agonists  o   Progesterone?

What happens when you stop taking progesterone, even for just a few weeks? In this quick episode, I'm sharing my personal story of running out of progesterone, how my symptoms came rushing back, and why this hormone is so important for women in perimenopause. You'll learn why dosing and delivery methods matter, common signs of low progesterone, and how we help clients find a provider who actually understands women's hormones. I covered: My story of running out of progesterone and the symptoms that returned How progesterone is the first hormone to decline after 35 Common signs of low progesterone: mood swings, anxiety, poor sleep, heavy periods The pros and cons of oral, vaginal/rectal, and topical progesterone Why dosing matters (too low can trigger “estrogen kickback”) Why it's vital to find a hormone-savvy provider who listens and prescribes appropriately   WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/CQ9YF9Go43k   Links Mentioned: Ona's Natural Progesterone Cream Moods, Emotions, and Aging: Hormones and the Mind-Body Connection by Phyllis Bronson Episode 32: Progesterone: The Miracle Hormone w/ Carol Petersen (Registered Pharmacist)   LOVE THE SHOW? Please subscribe, leave a 5-star rating, review, and share with other women, so they can get the support they need in perimenopause!    CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA:  Website YouTube Instagram Facebook Inquiries   FREE RESOURCES:  Peri-What?! The Must-Have Guide for Women 40+ Navigating Hormone Changes Perimenopause Daily Checklist HRT 3-Day Crash Course   GET SUPPORT:  Perimenopause Clarity Session The Perimenopause Method Program Perimenopause HRT Roadmap Course   PRODUCTS WE LOVE: Equip Prime Protein (Save 15% w/ code: healthcoachclaudia) Microbiome Labs Total Gut Restoration (Save 15% w/ code: claudia123) BodyHealth Reds & Greens Powders Symphony Natural Health Melatonin Glow Below Vaginal Estrogen or DHEA For more products we recommend, click HERE.

Women's hormone health, gut health, and emotional eating come together in an empowering conversation with expert—Amber Romaniuk—host of the “The No Sugarcoating Podcast”. Lesley and Amber unpack how food cravings, people-pleasing, and quick-fix culture can intensify perimenopause symptoms and what to do instead. You'll leave with practical steps to stabilize blood sugar, support sleep, and build a kinder relationship with your body.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How Amber overcame binge eating and became a hormone and gut health expert.The connection between food cravings, gut imbalances, and emotional eating.Why perimenopause symptoms worsen with hormone and lifestyle imbalance.How standard lab ranges can miss hidden hormone and gut issues.How daily good habits prevent cravings and support hormone balance.Episode References/Links:Amber Romaniuk Website - https://www.amberapproved.caAmber Romaniuk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@amberromaniukAmber Romaniuk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amberromaniukThe No Sugarcoating Podcast - https://amberapproved.ca/podcastGuest Bio:Amber Romaniuk is an Emotional Eating, Digestive and Hormone Expert, with 11 years experience helping high achieving women create a level of body confidence, intuition and optimal health through powerful mindset healing, self-care and overcoming self-sabotage with food. She does this through addressing the key negative thoughts, patterns and limiting beliefs that keep women stuck in the same behaviors for years and decades that they haven't been able to break. Her podcast “The No Sugarcoating Podcast” has 1.9 million downloads, over 500 episodes and is listened to in over 88 countries. Amber overcame her own emotional eating after gaining and losing more than 1000 lbs and spending over $50,000 on binge foods and spending 5 years balancing her hormones, digestion. She also dismantled her deep limiting beliefs and behaviors keeping her stuck in the same looping patterns. Now she helps others achieve the biggest healing miracles of Body Freedom™ so they have the confidence and health to create amazing lives. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Amber Romaniuk 0:00  Be patient with your progress, it will shift, and then you get to have this much more aligned lifestyle habits and behaviors that are going to support you through perimenopause and menopause much easier if you're patient and you don't see it as a quick fix, and you actually see it as a lifestyle changes.Lesley Logan 0:17  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:59  Be It babe. This is going to be a fabulous, fun conversation about women's hormones, hormone health, gut, microbiome, your cravings, binge, people-pleasing, self-care, priority of self, like, this is all the things. And we've had different people dance around these topics. We've had like hormone person or an emotional eating person, or these kind of and now I have someone who's an expert in all of it, all in one show for you, and it really connects all the dots, but also hopefully empowers you. It's never too late to start taking care of yourself, because if you want to be it till you see it, if you want to be the strong, amazing human in this world, we have to take care of ourselves. And so we're gonna talk about what's going on with your body that could be affecting you. And we're gonna talk about, you know, some things you can make, the easy changes you make in your life to make it easier to go into perimenopause, to be in perimenopause and post menopause. So here is Amber Romaniuk. Lesley Logan 1:55  Hey, Be It babe. This is gonna be a fun conversation. I can already tell. Our guest today, and I just met a moment ago, we're already talking about nails and life and perimenopause and menopause and so Amber Romaniuk, thank you so much for being here. You're the host of this No Sugarcoating Podcast. Can you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at?Amber Romaniuk 2:12  Yeah, and thank you for having me today. I am an emotional eating, digestive and hormone expert with 11 and a half years of experience coaching women all over the world to claim what I call food and body freedom, which is really about claiming and understanding what's going on in your body, physically, hormonally, digestively, blood sugar, etc, and getting to the roots of your symptoms, your weight loss blocks, but also looking at the habits, behaviors and mindsets that are keeping you stuck and not helping you heal. So helping you overcome the binge eating, the emotional eating, the people-pleasing, the negative self-talk, the low self-worth, so that you can make yourself a priority, and that all assists in the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, healing.Lesley Logan 2:48  Yeah. First of all, love that you used, like, expert, like, like, we didn't even stumble on that word, like you were, like, so proud of it. I just adore women who can call themselves that proudly and confidently. So thank you. You are. And also, I love that you brought up people-pleasing and prioritizing ourselves, because whether or not you are wherever you are in your body journey, people-pleasing can affect us in many different ways. That can be affecting us how we eat, but it also can be affecting us with how we treat ourselves and the things that we do. So, so, okay, can we take a step back and kind of go into like, how did you get here? And how did you get so passionate about helping people through this journey?Amber Romaniuk 3:34  Yeah, so it really was a personal journey that I had to go through myself, and so I grew up and at a very young age, started struggling with body image issues. I was five, it was my first day on the bus, and the older boys called me fat and ugly, and then the whole bus made fun of me, and that identity of fat and ugly I really took on for the next 20 years of my life. And I grew up in a household with great parents. However, my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis before I was born, and so she used food as a coping mechanism. I didn't know at the time, but everything we did revolved around food, and so I created an unconscious emotional connection to food at a very young age, and didn't realize it, and I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. So there's a lot of sugar, a lot of processed food, and then you hit your tweens and teens, and you start struggling with body image, right? You get, you're reading all the magazines, comparing yourself to celebrities. What's wrong with me that I don't look like that? And then I started dieting. And then into my early 20s, I had my first real breakup. Was so upset, could barely eat, lost weight really fast, became asphyxiated with my body, picked myself apart even more, my cycle disappeared, and it was just like, this switch flipped, and it was like, this is too hard to attain. And I started binge eating. And I would eat until I was so full I was sick. I gained like 70 to 80 pounds in four months. Now I was the heaviest that I had ever been, just so ashamed, so embarrassed, binge eating multiple days through the week. Went through a phase of about six months of binging and purging. Because I thought, if I can prevent gaining weight, I will do this. But obviously it just like stressed my body out even more, and I just ended up in a full blown food addiction, where I was either losing control with food and eating until I was so full I was sick, or trying to grip onto the next diet, the next eating style, the next workout craze, to try and gain some form of control with food. And now, of course, none of that was working, and it was just this boomerang of all or nothing. I'm either trying to be perfect on a diet or I'm losing control of food. And for me, my low point moment, which I don't wish for people to, have, to go through a low point. But sometimes we need it to kick us in the butt and help us, like, go, okay, something has to change. But my low point moment was I would throw the food in the garbage, because if I threw it in the garbage, I'm like, I'm not going there. I'm not going to dig through the garbage and eat the food. It was a turn off. So that night, I'd thrown the food away. And at this point, a couple years into this behavior, I started to realize I was binge eating, but I didn't know how to deal with it, and so I had thrown the food away. Specifically, it was Oreo cookies, and I was laying on the couch crying, just like I am afraid for my life. I don't know if I'm gonna make it to 30, was about 22 at the time, if I keep in this destructive behavior, because I was very hard on myself. And a few hours later, as the food settled, I thought, well, if this is the last time I'm gonna do this all or nothing mentality, I'm gonna go get those cookies, and I don't care. And so I went into the kitchen, and I did. I dug through the garbage, grabbed the cookies, then I went outside and threw them in the dumpster, and went back later, like, out into my back alley of my apartment, and, like, dug through again. Lesley Logan 6:31  And this is where we can see it's an addiction, like any drug, you know, like, like, I mean, because we it's like, it you could insert cocaine or cigarettes or alcohol in there. Yeah. Amber Romaniuk 6:43  Yeah, and yeah, and that's the thing, and food was my drug of choice. Thank God it wasn't cocaine or alcohol. I probably wouldn't be here today because I was, it was such a compulsive, like all the time behavior, and so after I did that, a couple of really important things happened. The first is we get comfortable in our comfort zones of suffering. Even if you're suffering, you will continue to do what is familiar, because it feels safe to your brain. Yes. And so I was terrified of the unknown, terrified and overwhelmed about thinking about, how do I start even dealing with this? I've got like, 80 pounds to lose. I'm out of control with food. My guts a mess, like I'm a mess, like I don't even know where to start. And that was overwhelming. And you know, you're afraid of the unknown. Who am I going to be if I'm not using food as a crutch, I'm not chasing the number on the scale, I'm not obsessed with trying to look a certain way, like my identity was just asphyxiating around all of these things. And so that moment, though, was like the suffering became bigger than the fear of change and then the comfort zone and so really catapulted me into this healing journey of many layers of healing, physically, emotionally, energetically, hormonally, you know, building self-worth, learning like, how to actually love myself and and heal things like people-pleasing and really completely reshape my identity. And that's really what birthed my business was, oh my gosh, if I struggled with this to the level I did, how many other women are struggling, and it's 90% of the female population in North America, by the way, struggling with some form of emotional eating behaviors or body image issue, and it just really inspired me. I'm like, I went through that because I am here to help women heal and break free of this for good. It's not supposed to be oh, well, maybe you'll manage it and it'll come back sometimes. No, like, I help my clients fully gain freedom from this, which is what we should be able to do if we really address the roots.Lesley Logan 8:33  Yeah. I mean, especially because, like, I have friends who've been sober for years, and they can be in a bar with you, they can be you can like, they like, you know. And so I always thought like, if someone who could have such a destructive behavior addiction with alcohol or drugs can be around it and not tempted, then that should be there should be a little about food. But the thing that like struck my attention, I think we can a lot of your gut is an an interesting beast, because what you feed it, it starts to crave, and so I like and at a young age, if what you're feeding it is processed foods and sugar, and you don't know better, because you're just doing whatever like it's allowed. You're changing your microbiome. And then what it is, it is telling you you're craving. So you've got your own stuff in your own head that you've got, you've got the outside world who's put pressure on you, good or bad, and then you've got your gut going, but I really want those Oreo cookies, like I'm not gonna stop until I get what I need, because my the bacteria in my gut is saying. Amber Romaniuk 9:33  Feed me. Eat me. Lesley Logan 9:34  Yes, yeah. So I find, like, I really do feel for people where they don't have this freedom, because it is almost all encompassing, like here you were telling a story about 22 like you, you can't, can't really grow in any career or relationship or life with this kind of thing going on around here in your brain.Amber Romaniuk 9:56  No, no, I was broke. My bank account was always in the red. I was single. I was isolating. I didn't want to see anyone because I didn't want people to notice I'd gained weight, and I felt so triggered when I go out and be around people in food that it was just like, there's just no point in doing anything, but you're right, like, and that's where I think so many people keep in these behaviors, because we're not taught and educated that with binge and emotional eating to whatever level you're dealing with, there's not just emotional eating triggers. There's physical emotional eating triggers like candida overgrowth. There's hormonal imbalances that trigger emotional eating. Being a sensitive empath triggers emotion like there's so many different things to potentially look at, and I didn't know any of that until I started healing it. And then, of course, one of the blocks with candida that unhealthy gut overgrowth is, you look at a lot of the protocols, and they're like, cut out all this stuff. And while, if you're in a binge or emotional eating behavior, restriction is a massive trigger to rebel with food and then go eat all the things you're not supposed to have. So there is, in my opinion, a like, approach and a method to healing your relationship with food while supporting your gut and then clearing that stuff out without intensive restriction that you don't end up like going back. But the gut and the cravings, I had the worst candida that, like I did a test that they had ever seen. No wonder, antibiotics, excessive sugar intake, high stress levels, like, the cravings were so bad. So I totally get what you're talking about with.Lesley Logan 11:21  Yeah, yeah. So, like, so I want to kind of fast forward, because, like, obviously, like, in your 20s, you're able to go on the journey. But we get we get older, and if we you brought up hormones and gut health, and it's like, so most of people listening are in their 40s, and by the way, it's never too late to figure out your health journey, loves, but with perimenopause, like it's going to hit every woman who's listening, and the few good men that are listening, it's going to hit every woman that you know. So you may as well don't tune out, because you got to know what's going on so you can be supportive. How, how does a binge or, like, emotional eating, people pleasing, lifestyle affect perimenopause. Is it like just gonna continue to be the same and everyone who goes to the same perimenopause is gonna make perimenopause worse? Like, what? What should we be looking at? Amber Romaniuk 12:11  Yeah, good question. Likely it's going to make your perimenopause experience worse. And here's the thing, if you never had your hormones tested, ever or not in your 20s or your 30s, mid 30s, you could have had deficiencies in your 20s. I was playing post menopausal at 24 from all the stuff I had put my body through, I had no progesterone. My estrogen was through the roof. My thyroid was a mess. I had the highest cortisol stress hormone that, again, like the test people had ever seen. So and that was in when I was 24 and then I course corrected it, thank goodness. And then, you know, perimenopause has been easier going into it, but it's it's going to potentially be more difficult, because if you have had deficiencies with your hormones for years and you don't know about them, guess what? Things really start to change when you hit that 35 to 37 mark, going into your 40s. And so if you're already fatigued, if you have already retained water, gained weight more easily. You already have a thyroid issue, right? You're putting yourself last like these issues amplify, because our cortisol starts to gradually go up once we hit perimenopause. We start to see more depletion with progesterone and estrogen or for some women, it's skyrocketing because of gut flora issues, too many toxins in the body. And like I said along a lot of women have a thyroid issue and don't even realize they do or it's not being properly dealt with, and our thyroid hormones start to kind of can start to move in the wrong direction. If we're not paying attention, our inflammatory load goes up. We need enough progesterone, which is one of our sex hormones, to combat inflammation, which will show up in the body in the forms of redness, heat, swelling, retention is one of the biggest ones. I see like your rings fit tighter, your bra strap fits tighter. Your face feels puffy, but if we don't have enough progesterone, we can't combat that inflammation, and so you will feel like your clothes are fitting tighter. All your old tricks you used to use to help you lose or maintain weight don't work the same anymore. So if you're trying to diet or cut calories or burn calories, and it's not working, it's because there's so much more to look at here that the body's like, no, there's a lot.Lesley Logan 14:11  Thank you for bringing that up. Because, like, I'm a Pilates instructor and I have an on demand platform, and one of the things we do not say is weight loss. It's on purpose, because science is the science is there. I wish the media would get part of it, which is like, yeah, you can work out, and it can support a journey, but it isn't the journey. And so I actually cannot claim that Pilates will help you with anything other than, like, muscle strength, mobility, like the things that, like, I know from experience. But as far as, like, what the scale does, that, that that is all, most of those hormones, and then what you're eating, and then, you know, implement all this other stuff. And I just really pains me because I I don't do the show, because I think anyone needs to change their body in any way that's to me, like, you know, what I do think is you need to be the strongest person you can be for the people you do love like that is important. Life is not easy if you're weak, you know, but, but I think like knowing our bodies, like understanding like how our hormone health can affect our ability to show up in this world, like this is podcast called Be It Till You See It. And like, everything you're bringing up is like talking about how our bodies are going to go through harder things if we're not taking care of it. And then you, doesn't matter what your goals are, doesn't matter if you want to be a writer, author, you know, coach anything. Because if you if your gut is telling you stuff, if it's causing your body to produce or not produce hormones, then you're and you are then having other issues with maybe how you're eating, it's going to affect everything. Amber Romaniuk 15:45  Oh, yeah, 100%. Well and here's another thing, right? Progesterone. We need enough progesterone to help us produce GABA, to help with falling asleep and with helping to produce serotonin when your mood-boosting neurotransmitters. So when women say, I don't feel like myself, we've got to look at what's going on in the gut, the hormones. But then we also have to look at where are you on your priority list? Because most women are last or close to last, because it's their comfort zone to put everyone else first. But then this is where it really hits us hard in perimenopause, because again, you're starting to have these depletions happen, or maybe they've been happening for a long time, and this is where they really get loud and will pronounce specific symptoms or things that are just not so easy to resolve like they used to be.Lesley Logan 16:26  Yeah, yeah. And we have a thing we say, like, self-care is, isn't selfish, like, it's, it's actually, I actually think it's quite selfish if you do not prioritize yourself first, I think you're actually, like, you know, trying to think that you're a bigger deal than you are, and then you get mad at people and really, like, actually, if you take care of yourself first, if you are the one who's going to sleep, if you're asking your partner, like, hey, I'll do the wake ups, but you do the like, these kinds of things, then you actually can have more love and more energy and more to give people. But if you don't, then you're actually going to be a drain on them. You're actually going to cause them to have to take care of you sooner. So let's talk to the people who maybe are already in perimenopause or after menopause. Is it too late for them? Yeah, okay, let's get into that. Amber Romaniuk 17:11  Yeah. No, definitely not too late. I think what you have to remind yourself is that your body's always trying to heal. It doesn't matter where you are in your life cycle. I have helped women with all of this from their 20s to their 80s, and they've seen things balance and regulate. So your body's always trying to heal, but we have to look at what's in the way of the healing, and how are you in your own way, and how is your mindset and your habits and behaviors in the way? Right? So I think one of the biggest things we have to look at first is, what kind of relationship do you have with food, and what kind of relationship do you have with yourself? And while we're looking at that, you've got to get your hormones tested. And here's something that I see with especially North America. But you may say, oh yeah, I went to my doctor. They did the testing. They said, everything's fine. It's not my hormones or it's just once you're a certain age, there's nothing you can do, so you just have to deal with it. And I will tell you no to both of those with all due respect. Number one, the ranges for testing in North America are far too big. In my opinion, they're probably triple to quadruple what they should be, and they're making them bigger. So a lot of women will have imbalances in the normal ranges. I did myself. And the second thing is, like I said earlier, your body's always trying to heal, but it's just finding the right people to work with to help you pinpoint what's going on and helping you connect your symptoms to your habits to your test results. And then what steps do we need to start taking to regulate things? Now we've been conditioned like do a test. Take a supplement. Now testing is very important information, and vitamins can be a great part of your healing journey, but it can turn into a quick fix if you think all you need is a few supplements to course correct this, okay, because what we're not asking ourselves is, why did I end up with severe adrenal fatigue in the first place, which is where your cortisol gets way too high? How did I end up with hypothyroid, underactive, sluggish thyroid, or Hashimotos, the autoimmune condition in the first place? Why is my progesterone so low? What kind of cycles have I been having in my 20s, 30s? Was it easy to get pregnant? What? What kind of, you know, menopausal symptoms Am I having? Like, we need to start asking, why, and not just, oh, I got a result. Now I'm taking this vitamin. How come it's not changing? Lesley Logan 19:15  I love this. Amber Romaniuk 19:17  Well again, like, I think supplements can become a quick fix. Like, oh yeah. Like, I, in the DMs all the time, people are like, what's just tell me what supplement to take. I'm like, number one, I can't do that because it's illegal for me to do so. Number two, you're missing the point. Like, we've got to look at your lifestyle and everything. It's not just a hormone test and then a supplement. If you don't change the habits and the behaviors, you're just going to get pissed off at your practitioner that they didn't help you and that it's not working when, right? We need to get all of it. All of it.Lesley Logan 19:46  I couldn't agree more. Years ago, I was going through some crazy digestive issues. People who've been listening for a while know about this. I, like, cr-, like horrible just would wake up every morning like the like, a flat stomach no iflammation. Would go to bed every night look like, I was, like, eight months pregnant. Just, like, just terrible. I even took pictures, because I was like, Is this in my head? Like, am I making this up? Like, and I would like, find myself looking at people well, they ate dinner, and they look the same after they eat dinner. I eat dinner, I don't look the same. Like, what is going on? And I went through so many different doctors, and I could get zero help. They just want to call it IBS. And I'm like, I refuse that label, sir, because that label is nothing that just is, like, it's zero. It just means I this is what I have and like, so I bought so I, like, walked off of that, and I paid for this guy to take these tests. And he actually worked with a lot of athletes and celebrities and helps them either gain or lose weight for roles or for a lot of athletes. It's like, I was hitting goal goals before, and now I'm not. And he he can look at their what's going on their blood, and then he can go, okay, well, what changed? Right? He's like, oh, I was really stressed out, so I took up oil paintings. Like, where are you oil painting? He's like, in my room. He's like, let's not do that. That's why there's lead in your, you go, oil painting outside, sir. Like, you know, anyway, so going back to him does a test, and he goes, technically, all a lot of these things are in range, but let's explain in range in the States, at least, I don't know if it's the rest of the world. It's not my area of expertise. They take, they took a bunch of people, and then they dropped the first two and a half percent and the last two and a half percent, and they called that a range, yeah, but we actually don't know if that range is optimal for everybody or that body. And so I really test any doctors I work with. If they say, oh, you're in range, you're good. I actually wait for them to say, but while you're in range, you're not in range for like a really do wait to see, like, are they gonna qualify this? Because I don't feel good. And so I don't care that my B12 is in range, I feel low. I feel low energy. And so, so I work, work with someone recently who was like, okay, these levels are in range, but they they might be low for you. So we will put you on this. But we also have to wait for these tests to come back to figure out what caused this in the first place. I was like, ding, ding, ding, you pass the test, and sure enough, there's something going on in my gut. It's been going on for a long time. We were able to tame a lot of it, but I had a parasite, I had a couple other bad bacterias, and so those things are affecting my body's ability to produce the hormones it should be able to do on its own in this moment, you know. So I think, like for everyone listening, it's okay to change doctors. It's hard, especially if you live in the States, I'm not going to say it's easy. I'm not going to say it's cheap. I'm not going to say that any of that. But you have to advocate for yourself. Amber Romaniuk 22:27  You do. You have to advocate for yourself. You can't be afraid to get second opinions. And I think something that we have been like, especially here in Canada, because, quote, unquote, we have free health care doesn't mean it's good. Hey, because you get five minutes, you get one thing, they'll flip through your blood work, everything's fine, see you later, right? That's not healthcare. So one thing that I'm always saying is we need to recondition ourselves to normalize investing in our health, to be willing to spend money investing in the vessel that is literally carrying you through every moment of your life. You have no problem spending $1,500 on an iPhone, spending money on this and that and that and this and this and this and this. But then people get triggered, going, that's expensive for my health. Why do I have to pay for that? And it's like, where is the normalization of that? And so, so part of it is getting secondary opinions and being willing to save or to put money into investing in your health, because it's everything and unfortunate, like, I think it's going to change, but as things stand right now, you get very little from your primary care unless they're a very good, very thorough doctor, which, there are some out there. But I've cut out the middleman with all my clients. Yeah, I do the testing with all of them, because I'm tired of half the doctors being like, you don't need that. Who's ordering it? Why do you want this? You're not in that age range. You look fine. You don't need this test. And and the doctor questioning them, and then the other half doing them, and then, yes, scanning through and saying, everything's fine. And then I say, bring that to me. Let's look at it. And I'm like, I'm seeing some stuff that, you know, I can understand why you're having the symptoms you are. Lesley Logan 23:52  Right because that's, that's the thing. It's like, it's someone reading and listening. So there's like, the I can look at the paperwork, and I can say, okay, this person should be fine, but if I'm hearing you say I'm tired, and I go, okay, well, you're in range, but this is kind of, this is on the lower of the range. Yeah, that's probably why you're tired. Let's or we could try it out, like there's, like, we can try these different things out, and they can test it. Is called a practice, they could. So, I mean, the joke is, like, I pay a fuck ton of money for health insurance here, and I get the same response from a doctor, so I, too, had to pay out. But I there's a there's a study that says, like, women are more likely to pay for these things, and I think it is, it is changing, because a lot of women are going I don't have to put up with this anymore. I don't have to, don't have to with my mother's menopause. I don't have to, like, hide in a corner and just go well, this is me now, and this is how it's going to be, and I'm just going to have to have these sweats. It's like, no, there's, there is studies out there, and the more women voice their concerns and do their research and demand from their professionals that that's what they want, it is going to change things. I do believe that we can change these things. So any habits or tips that we should consider when it comes to our hormone health and our digestive health that our listeners can take away with you?Amber Romaniuk 25:12  100% so I think one of the first things is start getting into a mindful eating practice, disconnecting from technology, phones, computers, and actually sitting and eating your food mindfully, you'll digest better, and you'll be more aware of what physical and emotional satiation feels like. When you're eating and you're multitasking, number one, you're not in digest and rest mode, you're not going to digest properly. Number two, a lot of women I work with also binge or emotionally eat, and then they finish their food and they're like, oh, but I finished that really, like, I want something else, because they weren't present and they weren't present and they weren't paying attention, and so that you'll never be emotionally satiated when you're not paying attention. And so they pick through the cupboard, and then they overeat, and then they're hard on themselves. So that helps with that, and it starts to help you what is full feel like. A lot of women don't know that either, and so knowing fullness is also important to prevent overeating. So I think that's important. Getting enough sleep as you get into perimenopause, and I know you can be awake from 12 to four in the morning because your progesterone's still low, your thyroid is off, your blood sugar's off, right? So get your hormones tested. However, also practice good sleep hygiene, ideally disconnecting from technology 15 to 30 minutes before bed, getting to sleep before 11 pm optimal hormone balance is trying to happen between 11 pm and 1 am and if we're trying to be a night owl or you're binge watching TV, like, these habits are not going to help you make perimenopause or menopause easier. I also think for most women, and this is in my experience, because most of them are dealing with hypothyroid, high cortisol, progesterone issues, etc, through peri and menopause, fasting until you get your hormone test done, and if everything looks really good, maybe that's going to work for you. But stop skipping meals. Stop skipping breakfast. You're going to make things go in the wrong direction. Eating regularly through the day is very important for blood sugar stability, because when we start to get into those perimenopause and menopause phases, our blood sugar can get a lot more sensitive, and deciding to skip breakfast because I want to lose weight or because I don't feel hungry will actually just make that worse, and it can suppress your metabolism more easily. If you're not hungry in the morning, it's either because you have a hunger hormone imbalance or a thyroid issue. So we need to investigate, again, what is going on. It's not normal to not be hungry, and if we assume I'm not hungry, I shouldn't eat. And then, you know, you're tired, your blood sugar's crashing. You're gaining weight, whatever's going on. This is, unfortunately, you know, innocent assumptions that are fueling more stress with the hormones. So eating regularly through the day, ideally eating something small within 30 minutes of waking up to wake up your gut, your blood sugar, metabolism, getting everything going, and then obviously food's gonna look a little different for everyone. But again, trying to eat as close to nature as possible, less processed food, protein, oh my gosh. Women don't eat enough protein or fat. Fat is our friend. We need enough fat to balance our hormones and to lose weight and energy mental clarity, so starting to feel safe enough eating enough and carbohydrates are also safe. But I'm talking like fruits, veggies, starchy vegetables. Some will make new grain. Some can't. But like, we need carbohydrates. All these diets and eating styles that are like, cut carbs, don't know we need enough. And here's one specific example, if you have cortisol issues so high or low cortisol, adrenal fatigue, burnout is a common like, way of people saying it, where you're exhausted and you're gaining weight in the abdomen, you're puffy. Cutting carbs will make that so much worse. And so this is where it comes back to get your health assessed, get your hormones tested, get your gut assessed, work with someone who can look at your whole picture, physically, mentally, emotionally, and then help advise you on the best way to eat in support of helping your hormones and gut balance, helping heal your relationship with food. I learned that the hard way. I cut out a bunch of carbs when I was trying to heal my gut. It it my hormones were a mess. I gained a ton of weight, and I wasn't binge eating, right? So it's innocent. You're trying to just fix things, but then you don't know what's going on, and it just makes something worse. So, yeah.Lesley Logan 28:57  Yeah, it's so I mean, because here's the thing, like, for most people listening, you know, your elder, millennial, young Gen X, and we were raised on the no fat, sugar-free things, right? And so you you got sub subconsciously, you're right. Like, fat is not your friend, and it's like, your brain really likes it. And like, I so, but I found is I'm not someone who, like, counts anything, I try, really, really hard to just go, like, is there protein happening every time I'm gonna eat? Is there like, literally, protein on every plate. And then I'm, like, happily excited for cheese, avocados. Like, bring it on, you know? But I had a girlfriend who was like, just try this thing out. And I was like, I'll just see what she's doing every day. I was like, I'm not getting enough carbs. What is going on, and I had to, like, and be intentional about it. And I was like, no wonder I don't have enough energy at the end of the day. I'm not pull I have not fueling myself to have energy in the day. You know, it was, it was while I quit after, like, that realization. I was like, well, at least I know now, like, what's going on, I just wasn't getting enough fuel, and it's it can be very difficult. Our lives are very busy and so, like, it's not easy to set yourself up for success with food, but I find Brad and I, I find, whenever we actually like batch cook the protein, we both are much better the whole week.Amber Romaniuk 30:18  Totally, 100% because it's the key foundational food that is keeping your blood sugar regulated, right? And you can't eat the raw protein. You have to cook it. So it's like, you can't just throw it in a bowl with some spices and some avocado, yeah, but it gets easier to build those habits over time, like food prep, right? It's all about muscle building, and it's a slow process, so be patient with your progress. It will shift, and then you get to have this much more aligned lifestyle habits and behaviors that are going to support you through perimenopause and menopause much easier if you're patient and you don't see it as a quick fix and you actually see it as a lifestyle changes.Lesley Logan 30:55  Yeah, okay. Can we talk about the quick fix, though? Because I think that that's like, easier said than done, and I feel like you are an expert in this, because you had to retrain yourself. How, how did you like retrain yourself to be patient for the results you were looking for? Amber Romaniuk 31:10  Yeah. Okay, good question. So, trial and error, right? Going back and forth and continuing to fail and remind myself, oh yeah, this quick fix stuff isn't working because I keep ending back in the same spot, a lot of affirmations and like subliminal, subconscious mind reprogramming, I think building a self-care practice where I started to see the value in slowing down, prioritizing my needs and bringing like, meditation and things where I had to, like, slow down and be still, helped me practice the feeling of patience in my body. And then as I started to feel better and experience the results, I'm like, oh yeah, patience. This is why I need to be patient. Because what we have to look back on is, if I've been struggling with these symptoms or these behaviors or fatigue or whatever it is for years or decades, I've got to understand that it's going to take more than a week, a month, like a few months, to fully shift this potentially, because it's years and decades of the ladder, right? So constant reminders, and then over time, it becomes more of your natural state of being. And yes, sometimes we get impatient. However, we have to remind ourselves there's so much value in allowing ourselves to be on the journey. There's lessons, there's growth, there's evolution as you are as a human, right, and a woman on this planet. And so I think it's just so important to understand like your healing journey is one of the most valuable journeys you can choose to go on, because it's going to help you grow and evolve in ways you can't imagine right now. And becoming in tune and learning how to listen to your body is the most powerful gift you can give yourself, because once you know how to listen, you know what you need, and you can have your team of people, in case there's something you can't figure out to get that assistance from, but you feel powerful and confident and you're unstoppable, and that allows you to live the most powerful, high quality of life and reach your goals and have better relationships and everything, because you feel empowered and you learn and you trust your body. And I just think that's priceless. Lesley Logan 33:01  So good. Amber, so good. Okay, well, I could talk to you forever, but we're gonna take a brief break and find out people can find you, follow you, work with you. Lesley Logan 33:11  Where do you like to hang out, Amber? Where can people connect with you? If this was like, speaking to them and they're like, yeah, this woman gets me, where can they go?Amber Romaniuk 33:18  Yeah. So you can go to the website, amberapproved.ca if you want to learn more about body freedom, take the free emotional eating quiz. If you're wondering if you're struggling, or if you want to book a 30 minute consultation, it's complimentary. We can connect and talk about whatever is going on for you, hormones, gut, emotional eating. I work with people all over the world, so it doesn't matter where you're located. And the podcast is called the No Sugarcoating Podcast. If you liked our conversation, you'll love over 500 episodes. And then I'm on social, YouTube and Instagram, and it's my name, Amber Romaniuk, R-O-M-A-N-I-U-K.Lesley Logan 33:48  Wonderful. You've actually given us a ton already. So thank you for that. But you know, for our peeps who are like, I'm obsessed, but okay, where do I start first? Or what should I do next? Or what should I be thinking about? The bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us? Amber Romaniuk 34:04  Yeah, I think the first thing is, what symptoms are you experiencing right now? Put it in a piece of paper, and on a scale of one to 10, if you have low energy, 10 being I have good energy, one's really bad, where are you rating yourself? Start being aware of the intensity of your symptoms, because that's going to allow you to go, oh, maybe because I have fatigue, I need to really emphasize that to my doctor, or whomever I'm going to reach out to like when you know your symptoms and you can communicate that it is going to help you get the answers and the support to resolve those things. Second, build a self-care routine. I know we're all busy, but if you've got time to be on scrolling on your phone, watching TV, you've got time to build a self-care practice. Start with five to 10 minutes, a few days a week, even if it's just sitting or slowing down and practicing the art of doing nothing, because in order to balance your hormones, you've got to slow down and regulate your nervous system. I think the last thing is, be patient and compassionate with yourself. Try to build a friendship with your body. She's not working against you. She's trying to help you, but we just haven't been taught how to work with our bodies.Lesley Logan 35:05  So good, so good. Amber, thank you so much. Thank you, I learned, I got so inspired. I also got reminded of so many things. I learned so many things. I'm super excited about this. I know our listeners are going to have to share this with several of their friends. So thank you for being here and sharing your amazingness with us. You guys, how are you guys. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Tag Amber. Tag he Be It Pod, send this to a girlfriend who needs it, one who's been tired a long time and or going, I've got to do this. I'm going to do this. And you just feel them doing a lot and not listening to their bodies enough. This might be the message they need to hear. So until next time, Be It Till You See It.Lesley Logan 35:39  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 36:21  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 36:26  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 36:31  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 36:38  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 36:41  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us for our Histamine and Hormones Training on September 28th!Why do some women feel amazing during certain phases of their cycle while others feel absolutely wrecked?In this episode, I'm joined by Michelle Shapiro, RD, a functional dietitian who works with clients navigating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and histamine issues. She also lives with MCAS herself, bringing both professional insight and personal experience to the table.Why do histamine flares hit hardest right when hormones shift? Tune in as we break down the menstrual cycle, step by step, and look at how mast cells and histamines interact with rising and falling hormones. The patterns aren't always what you'd expect, and tracking them can change everything about how you handle symptoms.You'll Learn:The role of mast cells in the immune system and why histamine release can trigger so many symptomsThe link between rising estrogen and increased histamine releaseWhy people with histamine issues can have paradoxical hormone symptomsHow long histamines actually stay in your system, and ways to avoid long-term sufferingWhat happens when conditions like POTS and hypermobility overlap with histamine issues during the cyclePractical strategies for tracking cycle patterns to spot histamine-driven flaresThe debate around antihistamines, pregnancy, and de-stigmatizing medication for symptom reliefWhy lowering histamines must come before deeper root-cause work like gut or mineral protocolsThe connection between histamines, mast cells, and endometriosisTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[10:17] How estrogen and histamine interact to trigger symptoms during the menstrual cycle[13:53] How progesterone and luteal phase shifts trigger unexpected symptoms in histamine, POTS, and hypermobility clients[21:47] Tracking cycles and temperatures to spot patterns and histamine flares[25:53] Using antihistamines and other strategies to manage flares and reduce stigma around medication[48:09] Understanding the immune system's role in endometriosis and its connection to histamine and progesteroneListen to Other Hormone Healing Episodes with Michelle:MCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 1 | Listen HereMCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 2 | Listen HereThe Root Cause of Reflux | Listen HereResources Mentioned:Ovia Cycle-tracking App | WebsiteNatural Cycles Fertility Awareness App | WebsiteOura Ring | WebsiteTempdrop Wearable Sensor | WebsiteRead Your Body App | WebsitePodcast with Nina Boyce on Fertility Awareness Method | PodcastFind more from Michelle:Michelle Shapiro RD | InstagramMichelle Shapiro RD | WebsiteMichelle Shapiro Nutrition | YouTubeFind more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok

In this episode of the Optimal Body Podcast, physical therapists Doc Jen and Doctor Dom, both Doctors of Physical Therapy, discuss how postpartum women can safely return to strength training while breastfeeding. They explain the hormonal changes after birth and their effects on mood, energy, and physical recovery. The hosts share practical health tips for hydrations, nutrition, and gradual exercise progression, emphasizing core and pelvic floor stability in early postpartum stages. Personal experiences and strategies for accountability are highlighted, along with the importance of patience and individualized approaches. The episode offers encouragement and evidence-based advice to help new moms regain strength and support their health during the postpartum period.VivoBarefoot Discount:Support your feet and ankles with VivoBarefoot shoes—with perfect styles for any occasion! Boost foot health through mobility and strength from the ground up. Use code OPTIMAL20 for 20% off. 100-day trial included—return if you're not satisfied!Needed Discount:Jen trusted Needed Supplements for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond! Support men and women's health with vitamins, Omega-3, and more. Used by 6,000+ pros. Use code OPTIMAL for 20% off at checkout!Strong Healthy JointsThis program is a powerhouse in helping build muscle mass and improve your bone density! Come grab our listener bonus discount on Strong Healthy Joints using code OPTIMAL10 at checkout!We think you'll love:Strong Healthy Joints CourseBeWell By Kelly ProteinJen's InstagramDom's InstagramYouTube ChannelWhat You Will Learn:02:15 Hormonal Shifts Postpartum03:17 Calorie Deficit & Mindset Shift05:40 Prolactin and Its Effects06:53 Oxytocin and Maternal Bonding07:50 Estrogen Drop and Bone Health09:19 Progesterone...For full show notes and resources visit https://jen.health/podcast/426

Hey sister! Today we are replaying #5 of the most downloaded episodes of all time! In this episode, I break down five powerful ways to naturally support your progesterone… and flood you with some Biblical encouragement to remind you that your identity and purpose goes far beyond a positive pregnancy test. I also discuss how to increase your progesterone levels naturally without immediately jumping into medications or IVF. Maybe you've had a miscarriage or you suspect low progesterone and want to understand what's going on inside your body, and most importantly, what you can do about it.    Episode Highlights: What progesterone actually does in your cycle and early pregnancy How the corpus luteum and HCG interact to sustain a healthy pregnancy Specific prayers to speak over your body and cycle Lifestyle changes that really support hormone balance Why being still before God (Psalm 46:10) matters more than you think Plus, I'm reminding you that your purpose is to glorify God, whether you're a mama now or still waiting. You are not forgotten. He is sovereign over your womb, your hormones, your future baby, and every part of your story.    Resources & Links: ✨If you're curious about your personal hormone health, take my free Hormone Quiz: bekahyawn.com/quiz ✨ Join Fertility Framework: If you're ready for deeper support, personalized cycle guidance, and faith-filled encouragement, come join me inside Fertility Framework! This is a space where you AND your husband can learn about the science of your cycle while keeping God in the centre of your fertility journey and growing towards Him together. Read the testimonies & enroll here: www.bekahyawn.com/course  ✨If you would like personal support on your journey but are not sure how to get started, book a free 10-minute consult with me here: www.bekahyawn.com/consult ✨ I've put together a free faith-filled booklet to help guide you through this journey. It's called Faith-Driven Fertility, and it's full of practical steps and encouragement for trusting God while supporting your body for conception.

Hormone replacement therapy can be a game-changer for midlife women, but there are some very common mistakes that I frequently see watering down the positive effects of hormone therapy for midlife women.  Let's talk about 10 of them so that you're able to make a plan for you that will give you all the benefits that matter to you.Take my Udemy Course about the basics of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for some basic empowering knowledgeSend me a message: healthcouragecollective@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, or ideas of things you need help with.Visit my website: www.healthcouragecollective.comfor free resources and upcoming programsAre you ready to give your cells their best chance to not have to stop living before they die by allowing them access to physiologic levels of hormones, but aren't sure how to even get started?  Join the waitlist for my new beta program here and help me figure out how best to help wonderful women like you get the hormone care they deserve!Come visit me: www.healthcouragecollective.comemail me: healthcouragecollective@gmail.com

Is today the day you're on the couch, with cramps and moody, wondering, “Why do I feel like this every month?”You may have been told OR have self-diagnosed that your progesterone is imbalanced, so today we're talking about how you can get to the bottom of the progesterone puzzle and start to see less mood swings, less spotting, and longer, more predictable cycles. We'll talk about what progesterone is, why it matters, and how to make more without giving into fads and wasting money on the next magic hormone gummy. You'll learn:[04:20] How to tell if your progesterone is actually low, or just misunderstood[06:37] Why timing matters so much when it comes to hormone testing[09:44] What to focus on first if you want to support your body naturally I'm not here to tell you to try harder. I'm here to show you how very intentional shifts can make your body feel safe enough to do what it was designed to do.So grab your drink, hit play, and let's talk about what your body's been trying to tell you, and how you can start listening with compassion, not panic.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)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

Are you or someone you know grappling with unexpected mood swings or unexplained anxiety? Could progesterone, often touted as "nature's chill pill," be the surprising culprit? This episode dives deep into the perplexing world of progesterone sensitivity and its profound impact on mental health. Why do some women experience the exact opposite of calm when exposed to this hormone? Join us as we challenge conventional hormone treatments and uncover the hidden effects of progesterone on the brain. How can trauma amplify hormone sensitivity, particularly during the luteal phase? What role do natural remedies and holistic solutions play in managing these challenges? Ready to explore the potential of functional medicine in addressing hormone sensitivity? What innovative strategies, like the ketogenic diet, could offer relief and stability? Tune in to hear personal stories and expert insights that will empower you to advocate for your health! In this episode, we uncover: How progesterone sensitivity affects mood disorders and why it's more than a mental health issue. Why trauma can worsen hormone sensitivity and what can be done about it. The role of the ketogenic diet in balancing neurotransmitters for those with PMDD. How transdermal progesterone can be a game-changer for some women. Why personalized hormone therapy is crucial and how to find what works for you. Don't miss this enlightening episode that sheds light on the balance between hormones and mental health. Listen now to uncover the keys to understanding and managing progesterone sensitivity!     Sponsors Timeline is offering 20% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/HORMONE20 and use coupon HORMONE20 and get 20% off your order.  Coupon KM20 to get 20% off your order of Vitali Skin Care! Get 40% off your Cozy Earth Bed Sheet with coupon code HORMONES     Are you in peri or post menopause and looking to optimize your hormones and health? At Hormone Solutions, we offer telemedicine services and can prescribe in every U.S. state, as well as in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario in Canada.   Visit karenmartel.com to explore our comprehensive programs: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Individualized Weight Loss Programs  Peptide Therapy for weight loss    Interested in our NEW Peptide Weight Loss Program? Join today and get all the details here.   Join our Women's Peri and Post Menopause Group Coaching Program, OnTrack, TODAY!   To our nursing audience members, our podcasts qualify for nursing CE @ RNegade.pro. Provide # CEP17654.   Your host: Karen Martel Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert   Karen's Facebook Karen's Instagram

Dr. Tara Scott shares insights on best practices when it comes to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. This episode is a bit controversial, so if you're curious, skeptical, or struggling with hormone issues yourself, this one's for you.New episodes of Welcome to Wellness released every Friday!Not listening on Spotify? Show notes at: https://www.ashleydeeley.com/w2w/hormoneguruEpisode brought to you by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ARAZA Beauty⁠⁠Episode brought to you by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ VieLight⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Code: DEELEY102:20: Healing from Endometriosis4:58: Why Bioidentical Hormones Matter7:34: Preventing Heart Disease 10:35: Hormones & Weight Gain Explained13:08: Estrogen's Role in Weight Loss15:54: Estrogen vs. Progesterone Balance20:21: Progesterone vs Progestin24:08: Why Women Need Testosterone32:20: Hormone Care & Monitoring33:28: Testing Your Hormone Levels36:09: Natural Ways to Boost Testosterone38:51: Saffron for mood improvement39:02: Herbs for Perimenopause Relief & PMS relief (Magnesium, Fish Oil, 5-HTP, rhodiola, ashwagandha!)39:33: Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Guide44:30: Oral vs. Transdermal Estrogen46:52: Mimicking Your Natural Hormone Cycle52:21: Finding the Right DoctorWhere to find Dr Tara Scott:⁠Website ⁠⁠Instagram⁠YouTubeAddress: 3634 W Market St Suite 104,Fairlawn, OH 44333Phone: (855) 956-5629Where to find Ashley Deeley:⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠hello@ashleydeeley.com

In this episode of Thyroid Mystery Solved, Inna welcomes back the brilliant Dr. Felice Gersh for a conversation that takes Hashimoto's and hormones to a whole new level. Together, they dive deep into the role of estrogen and progesterone in regulating the immune system, inflammation, and thyroid health. Most people have only heard the basics about these hormones, but as Dr. Gersh explains, the story goes far beyond reproduction. From Hashimoto's flares that appear around menstrual cycles to the critical impact of hormones during perimenopause and menopause, this discussion unpacks what most doctors never tell their patients and you are going to be amazed!Dr. Gersh also shines a light on how misconceptions about hormones, especially progesterone, have shaped conventional medicine and why so many women are left without the support they truly need. This episode is part one of a two-part series, and it is filled with insights that will completely change the way you think about hormones and Hashimoto's.----------For full show notes, please see https://innatopiler.com/podcasts/connection-progesterone-estrogen-and-hashimotos-dr-felice-gersh/Get ThyroLove - the first all in one bottle multi-nutrient comprehensive formula designed specifically for those with Hashimoto's at ThyroLove.com - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping For more information about everything Hashimoto's please visit InnaTopiler.comIf you are struggling to lose weight with Hashimoto's, Inna has a 10 day plan just for you at InnaTopiler.com/jumpstartIf you need help with fatigue or brain fog with Hashimoto's, please check out Inna's 9 Day Exhaustion Solution at innatopiler.com/energyIf you don't yet know your thyroid type, please be sure you sign up for Inna's next free training at InnaTopiler.com/zoomcall

Dr. Erika Schwartz is a pioneer in the use of bio-identical hormones for preventing illness and their direct link to overall wellness, as well as their interconnection with diet, sleep, and stress management. She joins the show to discuss the world of hormones: what's lifestyle-driven, what's hormone-based, and how to know the difference. She breaks down the powerful role of estrogen (including topical use) to the balancing effects of progesterone, the impact of testosterone, thyroid, and adrenal health, in addition to each of these players' effects on energy, mood, metabolism, and longevity. We also cover PCOS, when it may be time to start HRT, and the best timing for blood work to get accurate results. Whether you're curious about optimizing hormones for the first time or deep in research, this conversation brings clarity to a confusing space—merging science with real-life application.This episode is brought to you by YNAB, Ned, Puori, Just Thrive, LMNT, Hungry Root, and Fatty 15:YNAB: Listeners of Well can claim an exclusive three-month free trial with no credit card required at www.YNAB.com/wellNed: Get 20% off your first order by visiting www.foriawellness.com/BLONDE or use code BLONDE at checkoutPuori: Get 20% off when you visit by exclusive URL www.puori.com/BLONDE and use my promo code BLONDE at checkoutJust Thrive: Visit www.justthrivehealth.com/discount/well and save 20% on your first 90 day bottle of Just Thrive probiotic with promo code WELLLMNT: Right now LMNT is offering a free sample pack with any purchase. This deal is only available by visiting my link www.drinklmnt.com/WELLHungry Root: Visit www.hungryroot.com/blonde and use code blonde for 40% off your first box PLUS a free item in every box for life. Fatty 15: You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to www.fatty15.com/WELL and using code WELL at checkout.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's pretty obvious that our healthcare system is not helping midlife women thrive.  The limited and often suppressed information available to women is confusing enough on its own.  Then once you finally dive in and make some sense of how you want to approach your hormonal health, why is it so hard to find a good prescriber to work with?Take my Udemy Course about the basics of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for some basic empowering knowledge.send me a message: healthcouragecollective@gmail.comVisit my website for freebies, updates, upcoming programs, etc: www.healthcouragecollective.comProviders certified in Physiologic Restoration Hormone Therapy : https://womenshormonenetwork.org/find-a-provider/World Link Medical Hormone Replacement Certified Providers:https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results I don't know about BHRT Training Academy, but they have a provider directory here: https://bhrttrainingacademy.com/directory/Are you ready to give your cells their best chance to not have to stop living before they die by allowing them access to physiologic levels of hormones, but aren't sure how to even get started?  Join the waitlist for my new beta program here and help me figure out how best to help wonderful women like you get the hormone care they deserve!Come visit me: www.healthcouragecollective.comemail me: healthcouragecollective@gmail.com

BIO: Kaely McDevitt is a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition for women's health. She owns a virtual private practice where she and her team help their clients reclaim their energy, optimize fertility and overcome hormone symptoms through personalized nutrition. Having experienced the pitfalls of a conventional approach to women's health first hand, Kaely is passionate about empowering women to build health from a place of connection: to self, to nature and to community. SHOWNOTES:

Episode Highlights With EmilyWhy perimenopause isn't a problem but a clue and what the data actually saysSymptom treating vs dialing in and extending positive physiologyWhy she doesn't even like to use the word perimenopauseEstrogen is lowest on day 1 of the cycleWhat hormones fluctuate and when in a monthly cycle How monthly hormone fluctuations affect every aspect of health for womenSome things we don't understand about our cycleCancer protective parts of the cycle and why most breast cancer occurs after menopauseOne study on breast cancer and the timing of surgery found affecting the lower chance of recurrence The real role of progesterone and why this is so important to understand Why women see metabolic and circadian changes in perimenopause and menopauseNew tools for tracking cycle and hormones at homeHer take on HRT and how to navigate it in a rhythmic and cyclic wayResources MentionedEmily Sadri - Website  Follow Emily on Facebook and Aurelia Women's Health on FacebookFollow Emily on Instagram and Aurelia Women's Health on InstagramInito Hormone TrackerMira Max Fertility Monitor

268. Savvy Business and Health & Wellness Tips and Journey to Overcoming Infertility with Laura Jean Bell   1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."   Today's episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.    *Transcription Below*   Laura Jean Bell is a believer, storyteller, writer, wife to her high school sweetheart and mama to three miracle babies.   She is a published author of You Can Always Come Home by Laura Jean Bell, in addition to being a Business and Social Media Coach.    Laura also overcame stage 3 endometriosis by taking the road less traveled and now she spends countless hours helping other women take that road with her!    Connect with Laura on Instagram: @laura_jean_bell   Laura Jean Bell's Website   Questions and Topics We Discuss: What are a handful of practical tips you can offer others, especially as it relates to digital marketing? Will you share your research on Minerals: How do we even determine what minerals we need?  Will you leave us with a few more social media tips?   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Midwest Food Bank   Other Episodes Related to This Topic from The Savvy Sauce: 48 Pursuing Health, Not Vanity Before and After Childbearing with Blogger, Speaker, and Coach, Megan Dahlman 33 Pursuing Health in the New Year with Functional Medicine Specialist, Dr. Jill Carnahan 68 Hormones and Simple Changes to Feel SO Much Better with Functional Medicine Expert, Dr. Jill Carnahan 70 Energy to Spark Success in Your Business with Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and Podcaster, Christy Wright 76 Conflict Resolution, Infidelity, and Infertility with Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese 77 How 2 Questions Can Grow Your Business and Change Your Life with Author, Pastor, and Podcaster, Jeff Henderson 132 Pursuing Your God-Given Dream with Francie Hinrichsen 256 Gut Health, Allergies, Inflammation and Proactive Solutions with Emily Macleod-Wolfe 266 Female Sex Hormones, Periods, and Perimenopause with Emily Macleod-Wolfe   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, Instagram or Our 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 – 0:10)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 1:25) 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 episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.    Thank you to an anonymous donor to Midwest Food Bank who paid the sponsorship fee in hopes of spreading awareness. Learn more about this amazing nonprofit organization at MidwestFoodBank.org.   Laura Jean Bell is my guest today, and she is a Jesus-loving author and also a business and social media coach. So, not only is she going to share some of her best savvy social media and business tips, but also the conversation takes a detour into health and wellness, and she has an abundance of wisdom to share there as well, even including practical tips that we can implement today for our own flourishing in health and well-being. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Laura.   Laura Jean Bell: (1:26 - 1:27) Hi, thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (1:28 - 1:34) I'd love for you just to start us off by giving us a snapshot glimpse of your current life right now.   Laura Jean Bell: (1:35 - 2:27) Oh, my goodness, my chaotic life. Actually, it's a sweet, beautiful thing, but I am a wife to my high school sweetheart. We have been married, this year will be 11 years, and we have three kiddos. Emmylou, who is six. She literally just turned six. My son Oaks, who is three, and my youngest is Lottie, and she just turned nine months. So, my life is very full. I own my business, I am a published author, and I have three very, very needy children, right? I'm in a season of life where I'm very, very, very needed, and that's a beautiful thing, but it can be a very overwhelming thing at times. So, that is a little snapshot about my day-in and day-out life.   Laura Dugger: (2:27 - 2:43) That sums it up well. Gorgeous kid names, by the way. Oh, thank you. But I'd love to hear more about your business, too. Would you mind just explaining the work that you get to do as a digital marketer and online income mentor?   Laura Jean Bell: (2:44 - 4:58) Sure. Okay, so, this has been such a fun journey for me, and just to maybe explain it in like a Reader's Digest version, because I think that there's so much on the internet right now that's like, make $5 million in four minutes. But what I do is actually help business owners.    So, like the average woman who maybe is wanting to build an income or find her place online, that was where I started. That's where I began, like really helping those women be like, “Hey, I can be a business owner, too.” I can actually have like a mark and a place in this space, which I think is often really hard for women to like grasp, because we're so inundated with influencer culture.    But as the business began to expand and grow, I really started to lean into how do I help business owners actually market their business and make it really profitable online? Because a lot of times there's business owners that have these great businesses, but they don't actually have the marketing piece to actually sell the thing that makes their business a business. And some of them have a brick and mortar, and they're brick and mortar as well, but they'd love to increase their income.    How do you do that? You get online; you make sales online. And so, what I do is I teach female business entrepreneurs how to scale their business using Instagram.    I do not focus on any other platforms. My main focus is Instagram and teaching them how to use their messaging to make sales consistently. And so, I help them figure out their messaging and then write it.    Actually, I write content for a lot of my clients. And then I teach them consistency and speed so that their life isn't just consumed by the internet, which is like what all of us feel, right? Like, once you get on, you're like, how do I do this?    And I have to create this, I have to edit this, I have to do that. Like, it becomes very overwhelming. And so, what I do is I just eliminate the overwhelm.    I simplify it and I help entrepreneurs really find their messaging.   Laura Dugger: (4:59 - 5:15) Wow, that's incredible. So, you clearly have a gift for communication and articulating different things. Is there anything you want to just give us a little peek into practical tips if somebody is running their own social media?    Any tips you'd have for business owners?   Laura Jean Bell: (5:17 - 6:59) I think that the biggest, the greatest understatement that's happening right now online is followers and views mean absolutely nothing. They are like the beginning of Instagram, the beginning of social media. It was all about like, how many friends do you have?    And then it was how many followers do you have? And you know, how many views are you getting on your stories? And you get all these interactions on your reels.    And like, while that is the mental game of social media, and that is the thing that everybody is going for, because it actually fuels this like dopamine hit in your brain. But the reality is, is that there are people with thousands upon thousands of followers that are making $0 on the internet. And what they need is the actual messaging that says, “Hey, this is how I serve this pain point, and give you the life you want.”   And so, the biggest thing is, if you have five people in one day that view your stories, and three of them actually buy from you, like, that's over 50%. So, you're looking at, while everybody is freaking out about the number, it really is about your messaging in order to convert to sales, you can have a bunch of eyes on you. But if you're not serving the people that are following you, and serving them towards a sale, it doesn't mean anything.    So, don't focus on the numbers, focus on your messaging, focus on your brand, focus on what it is that you are serving your people with. And you will make money, you just will. It's how it works.    So, I hope that answers your question. Well for you.   Laura Dugger: (6:59 - 7:26) But yeah, I love it, because it's so unexpected, I would have never known. And I've also heard you encourage people to share their stories rather than just stating facts. And you share your own story, both online and in your book, You Can Always Come Home: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Find the Hope for Your Tomorrow.    So, Laura, how can we all incorporate stories into our own work so that we can better serve others?   Laura Jean Bell: (7:28 - 8:59) That's such a good question. And I think the biggest thing is, what story do you want people to know? What story is it that like, you really think like, you've been pricked, right, by the Holy Spirit, like, this is the story that I need you to tell.    This is why you walked through this experience. This is why you're doing this thing. Because oftentimes, we can negate the things that we've walked through, and act as if like, those things didn't, weren't that big of a deal because you survived it, right?    Like, oh, well, you know, it wasn't anything, it was a big deal, right? And so, what are the things that you actually feel are important, they keep showing up, they keep becoming the things that people are asking you about? And how do you tell that story to where somebody hears the messy middle, and then the beautiful resolve, the beautiful ending to that story, because there is, right, the beginning, the middle, and the end.    And that's what makes stories so impactful. Facts tell, right? Like, anybody can tell you that, like, a carrot is orange.    But like, if somebody tells you the story of how the carrot became orange, or how this, like, what the soil does to all of this, and how it adds these nutrients, doesn't that make you like, appreciate a carrot more, want to eat a carrot more, want to go buy the carrots more, right? And so, the same goes with our story, like, what is it that actually happened to create this specific result?   Laura Dugger: (9:00 - 9:11) That's so good. Well, and speaking of stories, are you willing to walk us through a little bit of your own story with your health journey? Yeah, absolutely.    Ask me anything.   Laura Jean Bell: (9:11 - 9:16) I'm an open book. It might scare some people. I'm an open book about it.   Laura Dugger: (9:17 - 9:33) I appreciate that. Yeah, just, you're clearly a very healthy woman. But I know you've had a whole past that you've walked.    So, has health always been important to you? Or at what point of life did you start to make some changes because it wasn't working?   Laura Jean Bell: (9:35 - 14:24) Yeah, you know, it's so interesting. When I reflect on something like that. Um, you know, I grew up in a home, I always start with this, like, my mother was not a dieter.    Like she didn't diet all the time. She wasn't always like, on some workout trend or not eating carbs or not doing this. Like it was never that.    My mom is naturally like very, very, very thin. And so, like that wasn't a part of the conversation. My mom was always obsessed, though, with, like eating food that's good for you.   Like, and in the 90s, like that was really tricky, right? Because they were so many messages about like, what's good for you? What's not that is bad.    Like there's all these things. And while our household, I say was probably much healthier than the average household in the 1990s and early 2000s. I don't think that I ever like cared about my health.    I still ate the Hot Pockets and the Easy Mac and ramen noodles and every opportunity that my parents actually let us eat out like I was chowing down. So, when I reflect on like my years, like 0 to 18, all I cared about was just consumption. I was like, nobody could stop the amount of food that I could consume.    I'm five foot eleven (5' 11”). I was growing like crazy. You can ask my family like I could out eat anyone.    It was kind of unbelievable. So, that part of my life, like, that was not an unhealthy thing. College is when things began for me.    And when I went to college, I for most of my life, I was a competitive dancer. So, like, I was consuming but I was burning like it was like calories in versus calories out. I had no concept of that.    I did not know how to read a nutrition label on the back of a box until I was like, well into college, like, literally remember learning how to do it in a college health class. So, I go to college. And I noticed that I started gaining weight, right?    Like, I'm eating all the fast-food options that are in our student center. And then the cafeteria food. This isn't my mom's home cooked meals anymore.    This isn't the mostly healthy option anymore. And I start gaining weight. So, when that happened, I started hearing other girls talk about what they were doing.    Like, oh, well, you just eat less than exercise more. And like, I had no concept of like, what, what did that mean? Right?    Like, do you just not eat like I love to eat, right. And so, what I started doing, I didn't know how to like lift weights or do anything. So, I started running, because I thought, okay, I have endurance, I danced forever, like, you have to have that endurance with that.    So, like, I'll run. So, I start running. And I completely gave up meat.    I was like, well, I can just eat. I thought meat somehow made you fat. I don't know.    That was just some weird thing that I had in my head. And I stopped eating meat, and I ate less. So, like, I just kind of narrowed down what I was eating, and then ate less of it kind of thing.    And that was when my health problems began, was when I began doing that. Which is really interesting, right? I was probably eating roughly like 1000 to 1200 calories a day, but I was running four to six miles a day.    So, like, I was not fueling what I was burning. Although I was losing weight. So, like, calories in versus calories out, like the concept of like, just eat less than exercise more, it was working.    I was 19. Like, I was young, I had a like, everything was working right, you know. But all of a sudden, my body was like, you're depriving me.    And I'm not only being deprived of actual calories, I'm being deprived of nutrients. And what began to happen is it started to show up in my hormones, with my cycle, started breaking out in hormonal acne on my chin, I started having very short cycles. So, like, for any woman listening that maybe doesn't have a concept of this language, because oddly enough, so many women don't, and it's like about us.    But like, a woman has a cycle, your period isn't your cycle, it's the full month that's your cycle. And I was instead of 28 days, I was having 18 day cycles. And the pain during my period was excruciating.    It was so painful. And I'd never experienced that before. So, those were the things that began to show up.    But I just kept going with what I was doing. And just thought I just had bad periods. I had family members that had bad periods, this just must be genetic. And I just have to live with it and pop ibuprofen every 18 days, right. So, that was kind of where it where it started.   Laura Dugger: (14:25 - 16:04) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Midwest Food Bank who exists to provide industry leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually. They are a food charity with a desire to demonstrate God's love by providing help to those in need.    Unlike other parts of the world where there's not enough food, in America the resources actually do exist. That's why food pantries and food banks like Midwest Food Bank are so important. The goods that they deliver to their agency partners help to supplement the food supply for families and individuals across our country, aiding those whose resources are beyond stretched.   Midwest Food Bank also supports people globally through their locations in Haiti and East Africa, which are some of the areas hardest hit by hunger arising from poverty. This ministry reaches millions of people every year. And thanks to the Lord's provision, 99% of every donation goes directly toward providing food to people in need.    The remaining 1% of income is used for fundraising, cost of leadership, oversight and other administrative expenses. Donations, volunteers and prayers are always appreciated for Midwest Food Bank. To learn more, visit MidwestFoodBank.org or listen to Episode 83 of The Savvy Sauce where the founder David Kieser shares miracles of God that he's witnessed through this nonprofit organization. I hope you check them out today. Was that the point that led to what you call your year of rebellion? Or did that come later?   Laura Jean Bell: (16:05 - 23:39) No way that that was just the start of basically, roughly eight years of undiagnosed endometriosis. So, what started happening is in college, I would have these what I call episodes where I would be roughly like a day or two before my period would start. And I would have this unbelievable pain that would come over me.    And I could feel it literally my lower abdomen, so much pressure, so much discomfort. Oftentimes, it would involve vomiting, passing out, so painful. To this day, I've had an unmedicated birth.    And I'm here to tell you that the pain of pushing out an almost 10-pound baby, and that were roughly the same thing. It was unbelievable, excruciating pain. I would go to the doctor, they would not give me ultrasounds, they would not check anything, they would not even do my blood work, they did nothing.    They would just say you have really painful periods, and we'll give you birth control. That was every year from 2010 until 2017. This was what was given to me.    And so, in 2017, I was on my way to work, and I had one of those episodes. And I called the doctor, they bring me in, and I said, I want an ultrasound, like I will sit here all day, I need an ultrasound. And so, they did an ultrasound and found two cysts on one ovary, one on the other, and they were six and seven centimeters and six centimeters.    I mean, it was just crazy, these large cysts. And they were like, you more than likely have endometriosis. This is, you know, they started explaining all the things.    And fast forward, I ended up having two laparoscopies, which is the surgery to remove endometriosis in 10 months, the average woman can go 18 months between surgeries, and I had mine in 10 months. That's how reoccurring rapidly it was growing and spreading in my body. And I felt zero relief from the surgeries, which everyone promised, like, you'll feel amazing, you'll, you know, you'll get pregnant. I couldn't get pregnant. I was in so much pain, and I go through another cycle of it.    And it's like, these doctors are like, yeah, you're probably just not going to be able to have children. We recommend you getting on birth control, or getting a hysterectomy, like, these are your options. And so, what I did is I went to see a fertility specialist, like anybody would do like, I'm not going to just stick with my OB. I'm going to see if I can actually have kids. And so, I see a fertility specialist, I go through multiple, multiple, multiple rounds of fertility treatments, and I wind up getting pregnant with my first daughter, Emilu.    So, she is a product of folly stem stimulation and an IUI. And lots of trigger shots and lots of synthetic progesterone. I did all of it.    And after my daughter was born a year postpartum, I got pregnant again, and I miscarried that baby. That baby was miscarried March of 2020, which is when everybody went crazy, right? 2020, like who has their 2020 story, right?   And so, my daughter was little, I mean, she was like 14 months old, when I had this miscarriage. And I remember watching, I watched this video, it was called The Pandemic. And a lot of people like didn't actually see it because it was taken off the internet for misinformation.    And it was a woman that was explaining what was really happening with the pandemic, which is funny, because all of it's true now. But it was taken down like, she's crazy. This is a horrible pandemic, nothing was created in a lab, all of that.    And I was like, I went to watch it again, because I thought this woman must be crazy. Like there's no way that this would actually happen. And I went to watch it again.    And it was taken off the internet for misinformation. And this thought came over me, which is so bizarre now. Like, I know more about Kim and Kanye's divorce, than I know about what's happening with this pandemic.    Yet, Kim and Kanye's divorce information is there for me to see. And they're not letting me look at this. Why?    And it was this very strange thing that came over me. But everything that came out that was like, don't take this medicine to help COVID, don't do this, actually, like saturated fats are bad for you, like all of these different things that were popping up. And people were saying, it's misinformation.    I was like, I'm going to research that. I'm going to research that. I'm going to research that the fertility doctor that did my DNC after I had a miscarriage. They actually said to me, you will never again, have another pregnancy.    But if you do, you will not have a normal child. That is what they discovered and decided about me, according to the results from that DNC, what happened to that baby, why that baby wasn't developing, why I lost that baby. It literally like, and him saying that to me, I was like, why?    And it was almost like he couldn't explain to me the reasons why, but that I just never would. And this is what I needed to do next in order to stay healthy and keep endometriosis away. And so, I went on this journey for one year and I committed to one year where I was like, everything that is misinformation, I'm going to research it.    Everything that I have been told is good for me or is the best choice for me because of my condition. I'm going to actually look at what they're giving to me and like, why? Um, every time somebody told me like endometriosis is incurable.    Okay. But like, what is endometriosis? Nobody actually explained to me what it was.    They just told me I had it and that it caused what it caused, not actually what caused it. And so, when I went on this journey, I began to discover and unfold so many things that absolutely blew my mind, broke my heart, made me very angry because as I began to implement the things that I discovered, I healed and I got better. And all of a sudden I don't have endometriosis anymore.    All of a sudden I'm pregnant with a very healthy baby. All of a sudden, like everything is better. How is it that the things that the providers that were working with me, what they were doing for me was keeping me sick.    And as I branched out and did all the things that they said was absolutely crazy. I had one of them literally looking at me and he was holding topical progesterone and he was like, this stuff, like with all due respect to this functional doctor that talked to you, this stuff doesn't work. And unfortunately they sell things to people like you, young women who are desperate for answers.    They sell this stuff to you to make so much money and it's not going to do anything for you. Guess what? Topical progesterone changed my life.    So, anyways, that is kind of a little bit of like my year of rebellion and what happened. I'm happy to go into details for you, but I feel like I'm getting long winded with it.   Laura Dugger: (23:39 - 24:13) No, that's incredible. I do want to do a deep dive into it because I think it's such a blessing after you've spent over a year researching this and then living this for multiple years. I think it can be such a benefit to each of us.    And I'm recalling this story specifically about toxins where people were saying that means nothing. But in that fertility clinic, somebody told you, there was a sign that said their employees were not allowed to wear certain toxins because quote, it could inhibit the fertility process.   Laura Jean Bell: (24:14 - 24:14) Yes.   Laura Dugger: (24:15 - 24:16) Can you elaborate on that?   Laura Jean Bell: (24:17 - 26:18) Yes. You know, what's really funny is I went to the health department to get some paperwork and stuff for my kids the other day. And, um, there was a sign up that was like any and all women that are getting mammograms, if you're getting a mammogram, do not wear perfume or deodorant for a mammogram because of the radiation mixed with the toxins.    I asked the woman that was sitting there, I was like, why did they say that? And she explained it to me and I was like, oh, okay. So, why aren't you telling us to stop wearing it altogether?    Um, but when I went to the fertility clinic, I was going through fertility. I was like an avid Daisy by Mark Jacobs perfume where I don't know. I still love the way that smells.    It's the yummiest, but I would wear it all the time. And I went in and the woman that was there, she was like, you smell so good. And I was like, it's Daisy by Mark Jacobs.    She was like, I wish I could wear perfume to work. I'm not allowed to. And I was like, why not?   And she was like, oh, because like the people that are working on women who are going through fertility, getting their IU eyes. So, it's like when they're actually inseminating you, like we, it could inhibit the fertility process. She was like, have you ever noticed we don't have any candles?    Like we're not allowed to bring candles here, all of that. And I was like, why aren't you telling me to stop doing that? Is that not interesting to anyone?    Like why is no one paying attention to the fact that like, I'm walking in here with perfume on to get an IU eye that's going to fail because it inhibits the, for the fertility process, like the one that works. Uh, guess what? I wasn't wearing any perfume.    So, it's like, it's one of those things that like, when I heard that, I thought, well, what is it that messes with the fertility process? Like what, what is that? And this was honestly, when I heard this information, this was before my year of rebellion.    So, like, I remember her telling me that and I kind of stopped wearing it to the sessions because I thought, well, I don't want to get this messed up anyways.   Laura Dugger: (26:18 - 26:29) So, yeah, pretty wild. That's incredible. And okay.    So, from that year of rebellion, what other tweaks did you make small and large?   Laura Jean Bell: (26:30 - 29:38) Oh man. Um, some big things like I removed toxins from my home. So, that looked like removing Clorox wipes and, um, detergents that are just like your average detergents that you buy from the store.    Um, I stopped burning candles and started burning, not burning, but diffusing essential oils. Um, from there, what I really started focusing on was my protein intake. Um, I spent so many years vegan, vegetarian, refusing meat, refusing proteins.    And those were the years that things were really bad for me. When I started to reincorporate animal proteins and quality animal fats, my cycles went from 18 days to 29 days. I started having painless periods.    My hair started growing more. Um, my nails wouldn't break. Um, my, even my vision got better.   And so, what was really interesting is I started learning that if you are protein deficient, you will be progesterone deficient and progesterone is the pregnancy hormone. This is the hormone you have to have in order to conceive. I always tell it like this progesterone equals pro gestation.    So, if you don't have enough progesterone, your baby cannot survive the first 12 weeks. That's what the baby lives on before the placenta is formed. You have to have progesterone in order to balance out the estrogen progesterone balance.    If it's imbalanced, that's where you have pain, mood swings, acne, discomfort, the growth of endometriosis and PCOS. These things are really important. Progesterone is so important for your mental health.    If you are mentally low, like think about your progesterone levels. Think about how much you're sleeping. If you're sleeping in complete darkness, that raises your levels.    If you eat at least 80 grams of protein a day, it raises your progesterone levels. These are two really basic things. Like it's really simple.    It's not complicated. So, that was probably the biggest thing for me was learning how to eat because for years we're told, at least all of my life, like fat is bad. They would rather you eat hydrogenated oils and I can't believe it's not better than actually eat grass-fed butter.    Why? Why is it bad for you? When you really uncover the work that was done in the studies that were given for explaining that fat is bad, it was all paid for.    It was all paid for by the medical industry, by big pharma in order to push this agenda. They said that it was bad for our hearts, but get this, in the years after they told everyone that it was horrible for heart health, heart disease skyrocketed as people began to eat less animal protein and less animal fats. So, anyways, just to give like a little, some of the things that I discovered and changed, that's the main thing, which really and truly is like not that complicated.    Wow.   Laura Dugger: (29:39 - 29:45) Yes. Focusing on what you're intaking. What about cortisol? What did you learn about that?   Laura Jean Bell: (29:46 - 32:21) So, cortisol is like your get up and get crap done hormone. Okay. And when you are living in a state of fight or flight, where basically you get up in the morning, I'm going to give you an example of what a lot of women do.    And they end up having issues with cortisol and eventually stop producing it altogether. So, a woman gets up in the morning, she wakes up, she drinks a cup of coffee with no food on her stomach. And she goes and does a 30-minute cardio workout.    And then she comes in and she eats maybe like a protein bar, like a little, like some type of granola bar, another cup of coffee. She goes to work. She works all day or she's home with her kids all day.    And by the time she's got her work done, or she's taking care of her children and fed her children, doing all of these things, you're going all day long. All of a sudden it's three o'clock and you haven't eaten anything and you're in a bad mood and you're really tired. And so, maybe you go get a snack and another cup of coffee.    And then by the time you get to dinner, it's the only meal that you've really sat down and had for the day. Okay. So, what has that done to you?    Your body believes because your body and your brain don't know the difference between a bear chasing you or you running strictly on caffeine and doing too much cardio. And so, all of a sudden she is moody. She's exhausted.    She's running on all this tension. Her hair starts to fall out. She gets acne.    Her skin's doing some weird stuff. Her nails are kind of brittle. All this, you're always moody.   You're always in a bad mood. It's because your cortisol is doing this. It's like, and it's like on, it's like high.    And sometimes when you keep doing this, you actually can get a lot of energy. And then all of a sudden your adrenals, because your adrenals are what produced cortisol. Your adrenals are like, actually we're done.    Like stop running from the bear. Just die. Like literally it like can't do anything for you anymore.   And you go into what a lot of people call, or doctors call adrenal failure, which is where your body doesn't even produce cortisol anymore. And so, that is when you can't get out of bed in the morning. You're so exhausted.    Um, you can't lose weight. You, no matter what you do, you're winded. You're overwhelmed.   Um, but you don't have energy for anything. You have so much brain fog, um, so much bloat and inflammation. It's because your body's not producing cortisol.    So, you don't have the energy to get anything done. Um, does that answer your question?   Laura Dugger: (32:21 - 32:45) Yeah, this is so interesting because I feel like there's a whole health movement right now. So, there's a lot of buzz about all of this and people, I think, especially after 2020 people are waking up. So, love gathering perspectives as you're talking about inflammation then too, with cortisol, have you researched much about grounding, like actually barefoot on the earth?    Yes, girl. Are you kidding me? Absolutely.   Laura Jean Bell: (32:46 - 35:48) Um, so, something that was really interesting, I went to see a specialist, um, when I was really healing my adrenals, because a fun fact for you, like when your adrenals are just in overload, if you are experiencing high cortisol, you're constantly up here. Guess what? Your body's going to throw out the window fertility because what in the world is safe about a body that is running from a bear?    Like, no, your body is preserving you because it's not safe for you to host a life. So, I was seeing a doctor who was really helping me. Um, it's called muscle testing.    So, they test each organ according to how your muscles respond. And, um, I was in adrenal failure. And at this point I'd already had my second child and was experiencing a lot of inflammation.    I couldn't lose weight. I was like so tired. I was irritable.    And, um, I did this long session with him and I was in St. Pete, Florida doing this session. And he said, you have an assignment for the rest of the day. And I was like, okay.    And he was like, you need to go to the beach, like go somewhere and actually lay your entire body down on the sand. He was like, I know, like nobody wants to get sandy, but like lay on the sand. And I was like, tell me why.    And he was like, if you lay on the sand, it's your body touching the earth. And God gave you the earth as a battery pack. And this battery pack literally is going to shoot energy back into your body that your body has been deprived of.    And like, there's, he started going into all the studies for it, but he was like, don't you ever know the difference? Like, and how you feel when you've been cooped up at work all day. And then like, you go on a vacation to the beach and you sit on the beach and you put your feet in moving water.    He was like, it's literal living water. This living water moves and it heals and rejuvenates what happens to water that stagnant. It gets disgusting. Yeah.    It turns to mold, right? It actually goes toxic, but that moving water is healing. It's living.    It's rejuvenating. It's very biblical, right? And then you have the earth that God gave you is this battery pack.    There are people, this is going to sound crazy, but there are who have done LSD, like psychedelic drugs that talk about the vibrations of the earth. When they're on this drug, they are seeing the way. And they talk about there's a magnetic field.    They like, you can read, you can watch videos. You can see studies of people who did LSD, who literally can see the energy that the ground gives you. I mean, it's crazy, but isn't it like the Lord, right?    To give us what we need in nature, like magic.   Laura Dugger: (35:49 - 37:17) Yes. Where we're going back to the way that he designed, whether that's eating whole foods or getting outside in his beautiful nature. There's countless benefits, but I think it's just amazing that taking your shoes off and being on the earth, even for 30 seconds is beneficial.    When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce?   How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love?    If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help. Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts.    Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    You had also talked about previously with your health journey, being deficient in minerals, I think you said as well, or just not getting the nutrients. So, are there any minerals that we all are likely lacking or any that you would recommend from your research and experience?   Laura Jean Bell: (37:18 - 39:36) Yeah, I would, I mean, every mineral. The most underrated mineral right now is potassium. The amount of women who are potassium deficient and need more potassium is unreal.    But magnesium is huge. You have to have magnesium for your body to even naturally produce vitamin D. Like vitamin D is a hormone, but you have to have magnesium for your body to produce vitamin D.    How many have gone to the doctor and they're like, you are very low in vitamin D, right? Well, get in the sunshine more, take the supplement, but like, where's your magnesium, right? And so, magnesium, potassium, potassium is huge, especially for your mental health.    This is really going to help you in like balancing out, like you're removing the brain fog, really. Sodium, which everyone's like, eat less sodium. You need less sodium chloride.    You need less table salt. You don't need less salt. Your body has salt.    Your body needs salt. Think about what your t-shirt looks like when you drenched in sweat. It dries and what does it have?    Salt. It's salty, right? When you're sweaty, it's salty.    And it's because your body actually needs sodium. It has to have it. And so, stop using white table salt, like iodized salt.    Go get some quality Celtic salt, like really simple, but put that in your water. Like first thing in the morning, drink some water with some Celtic salt, like get those electrolytes back in your system. So, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium, like your body needs calcium and you can get calcium in multiple ways, um, multiple ways, but calcium is going to support your bones.    It's going to help support your muscles. Cause if you are working those muscles, your body needs the strength. And so, calcium is going to give you that balance as well.    It's fantastic. So, all of them, but like, I think the make sure you're getting magnesium, just like if you just need to start somewhere, just get a magnesium supplement. I recommend magnesium glycinate because it's kind of the overall magnesium.   Laura Dugger: (39:37 - 39:44) So, it's great. Okay. And you said you can get calcium multiple places.    Do you take that as a supplement or where do you get your calcium?   Laura Jean Bell: (39:45 - 41:04) So, I actually do adrenal cocktails. So, that is, um, coconut water, orange juice and Celtic salt. That's it.    And just do a little adrenal cocktail in the morning. And in the afternoon, make sure that you have had protein before you drink it, because if you're anything like me, it'll spike your blood sugar. Um, if you're not balanced, so, you need to be balanced.    Um, I've always been very sensitive to things like orange juice, apple juice. Like as a kid, I would feel really bad in the mornings and I just thought breakfast made my stomach hurt. And actually it was like, my blood sugar was dysregulated from the cup of orange juice and the cinnamon toast that my mom gave me.    Right. So, like, it's like butter, sugar, white flour, orange juice, like eat this for a nutrient dense breakfast. And I like would feel horrible after because my blood sugar was off.    So, um, make sure you get some protein on your stomach and drink the adrenal cocktail. Like my parents, my parents swear by it. My dad's like, this has changed my life.    I'm your mom's going to make me one of those little cocktail things that you tell, I tell her about all the time. It's hilarious. And I'm like, it's just juice and coconut water, but it's got the minerals.    That's why it makes you feel so good. It's because it's giving your body the nutrients that it needs.   Laura Dugger: (41:05 - 41:17) That's incredible. Are there any other biohacks, health hacks, even the role of light that it plays or movement or anything else that you want to recommend with your extensive research?   Laura Jean Bell: (41:18 - 43:19) Um, I'll give two things. Uh, number one: if you can get up as the sun is rising or a little bit before and actually go outside and stare at the red light. The actual, morning sunrise, and then watch the sunset. If you can get your eyeballs on just like the surroundings where that red light is hitting, that will do wonders for the production of melatonin in your gut.    It's going to help you sleep. It's going to help you sleep really good at night, which is going to help you with your progesterone levels. So, that is great.    Number two is weightlifting. If you can incorporate at least two days a week of heavy weightlifting into your routine, it's going to do wonders. And the reason I say that is that estrogen, toxic estrogen, not the estrogen that's good for you that you need to like make you female, but like the toxic estrogens you're getting from perfumes and food and plastics and all the things it stores itself in fat, in visceral fat.    And so, the best way to burn fat and build muscle is by lifting weights. And so, if you want to keep toxic estrogens out of your body, step number one, get rid of fat, like fight hard for like, I mean, I'm still postpartum. I'm still burning off like weight that I gained in pregnancy.    But the number one thing that motivates me is not like, I want to look better, which of course I want to look better. Of course I want to fit back into my clothes, like all of that. But like Laura toxic estrogens store themselves in this fat.    And so, what, when you are lifting weights, you are burning fat and building muscle to support your family and not be burdened by the imbalance of your hormones. Like right there. That is the reason why.    So, lift weights. It's so good for you. It protects you from so many other diseases, but like that alone, women do not understand the power of that.    It's going to do wonders for you.   Laura Dugger: (43:20 - 43:47) Okay. This is so helpful. And then I'm thinking it's beneficial to have a specific plan.    So, as we think about where you talked about laundry detergents or limiting toxins, will you share a few of your personal favorite products? And then also what are some recommended things we can actually eat? Like when you walk through a healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, what would you share?   Laura Jean Bell: (43:49 - 45:22) Okay. So, some favorite products. I started out using Thieves household concentrate.    Young Living sells it. And it's like $26 for a bottle of the concentrate. That concentrate can be household cleaner.    So, like it can clean any surface in your home. It can be used as dishwasher detergent. So, we use thieves instead of like pods in our, in our dishwasher.    And I'm here to tell you, I think Young Living just came out with dishwasher pods, like Thieves dishwasher pods. We don't use it. We still use the concentrate.    But we use that. You can use it in your laundry so you can wash your clothes in it. And so, we alternate with that.    Sometimes we use that. Sometimes we use Molly's Suds. Those are like little pods.    You can get them on Amazon. It's a non-toxic option. You can also wash your clothes and like baking soda and vinegar, like just be old school.    Your clothes won't smell like vinegar. Don't worry. Like the vinegar gets rid of the odor.    That's like how our grandparents did it. So, those are some really simple hacks. Just because that's inexpensive.    Like you can make 16, I think it's 16 bottles of household concentrate, like spray with the one bottle. So, like you buy the one bottle, it takes a cap full and then you fill the rest of the way up with water and it cleans anything. It's fantastic.    It smells great. You'll love it. What else did you ask me?   Laura Dugger: (45:22 - 45:28) Food? Yes, food. Like a sample menu. Okay.   Laura Jean Bell: (45:28 - 47:02) Something that I love to eat. I love to just really enjoy my food. Like if you're on the go, like I'll give it an example.    If you're on the go, I recommend like boil some eggs. Okay. Take like three boiled eggs.    Get like a chopstick to get your protein and like an RX bar. RX bars are going to have the carbs, but it's also going to have more protein. You'll get six grams of protein per egg and then about 10 grams in your chopstick.    So, it's like 18 grams of the eggs plus 10 is 28 grams plus the RX bar. You're going to get over 30 grams of protein and then you'll have some carbs. I do recommend getting a little bit more carbs, but if you're on the go and you're in a hurry and you need to feel balanced, that's a good start.    If you're home, like I love doing scrambled eggs and air frying sweet potatoes, peppers, and onions. It is delicious. Just trust me and season it with garlic powder and salt.    It's so simple. Some avocado oil and literally just allow, like think about all the carbs, all the protein, everything. The best hack though, that I learned with eggs is do two regular, like the full egg and then do two egg whites and then add cottage cheese to your eggs, blend it in a blender and then cook them and just thank me later.    So, you're getting extra protein, it's creamier, it's so good. And then eat that with sweet potatoes and peppers and it's primo.   Laura Dugger: (47:02 - 47:12) Okay. This sounds amazing. I love it.    And this is my post recording meal, the RX bar. I love it on busy days.   Laura Jean Bell: (47:13 - 48:27) Yes. For lunch, I mean lunch, I honestly, I keep like ground beef patties just ready. And my air fryer stays on. I literally use it for every meal.    Sometimes if I don't have it ready, I just pat it out, put it in the air fryer, it cooks. Do that with a bunch of veggies, get lots of fruit, mainly berries, like berries, apples, and just adding that in is your carb. You can do, if you need a snack, I highly recommend doing Greek yogurt and mixing in your favorite protein powder and mixing that up.    It's so good. The Greek yogurt gives you the carbs, the fats and protein, and then you add the extra protein in it. And so, it's excellent.    For dinner, our favorite meal, we eat a lot of grass-fed beef because we buy cow every year. So, we'll do bowls and we'll do like a bed of rice, sweet potatoes, peppers and onions, and then ground beef. And then we drizzle the Japanese barbecue sauce over it.    And we call it Japanese barbecue bowls. It's literally just like a bunch of vegetables and meat with sauce, but it's really good.    So, there's some meal ideas for you.   Laura Dugger: (48:28 - 48:49) That's incredible. Thank you for just rattling those off. We've got a plan now.    And I love how this conversation took a turn toward health. So, before we leave that section, any other healthy rhythms or best practices or ways you've simplified your life that you would recommend? Just sleep.   Laura Jean Bell: (48:49 - 49:34) I know that sounds ridiculous, but people aren't sleeping and go to bed without your phone. You're going to be okay. You really are.    If your kids can go to bed without their phones, without a phone in their face, you can do it too. It's not the best way to turn your brain off. So, go to bed.    When you lay in a dark room without any blue light, you actually are helping your nervous system reset itself. And it needs a moment to rest and digest. So, get in the bed without a blue light and close your eyes and go to sleep.    You can do it, but it's so simple. And try to get eight to 10 hours of sleep a night. Truly, it's so important.   Laura Dugger: (49:35 - 49:54) That's so good. And you're all about simplifying. You even help people simplify their digital marketing.    So, as we turn it back to business, I know you can't give away all of your secrets, but will you share just a few more business or social media tips with all of us?   Laura Jean Bell: (49:55 - 50:43) Oh, man. I think the number one thing that I would tell anyone who's wanting to do anything in the online space is don't spread yourself across every platform. It's not worth your time.    And the more you hone in on one thing, the more of that thing you will sell, like plain and simple. And you will make way more money. You will spend way less time working on it.    You will enhance the lives of the people that choose to work with you. That is what you will gain.    If you simplify your offers, number one, sell less. Just sell more of one thing and stop spreading yourself thin across all the platforms. It's just too much work.   Laura Dugger: (50:43 - 51:03) That's wise counsel. And will you also tell us, I mean, I'm amazed as I'm thinking of all this research that you've done. You're living a healthy lifestyle.    You're raising young children, consulting with others as their coach. Also, you wrote a book. Can you share a little bit about that?   Laura Jean Bell: (51:03 - 52:50) I wrote my book. I actually have it right next to me because I was like, if somebody is going to ask you what this book is about, it's a book of short stories. And it sounds really simple, but it's a book of short stories that really draws you back to who you are in the Lord and understanding your place, like your identity in Christ, your belonging, fighting against fear and really coming home to who God created you to be.    And so, this book is a compilation of short stories of my own life where these things were very disrupted. My identity, like a total identity crisis, like not just having so much fear, learning how to come back to who God made me to be, but really writing out the moments of when I was living in that season and the people that helped me kind of find my way out and the things that God really showed me in that journey. And so, have it right here.    You Can Always Come Home: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Find the Hope for Your Tomorrow. It's really what my heart was and I learned a lot when I left my hometown and I moved to small town, North Alabama. And although this is where my dad is from, this was not where I was raised.    And I walked into a total identity crisis when I moved here. And I write a lot about that and about the moments when I was living in that season. How the Lord would reveal to me, like, remember when this happened, or remember when this happened and how you handled it or what that person said to you. And I wrote those stories in here.    And so, the goal of this book is for anybody who reads it to know that God's on your side and everything's going to be okay.   Laura Dugger: (52:51 - 53:06) Thank you for sharing that, Laura. And we'll certainly add a link for that in the show notes for today's episode, but also what links can we give for your social media? And then if somebody wants to reach out and work with you, what would that process look like?   Laura Jean Bell: (53:07 - 53:47) Yeah, so, my Instagram is Laura_Jean_Bell and Jean is J-E-A-N. And if you want to work with me or reach out, you can email me at laurabellwrites@gmail.com, or you can literally go to my Instagram account and click the link in my bio where I explain what I do. And it offers an ability to hop on a call with me where we can talk together and see if we would be a good fit to work together.    So, those are the ways that you can contact me. I have a website, laurabell.co, and you can contact me through that as well.   Laura Dugger: (53:48 - 54:07) Wonderful. Thank you for adding that. We will make sure it's accessible for everyone.    And Laura, you may be familiar with why we're called The Savvy Sauce, which is because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, my final question for you today, Laura, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Laura Jean Bell: (54:09 - 56:38) For life in general? You got it. Okay.    Well, I have two of them. And so, one of them is kind of silly and one of them is not. So, I'm going to go with the non-silly one.    Oh, share both. Yes. But I will say like this, there was this line that I heard, and I don't know who like trademarked this line, but it was very simple.    It said, “You are the CEO of your life.” And it was very simple, but it changed everything for me because for so much of my life, like if your knee jerk reaction to things not going your way is to blame someone else, you're not living as the CEO of your life. And I have spent a lot of my life, like when something doesn't go my way, I look for a person to blame instead of looking at myself and my own flaws. Being able to see that, “Hey, sometimes Laura, you're to blame and like, it's okay.”   You're the CEO of your life and you get to see what you did wrong, see how you messed up, see how you needed to shift something and then move on. And I think so many of us, whether we want to believe it or not, we can fall victim to that and live our lives so attached to this idea that somebody else is always to blame. Somebody else did this to me.    Sometimes things do happen to you that are not your fault. Sometimes you are a victim of horrible crimes and horrible things happening to you. But the question is, what are you going to do about it?    Who are you going to talk to about it? Are you going to go to the Lord and ask Him what it's actually supposed to look like for your life moving on from this place? Are you going to stay in a mindset that's small and traumatized, small and victimized?    Or are you going to say, “I'm the CEO of my life and I'm going to link arms with the Holy Spirit and keep moving forward.” And so, that was a huge thing for me to learn. And I feel like it's kind of been my savvy sauce in the last probably year, because 2024 was a year of a lot of things happening to me that weren't my fault.    And finally, one day I thought, you know, Laura, you can sulk in this, but it's not going to change your circumstance. What's going to change your circumstance is you saying, “I'm in charge of my life and I'm going to pick up the pieces of this and I'm going to ask God what to do with it.” And so, anyways, you're the CEO of your life and it's time to take charge of that.    So, yeah.   Laura Dugger: (56:38 - 56:42) I love it. And now you've got to share your silly one as well. You've left us curious.   Laura Jean Bell: (56:43 - 57:01) What is The Savvy Sauce? Let me just tell all of my, all of my geriatric millennials out there, you need to put castor oil on your face. Okay.    Just know that like castor oil, you need to look like a glazed donut when you go to bed and your skin is going to be, your skin will thank you. Just trust me.   Laura Dugger: (57:02 - 57:26) That's incredible. I was so grateful you shared. And Laura, I can see why clients are so drawn to work with you.    It is so delightful to have conversations with you. You are gifted in so many different arenas. And I think what really stands out is your generosity and just your willingness to share all of this with us.    So, thank you so much for being my delightful guest today.   Laura Jean Bell: (57:26 - 57:29) Oh, it's such a gift talking to you. Thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (57:30 - 1:01:12) 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's 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, 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're 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 and 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 included 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.

Are you struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or feeling like you've lost your spark after 40? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Betty Murray sits down with renowned gynecologist and hormone expert Dr. Anna Cabeca to reveal the shocking truth about a critical hormone that plummets by 75% as women age—and the game-changing strategies to reclaim it naturally. Dr. Cabeca, author of "The Hormone Fix" and creator of the Keto-Green protocol, brings decades of clinical experience helping women restore their vitality through bioidentical hormone therapy and lifestyle interventions. This conversation is essential listening for any woman ready to take control of her hormonal health and energy levels. What you'll learn: • The 75% hormone decline mystery - Which crucial hormone drops dramatically by age 55 and why • Progesterone's bad reputation debunked - Why this "calming hormone" has been misunderstood • Bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones - The pharmaceutical patent problem keeping women from optimal solutions • Progesterone for peak performance - How Dr. Cabeca uses it strategically before speaking engagements • Post-surgical hormone protocols - Specific combinations of DHEA, testosterone, and vaginal hormones for recovery • The 10% hormone rule - Why lifestyle and nutrition matter more than you think • Compounded hormone therapy benefits - Real-world applications for women's surgical recovery Ready to Transform Your Health? Don't let hormone decline steal another day of your vitality! Watch the full episode now, subscribe for more life-changing women's health content, and share this with every woman who deserves to feel amazing at any age.

Okay, y'all… this episode is a powerhouse. If you suspect low progesterone might be impacting your fertility, I'm walking you through three things you can do today (without turning to meds) to nourish your body and support your hormones naturally. I also share a bonus tip at the end from Scripture, because spiritual peace matters just as much as physical healing. We're also celebrating 50,000 podcast downloads!  I'm giving away a 50% scholarship to Fertility Framework this week only! To enter, leave a review and/or share the podcast with friends. Just screenshot and post it in our Facebook group (link below). Winner announced next week!   Resources & Links:  Facebook group. ✨If you would like personal support on your journey but are not sure how to get started, book a free 10-minute consult with me here: www.bekahyawn.com/consult ✨ Join Fertility Framework: If you're ready for deeper support, personalized cycle guidance, and faith-filled encouragement, come join me inside Fertility Framework! This is a space where you AND your husband can learn about the science of your cycle while keeping God in the centre of your fertility journey and growing towards Him together. Read the testimonies & enroll here: www.bekahyawn.com/course  ✨If you're curious about your personal hormone health, take my free Hormone Quiz:  bekahyawn.com/quiz  

Are you struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or feeling like you've lost your spark after 40? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Betty Murray sits down with renowned gynecologist and hormone expert Dr. Anna Cabeca to reveal the shocking truth about a critical hormone that plummets by 75% as women age—and the game-changing strategies to reclaim it naturally. Dr. Cabeca, author of "The Hormone Fix" and creator of the Keto-Green protocol, brings decades of clinical experience helping women restore their vitality through bioidentical hormone therapy and lifestyle interventions. This conversation is essential listening for any woman ready to take control of her hormonal health and energy levels. What you'll learn: • The 75% hormone decline mystery - Which crucial hormone drops dramatically by age 55 and why • Progesterone's bad reputation debunked - Why this "calming hormone" has been misunderstood • Bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones - The pharmaceutical patent problem keeping women from optimal solutions • Progesterone for peak performance - How Dr. Cabeca uses it strategically before speaking engagements • Post-surgical hormone protocols - Specific combinations of DHEA, testosterone, and vaginal hormones for recovery • The 10% hormone rule - Why lifestyle and nutrition matter more than you think • Compounded hormone therapy benefits - Real-world applications for women's surgical recovery Ready to Transform Your Health? Don't let hormone decline steal another day of your vitality! Watch the full episode now, subscribe for more life-changing women's health content, and share this with every woman who deserves to feel amazing at any age.

Summary In this conversation, Ali Damron and Elizabeth Katzman delve into the complexities of hormonal health, particularly focusing on the effects of birth control and the concept of the 'pill hangover.' They discuss the symptoms women experience after discontinuing birth control, the impact of hormonal contraceptives on overall health, and the importance of understanding the long-term effects of these medications. Katzman emphasizes the need for informed consent and the significance of addressing nutrient depletion and nervous system health in women transitioning off hormonal birth control. The discussion also covers alternative contraceptive options and the importance of education in empowering women to make informed choices about their health. Takeaways The term 'pill hangover' describes lingering symptoms after stopping birth control. Many women experience symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and hormonal chaos post-pill. Birth control can suppress ovulation and disrupt hormonal balance. Understanding the difference between progestins and bioidentical progesterone is crucial. Nutrient depletion from birth control can lead to various health issues. The nervous system's health is impacted by hormonal changes and nutrient deficiencies. Women should be educated about their menstrual cycles and hormonal health. Informed consent is essential when considering hormonal treatments. Alternative contraceptive methods exist that do not disrupt natural hormone production. Long-term health considerations should guide contraceptive choices.   Chapters 00:00 Understanding the Pill Hangover 02:50 Defining Post-Pill Symptoms 04:32 The Impact of Hormonal Birth Control 07:50 Comparing Birth Control Methods 10:05 Progestins vs. Progesterone 12:19 The Risks of Synthetic Hormones 14:00 Informed Consent in Birth Control 17:50 Natural Alternatives to Hormonal Treatments 19:20 Addressing Mineral Depletion and Recovery 19:35 Gut Health and Mental Well-being 22:50 Nutrient Depletion and Hormonal Balance 26:59 Understanding Menstrual Cycles and Hormonal Health 29:48 Innovations in Women's Health: Bioregulators and Peptides 33:58 The Role of Lifestyle in Hormonal Health 37:54 Practitioner Insights and Patient Care   Resources Elizabeth's IG Elizabeth's Website  Ali's Resources:  Calm the Chaos: Practical Tips and Tools for Stopping Anxiety in It's Tracks Course! Consults with Ali  BIOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough 10% off using code ALIDAMRON10 www.alidamron.com/magnesium Master Your Perimenopause Course + Toolkit "Am I in Perimenopause?" Checklist.  What Hormone is Imbalanced? Quiz! Fullscript (Get 10% off all supplements) "How To Balance Your Hormones For Better Sleep, Mood, Periods and Energy" Free, On Demand Training Website  Ali's Instagram Ali's Facebook Group: Holistic Health with Ali Damron   

Like the life cycle of a butterfly, menopause is a transformative season that has its highs and lows. Saying goodbye to periods and embracing the beauty found in midlife are the positives. But dealing with frustrating symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, mood changes and more can feel overwhelming.  If you are in your menopause era, you'll want to listen to part one of the latest episode of The Healthiest You podcast, where we talk about how to navigate each stage of menopause with OB-GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Susan Haas, MD, PhD, with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health.  What age does menopause start? How long does menopause last? What can help with hot flashes? Can all women take menopausal hormone therapy? How is bone health impacted during menopause? We answer these questions and more on The Healthiest You podcast this month. Chapters:     · 0:01 - Intro     · 1:08 - Perimenopause and menopause     · 4:40 - Menstrual cycle changes     · 8:23 - Help with hot flashes     · 12:27 - Hormone therapy     · 13:16 - When to consider hormone therapy     · 14:51 - Alternative treatment options     · 22:23 - Risks of hormone therapy     · 25:36 - If you've had a total hysterectomy      · 29:22 - Bone health and calcium supplements      · 33:19 - Estrogen and progesterone      · 36:47 - Urinary tract infections (UTIs)     · 38:55 - Part two coming soon

In this episode, Dani sits down with Abby, one of our newest HA Society coaches, for a fresh Q&A session. Together they tackle big topics like accepting weight gain in recovery, reframing body image struggles, and understanding how low progesterone impacts your health.Jool Wellness - Use HASOCIETY for 12% offhttps://joolwellness.comJoin The HA Societyhttp://thehasociety.com/joinWork 1:1 with us to get your period backhttp://thehasociety.com/coachingVisit us on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/c/danisheriffFollow us on IGhttp://instagram.com/thehasocietyhttp://instagram.com/danisheriffhttps://instagram.com/ashley_marie_smith_https://www.instagram.com/itsmishigarcia/https://www.instagram.com/abbylowekey/The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-hypothalamic-amenorrhea-podcast/donations

Episode Highlights With JenHow she got into integrative medicine with a hormone-specific approachWhat happens to hormones during perimenopause and early symptoms that women may not noticePMS is not normal, and what it can tell you (plus how to resolve it)Cycles can change well in advance of menopause, and what the changes can tell youSymptoms are gifts, and how to learn from them Ways to support estrogen balance and progesterone Specific nutritional and exercise changes that are helpful around this time of lifeBeneficial supplements and peptides for supporting hormones Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification support, as well as pregnancy and breastfeeding supportNAC and how glutathione comes into play in a big wayMethylation factors and co-factors Her take on GLP-1s and hormone implications, why cycling and small doses are importantMindset and other significant shifts to be aware ofResources MentionedJen's Peptides 101 courseHer websiteFollow Dr. Jen on Facebook, on X, Instagram, and YouTube

This is a requested follow up to our most recent episode. Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) prescribing practices have evolved over the last few decades guided by the changing understanding of the treatment's risks and benefits. We know that dose, route of administration, and choice of agent (estradiol versus a more synthetic option, and micronized progesterone over other progestins.) alter the risk benefit ratio. Compared to natural progesterone, synthetic progestins have 10-100- fold greater activity. Synthetic MPA is vasoconstrictive while natural progesterone and drospirenone cause vasodilation and lower blood pressure. Micronized progesterone is bioidentical to the hormone made endogenously and has efficient oral absorption. Progestogens come in oral and transdermal forms, and it can also be given vaginally. Is there data that micronized progesterone is safer for the breast for a menopausal hormone therapy? This podcast topic recommendation comes from one of our podcast family members. Listen for details. 1. Gompel A. Micronized progesterone and its impact on the endometrium and breast vs. progestogens. Climacteric. 2012 Apr;15 Suppl 1:18-25. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2012.669584. PMID: 22432812.2. Stute P, Wildt L, Neulen J. The impact of micronized progesterone on breast cancer risk: a systematic review. Climacteric. 2018 Apr;21(2):111-122. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2017.1421925. Epub 2018 Jan 31. PMID: 29384406.3. Eden J. The endometrial and breast safety of menopausal hormone therapy containing micronised progesterone: A short review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2017 Feb;57(1):12-15. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12583. PMID: 28251642.4. Asi N, Mohammed K, Haydour Q, Gionfriddo MR, Vargas OL, Prokop LJ, Faubion SS, Murad MH. Progesterone vs. synthetic progestins and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2016 Jul 26;5(1):121. doi: 10.1186/s13643-016-0294-5. PMID: 27456847; PMCID: PMC4960754.5.AHA J Circulation: Rethinking Menopausal Hormone Therapy: For Whom, What, When, and How Long? 2023

Hot flashes. Mood swings. Sudden weight gain. Crying in the parking lot for no reason? Welcome to perimenopause, where estrogen and progesterone nosedive, thyroid slows, and insulin resistance creeps in. In this episode, we walk through everything you need to know about hormones in perimenopause—from testing timelines to symptoms, HRT, progesterone resistance, and how to support your body naturally. Learn the difference between normal and common, what labs to ask for, and how to take back control (even when your hormones are flipping tables). This is your perimenopause roadmap. *** Get Your Tickets Now: Use code REVIVAL for $100 discount ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FitMom | UNSTUCK: The Women's Health & Hormone Summit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Gut & Hormones all messed up? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Take the quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ***

If your hormones feel off but no one's giving you real answers, this episode is a must-listen. Caitria Thiele unpacks how to fix low progesterone and why “normal” labs don't always tell the full story. We also dive into cycle tracking, missed ovulation, and the functional steps that actually restore fertility (without losing your mind).Timestamps:[1:53] Intro [4:00] What does progesterone do in the body, and why is it so critical for fertility and overall hormonal Balance? [7:29] What are the glaring symptoms of low progesterone and how we can see it in day to day life?[10:06] What are some of those bigger root causes behind why progesterone drops in the first place?[19:17] Can you walk us through the thyroid-progesterone connection and how they impact each other?[20:26] What are the best ways to naturally increase progesterone?[27:27] Can stress alone lead to low progesterone and how do you help women through those scenarios?[33:16] Is bio-identical progesterone ever necessary and how do women know that it's something they should consider?[41:11] How do we get a truly accurate picture of hormone imbalance and what tests should we take and when? [50:51] In your experience, is infertility truly ever unexplained or is it just under investigated?[52:16] What are some of the most common root causes of infertility in women today that aren't being addressed? [56:58] How do you help somebody who is trying to decide if it's time to pursue an intervention like IVF or IUI?[1:03:14] Any tips for prompting ovulation and is there anything that can help with low testosterone? [1:05:59] I've been so emotional on my period is that indicative of something specifically?[1:06:43] How concerning is a longer cycle, like more than 35 days?[1:08:33] Why do I get migraines 3 days before my cycle begins?[1:09:18] At what point post-partum should I be worried if my period hasn't returned [1:10:33] I've heard so much inositol supplements and I'm curious about it's effectiveness and safety for trying to conceive. [1:11:42] How do you manage your hormones after removing a hormonal IUD or other birth control after years of use?[1:13:27] Is DHEA 5 safe to add in? Episode Links:Connected Healing WebsiteFollow Caitria on InstagramSponsors:Go to boncharge.com/WELLFED and use coupon code WELLFED to save 15% off any order.Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase.Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/whey-protein, and use coupon code WELLFED for 10% off.Go to wellminerals.us/chill and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

Episode Highlights With AimeeWhy perimenopause is a misunderstood phase of life and common vs normal Commonly overlooked symptoms of perimenopause that are helpful to understand How to look at midlife changes as an opportunity rather than a challengeCore mindset shifts that can make a massive differenceListening to symptoms as messengers of your body working hard to protect youEstrogenic things in our environment and how they impact our health in midlife Mood based symptoms to pay attention to as indicators of hormone shiftsThe cortisol and progesterone connection Her suggestions for midlife lab testing and what to test forWhy she encourages saliva testing and addressing adrenal health as wellHow MTHFR genes come into play in understanding this phase of lifeMost impactful diet, lifestyle, and other factors to focus on in midlifeResources MentionedCarolina Integrative Medicine - WebsiteNormal Doesn't Have Side Effects - BookDr. Aimee on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram