The Tara Thorne Wellness Podcast

In this episode, Tara clarifies the limitations of using herbs, supplements, and phytoestrogens as alternatives to natural bioidentical hormones in alleviating perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. She explains that while some herbal remedies may offer temporary relief for certain symptoms, they do not provide the comprehensive protective benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using natural bioidentical hormones. Tara emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making regarding HRT and provides resources, such as her course "HRT Made Simple," to guide women through understanding the significant health benefits of hormone therapy for long-term well-being. Here are three key takeaways from our discussion: Bioidentical Hormones vs. AlternativesWhile herbs and phytoestrogens might offer some relief from symptoms, they don't replace the health-protective benefits of natural bioidentical hormones, which are vital for mitigating risks associated with heart disease, osteoporosis, and more. The Importance of Educating YourselfMany doctors aren't fully equipped to guide you through hormone replacement therapy because they don't receive extensive training in medical school. My course, HRT Made Simple, provides you with simplified, evidence-based knowledge, empowering you to make informed decisions alongside your healthcare provider. Rethinking "Natural" MenopauseLiving longer means facing extended periods of hormone deficiency post-menopause. As we're at a higher risk for serious health conditions in these years, reconsidering the idea of natural menopause is essential. Embrace modern medicine's role in improving your quality of life. Mentioned in this episode: Purchase Herbatonin here and use Tara's discount code for 15% off, which is Tara15: https://symphonynaturalhealth.com/TaraHerbatonin   HRT Made Simple™ - Learn how to confidently speak to your doctor about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy so you can set yourself up for symptom-free, unmedicated years to come without feeling confused, dismissed, or leaving the medical office minus your HRT script.   Hair Loss Solutions Made Simple™ – This course will teach you the best natural, highly effective, and safe solutions for your hair loss so you can stop it, reverse it, and regrow healthy hair without turning to medications.   The Hormone Balance Solution™ – My signature 6-month comprehensive hormonal health program for women in midlife who want to get solid answers to their hormonal health issues once and for all so they can kick the weight gain, moodiness, gut problems, skin issues, period problems, fatigue, overwhelm, insomnia, hair/eyebrow loss, and other symptoms in order to get back to the woman they once were.   [FREE] The Ultimate Midlife Perimenopause Handbook - Grab my free guide and RECLAIM your confidence, your mood, your waistline and energy without turning to medications or restrictive diets (or spending a fortune on testing you don't need!).   You might also enjoy these episodes: EPISODE 83: Why doing menopause "naturally" is not a good idea & will increase your risk of disease states. EPISODE 84: The Invisible Benefits of HRT (HRT is important even if you have NO symptoms!).  EPISODE 85: Why your doc says HRT is dangerous (it's not!).  EPISODE 108: Synthetic vs. Bioidentical vs. Compounded HRT: which is better? Which should be avoided?     Hi, I'm Tara Thorne, FDN-P, RHN, FNC, CMRCP. Basically? I'm a women's health and hormone expert. After serving thousands of women in my 10+ years of clinical experience, I bring you The Hormone Balance Solution podcast - a podcast aimed to educate and empower midlife women. Midlife can be a confronting time but it doesn't have to be a bumpy ride. No matter where you're at, or where you've come from we can get you feeling better in midlife than you have in years - plus set yourself up for healthier decades to come. I'll be bringing you weekly doses of inspiration, education and conversations with amazing people to give you real, actionable strategies for supporting your health now and in the future. So tune in, make sure you're subscribed, leave a review, and get ready to learn important health information that isn't readily available …. everything you need to know and nothing you don't. Find me on Instagram: @TaraThorneHealth 

In this episode, Tara answers your health questions straight from Instagram, covering everything from gastritis and SIBO to leaky gut, insulin resistance, thyroid issues, low ferritin and B12, and GLP-1 medications. She dives into why H. pylori should be properly ruled out with gastritis, why SIBO requires breath testing, the limitations of zonulin testing, and why low ferritin doesn't automatically mean iron deficiency. She also shares her thoughts on supporting insulin sensitivity through muscle, protein, fibre, stress management and lifestyle before reaching for supplements. The conversation also gets into thyroid health and Hashimoto's, the realities of aging, iron and B12 testing, and GLP-1 medications. It's a wide-ranging Q&A designed to help you look beyond symptoms and single test results and take a more thoughtful approach to your health. In this episode:  Chronic gastritis and the importance of ruling out H. pylori SIBO testing: why symptoms and stool tests aren't enough Leaky gut, intestinal permeability and the limitations of zonulin testing Insulin resistance and PCOS: supplements vs. foundational lifestyle strategies Building muscle, protein and fibre for metabolic health Thyroid health, Hashimoto's and the impact of stress and viral illness Why aging doesn't mean you have to suffer through symptoms Understanding low ferritin, iron deficiency and more comprehensive iron testing B12 testing, absorption and the gut connection GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation, digestion and side effects MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: EPS 130: Do not take oral / IV iron until you've listened to this.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------- You're Invited to my upcoming Gut Masterclass! Cut gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, gone low FODMAP, and paid for expensive tests, yet still having bloating and poop problems? This is the simple fix nobody has told you about!   Here's what I'll be covering:  Why chasing trigger foods keeps you stuck in a harmful elimination cycle that makes your gut worse, and the shift that changes your relationship with food Why "I've done the testing and taken the supplements" has not given you answers or relief yet, and what to do instead  The missing layer to gut healing that moves you from the test-supplement-restrict cycle to a strategy that heals your gut for good [ SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE ]  

There is a lot of conflicting information online about progesterone right now, particularly around whether women need to take it continuously, whether cycling is necessary, and whether progesterone can somehow interfere with estrogen or increase dementia risk. In this conversation, Dr. Phyllis Bronson, Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP, and Jill Chmielewski, RN, BSN, discuss some of the biggest claims circulating about progesterone and hormone therapy. The conversation explores the importance of progesterone, how different delivery methods can affect the way it works in the body, and why dose and individual response matter. They also discuss oral, topical and vaginal progesterone, the role of allopregnanolone, estriol and Bi-Est, and why measuring hormones in the blood doesn't always tell the full story of what is happening at the tissue level. They also tackle one of the biggest current controversies: the idea that continuous progesterone may increase dementia risk. The group discusses the evidence and theories behind this claim, the importance of balancing estradiol with progesterone, and why women need to be cautious about making hormone decisions based on simplified social media messaging. This is a wide-ranging conversation designed to give you more context, more questions to ask, and a deeper understanding of the ongoing debate around women's hormones. In this episode: The truth about continuous vs. cycling progesterone How progesterone works with estrogen in the body Oral, vaginal and transdermal progesterone: what's the difference? The controversy around progesterone and dementia risk Why hormone therapy needs to be individualized based on dose, delivery method and your unique response   About Phyllis Bronson, PhD Phyllis Bronson, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in biochemistry. Her ongoing research involves studying the biological impact of molecules on mood and emotion. Dr. Bronson works with women who have hormone-based mood disorders, utilizing her original research on human identical hormones. She lives in Aspen, Colorado, and is President of Biochemical Consulting and The Biochemical Research Foundation. Dr. Bronson is the author of Moods, Emotions, and Aging: Hormones and the Mind-Body Connection,and has authored many articles, which can be found here. In the Aspen area? On July 27th, the Jewish Community Center in Aspen will be hosting The Great Hormone Conversation with Phyllis and Dr. Alan Altman. For more info or tickets,click here.‍ ‍   About Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP Carol Petersen is an accomplished compounding pharmacist with decades of experience helping patients improve their quality of life through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner. Her passion for optimizing health and commitment to compounding is evident in her involvement with organizations including the International College of Integrated Medicine and the American College of Apothecaries, the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), American Pharmacists Association and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding.  She was also the founder and first chair for the Compounding Special Interest Group with the American Pharmacists Association. She chairs the Integrated Medicine Consortium, an umbrella group for complementary medicine organizations.   She cohosts a radio program, "Take Charge of Your Health," in the greater New York area. She is on the Medical Advisory Boards for the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR.ca) and the Institute for Bioidentical Medicine (IOBIM.org). She also writes and edits for A4M's website www.worldhealth.net and is a co-producer of "Immortality Now" podcasts. Carol offers personal consultations at www.thewellnessbydesignproject.com. About Jill Chmielewski, RN, BSN Jill Chmielewski, a Registered Nurse, Certified Health Coach, Menopause Educator, and Women's Health Advocate with over 30 years of experience in healthcare. Most recently, Jill joined the Balance App team as the U.S. expert. Balance was founded by Dr. Louise Newson and is dedicated to educating and empowering women around the world with evidence-based information, helping them better understand their hormone health and make informed choices for their bodies.

In Part 2 of Tara's conversation with Dr. Lindsey Berkson, they continue the discussion by looking at the different forms and delivery methods of HRT, including Bi-Est, estradiol, estriol and progesterone. They discuss why the way a hormone is delivered can matter, why vaginal progesterone may work differently from oral or topical progesterone, and why individual response matters when choosing a delivery method. The conversation then moves into testosterone and breast health, including the role of hormone metabolites and estrogen receptors. Dr. Berkson also shares her thoughts on mammograms and breast cancer screening, including her own experience of finding breast cancer shortly after receiving a negative mammogram. This episode ultimately comes back to one of the biggest themes of the entire conversation: don't blindly follow a protocol simply because it's considered standard. Understand the evidence, understand the limitations, and make informed decisions with appropriate medical support.   In Part 2: Why Tara switched to an estradiol patch Dr. Berkson's history developing menopause supplements Progesterone, puberty and menstrual health Why hormone education is missing from conventional medical training Why Bi-Est? Bringing estradiol and estriol back into the conversation Testosterone, muscle, brain health and breast health Why progesterone delivery needs to be individualised Oral vs vaginal vs topical progesterone How Dr. Berkson approaches mammograms, ultrasound and other screening methods The breast cancer Dr. Berkson discovered after a negative mammogram Why Dr. Berkson created Everything Breast Cancer and her personal mission to help women navigate breast cancer Dr. Lindsey Berkson Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN was a Distinguished Hormone Scholar at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR: Tulane/Xavier Universities). She is a leading figure in integrative medicine, renowned for her expertise in hormones, nutrition, digestion, and environmental science. With a background as a clinician, professor, bestselling author, and radio show host, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. At the CBR, she collaborated with pioneers in estrogen and sex-steroid receptor research. Dr. Berkson is also a respected educator, teaching MDs and pharmacists in advanced certification courses. She has developed innovative nutraceuticals, holds patents in bioidentical hormone therapy, and has contributed to groundbreaking research on dialysis/pharmaceutical medications and nutrition. Dr. Berkson consults internationally, focusing on medical nutrition for breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, renal problems, and complex health issues. Dr. B's Links: Email - [email protected] Webpage - www.drlindseyberkson.com Memberships - www.drlindseyberkson.com/membership Agile Thinking Substack - https://drlindseyberkson.substack.com/ Biotics Products - https://drlindseyberkson.com/bioticsproducts/ Hormones: Vilified to Vindicated (Course) - https://drlindseyberkson.com/v2v/ Oxytocin Medicine - https://drlindseyberkson.com/oxytocinmedicine/ **Get $100 off Dr. Berkson's Everything Breast Cancer and/or Everything Hormones Courses by using the code: PC100TARA https://drlindseyberkson.com/everythingbreastcancer/ https://drlindseyberkson.com/everything-breast-cancer-nonprofessional/ https://drlindseyberkson.com/everythinghormones/ Estradiol vs. Bi-Est Debate, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-p82VW1weA&t=2508s Watch Tara's Instagram Live with Dr. Berkson here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN6ieQRE0PI/   Fix Your Gut Masterclass Stop Blaming the Food! The Real Reason You've Still Got Bloating and Pooping Problems and How to Fix Your Gut for Good. In this free, live masterclass Tara will walk you through the real reason your gut symptoms keep coming back, no matter what you've tried, and what actually needs to happen to fix them properly, at the root, for good. [Save your spot HERE]  

Does estrogen really cause breast cancer? It's one of the biggest fears women have when considering HRT, and in this conversation, Dr. Lindsey Berkson takes Tara back to where much of that fear began. They unpack the history of the Women's Health Initiative, how the original messaging around hormones shaped medical practice, and what later analyses of the research have shown. Dr. Berkson explains why she believes estrogen has been misunderstood, including the difference between estrogen's effects on different receptors and why "estrogen-positive" breast cancer does not necessarily mean estrogen caused the cancer. They also discuss research involving women with ER-positive breast cancer who received estrogen and what those studies reported. Dr. Berkson then shares her own breast cancer story and why it ultimately led her to spend decades researching hormones. This is a fascinating conversation about how medical messaging evolves, why women need to understand the details behind the studies, and why Tara believes these are conversations women deserve to have. In Part 1:  The history of the Women's Health Initiative and why it was created What the early research was actually showing about estrogen and breast cancer The controversial press release that changed the conversation around HRT What 20 years of reanalysis of the Women's Health Initiative revealed Oral vs topical vs vaginal estrogen: why delivery method matters Tara's experience with vaginal progesterone and sleep/anxiety The controversy surrounding oral progesterone The debate around estriol What "estrogen-positive" breast cancer actually means The theory behind estrogen and progesterone fueling breast tumors   Dr. Lindsey Berkson Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN was a Distinguished Hormone Scholar at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR: Tulane/Xavier Universities). She is a leading figure in integrative medicine, renowned for her expertise in hormones, nutrition, digestion, and environmental science. With a background as a clinician, professor, bestselling author, and radio show host, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. At the CBR, she collaborated with pioneers in estrogen and sex-steroid receptor research. Dr. Berkson is also a respected educator, teaching MDs and pharmacists in advanced certification courses. She has developed innovative nutraceuticals, holds patents in bioidentical hormone therapy, and has contributed to groundbreaking research on dialysis/pharmaceutical medications and nutrition. Dr. Berkson consults internationally, focusing on medical nutrition for breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, renal problems, and complex health issues. Dr. B's Links: Email - [email protected] Webpage - www.drlindseyberkson.com Memberships - www.drlindseyberkson.com/membership Agile Thinking Substack - https://drlindseyberkson.substack.com/ Biotics Products - https://drlindseyberkson.com/bioticsproducts/ Hormones: Vilified to Vindicated (Course) - https://drlindseyberkson.com/v2v/ Oxytocin Medicine - https://drlindseyberkson.com/oxytocinmedicine/ **Get $100 off Dr. Berkson's Everything Breast Cancer and/or Everything Hormones Courses by using the code: PC100TARA https://drlindseyberkson.com/everythingbreastcancer/ https://drlindseyberkson.com/everything-breast-cancer-nonprofessional/ https://drlindseyberkson.com/everythinghormones/ Estradiol vs. Bi-Est Debate, watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-p82VW1weA&t=2508s Watch Tara's Instagram Live with Dr. Berkson here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN6ieQRE0PI/   Fix Your Gut Masterclass Stop Blaming the Food! The Real Reason You've Still Got Bloating and Pooping Problems and How to Fix Your Gut for Good. In this free, live masterclass Tara will walk you through the real reason your gut symptoms keep coming back, no matter what you've tried, and what actually needs to happen to fix them properly, at the root, for good. [Save your spot HERE]