The Strength in Hormones Podcast

Holiday Survival Tips with Ro In this episode I chat with my right hand gal, Romana Brennan. Romana is our other functional medicine registered dietitian here at Functional Fueling. In this episode we provide our best holiday survival tips, sharing with you how we navigate the holiday season, and what to do and what not to do to make this your healthiest year yet. You can find all of the practical strategies we discuss in this episode in this year's Holiday Guide here. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Our top traditional Thanksgiving recipe swaps How to beat constipation and bloating with travel and holiday meals Navigating conversations around your eating decisions at meals How to set yourself up for success before Holiday meals with a step-by-step game plan for a morning and evening Holiday party Our favorite supplements for digestion around Holiday meals How to navigate alcohol - whats a safe amount, how to prep before and after for success. Healthier wine and drink alternatives. Strategies to support your circadian rhythm during the Holiday season How to manage time and financial stress with nutrition changes Important show links 👇👇👇 Download our FREE HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app  

Understanding and Navigating Secondary Infertility with Functional Medicine with Dr. Kalea Wattles Secondary infertility is when mothers experience difficulties conceiving or carrying their second baby to term. In this episode I interview naturopathic doctor and fertility expert, Dr. Kalea Wattles of Functional Fertility to share why secondary infertility occurs and how functional medicine is helping thousands of women overcome secondary infertility. Whether you are experiencing secondary infertility or trying to conceive with your first, second or fifth baby, this episode is a must listen to learn more about pre-conception health!   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is secondary infertility and who is most afflicted? Are there things that occur during pregnancy or after that can put a woman at higher risk of experiencing secondary infertility? Are there things a mom can do during her first pregnancy to decrease chances of secondary infertility? The link between HLA antibodies and the risk of secondary infertility Can secondary infertility be caused by a change in sperm morphology or motility or is it primarily changes in the mother’s health? Dr. Kalea's recommended secondary infertility lab workup The functional treatment options for secondary infertility Important show links 👇👇👇 Learn more about Dr. Kaelea at www.drkaleawattles.com Discount for Inito Fertility Tracker Use code: functionalfueling15 Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] The Role of Bile and the Gallbladder in Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism Bile is a digestive fluid that plays a profound role in thyroid health. Bile is made and released from the liver but stored in the gallbladder. In this episode we explore the connection between both the gallbladder and bile with the thyroid. I share about why many women are prone to hypothyroidism and estrogen dominance after a cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery and how thyroid hormones also play a role in bile flow. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is bile How bile impacts thyroid hormone levels How the thyroid impacts bile salt production The benefits of bile on the gut, estrogen and thyroid levels, cholesterol and more Labs that can indicate bile issues My top foods and supplements for supporting bile flow Important show links 👇👇👇 Sign up for my FREE The Missing Piece to Hormone Imbalances Workshop Join our Inflammation Hormony program Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] My Labor & Post Birth Nutrition Plan In this episode I share the exact foods, hydration solutions and herbs I put together for both labor and the first forty days after birth. I explain the rationale behind these and the exact meals and snacks I made. If you're currently pregnant, trying to conceive or even just curious about what the nutritional needs are during labor and in the fourth trimester, tune in to learn more!   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 the fuel demands of labor what I prepped for labor and why nutrition and hydration considerations for quick healing from birth my meal ideas for the fourth trimester galactagogue herbs to help support breastmilk production Mentioned Show links 👇👇👇 Pregnancy Nutrition, Supplement, and Must Haves blog post Discount for Inito Fertility Tracker Use code: functionalfueling15 Force of Nature Regenerative Meat    Important show links 👇👇👇 Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Can Stem Cell Therapy Help with Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism? Stem cell therapy is becoming a more common regenerative medicine treatment. It targets promoting repair and healing of damaged or diseased cells and tissues to restore normal function. In this week's podcast episode I interview Dr. Jeff Gross, an esteemed neurosurgeon and the founder of Recellebrate to tell us all about stem cell therapy. We discuss the potential benefits, how stem cell therapy works, and complimentary treatments that can be done alongside stem cell therapy. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is stem cell therapy and the mechanisms of how it works The different types of stem cells that may be used for a patient and their sourcing The potential benefits of stem cell therapy for Hashimoto's and non-autoimmune hypothyroidism The average timeline of treatment for stem cell therapy for endocrine conditions How athletic populations use stem cell therapy for injury recovery Treatments like RX, herbs and supplementation that can be done alongside stem cell therapy Important show links 👇👇👇 Join our 1:1 coaching waitlist Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] How Mold Disrupts Reproductive & Thyroid Hormones In my functional medicine training I spent time learning about mold and environmental toxins and their impact on the endocrine system. I even did additional training in this subject because I found it truly fascinating. At that point I had already been working in the space of hormones for several years but was never *looking* for mold or heavy metals as a root cause. I knew they mattered and what to do if they were ever an issue but didn’t know just how much these things could have an impact in really resistant and peculiar health issues. Until I dealt with it myself...In this podcast episode I share more about my story, how mold impacts thyroid and reproductive hormones and symptoms that could indicate mold illness.  A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 how mold functions as endocrine disruptor the impact of mold on testosterone, progesterone and estrogen levels the link to leptin and insulin resistance how mold toxins can trigger autoimmunity and thyroid issues the important role of deiodoinase enzymes in thyroid hormone conversion symptoms of mold illness Important show links 👇👇👇 Join our 1:1 coaching waitlist Save $150+ on an Air Doctor air filter with this link Follow me on Instagram Link to Mold & Gut Health episode Link to Cellular Hypothyroidism episode Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Long COVID and EBV's Role in Thyroid & Period Problems Infections like COVID and EBV play an important role in sex and thyroid hormones. COVID has been shown to affect female reproductive health, causing dysmenorrhea or irregular menstrual cycles, and premenstrual symptoms. EBV has strong ties to its role in thyroid imbalances. A 2015 Polish study found the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the thyroid cells of 80% of people with Hashimoto’s and 62.5 percent of people with Graves’ disease. And it's estimated that 66.7% of individuals that have long COVID had EBV reactivation. In this episode we dive into exactly what these viruses are, how these two viruses affect hormones and I share some insight into our treatment strategies. If you are currently experiencing the long term symptoms of COVID and/or have a history of mono, tune in to learn more! A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Long COVID and Post COVID risk factors Functional testing for Long COVID How COVID affects hormones The link between COVID and the Epstein–Barr virus   The diagnostic criteria for EBV The prevalence of EBV in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Our 4-part treatment approach to EBV deactivation Important show links 👇👇👇 Join our 1:1 coaching waitlist Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app  

Micro-immunotherapy: A Novel Treatment for Hashimoto's and Autoimmunity Micro-immunotherapy is a novel treatment approach that has taken popularity throughout functional medicine in Europe. You may be familiar with the more common treatment, immunotherapy. We define how they differ and why their differences is a key piece to the safety of micro-immunotherapy. In this episode I interview Christian Sohmen with the makers of Micro-immunotherapy to tell us about how this treatment approach works for those with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is micro-immunotherapy and how it works, its similarities and differences to immunotherapy? What is happening with the immune system in autoimmune conditions? What are the therapeutic targets of micro-immunotherapy in Hashimoto’s? How does one administer micro-immunotherapy and what is sequential dosing? Can micro-immunotherapy be combined with other treatments like naltrexone, herbs, vitamins, etc? The length of time one can expect to utilize micro-immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases Outcomes patients have seen with micro-immunotherapy for autoimmunity The support roles micro-immunotherapy in mitochondrial function, allergies and long COVID Important show links 👇👇👇 Join our 1:1 coaching waitlist Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Ask me Anything: Thyroid Healing, Colostrum vs. Collagen, Amenorrhea, Workout Fueling & More Welcome to our first ask me anything episode! I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to answer some of the most asked questions you guys have asked this month over on Instagram. In this episode we chat about how to heal your thyroid when thyroid medicine isn't cutting it, how to know if you need specific supplements, amenorrhea and fueling strategies around workouts and more. Tune in to learn more and let me know if you guys want me to do these more often! A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 1:53: Can and should you balance your hormones with an eating disorder? 4:44: Getting off thyroid RX and healing thyroid naturally 9:54: Is the erythritol in oral care products safe? 13:55: Collagen vs. Colostrum  - which one do you need, if any? 17:39: Non-toxic coffee recommendations and what to look for 23:16: Meals around workouts and how to address weight loss resistance 27:15: The use of wearables like Oura, their accuracy and how to interpret the data 32:10: How much fat should you eat around workouts? Important show links 👇👇👇 How to Reverse Low Thyroid Function W/O Pills Episode Cellular Stress in Hypothyroidism with Dr. Eric Balcavage Episode 7 Day Free Trial of Strength in Hormones Workouts (fueling for workouts masterclass & recipes included!) Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Bacterial Vaginosis, Yeast Infections and the Vaginal Microbiome to Hormone Connection  Vaginal infections like Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Yeast Infections afflict women at every age. In this episode we discuss the interplay between these infections and hormones. We discuss why these infections are more common during pregnancy, oral contraceptive use and menopause. We also chat about natural ways to positively influence the vaginal microbiome through food and supplemental strategies to help prevent and heal vaginal infections.  A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 why BV and yeast infections occur why vaginal infections matter for fertility the role of pH and things that influence pH the link between hormones and vaginal infections the role of lactobacillus in the vaginal microbiome and how to influence it the link between your gut microbiome and vaginal microbiome testing recommendations for recurrent vaginal infections Important show links 👇👇👇 Sign up for the Missing Piece Hormone Workshop Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

The Vagus Nerve Solution to Inflammation with Dr. Habib The vagus nerve is a key piece to regulating inflammation levels in the body. In this episode I talk with Dr. Habib, a vagus nerve expert and author of the book, Activate Your Vagus Nerve: Unleash Your Body's Natural Ability to Heal. We discuss the role of the vagus nerve in regulating hormone signaling, the immune system and inflammatory response in the body, motility in our gut (how quickly food passes through your GI tract) and more. Tune in to learn about the role of the vagus nerve and simple ways you can support vagal tone with both daily routines and vagus nerve therapies. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is the vagus nerve and vagal tone?  Why might someone have low vagal tone? Signs and symptoms of low vagal tone? The relationship between Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and vagal tone How vagal tone influences the inflammatory response Why the brain to immune system communication is so critical to controlling inflammation The relationship between vagal tone and blood glucose control, thyroid and sex hormone regulation Simple everyday habits to improve vagal tone at home How electrical vagal nerve stimulation and laser therapy work for improving vagal tone Important show links 👇👇👇   Follow me on Instagram Stay connected with Dr. Navaz Habib and purchase his book at www.vagusnervebook.com  Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] My Second Trimester Pregnancy Update I can't believe the second trimester is already nearly behind me. In a few days I enter the third trimester and before I do I wanted to update you on everything I've been up to these past few months. I'm sharing details on the advanced labs I ran on myself and why, changes in my supplements and nutrition, practices I'm doing to prepare my physical body for labor and my future plans for Functional Fueling. Tune in to learn more! A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 the labs I ran on myself, the results of them and the changes I made based on them new supplements and nutrition changes I've made finding out I have marginal cord insertion how I prepped for the Gestational Diabetes screening test, what I used and my CGM data around the test ways I'm prepping my physical body and things I'm planning to prioritize in the 3rd trimester my plans for the future of FFN and juggling mom life and career Important show links 👇👇👇 Follow me on Instagram My Pregnancy Nutrition, Supplement & Lifestyle Must Haves Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app  

[The LOdown] Minerals for Hypothyroidism Minerals are the keys to unlocking better hormone production, conversion and utilization in the body. The thyroid gland is a particularly mineral dependent gland. It uses the mineral iodine to make thyroid hormones. Plus utilizes other complementary minerals to help with conversion and activation of these hormones as well as in regulating the oxidative stress that occurs during thyroid hormone production. Tune into this episode to learn about the role of these specific minerals, situations that deplete mineral levels and mineral testing I recommend. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 why minerals matter for thyroid health the macro minerals - their role in thyroid health, sourcing in food and more tips the trace minerals - their role in thyroid health, sourcing in food and more tips situations that deplete mineral status testing for minerals (HTMA vs. RBC vs. serum) Important show links 👇👇👇 Purchase our Mineral Magic daily mineral support Link to Glutathione episode on oxidative stress & thyroid Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Exploring Endometriosis, Its Drivers and Natural Treatment Options with Dr. G Endometriosis is a common women's health condition, affecting roughly 11% of women ages 15 - 44. Unfortunately treatment options are limited and the time it takes to receive diagnosis is extensive which means many women suffer for several years before seeking relief. In this episode I interview endometriosis expert, Dr. Alexis Gonzales to discuss endometriosis, its drivers and the natural treatment options available. We discuss how functional medicine can be a life changing treatment approach for women and the many intricacies of treatment. We answer the question: is endometriosis a hormonal issue or an immune system imbalance and how chronic inflammation plays a role in this condition.  A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is endometriosis and what are the diagnosis criteria Common allopathic treatment solutions for endometriosis and their success rates The hormonal imbalance profile we see with endometriosis The immune system's involvement in endometriosis. Should endo be treated as an autoimmune disease? Supplements and herbs for pain management and how they work Recommended labs for endometriosis treatment via functional medicine Important show links 👇👇👇 Join the Inflammation Hormony Waitlist - doors open on Monday, August 5th Follow me on Instagram Learn more about Dr. Gonzales Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

How to Use Light Exposure For Optimizing Your Cycles, Blood Sugar & Thyroid Control with Sarah Marlette Light exposure has a profound impact on our circadian rhythm control. That's because when our pineal gland (behind our eye) senses bright light or blue light, this regulates melatonin and cortisol production. In this episode I interview my dear friend and colleague, Sarah Marlette to tell us about how circadian rhythm influences hormone regulation. We discuss what the research says on circadian disruption and hormone imbalances as well as ways to support your circadian rhythm for night shift workers and new parents. Plus we chat a little bit about my current interest in this topic around oxytocin production during labor! A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 what is circadian rhythm and what influences it how our circadian rhythm is tied to melatonin and cortisol production that influences sleep and energy the connection between circadian rhythm and hormone production the link between circadian disruption and blood sugar related problems how light exposure influences oxytocin levels during labor practical ways to support your circadian rhythm (including options for night shift workers and new parents who wake often throughout the night) Important show links 👇👇👇 Get your hormones, cortisol and melatonin tested with our DUTCH Hormone Testing Package- learn more about our hormone testing packages  Follow me on Instagram Learn more about Sarah's practice at www.nourishthriveglow.org and follow her on IG at nourishthriveglow Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Mitochondria What? Their Connection to the Thyroid, Fertility & More You've likely heard the word mitochondria before and maybe wondered what are those things and why do people say they are so important? The truth is they really are that important, especially as it relates to the thyroid, fertility and autoimmunity. In this podcast episode I uncover everything you must know about mitochondrial health, its connection to our endocrine and immune system and ways to support it. We chat about the populations at the greatest risk of mitochondrial dysfunction (hint: I'm looking at you extreme exercisers). Tune in to learn more!  A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 how the thyroid influences mitochondrial function and vice versa the role of mitochondria in fertility for both men and women the PCOS-mitochondrial connection things to limit to improve mitochondrial function foods, supplements and lifestyle tools to add to support mitochondrial function my thoughts on red light, sauna and exercise for mitochondrial health and how to get the best out of them Important show links 👇👇👇 Join the Inflammation Hormony Waitlist for our August program Read our blog post about Mitochondria: The Starting Place for Hormone Health Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Diastasis Recti, Strength Training and Safe Movement for Pregnancy with Dr. Mae Hughes Working out during pregnancy can be so overwhelming. The modifications you have to make and the constant fear around what is safe and what's not. That's why I brought on an expert Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Dr. Mae Hughes to simplify this subject and answer all your (and my) questions around safe movement during pregnancy.  A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What is Diastasis Recti and is it normal or preventable? What does the research say on strength training during pregnancy and its benefits for labor? Safe movement guidelines for pregnancy - what's a no and what can be modified? Pelvic floor health and why it's not just about strengthening Important show links 👇👇👇 Get pregnancy, postpartum and general pelvic floor fitness programs at www.drmaehughes.com. Use the code "functionalfueling" to save 10% on any program or workshop. Learn more about our Strength in Hormones workout program and join with a 7 day free trial.  Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Why Blood Sugar and A1C increase in Menopause Went through menopause and noticed your annual labs started to look different? It's not in your head! As hormones change so does metabolism, particularly, glucose metabolism. That's all due to the drop in estrogen and progesterone that influence thyroid hormones and insulin sensitivity. Add to that a gradual decline in lean muscle tissue each year that leads to a decrease in insulin sensitivity. It is possible to achieve an optimal fasting blood glucose, insulin and A1C level at any age and in this podcast episode I am going to show you how! We walk through why these changes occur and what you can do about it to still prevent diabetes and other glucose related health problems like cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease and more.   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 the insulin resistance curve the influence of estrogen and progesterone on glucose metabolism how thyroid hormones become impacted post-menopausally and how this influences blood sugar the role of lean muscle tissue in blood sugar control strategies for improving blood sugar, insulin and A1c after menopause Important show links 👇👇👇 Get your blood sugar and insulin levels tested - learn more about our hormone testing packages  Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app Image credit: Wellness Garage  

Your Guide to Sauna and The Healing Benefits of Heat Exposure Sauna or heat exposure have long been one of my favorite tools for so many reasons. Not only are there amazing benefits to detoxification, mitochondrial and cardiovascular health but also to inflammation. Research shows that regular sauna use that mimix the heart benefits of moderate aerobic exercise with just 25 minutes of use per day. It has also been shown to lower the blood marker for assessing inflammation, c reactive protein or CRP. In this podcast episode I interview Phil Wilson of Relax Saunas to tell us about the many benefits of sauna and its traditional use that cultures have known about for centuries. Phil has been so generous to offer a giveaway of a free far infrared sauna lamp to one lucky listener of this episode. The giveaway can be entered over on my Instagram page. Just tag 2 friends accounts on my reel sharing about this podcast episode. The giveaway runs until July 2nd at 11:59 pm PST. A winner will be chosen from my account and announced on Instagram on Wednesday, July 3rd. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Cultural use and overall general health benefits of sauna or heat exposure How to use the sauna if you are dealing with a health challenge that makes you feel fatigued or sick after use Infrared sauna vs. traditional/dry sauna - which is best? Why does Far Infrared matter?  What are heat shock proteins and what are their benefits? What is the difference between the far infrared table lamp and a sauna? How sauna compares to red light therapy Important show links 👇👇👇 Enter the Sauna Lamp giveaway on Instagram. Tag 2 friends on my recent reel about this episode. Giveaway closes July 2nd at 11:59 pm PST. Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LOdown] Glutathione, Your Thyroid & Autoimmunity Deep Dive Glutathione is one of the key nutrients for both thyroid health and autoimmunity. In this podcast episode I explain why this is and all the amazing things glutathione does for our thyroid, our liver, inflammation and immune system. We talk about all the link between glutathione and these health conditions, what causes glutathione depletion and how to replenish glutathione levels with dietary and supplemental strategies. We also cover how to know if glutathione is right for you and signs to watch for that might indicate you should support glutathione levels in a different way than through supplementation. This episode is a must listen for anyone with hypothyroidism, hashimoto's, grave's disease or any autoimmune disease. Tune in to learn more!   A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 How and where we make glutathione Signs you need more glutathione and what causes glutathione depletion Why athletes or active individuals and those with autoimmunity are more at risk of low glutathione levels The link between glutathione and autoimmunity How glutathione works within the thyroid to stop inflammation and improve thyroid function How to increase glutathione levels naturally How to supplement glutathione Potential side effects of glutathione supplementation to watch for Important show links 👇👇👇 Join the Inflammation Hormony Waitlist for our August program Follow me on Instagram Link to Mitochondrial Blog Link to topical glutathione cream I recommend (can also shop here for other discussed supplements) Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app