Episode #31: Is Your Birth Control Controlling You?

While prepping this episode, I decided to record an outline to see how it would unfold. The following day, I listened to the audio that included a few minutes of an annoying leaf blower, eventually becoming a fiery muse for today's fiery podcast.

The audio hit home and felt like a culmination of conversations with clients over the years of challenging symptoms they experienced yet didn't associate with their contraceptives. I'd frequently hear tales of low libido, lack of desire for intimacy, sense of flatness, unexplained anxiety, depression–  "Meg, I'm just not feeling like me."  

Many women have been on hormonal contraceptives for 5, 10, 15, 20 years without ever authentically experiencing the natural rhythm of their own hormones off the pill. I'm not referring to PMS but the incredible and powerful dance of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone that is an integral part of a woman's being, creativity, psyche, and much more. 

What if YOUR hormones could be a vehicle, a tool to assist you in accessing a deeper connection to your sexual drive, creativity, intuition, inner strength- your soul's journey? What if your cycle is a metaphor for what you can give birth to each and everything day, month, and year of your life? And, what would it be like to consider a non-hormonal contraceptive method or device that could be as effective as your birth control without all the side effects?  

Please join me today as we take a deep dive into some challenging hormonal terrain that may ruffle your feathers, possibly re-think your birth control options and assist you in rediscovering YOU off synthetic hormones. 

Sweet Lovelies welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #30 PCOS- A Modern Day Epidemic (Part Two)

During this episode, I'll take a deeper dive into the underpinnings of PCOS.

PCOS is an inflammatory hormonal syndrome that includes anovulatory cycles, irregular periods, and for many, the presence of cystic ovaries. These "symptoms" reflect a state of insulin resistance, which drives elevated androgens, thus interfering with a woman's ability to ovulate regularly.

Today, I'll explore the "WHY" factors for the development of PCOS while also focusing on a deeper root cause that ignites nearly all hormonal imbalances for women.  

You see, many of my clients fall somewhere along the PCOS spectrum, and nearly ALL these women have one thing in common- an altered microbiome and intestinal permeability, setting the stage for the pathogenesis of what we define as PCOS. 

The integrity of your gut influences the foundation and integrity of your hormone signaling. In other words, what you eat, what you absorb, and what you eliminate defines your hormones.  

Today, join me to explore how the microbiome and leaky gut sets the stage for insulin resistance and how the liver is critical to the PCOS picture. Diet and lifestyle choices play a significant role. But, if the integrity of a woman's gut health isn't part of the PCOS picture, then everything else becomes a bandaid.

Sweet Lovelies welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone!

Episode #29: PCOS- A Modern Day Epidemic (Part One)

PCOS is a fiery syndrome of hormone dysregulation dancing with insulin resistance and elevated androgens. Inflammation drives PCOS— the fiery accelerants include dysbiosis, leaky gut, elevated cortisol, and the standard American diet.

PCOS is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting at least 20% of women of reproductive age in the US— translating into a staggering 15+ million women.

A PCOS diagnosis falls through the cracks for countless women as the conventional view is limited to outdated guidelines— 50 to 75% of women with PCOS are undiagnosed.

During today’s podcast, I’ll be sharing what I’ve been seeing in the realm of PCOS from my clinical practice over the past 18 months. At present, 60% of the women I work with via Telehealth are on the PCOS spectrum.

Join me as we take a deep dive into these fiery accelerants and debunk oral contraceptives as the go-to “pill” for women with PCOS. I’m getting fired up just thinking about it, my Sweet Lovelies!

Episode #28: Debunking Common Exercise & Diet Myths

In the world of “Women’s Fitness ” there’s a tremendous amount of conflicting and careless information regarding exercise and diet. Sadly, this type of information is wreaking havoc on women’s hormones and body composition.

I’m delighted to have Rob Spragis join me on this episode of The Hormone Lifestyle Zone. He’s a personal trainer, exercise physiology whiz, and senior coach for Orangetheory Fitness. Rob and I will take a deep dive into demystifying and debunking some common exercise and diet myths once and for all.

During today's podcast we will focus on the following and much more:
• Learn why 80% of your body composition is dependent on what you eat?
• And why 20% is dependent on a mixture of strength training and cardio?
• Learn why you may be deficient in a specific food group that dials back on hunger and dials up on optimal body composition?
• Find out why your cardio routine may be working against you, contributing to weight gain and muscle loss.
• Find out why recovery time can help lean you out and support hormone balance, including fertility.
• Learn how proper balance of cardio and strength training may involve working out less than you thought!
• Learn how to have great abs that doesn’t involve a kabillion crunches.
• Did you know that breakfast could be a game-changer? During today’s episode I’ll share my recipe for a morning hormone balancing shake!

Rob Spragis App/Website Recommendations for home strength-fitness training covering workouts that also include no equipment routines:  Freeletics HIIT Fitness Coach and Centr, by Chris Hemsworth

My sweet lovelies, welcome to  The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #27: The Vegetarian-Vegan Myth with Special Guest Lierre Keith

Today’s guest is Lierre Keith, the acclaimed author of "The Vegetarian Myth," as well as food activist, environmentalist, and ex-vegan of twenty years.

So, how did I happen upon this amazing woman out on the west coast? In the late fall of 2020, I watched an incredible documentary created by Diana Rodgers entitled Sacred Cow. It probes the fundamental moral, environmental, and nutritional difficulties we face in raising and eating animals, including the most maligned of all farm animals- the cow.

Lierre Keith was interviewed in this award winning documentary. I was utterly blown away by her story of being a hard-core vegan for two decades, which included her way back to recovery when reintroducing meat, fish and other animal products into her diet- ultimately saving her life.  How did this watershed moment happen for Lierre? 

To find out, please join me for one of the most compelling interviews on The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #26: Smart Skincare with Alpyn Beauty Founder- Kendra Kolb Butler

In today's episode, Kendra Kolb Butler and I will take a deep dive into how you can have lovely, vibrant glowing skin and slow down the hands of time.

Do you ever feel no matter how much moisturizer you put on your face it still feels dry?  Are you struggling with acne, hyperpigmentation, or unclear how to care for YOUR skin type?  Please grab a cup of your favorite tea and join me for a fun-filled podcast!

A little about Kendra's journey: she was a client when I practiced in NYC.  Kendra had a fast-paced job in the beauty industry and started to experience urban burnout.  She and her husband decided to pack up everything and head west.  They landed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where Kendra eventually opened the Alpyn Beauty Bar stores and started "wildcrafting".  A practice of harvesting plants from their natural-wild habitat which also included her backyard!  From these plants, she created a spectacular skincare line- Alpyn Beauty.  Kendra has appeared in GOOP and recently written up in Forbes.  

I'm delighted to have her as a guest as she exudes a plethora of information and rocks hiking shoes better than any gal I know!

Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #25: Food Sensitivity Testing- A Game Changer In Women's Health Issues

What if daily consumption of items in your kitchen cabinet and refrigerator are zapping your energy or possibly contributing to symptoms of PMS, migraines, GI distress, sinus congestion or chronic pain? 

What if a simple "finger prick" blood test done in the comfort of your home could accurately identify foods and additives potentially triggering these and other health issues facing countless women today.

AND... What if food sensitivities such as dairy, gluten, and eggs play a significant role in inflammation- contributing to a compromised gut microbiota combined with gut permeability, elevating thyroid antibodies while igniting a host of autoimmune and hormonal issues.

Please join me today with my guest, James White. He is the CEO of KBMO Diagnostics- a leading lab offering state of the art food sensitivity testing. James and I will take a deep dive into why so many develop food sensitivity and how a personalized elimination diet based on a FIT test can be a game-changer in women's health. Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #24: Constipation- Healthy Poops Make For Happy Hormones!

'Tis the season for a celebration of glorious eating and the sounds of borborygmi... your belly's version of jingle bells. It's more than holiday eating for many women that keeps them from having daily bowel movements.  In my clinical practice, nearly 70% of the women I see are somewhere on the constipation spectrum.

During this episode, I'll take a deep dive into the realm of women's constipation and why resolving it can take the mystery out of so many other health issues- lupus, PCOS, and migraines to unexplained infertility, including breast cancer.  

Your GI tract and microbiome integrity is the overseer of your endocrine system- aka your beautiful hormones. What you eat, assimilate, and eliminate influences the excretion of unhealthy estrogens and unwanted toxins.

Having healthy poops involves more than just fiber and water.  We'll explore intriguing factors contributing to chronic and "unexplained" constipation. Yes, you can have glorious, effortless, and happy daily poohs- not just once, twice, or three times weekly.  I'll let you in on a secret; stomach acid plays a significant role in bowel health.  So, what's up with stomach acid? Listen in sweet lovelies and you'll find out! 

I'm super excited to share this information because right now I'm bopping along to Charlie Brown's Christmas! Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

P.S: Additional Good Info From Today’s Podcast Contraband Ferments: Cheryl Paswater is an amazing Fermentationist and her website is filled with great fermentation recipes including coconut kefir that was mentioned in the show. This lady is the real deal!

Probiotic: UltraFloraSpectrum

Digestive Enzyme: Digestive Enzymes Ultra with HCL

Episode #23: Breast Cancer: What All Women Need To Know!

Today’s episode truly exemplifies why I'm deeply committed to demystifying women's hormonal issues.

Did You Know: • 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

• By 2030, new cases of breast cancer are expected to increase by 50%.

• About 95% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 40- while half are 61 years of age and older.

• Nearly 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases can be attributed to genetic variants.

 I'm excited to have Dr. Veronica Gasko, DC, as my guest.  She's been a chiropractor for nearly three decades, a medical educator, and a lecturer.  Dr. Gasko was diagnosed almost two years ago with breast cancer and she will share her extraordinary journey with us. Dr. Gasko... Veronica is super relatable, and her words are filled with beautiful gems of insight and compassion.

 "A woman doesn't wake up one day with breast cancer. Various factors influence her risk: lifestyle choices, diet, xenoestrogen exposure, stress, and the integrity of the liver and microbiome. It's much more than a woman's genes that can inevitably impact her outcome." 

Together we'll take a deep dive into ways women of all ages can be proactive.  Dr. Gasko will help us understand how estrogen metabolism and pathways may influence a woman's breast cancer risk and other estrogen-related cancers, including estrogen dominance conditions such as PMS, PCOS, fibroids polyps, heavy menstrual bleeding, and breast tenderness. 

 All women have the potential to make smart choices when given smart information. Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

Episode #22: Why Does Dehydration Impact 75% of Americans & How Do We Quench the Problem?

“Proper hydration and knowing what this is… is the single most important thing you can do to treat and prevent chronic illness. Hands down.” - Dana Cohen, MD

We can survive for weeks without food, but we would not survive beyond seven days without water. Our organs and bodily systems would shut down. And, if we drink too much water, we could be flushing out valuable electrolytes, vital minerals and nutrients.

I am delighted to have my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Dana Cohen, as a guest on THLSZ. She is an internist practicing integrative medicine for over two decades in New York City. Dr. Cohen also co-authored the groundbreaking book, Quench with Gia Bria This book is based on new science in the field of hydration. QUENCH debunks many popular myths about “getting enough water.”

Dr. Cohen will take us on a deep dive into this epidemic of low-grade dehydration. She will explain how proper hydration can reduce or eliminate ailments like chronic weight gain, headaches, fibromyalgia and fatigue, including cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s. Today’s conversation will move beyond the eight glasses of daily water and how water locked inside plants hydrate more efficiently than tap water.

Please join me for a quenching dive into the world of water, plants, chia seeds and how desert cultures maintain optimal hydration. Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

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Season Two/Episode #21: Jesica's 180-Degree Turnaround, Potentially Saving Her Life!

What if over a two year period you were diagnosed with hypertension, borderline type 2 diabetes, a genetic disorder associated with elevated iron levels that could damage your liver and place you at considerable risk for a heart attack.

What if you were on a daily regimen of six medications, experiencing chronic GI distress, constant shortness of breath, terrible PMS and immense fatigue while spending $20,000 out of pocket to figure out why your health was rapidly declining. 

And, what if you were able to reverse these symptoms- get off all your meds and lose 20 pounds in less than three months.  Welcome to today’s episode of The Hormone Lifestyle Zone with my incredible guest as well as client.  Jesica Demumbreum is a nurse and lactation consultant, a mom of three boys, and presently in grad school to become a nurse practitioner.  A true warrior-goddess!

During this podcast, Jesica will share her journey with the many twists and turns leading her to my “virtual” office.  I will also take a deep dive into how we worked together to bring about an extraordinary 180-degree turnaround in Jesica's health.  

A few days after last month's podcast, I experienced a Covid-19 relapse.  I am feeling close to 100% back to the best version of myself.  I share this with all my listeners because being able to effortlessly breathe makes me more committed to assist all of you in being the best version of who you are during these challenging times.

Much love and grace to all my sweet warrior goddesses and gods!

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Season Two/Episode #20: Turning Into the Skid- What's the New Maneuver?

I’m super excited about today's podcast! It's been a bit of a bumpy ride since July 2nd- the day I came down with Covid-19. I'm incredibly thankful for experiencing a mild version of this virus. It knocked the wind out of my sail but also provided direction for today's episode.

The most important thing I can offer is helping you find the calm within the storm. We are traveling along a highway on an unpredictable road trip, without a compass or a map. Many of us are not sure where we're heading or where we'll end up. So, how do we navigate our lives right now? Do we need a new driver's manual or one with maneuver revisions that allow us to turn into the skid and right us along a highway without any signage?

Please join me and my delicious guest, Andrea Codrington Lippke. She is an incredible writer, insightful journalist, and lovely storyteller. Together, we turn into life's deep skids that include broken hearts, a miraculously-unexpected adoption, faith, grace, uncertainty, and a red dragon bathrobe. This podcast is a keeper!

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Season Two/Episode #19: How Does Thyroid, Nutrition and Lifestyle Factors Influence a Woman's Fertility?

I am over the moon to have Brittany Henderson, MD back on THLZ! She is the Medical Directory of The Charleston Thyroid Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.   Dr. Henderson is also the author of What You Must Know About Hashimoto's Disease— Restoring Thyroid Health Through Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Did you know, even mild thyroid dysfunction can affect a woman's ability to become pregnant while nearly 27% of women with unexplained infertility have TSH levels above 2.5?  So— what is an optimal TSH range for an optimal pregnancy?

Please join Dr. Brittany Henderson and myself, as we take a deep dive into these questions and various aspects of a woman's fertility including the following:

• What do women need to know about optimal thyroid function during each trimester? 

• Why is the preconception phase crucial to you and your baby's health?

• Most importantly— how does diet, microbiome and gut integrity amongst other incredible fertility factors, influence thyroid, pregnancy and ultimately all newborns? 

Supplement Recommendations During Podcast: Plus One Prenatal: Prenatal Vitamin Pack UltraFlora Balance: Probiotic for GastroIntestinal & Immune Health UltraFlora Women’s: Probiotic for healthy vaginal microflora and urogenital health

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Season Two/Episode #18: Grace's Journey- A Roller Coaster Ride with PCOS

Todays’ guest is a yoga teacher, a warrior-goddess, a young woman seeking a holistic approach to PCOS and life’s path. Her name is Grace and she’s also my client.

Grace came to see me earlier this year facing the challenges of PCOS— unpredictable cycles, cystic ovaries, horrible PMS that included chronic constipation, bloat, anxiety and lack of energy. Grace wanted a more holistic approach to her PCOS and to regain a natural cycle— experience the ebb and flow of HER hormones and not hormones driven by synthetic chemicals like the pill.

Join me today as Grace shares her journey into healing her PCOS and gut. During this episode, I’ll share how you can address insulin resistance, leaky gut and inflammation- all contributing factors to PCOS and many hormonal imbalances including autoimmune disorders.

Also, I’ll share how the four phases of a natural menstrual cycle can actually empower you to give birth to your highest potential. Your cycle isn’t a curse, you were never intended to have crappy PMS, acne, weight gain, irregular periods or infertility issues. Your hormones needn’t be driven by the pill to mimic a cycle, metformin to manipulate your blood sugar and insulin levels nor spironolactone (a hypertensive drug) to address your acne. Today’s podcast will help you reclaim the authentic YOU.

And… after working with Grace for nearly 5 weeks, she had her first natural menstrual cycle in 4 years! Welcome to The Hormone Lifestyle Zone.

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Season Two/Episode #17: Breathing Deeply Into a New Breath of Being

Sweet Lovelies Everywhere— I’d like to dedicate the first episode of Season Two, to you!

In light of this unprecedented global shift due to Covid-19 — I wanted to create a podcast that could provide spiritual nourishment and a different perspective on this “180 pause” in our lives. I also, wanted to create a conversation that could speak to your heart, to your soul and also give comfort to your tender adrenals.

During this time of uncertainty we are birthing a new humanity. Metaphorically speaking— we are in the throughs of labor stuck in a breech position. We need the intervention of a spiritual midwife to assist us in turning forward and OUT into a new world.

I am delighted to have Laurie Johnson join me on today’s episode. She has been a spiritual counselor, psychic adviser and intuitive for over 30 years— working with clients around the globe. A few weeks ago, I caught up with Laurie and we had an incredible conversation about Covid-19 including her prediction on the 2020 presidential race.

You won’t want to miss this episode!

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