Stress as the Main Hormone Disruptor

Have you ever felt totally off but couldn’t explain why?

Did you ever figure out what was causing it?

Today, Jay sits down with Dr. Sara Szal, a Harvard- and MIT-trained physician, researcher, and bestselling author, to dive into a topic that affects everyone but rarely gets the attention it deserves: hormones. Together, they break down what hormones really are, how stress and daily habits can throw them off balance, and why understanding these powerful chemical messengers can completely transform the way we think about health. Dr. Sara shares how simple changes, from better sleep and mindful eating to managing stress, can help reset your body’s natural rhythm in just a few days. This is a conversation that beautifully bridges science and self-awareness, revealing just how deeply our biology and emotions are connected.

Jay and Dr. Sara also explore one of today’s most misunderstood topics: women’s health and birth control. Dr. Sara explains how the pill, though widely used, can disrupt hormone balance, increase inflammation, and even affect fertility, insights many women never hear about. She breaks down what’s really happening inside the body and offers practical ways to restore balance through nutrition, testing, and natural alternatives. Together, they also discuss how emotional stress and relationships deeply influence hormonal health, and why learning to understand and manage your body’s signals is one of the most empowering steps you can take for your well-being.

In this interview, you'll learn:

How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally

How to Manage Stress and Lower Cortisol 

How to Reset Your Body in Just 3 Days

How to Heal Fatigue by Listening to Your Body

How to Transition Off Birth Control Safely

How to Support Fertility and Hormone Health

How to Regulate Before You React

When you slow down, nourish yourself, and make small, consistent changes, you create space for balance to return. Health isn’t about perfection or control; it’s about awareness, alignment, and kindness toward yourself.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

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What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:28 What Exactly Are Hormones?

02:30 What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?

04:02 How to Measure Stress Hormones

05:11 When You’re Running on Cortisol

06:01 The Truth About Insulin Resistance

07:45 How Hormones Differ in Men and Women

10:21 Why Measuring the Right Hormones Matters

11:30 Simple Ways to Rebalance Your Hormones

14:19 Why Estrogen and Progesterone Decline

20:19 Why You Should Start with Cortisol

22:19 Four Powerful Ways to Reduce Stress

24:17 How to Turn Stress into Strength

25:58 Breaking Free from Chronic Stress

27:52 Everyday Habits to Lower Cortisol

30:08 Feeling Low on Energy But Can’t Explain Why? 

35:09 How to Decompress and Recenter Yourself

39:00 Do Men or Women Heal Faster After a Divorce?

41:37 Creating Healthy Emotional Distance

43:06 The Power of Boundaries in Healing

46:35 People-Pleasing: A Hidden Stress Response

49:06 The Biggest Hormonal Shifts in Life

53:09 What You Need to Know About Andropause

54:09 The Evolution of Birth Control

56:24 Painful Periods Are Not Normal!

57:23 Lifestyle Fixes for Acne and Hormone Health

59:09 The Hidden Long-Term Effects of the Pill

01:01:56 How to Reverse the Pill’s Impact

01:03:47 Does Birth Control Affect Fertility?

01:05:33 The Complexity and Simplicity of Hormones

01:08:31 How to Take Ownership of Your Health

01:09:36 Is Natural Birth Control Effective?

01:11:27 How to Make IUD Insertion Less Painful

01:14:05 Getting Pregnant After Birth Control

01:16:31 What Science Says About Cycle Syncing

01:18:06 How to Safely Transition Off the Pill

01:20:41 Where Science Meets Spirituality

01:25:49 Sara on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Dr Sara Szal | Website

Dr Sara Szal | Instagram

Dr Sara Szal | YouTube

Dr Sara Szal | LinkedIn

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