Dr. Sara Szal: Stop Ignoring What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You! (THESE Are the Hormone Signals You Can’t Afford to Miss!
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Where to Start If You’re Overwhelmed
Dr. Sara recommends beginning with cortisol measurement and explains cortisol's central role across hormonal systems.
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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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