Hormone Healing RD

Join Patreon to listen to our bonus episode on leptin and PCOS here.What if everything you’ve been told about PCOS is too simplistic to actually help you heal?In this episode, I sit down with Ava Nouri, a registered dietitian on my nutrition team who works closely with women navigating PCOS. Her own health journey through fatigue, brain fog, blood sugar issues, and hormone imbalances led her to integrative and functional nutrition, where she now supports clients with the same challenges she faced.We get into the real spectrum of PCOS, why the conventional boxes don’t fit, and the deeper metabolic and gut factors that drive symptoms. The second half of the conversation unpacks the pro-metabolic movement, what works, what backfires, and why so many women feel stuck trying to make it fit. It’s a raw and nuanced look at one of the most common questions women in my community ask.You’ll Learn:The reason PCOS is more of a metabolic disorder than just a hormone issueWhat happens in the body when insulin resistance drives high androgens and irregular cyclesThe link between gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and worsening PCOS symptomsWhy so many women with PCOS lose minerals faster and end up depletedThe damage of excess iron and how it fuels inflammation and gut issuesWhat it feels like to follow a pro-metabolic diet that backfires with PCOSThe missing role of fiber, beans, and vegetables in restoring gut health and hormone balanceWhy one-size-fits-all PCOS protocols rarely work and what to focus on insteadHow mineral testing and stool testing reveal hidden drivers of stubborn symptomsThe importance of self-experimentation and trusting your body over rigid food rulesTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[06:22] Defining PCOS and why the conventional view misses the mark[13:24] Insulin resistance as the core driver of PCOS symptoms[16:23] The role of gut health and microbiome imbalances in driving PCOS symptoms[23:25] How mineral depletion and excess iron fuel inflammation and worsen PCOS symptoms[39:33] The pro metabolic approach as a nourishing alternative to restriction and fear of food[42:49] Reframing the pro metabolic approach for PCOS[58:09] Finding balance with pro metabolic nutrition by avoiding extremes and trusting your body’s feedbackResources Mentioned:Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden | BookHeal Your Metabolism by Kate Deering | BookArticles and Writings by Ray Peat | WebsiteThe Feminine Periodical Newsletter | WebsiteMaster your minerals. Harmonize your hormones. Start your mineral journey here.You can work with Ava one on one here.Find more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok

Master your minerals. Harmonize your hormones. Start your mineral journey here. What if the root of your child’s health struggles isn’t another cream, pill, or quick fix, but something much deeper?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nina Marie Rueda, a naturopath who works with children and families through a functional, integrative lens. Her own journey started during her first pregnancy, when she realized how little she’d supported her body and baby with nutrition. This pregnancy completely changed her perspective, and she went from wanting to become a university professor to birth work, nutrition training, and eventually naturopathy.We get into why minerals matter so much for kids, especially when it comes to challenges like picky eating, eczema, and sleep struggles. Dr. Nina explains how testing works, why hair analysis often gives a clearer picture than blood work for children, and what common mineral patterns she sees in practice. The conversation is raw, practical, and full of insights for parents trying to make sense of their kids’ health struggles without getting lost in overwhelm.You’ll Learn:How a Bradley Method class shifted Dr. Nina’s path to naturopathyWhat minerals actually do in kids’ bodies and why they’re essentialThe link between taste buds, zinc, and picky eatingWhy hair mineral tests show the long game while blood work is a snapshotCommon mineral patterns seen in children with eczemaHow heavy metals disrupt gut microbes and fuel skin issuesThe mineral imbalances behind sleep struggles in kidsWhy parents’ own mineral status affects mealtime stressThe reason some kids’ multivitamins should avoid iron and copperHow minerals shape digestion, detox, and resilience in childrenTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[05:47] Why minerals are the non-negotiable foundation for children’s health[07:40] Hair testing versus blood work for understanding mineral balance in kids[13:05] Why picky eating in kids often comes down to mineral imbalances and taste buds[22:46] Eczema in kids and the role of mineral imbalances and heavy metals[39:43] How mineral imbalances and heavy metals disrupt children’s sleep patterns[45:22] Choosing the right multivitamins for kids and why avoiding copper and iron matters[49:10] Making supplements part of daily family routinesResources Mentioned:Minerals & Gut Health Connection for Eczema Course | WebsiteGut and Minerals Free Resource | WebsitePicky Eaters Protocol | WebsiteFind more from Dr. Nina:Nerdy Notes with Nina Marie | SubstackDr. Nina Marie | WebsiteDr. Nina Marie | InstagramFind more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok

Join Patreon for a bonus episode where I share more details about my journey here.Forget tracking your food, I dropped 55 pounds postpartum by focusing on the basics.Instead of obsessing over the scale, I treated weight gain and loss as signals, clues about stress, thyroid health, circadian rhythm, and whether my body was fueled for energy and milk supply. Two pregnancies taught me that workouts, light exposure, and small daily practices matter far more than numbers. The biggest shift wasn’t physical, it was staying grounded, cutting the obsession, and focusing on being the mom and woman I wanted to be.You’ll Learn:Why weight gain or loss is just a symptom, not a verdict on your healthThe basic things to focus on that will support your body in being healthy and losing excess weightThe link between circadian rhythm, light exposure, and thyroid healthWhat snacking all day can do to your blood sugarThe damage of constant stress on milk supply, cycles, and body compositionPractical nutrition adjustments that supported milk supply during pregnancy and postpartumTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[03:32] Seeing weight as a symptom and not a measure of worth[06:41] Entering the first pregnancy with a soft mindset and focusing on health over the scale[17:13] Focusing on circadian rhythm and light exposure to support thyroid and blood sugar health[24:48] Switching to kettlebell training and discovering its impact on strength, stress, and postpartum fitness[34:16] Struggling with childcare decisions and choosing to make working from home with kids the only option[37:53] Balancing postpartum stress, nutrition, and slow sustainable weight loss while prioritizing motherhood and healthResources Mentioned:Mama Stay Fit Training | WebsiteKettlebell Program by Adina Rubin | WebsiteHormone Healing RD Podcast episode with Carrie Bennett | PodcastMother Wildflowers Course | WebsiteThe Feminine Periodical Newsletter | WebsiteFind more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok

Join us for our Histamine and Hormones Training on September 28th!Why do some women feel amazing during certain phases of their cycle while others feel absolutely wrecked?In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Shapiro, RD, a functional dietitian who works with clients navigating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and histamine issues. She also lives with MCAS herself, bringing both professional insight and personal experience to the table.Why do histamine flares hit hardest right when hormones shift? Tune in as we break down the menstrual cycle, step by step, and look at how mast cells and histamines interact with rising and falling hormones. The patterns aren’t always what you’d expect, and tracking them can change everything about how you handle symptoms.You’ll Learn:The role of mast cells in the immune system and why histamine release can trigger so many symptomsThe link between rising estrogen and increased histamine releaseWhy people with histamine issues can have paradoxical hormone symptomsHow long histamines actually stay in your system, and ways to avoid long-term sufferingWhat happens when conditions like POTS and hypermobility overlap with histamine issues during the cyclePractical strategies for tracking cycle patterns to spot histamine-driven flaresThe debate around antihistamines, pregnancy, and de-stigmatizing medication for symptom reliefWhy lowering histamines must come before deeper root-cause work like gut or mineral protocolsThe connection between histamines, mast cells, and endometriosisTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[10:17] How estrogen and histamine interact to trigger symptoms during the menstrual cycle[13:53] How progesterone and luteal phase shifts trigger unexpected symptoms in histamine, POTS, and hypermobility clients[21:47] Tracking cycles and temperatures to spot patterns and histamine flares[25:53] Using antihistamines and other strategies to manage flares and reduce stigma around medication[48:09] Understanding the immune system’s role in endometriosis and its connection to histamine and progesteroneListen to Other Hormone Healing Episodes with Michelle:MCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 1 | Listen HereMCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 2 | Listen HereThe Root Cause of Reflux | Listen HereResources Mentioned:Ovia Cycle-tracking App | WebsiteNatural Cycles Fertility Awareness App | WebsiteOura Ring | WebsiteTempdrop Wearable Sensor | WebsiteRead Your Body App | WebsitePodcast with Nina Boyce on Fertility Awareness Method | PodcastFind more from Michelle:Michelle Shapiro RD | InstagramMichelle Shapiro RD | WebsiteMichelle Shapiro Nutrition | YouTubeFind more from Amanda:Hormone Healing RD | InstagramHormone Healing RD | WebsiteHormone Healing RD | FacebookHormone Healing RD | YouTubeHormone Healing RD | TikTok

In this episode, we dive into part two of the baby reflux series with Emily Swann, a nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Emily shares her personal journey as a mom navigating silent reflux with her daughter and how it inspired her to integrate holistic practices like bodywork and nutrition into her approach to infant health. We discuss practical tips for addressing posture, movement, and environment to support babies with reflux and empower parents to take a proactive role in their baby’s healing. This episode is a great listen whether you’re dealing with reflux, colic, or just want to learn how to support your baby’s well-being naturally!Emily Swann is a wife, mother, nurse and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. What started out as a career as a NICU nurse quickly turned into a love for holistic wellness outside the hospital system and her passion is helping women and babies breastfeed through holistic lactation work. Emily incorporates bodywork and nutrition as key pillars for infant health and looks at the dyad of mother and baby as one rather than two separate parts.We talk about:Emily's personal experience with reflux with her daughter, and what she believes to have been the root of the refluxExplanation of dynamic infant movementHow oral restrictions can impact refluxEmily's tips for moms to do bodywork on their own babies/childrenOutsourcing motherhood with informed decision makingFree Healthy Period Starter Guide: https://hormonehealingrd.ck.page/ab86b6faf2 Connect with Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloveofbreastfeeding Links/Resources:Get Emily's Dynamic Infant Movement course: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/offers/RLjhVyEL?coupon_code=AMANDAMFAQ’s on Emily’s website: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/faq Get Emily’s free body work video: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/freebie-1-landing-pageConnect with Me: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hormonehealingrd Free Thyroid Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Feminine Periodical (weekly newsletter): http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Therese Dansby, a registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). We dive deep into the world of infant reflux, discussing everything from symptoms and challenges to alternative therapies and personal experiences. Therese shared her wealth of knowledge on topics like oral restrictions, bodywork, and the importance of a holistic approach when it comes to helping babies with reflux. This is a great episode if you're a mom struggling with infant reflux or just want to learn more about this common issue.Therese started her career as a NICU nurse in 2007, pivoted to birth center postpartum care in 2013, and became an IBCLC in 2015. Helping moms build confidence in their breastfeeding choices and work through breastfeeding struggles is her dream job alongside homeschooling her own three children, ages 10, 7, and 2.We talk about:Various root causes of infant reflux, including physical factors and chemical factorsThe range of symptoms from reflux, such as mild "happy spitting" to severe cases requiring medical intervention, such as GERD in NICU settingsThe value of a holistic approach for addressing feeding techniques, bodywork, dietary changes, and alternative therapies like homeopathyThe importance of identifying the underlying issues contributing to your baby's reflux, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approachFollowing your maternal intuition and working with healthcare providers who will listen to your concernsFunctional Thyroid Mini Course: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Connect with Therese:Milk & Motherhood Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0bZdEwtkT96shfLpeKKzGN?si=En1Da6wXRtKL4gONrKT-4w&nd=1&dlsi=00c957b6ca544a16Allergen free cookbook: https://happymamahealthybaby.freshlearn.com/10729Online breastfeeding course: https://happymamahealthybaby.freshlearn.com/nourished-beginningsWebsite: https://theresedansby.wixsite.com/therese Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happy.mama.healthy.baby/ Handout that we promised on a summary from this episode: https://aympodcast.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Baby+Reflux+Resources.pdfConnect with Me: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hormonehealingrd Free Thyroid Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Feminine Periodical (weekly newsletter): http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course

It’s time for part 2 of our iodine series. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode on what iodine does in the body, why it’s so important, and how to test your levels, I recommend starting there. Today I will be covering who iodine may be a good fit for, considerations when supplementing, and long term use of iodine. As always, this podcast episode is for educational purposes only. If anything resonates with you, I hope it encourages you to talk with your provider before you make any changes. I cover:Populations that are generally a good fit for iodineWhy iodine should be avoided for Hashimoto’s4 steps to supplementing with iodine, including cofactors Recommendations for long term use of iodine (6 months and 6-12+ months)How often to retest your labs, including thyroid blood panel and HTMAFunctional Thyroid Mini Course: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Links/resources:Thyroid antibodies:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8106604/#:~:text=This%20study%20also%20found%20an,for%20thyroid%20autoimmunity%20%5B69%5D.https://www.optimaldx.com/blog/hashimoto-thyroiditis-iodine#:~:text=Excess%20iodine%20can%20exacerbate%20autoimmune,major%20cause%20(Ruggeri%202021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25050783/ Fertilityhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6454505/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3063534/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3257674/Iodine and breasts:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3063534/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5327366/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15239792/ Iodine and prostate:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/3/1228#:~:text=Our%20group%20has%20found%20similar,tissues%20that%20take%20up%20iodine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31284874/ https://www.larabriden.com/iodine-for-breast-pain-ovarian-cysts-and-pms/Connect with Me: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hormonehealingrd Free Thyroid Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Feminine Periodical (weekly newsletter): http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course

Dive into the essentials of iodine and its crucial role in women's health. Discover how it influences thyroid function, ovulation, and hormone production. Learn about the increasing prevalence of iodine deficiency and its symptoms. The podcast covers effective assessment methods for determining iodine levels in your body. By understanding these basics, you can take proactive steps towards better health and well-being.

In this episode, I am focusing on mineral shifts that happen during pregnancy, mineral needs that increase, as well as highlighting minerals that I often get asked about when it comes to pregnancy. As always, this episode is for educational purposes only. Please make sure you talk with your provider before making any changes. I cover:Natural fluctuations in copper and iron levels during pregnancy and their crucial roles in maternal and fetal healthImportance of preparing for postpartum by addressing mineral imbalancesWhy it's important to maintain healthy levels of crucial minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and iodine during pregnancyFood source recommendations to support your mineral levels during pregnancyFunctional Thyroid Series: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/For the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the blog: https://hormonehealingrd.com/podcast-episode/s7-e04-mineral-shifts-in-pregnancy/Connect with Me: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hormonehealingrd Free Thyroid Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Feminine Periodical (weekly newsletter): http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course

In this episode I’m going to talk about business and motherhood, which is something I talk about in my stories sometimes and have gotten a lot of requests for a full podcast episode with thoughts. I have so many thoughts, so I’m going to try to keep this organized and easy to listen to. Here’s what I plan to cover:My outlook on choosing to have a business and also be a mother How becoming a mom helped me as a business owner What my day to day looks like How I take care of myself Before I dig into everything, I want to preface this with a few things:As of recording this, I have a 7 month old and 2.5 year old. This is the season we are in. Our situation: military, no family close by, no childcare This is what works for our family/our best option right now. I’m sharing my personal experience. Take what resonates and helps you and leave the rest–just like whenever I share any information. Thyroid Mineral Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Links/Resouces:Jerrica Sannes course: https://raisewildflowers.com/Connect with Me: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hormonehealingrd Free Thyroid Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/Feminine Periodical (weekly newsletter): http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course