The Strength in Hormones Podcast

Overtraining Syndrome: When Your Body Stops Adapting and Starts Protecting Itself Overtraining Syndrome isn’t just about doing too much—it’s what happens when your body stops adapting to exercise and shifts into a protective, survival state. In this episode, we break down what overtraining syndrome actually is, why it affects both recreational exercisers and competitive athletes, and how it’s often driven by inadequate recovery and fueling rather than training volume alone. We explore early warning signs that the body is no longer responding positively to exercise, the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and how chronic training stress disrupts thyroid function, cortisol, androgens, progesterone, metabolism, and ovulation. You’ll also learn how to strategically reduce training load, restore energy availability, and reintroduce exercise in a way that supports hormone balance, metabolic health, and long-term performance. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 What overtraining syndrome is and why it affects both recreational exercisers and competitive athletes Why overtraining is often a recovery and fueling issue, not just a training issue Common training patterns that push the body into overtraining Early signs the body is no longer adapting positively to exercise How overtraining affects thyroid function, androgens, cortisol, and progesterone Why oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction drive overtraining syndrome How overtraining disrupts ovulation, cycles, and metabolic regulation How to reduce training load, restore fueling, and reintroduce exercise to support hormone balance Important show links 👇👇👇 Learn more about our Strength in Hormones Workout Program – 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

Chinese Medicine for Kiddos w/ Dr. David Allen In this episode of Strength in Hormones, we explore how Chinese Medicine approaches children’s health differently than Western medicine and why understanding these differences can transform the way you support your child’s digestion, sleep, emotions, and immune system. Chinese Medicine views children as physiologically and energetically developing, with immature digestive systems, sensitive nervous systems, and rapidly evolving emotional regulation, which means symptoms are often signals of deeper imbalances rather than isolated problems. We discuss common pediatric concerns such as asthma, ADHD, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and behavioral challenges, and how patterns like night waking, nightmares, bedwetting, irritability, and frequent illness can reflect underlying imbalances in the gut, nervous system, and immune function. You’ll learn why digestive health is often the foundation for emotional regulation, focus, sleep quality, and overall development in children. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 • How Chinese medicine views children differently than Western medicine • Why kids’ digestion, nervous systems, and emotions are still developing • Common patterns behind issues like asthma, ADHD, sleep problems, and digestive concerns • What symptoms like night waking, nightmares, bedwetting, and irritability can signal • Why digestive health is often the foundation for behavior and development • How food temperature, simplicity, and meal timing matter for kids • When and how herbs may be used safely in children • How parents can support nervous system regulation and emotional resilience • Why addressing root imbalances early can prevent long-term issues Important show links 👇👇👇 We do work with kids clinically! Inquire here for more information Learn more about Dr. David Allen's Healthy Kids Acupuncture & Herbs practice at www.davidallenlac.com Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Micronutrients, Probiotics & Prenatals for Fertility & Pregnancyw/ Ayla Barmer, Fullwell Fertility In this episode, I sit down with Ayla Barmer, registered dietitian and founder of FullWell Fertility, to break down what the research actually says about micronutrients, probiotics, and prenatals for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum health. Despite the growing prenatal market, many supplements still miss the mark when it comes to evidence-based dosing, bioavailable nutrient forms, and individualized needs. We cover the most misunderstood and controversial topics in prenatal nutrition, including folate vs. folic acid, the role of methylated forms, and why blanket fear around vitamin A may be contributing to widespread deficiency and downstream thyroid, immune, and fertility issues. We also dive into why iron and omega-3s are often excluded from prenatals, how iron needs change across each trimester, and how to determine whether supplementation is necessary based on labs—not assumptions. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Why many prenatals don’t align with the evidence on nutrient forms or dosing Modern drivers of nutrient depletion—even with a “healthy” diet Folate vs. methylfolate vs. folic acid: what matters most in pregnancy The truth about vitamin A in pregnancy and why avoidance may backfire Why iron and omega-3s are often intentionally excluded from prenatals How iron needs shift across pregnancy and how to assess the right dose What really matters for DHA and EPA for mom and baby How to evaluate probiotics and support the microbiome intelligently Important show links 👇👇👇 Apply to work with us 1:1 for pre-conception, pregnancy & postpartum support at functionalfueling.com/coaching-page Visit Fullwell and shop pretnatals online - use code FullWell20 for up to 36% off your first order Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

[The LODown] Is Your Low Progesterone Actually a Thyroid Issue? Low progesterone is one of the most common hormone concerns I see—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we unpack why low progesterone is rarely a true progesterone deficiency and is far more often a downstream signal of poor ovulation quality driven by low T3, metabolic stress, or thyroid autoimmunity. You’ll learn why progesterone is best understood as a marker of ovulation strength—not something the body simply “fails to make”—and how thyroid hormone, mitochondrial energy, inflammation, blood sugar, and nervous system safety all determine whether ovulation (and the corpus luteum) can function properly. We also dive into why luteal phase defect is frequently misdiagnosed as PCOS, how Hashimoto’s can quietly disrupt ovulation even with normal cycles, and why progesterone supplementation alone often fails to fix the problem. A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 Why progesterone reflects ovulation quality—not ovarian failure The thyroid–progesterone axis and how low T3 weakens ovulation and the corpus luteum How stress, cortisol, and reverse T3 put metabolic “brakes” on progesterone production The overlooked role of thyroid autoimmunity in low progesterone, short luteal phases, and miscarriage risk Luteal phase defect vs. PCOS: how to tell the difference What labs actually matter for identifying thyroid-driven low progesterone (and how to time them correctly) Why progesterone supplementation is sometimes helpful—but rarely a root-cause solution Treatment priorities that restore ovulation by fixing thyroid conversion, metabolism, and immune stress Important show links 👇👇👇 Take my free T3 QUIZ to find out if low t3 could be driving your low progesterone levels Episode Period Problems: PCOS vs. Amenorrhea Book your 1:1 Functional Clarity Session www.functionalfueling.com/clarity-sessions Get discount with inito using code functionalfueling15 Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Your Guide to a Hormone Healthy Thanksgiving 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 FUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY RECIPE GUIDE Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST EPISODE! 🔊 Watch us in the studio on Youtube!

Case Study: How She Resolved Her Acne, Chronic Bloating & Got Pregnant with Ease In this episode, I share a powerful case study of a client struggling with bloating, acne, low cortisol, and low progesterone — symptoms that had left her feeling hopeless after working with multiple practitioners. We take a deep dive into what was actually going on behind the scenes, including: Brain-to-ovary communication imbalances Gut microbiome and digestive juice issues Mold, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors Elevated blood sugar response from “healthy” meals Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress Adrenal and nervous system dysregulation Vitamin and mineral deficiencies I walk you through how we addressed each of these root causes to help her finally feel balanced, energized, and — most importantly — get pregnant with ease. Whether you’ve been struggling with persistent gut or hormone issues, or just want to understand the power of root-cause healing, this episode breaks down the exact systems we targeted and why a surface-level approach isn’t enough. Important show links 👇👇👇 Get your hormones tested- learn more about our hormone testing packages Work with us 1:1 for root cause healing - $300 off through 10/25/25 Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

How I Started Solids and What Feeding Looks Like Now A few things we chat about in this episode 👇👇👇 How I introduced solids and open-cup drinking: what I prioritized and what I skipped Green juices for babies: safe bases & what I avoid The baby products & pantry staples I reach for on repeat & brands we actually use The key nutrients babies need from 6–24 months & simple ways we cover them How I prevent constant snacking and build balanced plates Allergen and grain strategy: why I’m cautious with early grains and how I’m lowering future allergy risk Low-tox swaps for babies: how I’m cutting down microplastics & endocrine disruptors Important show links 👇👇👇 Paleo Jerky discount code Follow me on Instagram Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app