Balancing Hormones Naturally

Leah Brueggemann
  • 4.9 (275)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Boost your energy, balance hormones naturally, and heal holistically all without uprooting your entire life! Learn the secrets to balancing your hormones at: freehormonetraining.com. Have you ever tried to Google your symptoms only to slam the laptop shut in frustration? Do you want natural, holistic solutions that actually work? Are you tired of being told that everything is normal, when you know it’s not? Are you ready to take back your health to live your best life?  In this podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results that allow you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.  If you're ready to reclaim your energy, learn how to listen to your body, and holistically improve your overall health, you're in the right place! I’ll be sharing my tried and true methods for blood sugar balance, improved sleep quality, weight loss, and increased energy levels so you can live your healthiest life all without unreasonable lifestyle shifts, like restrictive dieting or excessive supplementing. I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Five years ago, I found out I had fibroadenomas (benign breast tumors), which 90% of the time return after surgical removal. I decided not to undergo the operation and instead found a way to heal the underlying cause. After years of extreme pain, irregular cycles, and ovarian cysts, I finally learned how to balance my hormones which healed my fibroadenomas and led me to regular, pain-free periods.  I learned how to make lifestyle shifts, remove toxins from my environment, and give my body what it actually needs to function optimally and heal on a cellular level. After my experience, I became a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner so that I can empower women in their own holistic health journey. Even if you’ve been told your labs are normal or that your symptoms aren’t a cause for concern - YOU are the expert of your body and your experience. You deserve to feel AMAZING, not just “normal”. I’m here to help you achieve optimal overall health through simple, straightforward lifestyle changes that you can start to implement today.  Balancing Hormones Naturally isn’t just the name of the podcast, it’s the way forward to a happier, healthier life and I can’t wait to join you on the journey!  Connect with Leah: 📧 Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com 🌐 Website: leahbrueggemann.com 📷 IG: @leah_brueg and @balancinghormonesnaturally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 11H AGO

    How Pelvic Floor Can Help Constipation.

    Pelvic Floor Therapy: Why Kegels Aren’t the Answer and What Actually Heals Leaking, Pain & Prolapse Balancing Hormones Naturally Podcast with Leah Brueggemann Seventy percent of people in nursing homes are there because of urinary incontinence. Read that again. The leaking you keep brushing off as “normal” after kids? It is the same thing that lands women in long-term care decades later. And almost nobody is telling you that. In this episode, Leah sits down with pelvic floor physical therapist Koleen Adams (Awaken Pelvic Therapy in Lapeer, Michigan) to unpack the real reason so many women are walking around with leaking, pain with sex, low back pain, constipation, and prolapse, and being told it is just what happens after babies. Spoiler: it is not normal, it is not your fault, and Kegels are probably the worst thing your doctor could have prescribed you. Okay, so. If you have ever been told to “just drink a glass of wine before sex”, if you skip the trampoline park because you might pee, or if you went to one pelvic floor PT and decided it didn’t work, this episode is the one to send to every woman in your life. What You’ll Learn In This Episode •        Why 90% of pelvic floor issues are caused by tightness, not weakness, and why Kegels can make them worse •        How your pelvic floor is wired into your fight or flight nervous system (and why it clenches when life feels unsafe) •        The wild client story of “sister poops” and how a phone call can trigger fecal incontinence •        Symptoms you would never connect to pelvic floor: low back pain, hip pain, headaches, prolapse, chronic constipation •        Why over 90% of jaw clenchers are also clenching their pelvic floor •        The exact questions to ask before booking your next pelvic floor PT so you don’t waste another appointment •        Why insurance-based clinics often miss the root cause and how direct pay changes the game •        What recovery should actually feel like and the two-to-three visit rule for knowing you’ve found the right practitioner •        How to advocate for yourself with your OB without feeling rude or pushy Your Pelvic Floor Is Holding More Than Babies Koleen calls the pelvic floor a “perfect little bowl” for holding trauma. And once you hear it that way, you can’t unhear it. Your pelvic floor is not just a group of muscles. It is part of your fight or flight system. Anytime your body has registered something as unsafe, whether that’s a hard conversation, a traumatic birth, an unwanted touch, or a stressful phone call from your sister, your pelvic floor automatically tightens. That tightening is supposed to be temporary. The problem is most women never come out of it. This is why “just do Kegels” is such terrible advice for so many women. If your muscles are already gripping at a 9 out of 10, contracting them harder is not going to help. You need to learn how to release first. Without that, every other intervention is fighting uphill. The Symptoms Nobody Tells You Are Pelvic Floor Related Most women think pelvic floor therapy is only for peeing your pants and painful sex. Those are real reasons to go. But Koleen also treats: •        Chronic constipation and diarrhea, including fecal smearing in kids •        Low back pain and hip pain that won’t resolve with regular PT •        That “sitting on a softball” pressure feeling (often prolapse) •        Tension headaches connected to neck and vagus nerve dysfunction •        Jaw clenching (over 90% of jaw clenchers are clenching their pelvic floor too) •        Erectile dysfunction and testicular pain in men •        Postpartum issues from any kind of birth, including C-sections How interesting that one set of 26 muscles, none of which you can reach without an internal exam, can be silently driving symptoms across your entire body. Why “It’s Normal” Is Costing Women Their Lives Koleen shares the math on one client who leaked from age 40 to age 60. Wearing a size 4 pad, changing it four times a day, 24/7. Total spent on pads in those 20 years: $25,000. And that is just the financial cost. She skipped vacations, was anxious about every bathroom, and almost packed an extra suitcase of pads for a European trip. Then there is the nursing home statistic. 70% of nursing home admissions involve urinary incontinence. Women fall trying to make it to the bathroom in time. They break hips. They lose independence. The thing everyone told them was “just part of being a mom” is the same thing that ends their ability to live on their own. Why are we fighting so hard to keep symptoms that don’t belong to us in the first place? How To Find a Pelvic Floor PT Who Actually Knows What She’s Doing Not all pelvic floor therapists are created equal. If you have been to one and felt like nothing changed, you probably went to the wrong one. Here is what Koleen says to look for: •        They listen. You should leave the first visit feeling truly heard, not rushed through a script. •        They take a whole-body approach. Posture, range of motion, balance, jaw, neck, sleep, stress, gut, all on the table. •        They do internal work. This is the gold standard. Skipping the internal exam means guessing. •        They ask permission before every touch. “Can I touch your inner thigh? Can I touch your labia?” Consent every time. •        They use real sheets, not paper drapes. The environment should feel safe and respectful. •        You see improvement within two to three visits. Not full resolution, but a clear sense that you are on the right track. Interview them. Ask about success rates. Ask how long they have been doing this. Ask if they have treated your specific issue before. You are not being difficult. You are being a good steward of your body. Action Steps From This Episode •        Notice when you clench. Throughout the day, check in with your jaw, your shoulders, and your pelvic floor. Awareness is step one. •        Stop fighting for your symptoms to be normal. If something feels off, it is information, not an identity. •        Find a pelvic floor PT who does internal work and treats the whole body, not just the symptom. •        If you have done Kegels and they made things worse, that is a sign of pelvic floor tightness. Stop. Get assessed. •        Advocate for yourself with your OB. You can ask for a pelvic floor PT referral at your six-week postpartum visit. You don’t have to wait six months to “see if it gets better.” “Pelvic floor issues can ruin your life. And I have the ability to help them get their life back.” — Koleen Adams, Awaken Pelvic Therapy Connect with Koleen Adams Koleen Adams is the founder and owner of Awaken Pelvic Therapy in Lapeer, Michigan. She works with women, men, and kids using a whole-body ...

    39 min

  2. MAY 11

    Does Fasting Affect Your Menstrual Cycle - The Truth about Intermittent Fasting and Your Period

    The Truth About Fasting for Women: Why Most Studies Don’t Apply to Your Cycle Balancing Hormones Naturally Podcast with Leah BrueggemannEveryone keeps telling you to fast. Skip breakfast. Push your eating window. Drink coffee until noon. And somewhere along the way, fasting got marketed as the secret to weight loss, balanced blood sugar, and longevity for every human on the planet. Here is what nobody mentions in those reels: most of the research behind those claims was done on men or postmenopausal women. If you have an active cycle, applying that data to your body without context can quietly tank your hormones, flatten your energy, and wreck your periods. In this episode, Leah breaks down what fasting actually does to a cycling woman’s body, when it works in your favor, when it backfires, and the one fasting style most women can use safely without sending their adrenals into a tailspin. What You’ll Learn in This Episode•        Why fasting research done on men doesn’t translate cleanly to menstruating women•        How estrogen and progesterone change your insulin sensitivity across your cycle•        The connection between aggressive fasting, LH pulsatility, ovulation, and progesterone•        Why intermittent fasting can become a fancy way of chronically under-eating•        What circadian fasting is, why Leah loves it, and how to do it•        Follicular fasting: the one-day-per-cycle window where a longer fast may serve you•        How melatonin and your circadian insulin sensitivity should shape when you eat•        Why your minerals and vital reserve matter before you ever consider a fast•        How to break a fast without spiking your blood sugar into the stratosphere Key Concepts From the EpisodeYou’re Not a Small ManMen run on a 24-hour hormonal rhythm. Women run on a 28 to 36-day rhythm. Their dominant hormone is testosterone, which doesn’t tank under stress the way progesterone does. Stretching male fasting protocols across a cycling woman’s body ignores all of that. Insulin Sensitivity Changes Throughout Your CycleEstrogen increases insulin sensitivity. Progesterone decreases it. So depending on where a woman is in her cycle, the same fasting protocol can produce wildly different results. One snapshot in a study cannot capture that. Aggressive Fasting Can Suppress OvulationCalorie restriction taken too far has been shown to lower LH pulsatility within just five days. Lower LH means a weaker ovulatory surge, which means a weaker corpus luteum, which means less progesterone. That cascade shows up as irregular cycles, thinning hair, irritability, low energy, and insomnia long before it shows up on a lab. Sometimes Intermittent Fasting Is Just Under-Eating in DisguiseSlapping a name on a tiny eating window doesn’t change the math. If the calories aren’t there, the body reads starvation. The early energy boost most women feel? Usually adrenaline. Eventually the bill comes due in the form of stalled fat loss, blunted thyroid function, and worsening cycles. Circadian Fasting: The Safer DefaultStop eating after dinner and don’t eat again until morning. Roughly a 12-hour window. This honors your natural insulin rhythm (you are more insulin sensitive in the morning, more resistant at night) and supports digestion and blood sugar without spiking cortisol. Most cycling women can use this safely. Follicular Fasting (One Day Per Cycle)Pick one day in your follicular phase and pull your final meal earlier (say, 3 pm instead of 6 pm). Estrogen is rising, insulin sensitivity is on your side, and the impact on stress hormones is minimal. One day. Then back to your normal circadian fast. Mineral Status and Vital Reserve Come FirstFasting on top of depleted minerals and a chronically dieted body is pouring gas on a fire. Replenish first. Mineral-rich foods (yes, including beef liver, not only vegetables) build the foundation that any fasting strategy needs. Practical Takeaways•        Eat within 30 to 60 minutes of waking•        Aim for 30 grams of protein at breakfast•        Get fiber and low-glycemic carbs in early•        Never eat a naked carb (pair the apple with a hard-boiled egg or a handful of nuts)•        Build a dinner that can actually carry you through the night: protein, fat, fiber, low-glycemic carbs•        Break your fast with protein, not sugar and coffee•        Prioritize nourishment before restriction every single time•        Pay attention to mineral intake, especially if you’ve been chronically dieting A Line Worth Saving“You don’t need to starve to heal. You need to support your hormones, not suppress them.”Episode Sponsor: Aversio Wellness MaitakeMushrooms are everywhere right now, but most products use a fraction of the dosage that was actually studied. Aversio Wellness uses real therapeutic dosages and a strong extraction ratio, so one or two capsules do the job (instead of swallowing a pile of pills). Their newest standalone product is Maitake, which Leah is calling the new starting point for women who want a mushroom that delivers visible results. Maitake supports blood sugar balance, ovulation, and immune function, and since blood sugar drives basically every hormonal pathway in your body, this one earns its place. Shop at aversiowellness.com and use code LEAH for 15% off. Want to Go Deeper?Grab Leah’s free hormone training and learn her three secrets to balancing hormones naturally: freehormonetraining.comConnect With Leah•        Instagram (personal): @leahbru•        Instagram (podcast): @balancinghormonesnaturally•        Free Hormone Training: freehormonetraining.comDisclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please work with a qualified practitioner before making changes to your nutrition, fasting practice, or supplement routine.

    25 min

  3. MAY 4

    Can your skincare cause hormonal acne?

    If you've been breaking out for years, have tried every cleanser, serum, and spot treatment out there, and still can't figure out why your skin won't clear, this episode is going to be the conversation you didn't know you needed. Leah sits down with Kayleigh Christina, certified holistic nutritionist and co-founder of ClearStem Skincare, who went from cystic acne so severe she stopped leaving the house to completely clear skin in two months, once she identified the 12 triggers no doctor had ever talked to her about. What they cover is not what you're going to hear at the dermatologist's office. In this episode: Why "clean" skincare does not mean acne-safe, and how ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, coconut oil, algae extracts, and avocado oil are some of the most notorious pore-cloggers you can put on your face, even though they're non-toxicWhat physically happens inside your pore when a pore-clogging ingredient gets stuck, why coconut oil turns into a waxy ball that has nowhere to go, and why clearing those clogs is what actually makes your pores look smallerWhy your hair conditioner might be the reason you can't clear your skin, and where to look if it's the culprit: your hairline, the side of your face you sleep on, the back of your neck, and your backHow randomly taking "hormone-balancing" supplements like Vitex and He Shou Wu without running labs can directly worsen your acne by disrupting the very hormones you were trying to supportWhy B12, vitamin D, and zinc show up in so many supplements, multivitamins, and "immune-boosting" beverages at levels that can spike testosterone and trigger androgenic acne, often without you even realizing you're taking that muchThe real reason food and beverage companies dump cheap, non-bioavailable forms of zinc and biotin into their products, and what to look for instead so you're not creating a toxic overload while thinking you're doing something good for your bodyHow compromised gut health connects directly to jawline and neck breakouts through albumin protein from egg whites building up in the lymph system, and why food triggers are different for everyone depending on what's going on internallyWhat mandelic acid actually does inside the pore, why it's effective for both active acne and aging at the same time, and how to build a simple four-product routine that heals your skin without stripping itHow ClearStem's acne lab test screens over 86 blood markers, including heavy metals, liver and kidney function, parasites, and cell hydration, to find what conventional labs and standard doctor visits keep missingYour skin is not broken. There are real, identifiable reasons your breakouts keep coming back, and most of them have nothing to do with how well you're washing your face. This episode gives you a completely different way to look at acne so you can stop spinning your wheels and start actually getting clear. Use code LEAHB to save 15% at ClearStem Skincare: clearstem.com Find Kayleigh Christina: Website: clearstem.com Pore Clogging Ingredients Checker: clearstem.com/free-checker Instagram: @clearstem_skincare and @kayleighchristina Leah's Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites I'm Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you'll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a long-term pharmaceutical prescription. Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com The recommendations presented in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider.

    48 min
  4. The Best Way to Shrink hormonal belly fat fast

    APR 27

    The Best Way to Shrink hormonal belly fat fast

    If you've been cutting calories, grinding through cardio, and still can't get rid of your belly fat, it's not because you aren't trying hard enough. Belly fat is not a willpower problem. It's a hormone problem. And until you understand what's actually driving it, nothing you do is going to touch it. In this episode I'm sharing: Why belly fat is biologically different from other fat, what makes it the most dangerous kind, and the three hormone root causes that drive it specificallyHow poor sleep directly raises your cortisol the next day, tanks your insulin sensitivity, and sends your cravings through the roof, and what to actually do about it tonightThe free app Leah uses to lock herself off her phone at 9pm, plus the iPhone setting that makes late-night scrolling uncomfortable enough to stopWhy EFT tapping was shown to lower cortisol levels by 43% and how to use it as part of a sleep ritual that actually supports your hormonesHow undereating during the day is secretly driving your nighttime cravings, and why this has nothing to do with willpowerThe three hormone pillars behind belly fat, estrogen dominance, cortisol imbalance, and insulin resistance, and why you can see fasting insulin creeping up years before your glucose or A1C ever flagsWhy soluble fiber is one of the most powerful tools for detoxing estrogen, and the specific foods Leah reaches for to keep drainage pathways movingWhat LPS is, why certain gut bacteria overgrowth produces it, and the supplement called Mega IGG that mops it up while supporting your gut lining and immune system at the same timeHow circadian fasting works differently from traditional intermittent fasting, why it's one of the least stressful tools for insulin resistance, and the one thing most women are drinking in their fasting window that's quietly working against themWhy myo-inositol is a game changer for PCOS, mood, and blood sugar balance, and what Leah's go-to brand and dosage looks likeHow maitake mushroom has been shown to lower fasting glucose by a minimum of 33% in type 2 diabetics, and what that means for how your cells respond to insulinBelly fat is your body telling you something is off with your hormones, not asking you to eat less and suffer more. When you start supporting your sleep, your cortisol, your estrogen detox, and your insulin sensitivity at the same time, that's when you actually start to see it shift. This episode gives you the real starting points. Thank you to paleovalley for sponsoring this episode you can use code LEAH to save 15% with them! Use code LEAH for 15% off at Eversio Wellness Use code LEAHB for 20% off at RoCasa Organics (first-time orders) Mega IGG and myo-inositol available at Leah's favorites in the show notes under Supplements Leah's Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites — I'm Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you'll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a long-term pharmaceutical prescription. Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com — The recommendations presented in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider.

    31 min

  5. APR 20

    Why Fertility Is a Two-Person Job (And What Most Doctors Aren't Telling Your Husband)

    If you've been told "it's just your age" when it comes to getting pregnant, or you've been handed IVF as the only option without a single conversation about nutrition, this episode is going to change how you think about fertility. Ronit Menashe, co-founder of WeNatal, shares the story of her own pregnancy loss at 41, the research she uncovered about the massive role men play in fertility outcomes, and why the three months before conception matter more than almost anything your doctor is talking about. In this episode, Leah and Ronit are covering: Why Ronit calls the three months before conception "trimester zero," and what she and her husband did during that window that led to a natural pregnancy at 42 with no IVF or major medical interventionThe research showing men are responsible for 50% of miscarriages, and why that stat completely reframes how couples should be approaching fertilityHow men who take specific antioxidants like CoQ10, NAC, vitamin C, and zinc have a 5X greater chance of their spouse having a healthy pregnancyWhy sperm quality directly impacts placenta formation, and how poor sperm health is linked to preeclampsia, which is the number one cause of maternal deathThe difference between WeNatal's prenatal and Egg Quality Plus, and why taking both matters if you're trying to conceive, especially later in lifeWhat's actually happening when your egg quality declines with age (hint: it's your mitochondria aging, not your eggs themselves) and the five nutrients that support new mitochondria productionWhy your baby will take the nutrients it needs from you regardless, and how that's directly connected to postpartum depletion, anxiety, and depressionThe new WeNatal protein powder that combines 20 grams of protein, collagen, and a full prenatal in one scoop, and why cold smoothies were a lifesaver for first trimester nauseaWhy the "strongest sperm will make it there" advice from OBGYNs is flat-out wrong, and how that dismissive narrative is failing couplesThe story of a woman who had 13 rounds of failed IVF, finally changed her nutrition and lifestyle, had a successful implantation, and then got pregnant naturally with her second babyWhy IVF has a lower success rate than most people realize, and why nutrition and lifestyle changes should be the first step, not the last resortIt takes two to make a baby, and it takes two to prepare for one. Whether you're actively trying, freezing your eggs, or just know that kids are somewhere in your future, this episode will show you how much power you actually have over your fertility when you stop waiting and start nourishing. Use THIS link to save with WENATAL Thank you to Eversio for sponsoring this episode go to Eversiowellness.com and use coupon code LEAH to save!  Leah's Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites — I'm Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you'll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a long-term pharmaceutical prescription. Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com — The recommendations presented in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider.

    40 min

  6. APR 13

    Menopause Nutrition | Hormone Balancing Foods for Weight Loss & Wellbeing

    If you've been gaining weight, losing sleep, and feeling like perimenopause is just something you have to white-knuckle through, this episode is going to change how you think about what's actually happening in your body. Women gain an average of five pounds in the first two years of perimenopause alone, and it's not about eating too much. It's about what's shifting in your gut and why your body can no longer absorb, detox, and function the way it used to. In this episode I'm sharing: Why perimenopause and menopause are not just a hormone levels problem, and what's happening in your gut and liver that's driving the weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, and heavy periodsWhat lactoferrin is, why it drops dramatically the moment you enter perimenopause, and how that one protein controls iron regulation, immune response, and inflammation all at onceHow your gut manages estrogen through something called the estrobolome, what happens when that system breaks down, and why your heavy periods and mood swings might be a gut issue more than a hormone issueThe enzyme beta-glucuronidase and what it means for your health when it's too high, including why estrogen gets repackaged and recirculated instead of clearedWhy short chain fatty acids are your body's natural GLP-1 activator, how fiber and resistant starch trigger their production, and what that means for weight, blood sugar, and fullness in menopauseHow cooked and cooled potatoes and rice become a completely different food for your gut bacteria, and why that matters more in perimenopause than at any other stageWhy cruciferous vegetables contain a compound that specifically supports healthy estrogen metabolism, and how to get it from food rather than supplementsThe FUT2 gene and what it means if you're in the 20% of women whose gut literally cannot hold onto good bacteria the way it should, plus what to do about itWhy slippery elm bark, seaweed, bone broth, and collagen might be the missing piece if you've done everything right and your gut still isn't respondingThe five mushroom blend Leah recommends specifically for perimenopause and menopause, and which function each mushroom targetsPerimenopause is not a death sentence and it is not something you just survive. But your body is asking for different support than it used to, and the gut is where most of that work starts. This episode gives you the science and the actual action steps to begin changing what's happening at the root. Use code LEAH for 15% off at Eversio Wellness Leah's Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites — I'm Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you'll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a long-term pharmaceutical prescription. Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com — The recommendations presented in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider.

    27 min

  7. APR 6

    Is Mold Secretly Destroying Your Health? (What No One Tells You)

    If you've ever suspected mold might be behind your symptoms but pushed the thought aside because you didn't want to deal with it, this episode is going to be hard to ignore. Mold doesn't have to be a visible, soggy, obvious problem to be wrecking your health. And the good news is, you don't have to remediate your entire house to start feeling better. In this episode I'm chatting with Brian Karr, mold inspector and co-founder of We Inspect, and we're sharing: Why everyone in a house can be reacting to the same mold problem but showing up with completely different symptoms, and why that actually points straight to an environmental triggerThe pattern most people explain away as vacation relaxation that is actually one of the biggest red flags your home is making you sickWhy mold from a leak that happened five years ago can be more dangerous now than when it was wet, and how a dried-out colony releases up to 500 times more particles into your airHow the at-home Dust Test works and why it's often the clearest first step if you're not sure whether you have a problemWhy inspectors using only moisture meters and infrared cameras are missing nine out of ten mold problems in the homes they walk throughThe exposure mapping method Brian uses to identify which sources are actually driving most of your exposure, so you're not staring down a list of 20 problems thinking you have to fix all of themThe three maintenance habits that reduce what you're breathing every day, deep dust removal, medical-grade air filtration, and short air flushing windows throughout the dayWhat particle size actually matters in an air filter and why a standard HEPA unit won't catch the particles that are most likely harming youThe cheap water sensors Brian puts under every sink, both sides of the dishwasher, and around the refrigerator, and why they've saved him from two full remediations in his own homeWhy no protocol will ever fully work if the exposure is still happening, and what it actually looks like to reduce load enough that your body can start to catch upYou don't have to have a flooded basement or black mold crawling up your walls to have a problem worth addressing. Most of the issues Brian finds are invisible, dry, and completely missed by standard inspections. This episode will help you know what to look for, what to test, and how to think about your home as part of your healing, not just your health protocols. Find Brian Karr and We Inspect: Website: yesweinspect.com At-home Dust Test: dusttest.com Instagram: @moldfinders Podcast: Mold Finders Radio Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites 🙏Thank you to Eversio Wellness for sponsoring this episode! 👉 Go to https://www.eversiowellness.com/discount/LEAH or enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off. — I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription. Let’s connect: 📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ 🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ 🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann 🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ 📧 Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com

    47 min

  8. MAR 30

    How to Boost Energy Naturally - The 5 Best Natural Energy Boosting Foods

    If you’re exhausted, relying on caffeine, and still not feeling like yourself, this episode is for you. Because if you’re eating well but still struggling with low energy, it’s likely not about what you’re eating, it’s about what your body is actually absorbing and producing. In this episode, I’m breaking down how your gut microbiome impacts your energy, metabolism, and overall resilience. In this episode, I cover: Why your gut microbiome plays a major role in your energy levelsHow your gut bacteria turn food into usable energy for your bodyWhat short-chain fatty acids are and why they’re essential for energy productionThe key roles of butyrate, acetate, and propionate in metabolism and blood sugar balanceWhy symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and crashes may point to gut dysfunctionHow your oral microbiome impacts energy through nitric oxide productionThe top foods that support your gut (like resistant starch, fiber, and polyphenols)Why feeding your gut bacteria is more important than just “eating healthy”How minerals like magnesium and potassium support digestion and energyWhy building resilience in your body is the key to long-term, stable energyIf you’re ready to stop chasing quick fixes and start supporting your energy at the root, this episode will completely change how you think about your gut and your health. Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites — I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription. Let’s connect: 📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ 🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ 🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann 🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ 📧 Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com

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About

Boost your energy, balance hormones naturally, and heal holistically all without uprooting your entire life! Learn the secrets to balancing your hormones at: freehormonetraining.com. Have you ever tried to Google your symptoms only to slam the laptop shut in frustration? Do you want natural, holistic solutions that actually work? Are you tired of being told that everything is normal, when you know it’s not? Are you ready to take back your health to live your best life?  In this podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results that allow you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.  If you're ready to reclaim your energy, learn how to listen to your body, and holistically improve your overall health, you're in the right place! I’ll be sharing my tried and true methods for blood sugar balance, improved sleep quality, weight loss, and increased energy levels so you can live your healthiest life all without unreasonable lifestyle shifts, like restrictive dieting or excessive supplementing. I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life. Five years ago, I found out I had fibroadenomas (benign breast tumors), which 90% of the time return after surgical removal. I decided not to undergo the operation and instead found a way to heal the underlying cause. After years of extreme pain, irregular cycles, and ovarian cysts, I finally learned how to balance my hormones which healed my fibroadenomas and led me to regular, pain-free periods.  I learned how to make lifestyle shifts, remove toxins from my environment, and give my body what it actually needs to function optimally and heal on a cellular level. After my experience, I became a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner so that I can empower women in their own holistic health journey. Even if you’ve been told your labs are normal or that your symptoms aren’t a cause for concern - YOU are the expert of your body and your experience. You deserve to feel AMAZING, not just “normal”. I’m here to help you achieve optimal overall health through simple, straightforward lifestyle changes that you can start to implement today.  Balancing Hormones Naturally isn’t just the name of the podcast, it’s the way forward to a happier, healthier life and I can’t wait to join you on the journey!  Connect with Leah: 📧 Email: leahbcoaching@gmail.com 🌐 Website: leahbrueggemann.com 📷 IG: @leah_brueg and @balancinghormonesnaturally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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