Hormone Optimizing Warrior M.D.

Does a perfect diet exist? Some of the most popular diets to follow today include paleo, keto, and carnivore. While any one of these diets might make you feel good for a few weeks or months, variety is the key to eating in a way that fully supports a well-functioning body. Being on any specific diet for a long time has the potential to help you lose weight. Many lead to a natural reduction in calo...

Food is medicine, and what you eat has a significant impact on your health. While it's good to be conscious and intentional with what you eat, an intense focus on your diet can easily turn into an obsession. This is in part due to the fact that awareness around how what we eat affects our bodies has increased recently. Different types of diets and eating styles have also been popularized online. D...

Let's talk about the reality of food addiction. Whether you realize it or not, many of us are addicted to the foods we eat, at least to some degree. Our addiction to food affects us every day. What we eat plays a significant role in allowing our bodies to maintain homeostasis and can either help us reduce our toxic burden or increase it. Once we can no longer manage our toxic burden, we become sym...

We are exposed to a lot of unhealthy chemicals through our lifestyle and diet. In fact, ingestion is one of the main ways we are exposed to toxic compounds. In this sense, a clean diet isn't just one that's healthy or home cooked—it's also one that limits exposure to these chemicals.   One of the main issues most people run into is being too busy or overwhelmed to prioritize our diet and looking t...

When it comes to women's health, many are concerned about how hormones might put them at a higher risk for cancer. At the same time, so few women are not as concerned with the toxins they come into contact with every day, which definitely do put them at a higher risk for cancer. Thousands of chemicals have been introduced into our daily modern lives: walking barefoot on your carpet, breathing in c...

Have you been exposed to estrogen receptor disruptors like phthalates, BPA, pesticides, and other chemicals? These substances can mimic, block, or alter the effects of estrogen on our cells, leading to significant potential health risks. These disruptors interfere with your hormones, but there are strategies you can use to detoxify from them and reduce your risk of related issues. Endocrine disrup...

Our estrogen receptors play a significant role in our health as women. Knowing what they are, what they do, and how they work really matters, especially if you want to feel informed and empowered about your health. While estrogen is not the enemy, estrogen receptors play a role in all female cancers, including uterine cancer, and many other health related issues. Estrogen has hundreds of functions...

By understanding the risk factors, you can reduce the risk factors not only for uterine cancer, but for all cancers. As women, there are steps we can take early on to avoid having uterine cancer later in life. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 37 women will develop uterine cancer in their lifetime. Uterine cancer is more common in women who are postmenopausal or over the age of 50. A...

Even though uterine cancer isn't common, it's crucial to diagnose and treat it as soon as possible. Because this type of cancer presents with very clear signs and symptoms, it's possible to detect it early, and early detection supports more positive treatment outcomes.  Abnormal vaginal bleeding is an early sign of uterine cancer. This includes prolonged or heavy periods, bleeding after menopause,...

Many women who develop uterine polyps have no idea they have this condition, yet these abnormal growths are very common. They develop on the endometrium and can be the size of a sesame seed—or they can develop to be the size of a golf ball. While this condition is often asymptomatic, you could also experience heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, and infertility. So, what's the difference betw...

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors, and they are a very common uterine disease. Fibroids may also be called nodules or cysts, and may vary in size and appearance. However, they are always solid because they are made of fibromuscular tissue, and they can cause a host of symptoms.  Fibroids can develop inside the uterus or even outside the uterus into the abdomen. So what makes fibroids develop in t...

Do you have painful, heavy periods? Adenomyosis and uterine fibroids are common uterine conditions, yet so many women go through their reproductive years not knowing that they have such a condition. Listen to this episode to learn the signs and symptoms to look out for, as well as the solutions that are available. Many women will write off occasional uterine pain as a weird cycle, however this can...

Hormone replacement therapy can promote vaginal bleeding after menopause. So, is progesterone necessary as a part of HRT? It is essential to take progesterone to balance levels of estrogen, much like the way our bodies naturally would. So how often and how long is progesterone required? For some patients, they will need to take it every day—especially those with a medical reason to avoid getting t...

As you approach menopause, you may be considering hormone replacement therapy. Knowing what to expect can help you make the most informed decision possible. For example, if you are on HRT and are taking progesterone, you may experience vaginal bleeding.  Generally, there is a lack of options for exactly how you can take progesterone as a patient. If you go to a Naturopathic doctor, they may only g...

Why do doctors recommend birth control pills for hormonal imbalance in women? This is one of the many questions I hear from my female patients over and over again. To answer this question, it helps to understand why women bleed monthly. The answer comes down to estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen promotes growth of the uterine lining. Then, around day 14, you ovulate, and progesterone fortifies th...

Our current healthcare system in America is leading to serious burnout among physicians. Why? Because demand is high and the pay is very little. Respect and satisfaction among doctors is low—even for those who perform crucial surgeries. As a patient, you will pay more to replace your car transmission than what your doctor gets paid for a bypass surgery. This is an indicator of where the values in...

We're continuing our conversation about the American healthcare system in this week's episode. It's important to recognize that the Affordable Healthcare Act advertised simplicity in our system, but in reality, the changes made fueled a huge rise in premium costs.  This act was intended to lower the number of uninsured Americans. Yet 10 years later, affordability has tanked for most people. So, wh...

Have you ever thought about how the healthcare system in the USA operates? The American healthcare system isn't designed to cover you or support you. At the end of the day, these healthcare entities are a business, and therefore they exist to be profitable, not to put your best interests first. When you buy insurance, you're signing a contract that will only cover certain aspects of your care. Ins...

Having a great wellness provider matters, and that includes the medical team that works at the practice you choose. Recently on the podcast we've covered what to look for in a doctor, which includes a willingness to give you, the patient, a lot of time and patience while actively listening to your concerns. They should also have a great depth of knowledge that they also know how to apply. Your doc...

How important is it to have wellness doctors, and what does that even really mean? One way to think of this is a doctor who focuses on being well as opposed to combating symptoms and illness. This is really the art of keeping someone healthy versus the art of fighting disease, which are actually quite distinct. A wealth of knowledge is required to help one maintain harmony in a patient's health. T...

The time your medical provider is willing to spend with you is one of the most valuable things to look for when searching for wellness support. It's also important that your provider has a strong knowledge base and versatile treatment options. But what about when you have an issue you can't identify the cause of? How can you choose the best wellness doctor for you? With various different types of...

What's the secret to choosing the right doctor or medical practice? If you're not sure what to look for, you're not alone. The answers can be nebulous, and it's not always clear what's valuable and what's not when seeking the right fit. There is no shortage of options, but a great place to start is considering the reason you are looking for a health provider.   Having a full understanding of your...

Let's talk about personalized thyroid dysfunction treatment. We're going to explore the various medication options available for those with hypothyroidism, and how customization of treatment can lead to significantly better health outcomes. Whether you have no functioning thyroid tissue or some residual function, we're here to discuss the importance of vigilant medication management tailored to yo...

This week we're diving deep into the intricacies of thyroid health. As we navigate the complexities of thyroid function, we'll uncover the thyroid tests that actually matter and give you a clear picture of your thyroid health. Throughout our conversation today, you'll see why testing both T3 and T4 hormones is necessary. Understanding the balance between bound and free thyroid hormones is key to d...

Today we're addressing the complicated path of navigating functional testing for thyroid health. Specifically, we'll be looking at why TSH, which is the most commonly used thyroid test, is not as accurate as you might think. Remember, there is a big difference between your thyroid just functioning, and functioning optimally. We delve into the intricate pathways of thyroid functions and hormone con...