Hormone Healing RD – Details, episodes & analysis

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 symptoms
• The link between rising estrogen and increased histamine release
• Why people with histamine issues can have paradoxical hormone symptoms
• How long histamines actually stay in your system, and ways to avoid long-term suffering
• What happens when conditions like POTS and hypermobility overlap with histamine issues during the cycle
• Practical strategies for tracking cycle patterns to spot histamine-driven flares
• The debate around antihistamines, pregnancy, and de-stigmatizing medication for symptom relief
• Why lowering histamines must come before deeper root-cause work like gut or mineral protocols
• The connection between histamines, mast cells, and endometriosis

Timestamps:

[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 progesterone

Listen to Other Hormone Healing Episodes with Michelle:

MCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 1 | Listen Here

MCAS, POTS, & Hypermobility Part 2 | Listen Here

The Root Cause of Reflux | Listen Here

Resources Mentioned:

Ovia Cycle-tracking App | Website

Natural Cycles Fertility Awareness App | Website

Oura Ring | Website

Tempdrop Wearable Sensor | Website

Read Your Body App | Website

Podcast with Nina Boyce on Fertility Awareness Method | Podcast

Find more from Michelle:

Michelle Shapiro RD | Instagram

Michelle Shapiro RD | Website

Michelle Shapiro Nutrition | YouTube

Find more from Amanda:

Hormone Healing RD | Instagram

Hormone Healing RD | Website

Hormone Healing RD | Facebook

Hormone Healing RD | YouTube

Hormone 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 reflux
• Explanation of dynamic infant movement
• How oral restrictions can impact reflux
• Emily's tips for moms to do bodywork on their own babies/children
• Outsourcing motherhood with informed decision making

Free 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=AMANDAM
• FAQ’s on Emily’s website: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/faq 
• Get Emily’s free body work video: https://www.theloveofbreastfeeding.com/freebie-1-landing-page

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 answering a common question I get from this community and that is how can we prepare our bodies for perimenopause and beyond. I’ll be breaking down how to figure out when your transition may start and what areas you want to consider focusing on. 

As always, I’m a dietitian but I’m not your dietitian. Please discuss any changes you may want to make to your health with your medical provider. 

This episode covers:

• How to time your perimenopausal transition and health challenges that may occur
• Role of hormonal imbalances and its impact on health in midlife
• The importance of supporting the thyroid during perimenopause
• Tips for supporting your circadian rhythm and receiving light exposure to support your health
• Nutrition changes that occur during perimenopause and what you should focus on
• Using hot and cold therapy for managing symptoms
• Lifestyle adjustment recommendations for preparing for perimenopause

Thyroid Mineral Training: https://hormonehealingrd.com/opt-in/free-functional-thyroid-mini-course-podcast/

Resources/Links:

• Circadian rhythm podcast with Carrie Bennett: https://hormonehealingrd.com/podcast-episode/s5-e22-light-your-circadian-rhythm-your-hormones-with-carrie-bennett/ 
• Strength Training podcast with Adina Rubin: https://hormonehealingrd.com/podcast-episode/s2-e16-strength-training-for-happy-hormones-with-adina-rubin/

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 (monthly newsletter): https://hormonehealingrd.ck.page/d0317056cd 

Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course

Are You Menstrual?
We are continuing our minerals series and expanding on one particular part of the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)--metabolic type. Our metabolic type gives us insight into nervous system balance and the stage of stress our bodies are in. This is helpful information to know on a healing journey to better understand what nutrients you need more of and what stress management activities may be best for you.
In this episode, we discuss where metabolic typing came from, the difference between a fast and slow metabolic type, and what the different subtypes are.

Links:

• Master Your Minerals Course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course
• Adrenal Cocktail: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/adrenal-cocktail-recipes
• Learn how to start monitoring your metabolism with our Free Healthy Period Starter Guide: http://bit.ly/healthy-period-guide
• Sign up for our weekly Feminine Periodical newsletter: http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw
• Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/hormonehealingrd/

Are You Menstrual?
When it comes to nutrition for hormone health we absolutely need to focus on eating enough and balancing our meals, but one often overlooked area of nutrition is mineral content. In this episode, we are going to give you a crash course in minerals and explain the benefits of hair testing and how it differs from blood work and hormone testing.

Our minerals are like spark plugs--they kick off essential reactions in the body and get things moving. One example of this is an essential mineral that we will talk more about--copper. The body uses copper and oxygen to make ATP, which is our main energy source. The cells in our body require minerals to make energy and hormones, which is why we focus so much on them in our practice. We hope you enjoy nerding out with us!

Links:

• Blog - Mineral Testing vs. Hormone Testing: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/mineral-versus-hormone-testing
• Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course
• Blog - Adrenal Cocktail: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/adrenal-cocktail-recipes
• Blog - Blood Sugar Dysregulation & Minerals: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/blood-sugar-and-minerals
• Learn how to start monitoring your metabolism with our Free Healthy Period Starter Guide: http://bit.ly/healthy-period-guide
• Sign up for our weekly Feminine Periodical newsletter: http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw
• Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/hormonehealingrd/

Are You Menstrual?
In this episode, we dive a little deeper into the nuances of good nutrition—and more specifically, the most common nutrition myths being perpetuated by the wellness industry. It seems as though there is an increasing number of foods being demonized by health coaches and doctors alike as of late, which makes us wonder what the heck we are supposed to be eating. Well, what we have to say about a few of those “problematic” foods might just surprise and excite you.

Five Foods Covered:

• Red Meat
• Dairy
• Coffee
• Sugar
• Gluten

Links:

• Blogs:
  • Saturated Fat:https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/saturated-fat-friend-or-foe
  • Is Dairy Bad For Hormones?: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/dairy-and-your-hormones
  • Why Can’t I Tolerate Dairy?: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/why-cant-i-tolerate-dairy
  • Is Coffee Bad For Your Hormones?: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/Hormone-Friendly-Coffee
• Savorista Coffee (coupon code AMANDA): https://savorista.com/
• Paleovalley Bone Broth Protein (coupon code HORMONEHEALINGRD10): http://bit.ly/3d1wHYz
• Great Lakes Collagen: http://amzn.to/2x3Kta9
• Learn how to start monitoring your metabolism with our Free Healthy Period Starter Guide: http://bit.ly/healthy-period-guide
• Sign up for our weekly Feminine Periodical newsletter: http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw
• Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/hormonehealingrd/

Are You Menstrual?
In this episode, we expand on metabolism and dive into the specifics of what your metabolism needs to properly function and support every other system in the body. But before we dive in, we have a challenge for you. We’re going to ask you to let go of everything you’ve learned in the past about how to eat—including how much you should eat, what foods you should (or should not) eat, and when you should eat. Throw out all of your rules on nutrition and listen to this episode (and remaining episodes) with a fresh perspective on nutrition and lifestyle.
It’s time to rewire your brain and rethink what it looks like to nourish your body.  Because, chances are, it’s not what you think.

Links:

• TDEE Calculator: http://tdeecalculator.net/
• Follow Our Blog: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/blog/How-Often-Should-I-Eat
• Learn how to start monitoring your metabolism with our Free Healthy Period Starter Guide: http://bit.ly/healthy-period-guide
• Sign up for our weekly Feminine Periodical newsletter: http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw
• Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/hormonehealingrd/

Are You Menstrual?
The first step we take with the women we work with to improve their hormones and overall health is unlearning. So many of us have been dieting from a young age and constantly hopping from one restrictive diet to the next. Leaving our bodies in a constant state of stress and depleting essential minerals that allow us to thrive. This leads to a slowing down of our metabolism. Most people hear the word metabolism and think of weight loss, but it’s actually so much more than that.

Our metabolism is the basic process our body goes through to convert food to energy. If this process slows down that means we have less energy, which means more hormone problems. In this episode, we walk you through the basics of our metabolism, how stress and dieting impact it, and signs that your metabolism needs support.

Links:

• Learn how to start monitoring your metabolism with our Free Healthy Period Starter Guide: http://bit.ly/healthy-period-guide
• Sign up for our weekly Feminine Periodical newsletter: http://bit.ly/2tWOBtw
• Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/hormonehealingrd/

We are back with part two with Michelle Shapiro! After our initial discussion in the last episode about how these conditions relate to one another, today we are diving into conventional treatments and functional approaches for MCAS, POTS, and hypermobility. Michelle and I discuss why jumping straight to restrictive diets might not be the best long-term solution, why stabilizing mast cells should come first, and why specialized care is crucial.

This episode covers:

• What is missing from conventional treatments for MCAS
• Why stabilizing mast cells and mediators needs to happen before addressing root causes
• The importance of personalized approaches for highly sensitive and hypermobility individuals
• Holistic management for POTS including sodium intake, compression socks, and potassium-rich foods
• Utilizing the Highly Sensitive Body Hub for MCAS and related symptoms

Mineral Quiz: https://hormonehealingrd.com/guides-support/mineral-quiz/

Resources/Links:

• Take the quiz to find out if you have a highly sensitive body:  https://www.quietthediet.com/a/2147858703/QTiFyr9T 
• Join the HSB Hub: https://www.quietthediet.com/a/2147833897/QTiFyr9T 
• Reflux episode with Michelle: https://hormonehealingrd.com/podcast-episode/s5-e21-the-root-cause-of-reflux-with-michelle-shapiro-rd/
• Compression socks: https://vimvigr.com/collections/women-all-collections-compression-socks 
• The Chop Levine Protocol (exercise protocol for POTS)
• The Hypermobility Chiropractor we constantly mentioned: https://thehypermobilechiro.com/ 
• Gupta program: https://guptaprogram.com/ 
• Study link for long covid: https://www.helpadvisor.com/community-health/long-covid-report

Connect with Michelle:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/michelleshapirord/ 

Website: https://michelleshapirord.com/ 

Listen to Quiet The Diet: https://www.quietthediet.com/ 

Apply to work with Michelle and her team: https://michelleshapirord.com/private-practice 

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 (monthly newsletter): https://hormonehealingrd.ck.page/d0317056cd 

Master Your Minerals course: https://www.hormonehealingrd.com/master-your-minerals-course