The Female Health Solution Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

One day you wake up and you’re 40 and the weight just piles on, even when you “do all the right things.” You’re not alone. 

As we age, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol levels shift, which affects your metabolism, fat storage, and overall energy levels. Most of us find that methods that worked in our 30s, or even just five years ago, are no longer effective.

Here’s the truth: without looking at your body’s hormonal profile, you could be addressing the wrong issue. A DUTCH test, which measures your hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol) and neurotransmitter levels, is one of the best ways to understand what’s happening inside your body. 

I’ve seen women spend thousands on trainers, nutritionists, and programs without results because those approaches made assumptions without addressing the actual issues in their bodies. One of my clients was in this exact situation—$12,000 spent and more weight gained. It wasn’t until we did a DUTCH test and discovered nutrient deficiencies and severe cortisol dysregulation that she saw real progress.

What worked for her?

• Less exercise (yes, LESS!)

• Eating more than 1200 calories a day

• Targeted supplements based on her test results

It was uncomfortable for her at first because it went against everything she’d been told, but in the end, it made all the difference.

Remember, the key isn’t to push harder. It’s to work smarter by addressing what your body truly needs.

Let's connect!

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drbethwestie

Instagram: https://instagram.com/drbethwestie

If you have questions or just want to connect, shoot me a DM on instagram @drbethwestie or contact@drbethwestie.com

As the largest organ of our body, our skin doesn’t just reflect our inner health—it absorbs everything we expose it to, both the good and the bad. I had a fascinating conversation with Emily Rose, better known as Mama Wilder on social media, where we dug deep into the world of skincare and dangers of toxic chemicals. 

Our skin is like a sponge, soaking up whatever we apply to it. We all know the risks of harmful chemicals like PFAS and toxins, which can easily enter our systems through the skin. 

Parabens, for instance, are often used as preservatives but can mimic hormones and even contribute to early puberty in children. And those seemingly harmless fragrances? They’re usually a mix of chemicals that can disrupt your endocrine system.

Emily opened up about her struggles with skin issues, from cystic acne to trying every product under the sun, both natural and pharmaceutical. The biggest improvements came when she started focusing on reducing stress, nourishing her body with minerals, and steering clear of endocrine disruptors.

Red light therapy involves low-level wavelengths of red light that can treat various skin issues, from reducing redness to soothing irritation. While it might be a bit of an investment, the results can be significant, with many users reporting a noticeable improvement in skin tone and texture.

Beyond tech solutions like red light therapy, natural antioxidants like hydroxytyrosol are making waves in skincare. Derived from olives, hydroxytyrosol is a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and even anti-cancer properties.

Skincare is about consistency. Regular exfoliation, lymphatic drainage, and moisturizing are essential for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. Climate, diet, and stress all play roles in how your skin responds to different products. The key is to find what works for you and stick with it.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, start with one new product. Focus on what your skin really needs—whether it’s hydration, acne treatment, or redness reduction. By simplifying your routine and cutting out unnecessary chemicals, your skin has a better chance to heal and thrive.

Emily "Mama Wilder" is a single mom of two in Western Colorado, a birth educator, health coach and advocate for women's autonomy in the healthcare industry.

Find Emily: 

instagram.com/mama_wilder

Did you know that you can improve your energy and fat burning by exercising differently throughout the month? 

I’m talking about exercising FOR your female cycle. 

Let's consider a typical 28-day cycle. Here's a breakdown of how your hormones change and how you can adjust your workouts accordingly:

1. Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5):

   • Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels.

   • Exercise Recommendation: If your cycle isn't too heavy and you feel okay, this is a good time for exercise because of testosterone, which helps build and maintain muscle. However, if you're feeling worn out, it's perfectly fine to rest or engage in light activities like walking or gentle stretching.

2. Follicular Phase (Days 6-14):

   • Hormones: Estrogen starts to rise around day 4 or 5 and remains dominant until ovulation.

   • Exercise Recommendation: This is an excellent time for intense workouts. Focus on strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and activities that build lean muscle. Your body recovers faster, allowing you to push harder. If you're aiming to increase weights or improve performance, this is the time to do it.

3. Ovulation (Around Day 14):

   • Hormones: Estrogen peaks and then starts to decline, while progesterone begins to rise.

   • Exercise Recommendation: Continue with your intense workouts but start being mindful of your energy levels as you transition into the luteal phase.

4. Luteal Phase (Days 15-28):

   • You may still feel strong and energetic, so continue with your regular workouts but start to incorporate more rest and recovery.

   • Your energy levels may drop, and you might feel more fatigued. Focus on lower-intensity activities like walking, yoga, and gentle stretching. Pay attention to your heart rate and allow more time for recovery. This is also a good time for endurance training and working on flexibility and mobility.

   • Hormones: Progesterone rises and remains high until just before your period starts. There's also a smaller peak in estrogen.

   • Exercise Recommendation: This phase can be divided into two parts:

   • Early Luteal Phase (Days 15-21):

   • Late Luteal Phase (Days 22-28):

Exercising for your cycle paired with eating for your cycle will be a game changer for your symptoms and hormone balance. If you are curious about your hormone levels, you can get started with an at-home DUTCH hormone test - I’d love to help you out! 

Let's connect!

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drbethwestie

Instagram: https://instagram.com/drbethwestie

If you have questions or just want to connect, shoot me a DM on instagram @drbethwestie or contact@drbethwestie.com

Your thyroid levels actually impact your hormones. Other hormone issues can actually mimic thyroid issues, making it harder to narrow down where your symptoms originate from. Some of these symptoms look like fatigue, mood issues, weight gain, irregular cycles and sleep disturbances. In this episode, I discuss the connection between thyroid and your hormones and action steps you can take to turn these symptoms around! 

Learn more: https://drbethwestie.com/waitlist/

I am dedicating today's episode to discussing stress and how it impacts muscle. I have seen a huge uptick in stress for so many women and this can create many negative symptoms in the body, but especially for fat and muscle composition. 

Anxiety and stress often starts mentally and emotionally but manifests physically. It is vital to understand what this does to muscle and how to turn it around. Muscle maintenance and growth is important for energy, vitality, bone health, etc, so this episode is dedicated to the stress-muscle connection and ways your can improve your health. 

Learn more: https://drbethwestie.com/waitlist/

Endometriosis is a painful condition where uterus-like tissue grows outside the uterus. Fatigue, painful bowel movements, painful periods, pain during sex, are just a few of the typical endo symptoms. Although more extreme cases may end up with a surgical procedure, there are lifestyle changes that can relieve symptoms and hormone issues associated with endometriosis. This episode dives into what to know about endo and the lifestyle tips that can improve this condition! 

DUTCH Test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

Mood swings are not only uncomfortable and often disruptive to relationships, they signify a deeper issue in the body. As you may guess, hormones are typically at the root of these mood shifts. Fluctuations in hormones, like estrogen, impact your neurotransmitters and create these mood shifts. In this episode, I dive into how hormones impact mood and how to balance your hormones to regulate your emotions. 

DUTCH Test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

Many of us experience grief, big and small, and often overlook how this changes our hormones and vice versa. Emotions create a physical response in the body, so it is important to look at your neurotransmitters and hormones especially when life is challenging. In this episode, I am diving into how grief is connected to your neurotransmitters/hormones and how to navigate these changes. 

DUTCH Test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

When it comes to female hormones sleep plays a big role. Sleep changes your hormones and hormones change your sleep, so it is important to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Your estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and melatonin are just a few key hormones that need to be addressed when talking about sleep. In this episode, I am diving into how sleep is connected to your hormones and ways to optimize it for overall health! 

DUTCH Test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/

Welcome to the final episode of my six part infertility series! This series is dedicated to infertility, hormones, basal body temperature, cycle mapping, and deficiencies that all play into trying to conceive. This episode focuses on issues with progesterone, specifically an irregular luteal phase. It is helpful to address these irregularities from an eastern medicine standpoint so you can support your body through infertility and overall hormonal wellness.

DUTCH Test: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/