A tiny stool sample, a giant breakthrough. We’re pulling back the curtain on GI-MAP—the at-home test that reveals why reflux lingers, acne won’t quit, and weight loss stalls even when you’re trying everything. From pathogens to probiotics, we translate an eight-page lab report into real-world actions that calm inflammation, repair the gut barrier, and restore energy, clarity, and confidence.

We start with the foundations: what GI-MAP actually tests using PCR technology and why those results matter. You’ll hear how H. pylori lowers stomach acid and opens the door to dysbiosis, how virulent strains raise ulcer and cancer risk, and when to choose prescriptions versus botanicals. We share stories of parasites missed by standard care, yeast that fuels bloating and breakouts, and the power of retesting to confirm true clearance. Along the way, we connect gut health to skin clarity, autoimmunity risk, and even that frustrating plateau when Akkermansia runs low.

Then we get tactical. We map commensal bacteria to targeted probiotics, explain why one blend doesn’t fit all, and show how Mediterranean-leaning meals and polyphenol-rich red and purple plants help good microbes thrive. You’ll learn how to read digestive markers like elastase and steatocrit, what calprotectin and occult blood mean for inflammation and next steps, and how secretory IgA and zonulin signal the strength of your mucosal barrier. We also clarify food sensitivity versus true allergy, when an IgG panel helps, and how to phase elimination and reintroduction without guesswork.

If you want fewer flare-ups, steadier energy, clearer skin, and a plan that matches your biology, this conversation is your blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs answers, and leave a review telling us the one gut change you’re starting this week.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Ready to retire your bathroom scale and measure what actually moves your health? We kick off season two by redefining midlife vitality through one powerful lens: body composition. Instead of chasing a shrinking number, we focus on growing what protects you—lean muscle—and reducing what harms you—visceral fat. Along the way, we explain why BMI mislabels strong bodies, how to track fat and muscle accurately, and the daily habits that add more good years to your life.

We share real-world outcomes from hormone optimization, where patients report deeper sleep, steadier moods, and a renewed sense of well-being that becomes a positive addiction. Then we map the next level: using DEXA and home impedance devices to monitor trends, celebrating increases in lean mass even when total weight rises, and steering training and nutrition with data instead of guesswork. Muscle emerges as more than strength; it is metabolic armor that stabilizes blood sugar, lowers inflammation, and slashes risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and several cancers.

From there, we lay out the Get Fit framework: 10,000 to 15,000 daily steps, progressive strength training, protein-forward meals, and sleep as a non-negotiable performance tool. We normalize lifting heavy with guidance, gamify recovery with wearables, and use GLP-1s and select peptides strategically when food noise or recovery blocks progress. For those who stall due to gut issues, we preview GI mapping and food sensitivity testing to remove hidden barriers and unlock sustainable change.

If you’re ready to trade vague goals for measurable wins, this is your roadmap to a stronger, leaner, and sharper midlife. Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a spark, and leave a review to help more listeners find practical, science-backed ways to age with power.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Forget everything you thought you knew about hormone replacement. Optimizing your hormones isn't just about managing hot flashes – it affects every system in your body and profoundly impacts how you age, regardless of whether you're already in menopause or andropause.

This eye-opening conversation challenges the conventional "aging gracefully" narrative by revealing how hormonal decline affects every aspect of your health. Did you know that losing testosterone, not just estradiol, is primarily responsible for the acceleration of skin aging in menopause? Or that only 5-10% of cancers are truly genetic, with hormonal decline playing a significant role in your increased cancer risk after 50? We explore these rarely discussed connections and explain why optimizing your hormones can actually reduce cancer risk rather than increase it.

The familiar pattern of worsening cholesterol, rising blood pressure, stubborn weight gain, and increasing brain fog isn't simply "getting older" – these are direct consequences of hormonal decline that can be addressed through proper optimization. From reversing osteoporosis without expensive medications to restoring energy levels that allow you to fully participate in life, bioidentical hormone replacement represents a powerful approach to preventative medicine that goes far beyond symptom management.

Whether you're already experiencing these changes or want to prevent them, this episode shows why it's never too late to optimize your hormones. As Dan Martell wisely notes, "When you are healthy, you have a thousand dreams. When you are not, you have but one." Ready to wage war on aging? Hormone optimization is one of the big guns in this battle, alongside advanced approaches like peptides, GI mapping, and cutting-edge cancer screening we'll explore in future episodes. Take control of your health trajectory today – because aging isn't about surrendering gracefully, it's a strategic battle with winners and losers.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Sleep is your health foundation, but how many of us truly get restorative rest? Your answer reveals not just your current wellbeing but potentially how long you'll live. Research suggests good sleep habits could add nearly 5 years to a man's life and 2.4 years to a woman's.

If you're experiencing middle-of-night awakenings, racing thoughts, or recurring dreams about failing school, your hormones might be the culprit—not your mattress, temperature, or partner's breathing. For women, the decline in progesterone (which can begin in your 30s) makes you a light sleeper, while both men and women experience reduced melatonin with age. These aren't just annoyances; they fundamentally alter your sleep architecture and deprive you of the deep, restorative phases your body needs.

Body-identical progesterone (not synthetic versions) offers women a soporific effect that can transform sleep within weeks. Meanwhile, melatonin serves as a powerful antioxidant that not only improves sleep but fights inflammation, reduces cancer risk, and slows cellular aging. Optimizing these hormones—finding your personal ideal dosage—can end those 2AM bathroom trips, eliminate anxiety-fueled wakefulness, and restore vivid, pleasant dreams. While maintaining good sleep hygiene remains important, hormone optimization may be the missing piece for your best rest. Isn't it time to sleep like a very good baby again? Explore bioidentical hormone optimization with a qualified provider and discover what truly restorative sleep feels like.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Testosterone might be your body's most underrated secret weapon. As a 51-year-old physician, I discovered my own testosterone level was a mere 11 – nowhere near the optimal 150-250 range women typically enjoy in their 20s. That revelation changed everything about how I approach aging and women's health.

Most women have no idea that their testosterone levels begin declining in their early 30s, reaching their lowest around menopause and remaining there without intervention. This gradual decline directly impacts energy, muscle mass, cognitive function, mood, libido, and even physical appearance. The transformative benefits of optimizing testosterone are shocking: increased muscle definition, improved metabolism, better workout recovery, enhanced memory, reduced depression and anxiety, and even protection against breast cancer, dementia, and heart disease. Perhaps most surprising is testosterone's ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production – effectively addressing skin aging concerns that expensive creams and procedures often fail to resolve.

From improved sexual function to stronger bones, nearly every aspect of a woman's health improves with proper testosterone levels. Yet conventional medicine rarely addresses this critical hormone in women. Testing through traditional channels can cost $800 and take weeks for results, while meaningful treatment options remain limited since no FDA-approved testosterone products exist specifically for women in the US. My approach using body-identical testosterone cream provides benefits that injections and pellet therapy simply can't match, including cardiovascular protection and breast cancer risk reduction. 

Wondering if your testosterone is low? Chances are excellent that it is if you're over 35. Taking control of your hormone health could be the missing piece in your quest to feel energetic, strong, and vibrant at any age. Follow this podcast for more insights that will transform how you experience midlife and beyond.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Ever wondered why you still feel exhausted, foggy, and can't lose weight even after your doctor says your thyroid is "normal"? The answer might lie in a critical hormone that most healthcare providers never check.

T3 (Triiodothyronine) is the powerhouse thyroid hormone that controls everything from your metabolism to your memory. While medical schools have traditionally taught doctors to check only TSH and occasionally T4 levels, these tests miss the complete picture. Even more shocking, the standard medication Synthroid only replaces T4, not the active T3 your body desperately needs to function optimally.

With over 200 possible symptoms of low T3—including fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, thinning hair, depression, and constipation—this overlooked hormone deficiency may be the root cause of why you don't feel like yourself anymore. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less T3 and have more difficulty converting T4 into the active form, especially in women.

The problem goes beyond simple hormone deficiency. Many people suffer from thyroid receptor resistance, where environmental toxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals physically block T3 from working properly. This explains why countless patients continue struggling despite "normal" lab results. The good news? Proper diagnosis and thoughtful treatment with desiccated thyroid hormone that contains both T4 and T3 can often reverse these issues within months, restoring energy, mental clarity, and quality of life.

Ready to take control of your thyroid health? Ask specifically for T3 testing at your next appointment, reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors in plastics and personal care products, and consider consulting with a preventative medicine physician who understands complete thyroid optimization. Your body deserves better than partial treatment based on incomplete information.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

The FDA has quietly made one of the biggest medical reversals of the century that affects millions of American men. After 11 years of misleading warnings, the FDA has finally acknowledged that testosterone replacement therapy does NOT increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes. This monumental shift removes the ominous black box warning that has prevented countless men from addressing declining testosterone levels.

What changed? The Traverse Trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed over 5,200 men aged 46-80 with cardiovascular risk factors. The results were crystal clear—testosterone replacement showed absolutely no increase in cardiac events compared to placebo, with a 95% confidence interval. This validates what many specialists have known for years: natural, bioidentical testosterone replacement is safe and beneficial for aging men.

The confusion stems from conflating prescription testosterone with illegal anabolic steroids. These synthetic compounds used at 10-100 times therapeutic doses cause numerous health problems, unfairly tainting natural testosterone replacement by association. The truth is that properly optimized testosterone levels can reverse diabetes, reduce arterial plaque, prevent dementia, improve bone density, enhance cholesterol profiles, help resolve sleep apnea, and even prevent prostate cancer—all supported by randomized controlled trials.

Despite this vindication, accessing quality testosterone optimization remains challenging. Insurance typically only covers treatment for severely low levels (below 300 ng/dL), though men feel optimal at 900-1100 ng/dL. Many providers also take a simplistic approach, prescribing testosterone without proper evaluation, monitoring, or lifestyle guidance. True hormone optimization requires comprehensive testing, nutritional support, sleep improvement, exercise recommendations, and ongoing monitoring of multiple biomarkers.

Ready to explore how testosterone optimization might improve your health, energy, and longevity? Follow the links in our show notes to learn more about evidence-based approaches to hormone replacement that go beyond just "replacement" to true optimization for long-term health.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a widely misunderstood hormonal disorder affecting an astounding number of women, with many never receiving proper diagnosis despite experiencing symptoms like irregular cycles, weight issues, and insulin resistance.

• Dr. Norris likes to describe PCOS as "progesterone deficiency causing oodles of side effects" 
• Only 50% of women with PCOS have visible cysts on ultrasound
• PCOS increases breast cancer risk 3x and uterine cancer risk 5x due to progesterone deficiency
• The condition often causes "thyroid resistance" leading to metabolic issues and insulin resistance
• 50% of PCOS patients are not obese, with 25% being thin despite having metabolic issues
• Successful treatment includes micronized progesterone (not synthetic progestins), desiccated thyroid, and insulin-sensitizing medications
• Every woman deserves screening for PCOS regardless of symptoms
• Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious health complications and improve quality of life

Share this episode with at least three women you love and check out the show notes if you're interested in being screened for PCOS in Dr. Norris' preventative medicine practice in Illinois.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Ever wondered why some days you just don't feel like yourself anymore? Those mysterious symptoms you've been attributing to "just getting older" might actually be completely treatable hormone deficiencies. After 80 hours of specialized training, I discovered that I had been suffering unnecessarily for 15 years—and I don't want the same thing to happen to you.

Hormone optimization represents one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools in preventative medicine. This episode dives deep into perimenopause, menopause, and andropause, explaining why hormone changes often begin much earlier than most people realize. For women, the gradual decline can start in their mid-30s with symptoms like weight management difficulties, sleep disruptions, irregular periods, and brain fog signaling drops in progesterone and testosterone long before hot flashes ever appear. Men experience their own version with the emergence of "dad bod," fatigue, workout plateaus, and eventually sexual dysfunction—all treatable conditions, not inevitable consequences of aging.

The most surprising revelation? There's virtually no "too late" to start hormone optimization. Whether you're just noticing the first signs of change or you've been post-menopausal for decades, body-identical hormone therapy can dramatically improve your quality of life, bone density, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function. For men, proper testosterone optimization not only enhances energy and physical performance but actually reduces the risk of serious conditions including heart disease and prostate cancer.

Ready to stop wasting precious years feeling less than your best? Visit our website to learn about our "Get Fabulous" women's program or "Get Firm" men's program. Your future self will thank you for taking this crucial step toward optimal health and vitality at any age.

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results

Hormones—our body's natural chemical messengers—create a symphony that controls everything from well-being and energy to reproduction and aging. But what happens when misinformation and confirmation bias affect how we approach hormone replacement?

In this deep dive, we unravel the complex world of hormone therapy, starting with debunking the flawed Women's Health Initiative study that wrongfully scared millions away from hormone replacement for over two decades. I walk you through the crucial differences between synthetic hormones (like Premarin from pregnant horse urine) and bioidentical hormones that exactly match what your body naturally produces.

The language barrier surrounding hormone therapy has created unnecessary confusion. Understanding the distinction between HRT, ERT, BHRT, and BHO gives you the foundation to make informed decisions about your health. Most importantly, I explain why "normal" hormone levels on lab tests aren't necessarily optimal—they're often based on averaging sick, aging populations rather than promoting vibrant health.

Environmental factors like endocrine-disrupting chemicals are silently affecting hormone receptors in all of us, creating resistance patterns that require specialized approaches. This is why traditional medical care often falls short in terms of levels in the normal range not corresponding to feeling normal—most physicians care about your hormone health, they may just not be trained in bioidentical hormone optimization. 

Join me on this journey through the "foreign country" of hormones, where you'll learn why standard medical practice hasn't caught up with the evidence showing bioidentical hormones can improve well-being while potentially preventing serious diseases of aging. Whether you're approaching menopause, experiencing andropause, or simply want to understand how hormones affect your health, this episode provides the roadmap you need.

Learn about our new concierge preventative medicine programs!
For Women:
Get Fabulous! Hormone Optimization for Women | Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa
For Men:
Get Firm! Hormone Optimization for Men | Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa

Check out the book Normal Is Not Optimal by Neal Rouzier, MD that Dr. Norris referenced in this episode!
https://nealrouzier.com/

Check us out on our social media to see what we are up to!
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleNorrisMD/
INSTAGRAM: Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa (@nicolenorrismd) • Instagram photos and videos

Want to learn more about our concierge preventative medicine programs or fill out an eligibility form?

CHECK OUT OUR LONGEVITY TESTING SERVICES
Longevity Medicine Testing - Nicole Norris MD - Ottawa, IL

GET FIT Get Fit! Weight Management Program | Nicole Norris MD | Peru, IL

Find a Preventative Medicine Provider NEAR YOU! https://www.directory.worldlinkmedical.com/search_results