Constipation may seem like just a digestive issue, but it can be an important clue when it comes to your hormones.

In this episode, I explain why healthy digestion and regular elimination matter for hormone balance. Your digestive system doesn’t just help you absorb nutrients, it also plays a role in providing the building blocks your body needs to make hormones and helping eliminate hormones once they’ve been used.

When those elimination pathways become sluggish, symptoms often labeled as “estrogen dominance” may have more going on beneath the surface.

In this episode, I talk about:

● Why digestion and hormone health are so closely connected

● How constipation can interfere with healthy hormone elimination

● Why “estrogen dominance” isn’t always as simple as having too much estrogen

● The roles of progesterone, stress, and blood sugar

● Why even your quieter symptoms deserve attention

Your symptoms are communication from your body. The goal isn’t simply to silence them, it’s to understand what they may be telling you.

If you’re dealing with ongoing hormone or digestive symptoms and aren’t sure where to start, book a free discovery call to explore what support might look like for you. https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554

Hormone balancing ebook: https://birdsend.page/forms/9473/cDk9YT4KSn

Hormone replacement therapy can be incredibly helpful for some women—but it isn’t always the first place I recommend starting.

Before considering HRT, I want to look at how well your body is being supported in three foundational areas:

• Digestion • Blood sugar balance • Healthy detox pathways

Why? Because hormones don’t work in isolation. If your body is struggling to digest well, regulate blood sugar, or properly process and eliminate hormones, simply adding more hormones may not address the bigger picture.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three areas I look at first and how supporting these foundations can help you better understand what your body actually needs during perimenopause.

If you’re wondering what support would make the most sense for you, book a free discovery call with me. https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554

And if you’re navigating perimenopause right now, be sure to check out my Perimenopause support resources as well. You don’t have to guess your way through this season.

Bloating is common, but it’s not something you should have to just live with.

If you’re regularly feeling bloated, uncomfortable after meals, overly full, or like your food just isn’t digesting well, your body may be telling you that something deeper is going on.

In this episode of the Health & Hormones Podcast, we’re talking about:

• Why digestion works “north to south” and why what happens in your stomach matters for everything that comes next • How low stomach acid can contribute to bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and difficulty absorbing nutrients • The connection between H. pylori and digestive symptoms • Some of the less obvious signs that your digestion may need support—like waking up without an appetite, getting full quickly, or feeling like last night’s dinner is still sitting in your stomach • Why we want to look for the root cause of bloating instead of simply trying to make the symptom go away • How testing can give us a clearer picture of what may actually be happening in your gut

Your symptoms are information. When we understand what your body is trying to communicate, we can begin supporting it instead of continually putting Band-Aids over the problem.

If you’re dealing with persistent bloating or digestive symptoms and want help figuring out what your next step should be, schedule a free discovery call with me. https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554

When life gets busy, your health habits are often the first things to disappear. But what if you knew exactly which habits mattered most—and how to protect them even when everything hits the fan?

In this episode, Rita shares how to identify your personal health and self-care non-negotiables and make them realistic for the season of life you’re actually in.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify the things that truly “fill your cup”
• Why small, actionable changes are more sustainable than a complete overhaul
• How planning ahead can protect habits like sleep and nourishing meals
• Why you need one set of non-negotiables for normal life—and another for “crazy town”
• How to prioritize what stays when you simply can’t do everything

Your routine doesn’t have to be perfect to support your health. It just needs to protect what matters most.When life gets busy, your health habits are often the first things to disappear. But what if you knew exactly which habits mattered most and how to protect them even when everything hits the fan?

Listen to the full episode of the Health & Hormones Podcast.

Here is the episode where I talk about my non-negotiables: https://rss.com/podcasts/healthandhormones/2995041

Perimenopause can bring big changes to your cycle—but it doesn’t mean your fertility has simply disappeared.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why perimenopause is not a “death sentence” for fertility
• How fertility changes after 35—and why individual assessment matters
• Using NFP to navigate irregular cycles and avoid pregnancy
• How stress, hormones, and changing biomarkers affect your chart
• Choosing the cycle-tracking method you’ll actually use consistently
• What your chart can reveal about symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, and hormonal shifts
• When working with a certified instructor can help couples feel less “stuck” or fearful

We also share details about the upcoming 5-Day Perimenopause Workshop beginning August 24, covering cycle tracking, intimacy, HRT, strength training, and navigating perimenopause with greater confidence.

Join me and other experts for the 5-Day Perimenopause Workshop at the end of August. Link below to sign up.

https://healthandhormones.org/perimenopause-toolkit/

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Bartell to talk about intimacy, marriage, and the changes that come with perimenopause and menopause.

We discuss:

• Why intimacy still matters beyond the fertile years
• How rest and nervous system regulation can support libido
• Moving beyond the “just suck it up” mentality
• Simple ways to care for your body and strengthen marital connection

Join me and other experts for the 5-Day Perimenopause Workshop at the end of August. Link below to sign up.

https://healthandhormones.org/perimenopause-toolkit/

Here is the link to Sarah’s 10 Truth’s https://canafeast.com/10truths

In this episode I sit down with Mau to discuss:

• What really changes during perimenopause—and what can you do about it?
• Rita sits down with fitness coach Mo to talk about building strength, navigating hormonal shifts, and letting go of the pressure to do it all.
• If you’ve ever wondered where to start, this conversation is full of practical encouragement and hope.

Book a free discovery call if you’re ready for personalized support, and learn more about the upcoming Perimenopause Workshop at the link below.

https://healthandhormones.org/perimenopause-toolkit

Can caring for your health be part of your faith journey?

In this episode of the Health & Hormones Podcast, we discuss:

• When chronic health struggles are a cross to bear—and when they aren’t.
• Why seeking healing isn’t a lack of faith.
• How physical, emotional, and spiritual health work together.
• Practical ways to prayerfully discern your next step toward healing.

Listen now.

💛 If you’re looking for personalized support for your hormones, fertility, or pregnancy, book a free discovery call—I’d love to help you get to the root of what’s going on.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554

In this episode I discuss:

• Why I’m healthier in my 40s than I was during my pregnancies in my 20s.
• The habits I prioritize now: nutrient-dense meals, muscle health, and quality sleep.
• Why blood sugar balance has become one of my biggest health focuses.
• The fears I still experience during pregnancy—and how I continually surrender them to the Lord.

💛 If you’re looking for personalized support for your hormones, fertility, or pregnancy, book a free discovery call—I’d love to help you get to the root of what’s going on.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554

In this episode:

• Why sleep is one of my biggest non-negotiables
• How quiet prayer helps me stay grounded
• The importance of sitting down for 3 balanced meals
• Why a daily walk is one of the best things I do for my health and marriage
• Simple encouragement for finding rhythms that fit your current season of life

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or running on empty, I hope this episode encourages you to care for yourself in a sustainable way. ❤️

If you're looking for personalized support for your hormones, fertility, or pregnancy journey, book a free discovery call using the link below. I'd love to help you find the root cause and create a plan that's right for you.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18525602&appointmentType=27841554