The DUTCH Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

How to best monitor hormone replacement therapy is hotly debated in the integrative medicine community, and unfortunately, common practice is not always supported by research. This week, the president and founder of Precision Analytical, Mark Newman, MS, joins Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to help you understand the best approach to monitoring hormone replacement therapies. You’ll learn why you should monitor, which tests are effective, and they’ll dive into the research about monitoring with serum, saliva, and urine. 

Newly published research in the journal Menopause is the first peer-reviewed study to compare FDA approved patches and gels to compounded estrogen creams, and highlights the accuracy of urine metabolite testing for monitoring of estrogen replacement therapies. Listen in to understand the implications of this new study so you can feel more confident when caring for patients facing menopausal hormone decline. 

Show Notes
Watch the full recording from our November DUTCH Webinar.

Read more about the latest DUTCH research published in Menopause 

Discover even more peer-reviewed research validating DUTCH and learn how DUTCH Trust can help you feel more confident in your treatment decisions. 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! 

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Stefani Hayes is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist who specializes in helping fertility patients. In this week’s episode, she joins Dr. Smeaton to dive into a very mysterious aspect of infertility called Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). POI is becoming an increasingly frequent problem in women and, unfortunately, it’s typically identified far very late when it’s already progressed through the disease process. We don’t know for sure why it happens, but we do know that POI has impacts on a patient’s overall hormone health, so we need to understand it.  

You'll hear why infertility is a lot like the canary in the coal mine that can help providers get a clearer picture of the trajectory of their patients' health. Plus, you’ll learn what to look for when assessing POI, why this could be happening, and what you can do about it. 

Show Notes 

Learn more about Dr. Hayes and Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center: Dr. Stefani Hayes, ND, L.Ac. (she, her, hers) - Kwan Yin Healing Arts 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! 

Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest 

Send us Fan Mail

This week, we're replaying our most popular episode of all time. Season One's "What's the Deal with the Pregnenolone Steal?" dives into the controversy around Adrenal Fatigue. Hear from Tom Guilliams, PhD, an expert in cortisol and the HPA axis, about how the brain is responsible for signaling the cortisol response, and why the adrenal glands don’t just “steal” pregnenolone to make cortisol.

Show Notes 

Books to learn more about the HPA axis: 

• The Role of Stress and the HPA axis in Chronic Disease Management (Guilliams) 
• Integrative Medicine (Rakel) 
• Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers (Sapolsky) 

Visit Tom Guilliams’ website https://www.pointinstitute.org/ 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

Read the DUTCH Blog to learn more about hormone health. 

Assessing Chronic Fatigue with the Cortisol Awakening Response 

Circadian Rhythm and Human Health 

You Need Free Cortisone and Metabolized Cortisol to Evaluate HPA Axis Health 

Send us Fan Mail

Did you know the HPA axis manages all body systems and functions like an emergency response vehicle when stressors occur? Or that early life stressors can have permanent effects on the HPA axis? Hear this and more on today’s episode of the DUTCH Podcast. 

In this episode, host Jaclyn Smeaton, ND, and guest Tom Guilliams, PhD, sit down for some thought-provoking dialogue on all things stress. They discuss the misrepresentation of adrenal fatigue and how it erroneously gained traction due to poor salivary cortisol testing. And they talk about trusted resources providers can turn to when they want to learn more about the body’s complex stress response system.  

Show Notes 

Books to learn more about the HPA axis: 

• The Role of Stress and the HPA axis in Chronic Disease Management (Guilliams) 
• Integrative Medicine (Rakel) 
• Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers (Sapolsky) 

Learn more about Tom Guilliams' work  https://www.pointinstitute.org/ 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

Read the DUTCH Blog to learn more about hormone health. 

• Assessing Chronic Fatigue with the Cortisol Awakening Response 
• Circadian Rhythm and Human Health 
• You Need Free Cortisone and Metabolized Cortisol to Evaluate HPA Axis Health 

Send us Fan Mail

Join us as Dr. Kara Fitzgerald bridges the gap between epigenetics and functional medicine with her fascinating research on diet and lifestyle interventions that can slow the rate of aging. Discover how the foods we eat and how we live our lives can directly impact epigenetics and DNA methylation, leading to changes in the biological clock. Dr. Fitzgerald details her groundbreaking study from her new book “Younger You” that challenges long-standing beliefs about aging and reveals that even though living forever isn’t possible, living well for longer is within reach. 

 Tune in to learn more about: 

• Dr. Fitzgerald's journey into the research of aging. 
• How epigenetics, the switchboard for our genes, plays a pivotal role in aging. 
• The influence of lifestyle choices, particularly diet, on DNA methylation. 
• Key takeaways from Dr. Fitzgerald’s pioneering study on bio-age reversal and its implications. 
• The efficacy of the Mediterranean diet in influencing the aging process. 
• Practical recommendations for promoting favorable methylation patterns, including daily vegetable intake and modest exercise. 
• The significance of active stress management and its connection to accelerated aging. 

Show Notes

Learn more about Dr. Kara Fitzgerald and buy her new book “Younger You” 

Connect with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald on social media: @drkarafitzgerald 

Access Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s research on Stress and Aging  

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! 

Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the DUTCH podcast, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton continues her talk with Dr. Anna Cabeca to tackle the complicated subject of hormone replenishment during menopause. Their conversation centers around how to best care for postmenopausal patients with a particular focus on hormone application, dosing, and monitoring. Dr. Cabeca explains the special attention needed when deciding what kind of test to use and when to use it.  

 You’ll also hear about new research published in the journal Menopause that highlights the potential clinical validity and utility of urine metabolite testing for transdermal estrogen replacement therapy, offering a viable alternative to serum testing. 

Send us Fan Mail

“Menopause is mandatory, but suffering is optional”. In this thought-provoking episode of the DUTCH Podcast, Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, provides an uplifting perspective on the transformative journey of menopause. Along with our host, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, they explore the many hormones involved in menopausal symptoms and how patients should feel empowered to control they’re health and wellbeing through this “Second Spring” phase of life.  

Learn how progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, and oxytocin all play a role in the common symptoms of menopause including fatigue, weight gain, and hot flashes. You'll also learn about the vital role of insulin resistance and diet in shaping menopausal experiences across different cultures. Dr. Cabeca emphasizes the importance of hormone monitoring and holistic approaches to patient care including hormone “replenishment” therapy. Tune in to think differently about menopause and see if from a brighter perspective. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the DUTCH Podcast, Dr. Andrew Rostenberg shares his perspective on the risks that can arise when environmental estrogens disrupt our natural estrogen balance.  When out of balance, estrogen can impact our physique, how we age, and our overall health. As Dr. Rostenberg explains, due to the inundation of environmental estrogenic influences from sources like heavy metals, mold toxins, and cosmetics, many patients are grappling with endocrine disruptions that affect other systems throughout the body.   

Tune in to hear insights into the symptoms of estrogen imbalance in both men and women, and the pivotal role the gallbladder plays in metabolizing estrogen in our bodies. Dr. Rostenberg also emphasizes that our genes don't dictate our fate, and we have plenty of tools available to reduce our environmental exposures and combat the effects of estrogen excess. 

Show Notes: 

Learn more about Dr. Andrew Rostenberg and his Boise, ID clinic: www.redmountainclinic.com  

Access his online coaching site:  WellPower where you can also find his book “Your Genius Body” 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing.  

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers!  

Watch Dr. Andrew Rostenberg on the DUTCH Webinar from August 2022: “The Detox Gene” and Estrogen. 

Related Articles from the DUTCH Blog  

Breast Cancer Risk Factors to Look for on the DUTCH Test 

Evaluating Estrogen Detoxification to Understand Breast Cancer Risk 

Send us Fan Mail

Estrogen might make some providers nervous, but estrogen refers to a group of hormones that are fundamentally important to health and well-being. Every cell type in the body has estrogen receptors, and understanding how estrogen is secreted and metabolized gives providers a lot of information about their patients’ health.  

With host Jaclyn Smeaton, Dr. Allison Smith introduces us to the different forms of estrogen and sheds light on how understanding estrogen metabolism can offer valuable insights into how our tissues utilize this vital hormone. Dr. Smith explains why estrogen sometimes gets a bad rap and examines the factors contributing to this perception, including the role of environmental pollutants that mimic estrogen in the body. We learn about the importance of screening for and eliminating these xenoestrogens from our lives to promote better hormonal health. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and understanding what happens in the body when estrogen is metabolized is crucial to gaining valuable insights into cancer risk and prevention. 

Show Notes 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing.  

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers!

Find more estrogen resources from the DUTCH Blog

Estrogen + Microbiome = Estrobolome 

Evaluating Estrogen Detoxification to Understand Breast Cancer Risk 

Know Your Lab’s Reference Ranges When Prescribing Estrogen Therapy 

Send us Fan Mail

Breast health is a topic often overlooked in conventional medicine. In this new episode of the DUTCH Podcast, we don’t shy away from tackling this vital aspect of women's health. Join us as we explore breast health from an integrative perspective with Dr. Lauren Young, ND, a passionate advocate for empowering patients to take control of their health. 

Traditional medicine often focuses on screening for diseases, but Dr. Young recognizes that many women don't fit the disease model but still require support and guidance. It's all too common for conventional doctors to rule out cancer, and then not have the appropriate tools to address breast pain. 

There are hormonal, dietary, and structural factors that contribute to breast pain and providers must investigate the root cause using a comprehensive approach. You can't just take a pill! Healing involves examining various components, including diet, genetics, family history, and lifestyle. 

Join us for this eye-opening conversation with Dr. Lauren Young, ND, as we take a holistic and integrative approach to understanding and improving breast health! 

Register for this month’s DUTCH Webinar with Dr. Lauren Young!  
Breast Health and Hormones: Going Beyond Cancer Prevention 

Find Dr. Young’s Clinical Practice at www.Ctnaturalhealth.com  

Follow Dr. Young’s “Your Health Toolkit” podcast: www.ctnaturalhealth.com/podcast 

Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing.  

Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! 

Related Articles from the DUTCH Blog   

Integrative Support for Patients with Fibrocystic Breasts 

Breast Cancer, Nutrigenomics, and Estrogen Detoxification