In this powerful and insightful episode of the Tri This podcast, we sit down with renowned functional health practitioner Dr. Kristin Lauritzen to explore the role of hormones in athletic performance, energy, recovery, and long-term wellbeing. Whether you’re a triathlete, endurance athlete, or simply an active woman looking to better understand your body, this conversation breaks down the complexity of hormones into clear, actionable guidance. Dr. Lauritzen dives into how cortisol, thyroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence training cycles, stress tolerance, sleep, and metabolic health—and why so many women unknowingly train against their physiology. We talk about common hormone imbalances, how to recognise the early signs, and what athletes can do to optimize performance through nutrition, recovery, strength training, cycle-aware programming, and lab testing. Packed with science-based insights and practical tips, this episode empowers listeners to take charge of their hormonal health and become stronger, more resilient athletes. If you want to unlock more energy, avoid burnout, and train smarter, this is an essential listen.
Keywords:
hormones, female athletes, sports hormones, athletic performance, endurance athlete health, cortisol, thyroid health, estrogen balance, progesterone, testosterone for women, overtraining, burnout prevention, triathlon training, endurance recovery, Dr. Kristin Lauritzen, functional health, sports nutrition, women’s health, cycle syncing, training cycles, Tri This podcast
Kirstin discusses the role hormones play in keeping us healthy and performing at our best. Hormones play a role in energy production and storage. They can help us both build and break down muscle tissue. They can even have protective effects against injuries like concussion, while also being a potential cause of others, like Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears. Hormones help our body do everything it needs to do. Yet, so many people deal with hormone imbalances with no idea what can actually cause them. In this episode we cover an overview of what hormones are and then we dive deep into the many, and main, causes behind hormone imbalances. Kirstin even surprises us with some of the causes you may not have thought of as contributors to your hormones!
Tri This is part of the Women Unscripted podcast network (formerly WiSP Sports) founded in 2012 by Chris Stafford, which has more than 1750 episodes from around the world of women’s sport and the arts. We have covered every sport and all the issues around women in sport. We have interviewed hundreds of athletes and several of them have hosted our shows over the years. Subscribe and download Women Unscripted for free access to our extensive archive library.
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