Women Talking Frankly

We’ve invited Tracy Siegel, functional nutritionist ‘extraordinaire’, back into the studio to discuss one of the most talked about diet trends out there these days – intermittent fasting. Tracy helps us understand why this way of eating has become all the rage: what it is, how it works and if it works! She also shows us the way, with a roadmap for setting up our own intermittent fasting routine for safe and effective weight loss. If you’ve been intrigued by all you’ve heard about intermittent fasting yet are unsure about its risks and benefits, much less how to try it out for yourself, you’ll want to tune in!

Before COVID 19 turned our worlds upside down, we went into the studio to record episodes on the major health issues of weight, diet, and lifestyle choices. Today we release the first of these. Now more than ever it is so important to prevent or reverse obesity (a huge risk factor for those with COVID 19). Optimal weight should be the goal of all of us in order to optimize our health span. Our guest is Tracy Siegel, functional nutritionist. And as always, we will link back to the importance of hormone balance. Join us for a lively and informative episode.

Candace and Kyle dive deep into the myths and mysteries of slumber and the biological clock. They explore the diurnal rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle and the hormones that orchestrate it, dissecting our “sleep architecture”. They explain why sleep is so vital to health, and why, when we can’t get enough of it, our lives start to unravel into fatigue, anxiety, depression and chronic illness.

Note: This episode was recorded in the early days of the Coronavirus, before it was declared a global pandemic but is particularly relevant right now since a good night’s sleep is crucial to a healthy, functioning immune system. We hope that what you take away from our discussion will help you to start sleeping better tonight and stay well throughout the present health crisis!

We talk about the connection between hormone imbalances and sleepless nights and why it’s no coincidence that adults in their 40s and early 50s get the least amount of sleep. We also delve into:

After a few weeks off, Women Talking Frankly is back. In these exceptional times, we have decided to digress from our regular podcasts and discuss the most important topic of our times, COVID-19. But this is NOT like everything you are hearing every day. Our episode is meant to not only inform you about the virus, but to also help you find ways to keep you and your family healthy, and to stay positive and connected. We are in this together after all.

Kyle and Candace tear into the major WTFs around MENOPAUSE: why it can be a real challenge to find the help you need during this major life transition, what to expect when you’re expecting menopause, how to ask the right questions to get the right answers. Join us in a chorus of women who want to know why their doctors tell them their symptoms of menopause are all in their heads then hand them a prescription for antidepressants.

There is a lot to talk about in this episode:

In Episode 4 Kyle and Candace talk with Compounding Pharmacist extraordinaire, Natalie Gustafson, about how she fell in love with compounding and became determined to raise the bar on prescribed hormone therapies for women. Natalie explains how compounding pharmacists differ from those that fill our prescriptions at the local Walgreens, and why bioidentical hormones tailored to individual need are a better option than one-size-fits-all prescribing  for women seeking relief from life disrupting symptoms during perimenopause, menopause and post hysterectomy. We learn more about the history, art and science behind compounding practices and dispel common myths. We also get to hear more about the good fight compounding pharmacists  like Natalie and others have been waging on Capitol Hill for years to protect safe access to natural hormones, and we answer the all-important question: Can women rest assured that bioidentical alternatives to HRT are here to stay?

Some additional issues and answers we delve into in this episode:

The plot thickens in Episode 3 as we tackle the all-important question:  Are these symptoms all in my head? My doctor says so… Kyle and Candace are here to tell you that your symptoms are most definitely not in your head – but in your hormones! In this episode we dig deep into the mother of all hormone imbalances – estrogen dominance – what causes it, how to test for it, and the best natural approaches to rebalancing and relieving symptoms. Kyle shares a case study of estrogen dominance in her practice and from there we get into a lively and wide-ranging discussion of everything from periods, ovulation and birth control to PMS, perimenopause, menopause, HRT and bioidenticals.  And once and for all, we share the answer to the vexatious question “How do I know I’m in menopause?” You won’t want to miss this episode!

In our second episode, we share what we believe are the truths of hormone balance and menopause and we delve into the whys of testing and treatment of imbalances. We present an overview of the many symptoms women experience through life’s transitions. We encourage our listeners to ask questions and be righteously indignant at the lack of reliable information out there. We introduce bio-identical hormones as the best treatment option. And we keep coming back to: ‘It is not all in your head…and help is on the way.’