Do you feel hungry all the time? Abnormally hungry? If so, it’s worth trying to figure out why. Potential drivers of abnormally high hunger include insulin resistance, gut and microbiome issues, low blood sugar, and food addiction—just to name a few.

In this episode, Lara explores food addiction and some of the controversy around the term. She also discusses the next best steps on the road to recovery.

Links:

• Lara's new book about metabolic health
• Poll: Addiction to highly processed food among older adults
• Dr. Jen Unwin's Resource page

For some women, stopping normal dairy products can relieve period symptoms. But why?

In this episode, Lara discusses:

• the inflammatory effects of A1 casein
• how a mast cell histamine response can drive period problems such as premenstrual mood symptoms, heavy bleeding, and pain.

Links:

• Successful mast-cell-targeted treatment of chronic dyspareunia, vaginitis, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding
• Childhood asthma, allergies and risk of premenstrual disorders in young adulthood
• Casomorphins and gliadorphins have diverse systemic effects spanning gut, brain and internal organs

Did you know that what’s happening in your gut can affect your periods and hormones?

In this episode, Lara discusses:

• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and its role in IBS,
• how SIBO can drive or worsen endometriosis, insulin resistance, premenstrual mood symptoms, and the fibromyalgia of perimenopause, plus
• how to treat SIBO.

Links:

• The curious link between estrogen, mast cells, and histamine
• Altered intestinal permeability in patients with primary fibromyalgia and in patients with complex regional pain syndrome

Why do antihistamines cause weight gain? And how does hormonal birth control affect metabolism?

In this episode, Lara looks at:

• how common medications affect metabolism
• why birth control that is *androgenic* is more likely to cause weight gain, and
• whether natural progesterone is more likely to cause weight gain or weight loss.

Links:

• The histaminergic system as a target for the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome
• High H1-affinity antidepressants and risk of metabolic syndrome in bipolar disorder
• Natural treatment of menstrual migraines
• Weight change among women using intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, a copper intrauterine device, or a levonorgestrel implant for contraception
• Impact of micronized progesterone on body weight, body mass index, and glucose metabolism: a systematic review
• Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are you a morning person or an evening person? And could that affect your ability to lose weight?

In this episode, Lara looks at chronotype, which is your individual disposition to be awake or asleep at certain times. And how that might affect your overall health and metabolism.

The supplement inositol is a superstar for treating polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s also been clinically trialled for weight loss, thyroid disease, anxiety, insomnia, and premenstrual mood symptoms.

In this episode, Lara looks at:

• "what is inositol?" and how to get it from diet
• myo-inositol versus D-chiro-inositol, and
• why it's all a little confusing.

One thing Lara forgot to mention is that to get results with inositol, you need to commit to it for at least three months. And if it works, you’ll probably want to stay on it for years. Luckily, inositol can be quite inexpensive, especially if you choose straight myo-inositol powder.

Links:

• Myo-inositol for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes
• Inositol treatment for PCOS should be science-based and not arbitrary
• Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

What do post-pill acne, hair loss, and weight gain all have in common? They can all be the result of a temporary surge in androgens when trying to come off certain types of hormonal birth control.

In this episode, Lara discusses post-pill androgen symptoms including:

• why pills like Yasmin are the hardest to come off
• how androgens can cause weight gain, and
• natural treatments such as zinc, berberine, and cyclic progesterone therapy.

Links:

• Ovulation is the main event of the menstrual cycle
• The central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesterone
• Beyond the label: A patient-centred approach to polycystic ovary syndrome
• Cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are premenstrual mood symptoms caused by progesterone or helped by progesterone? And why do antihistamines give such relief?

In this episode, Lara discusses premenstrual mood symptoms including:

• the role of histamine and mast cell activation
• progesterone sensitivity, and
• effective natural treatments such as magnesium, iodine, and body-identical progesterone.

Links:

• Lara Briden's mailing list
• Magnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review
• 8 Ways magnesium rescues hormones
• Taurine: 5 benefits for women's health