About Health and Hormones

Thinking about coming off birth control but worried about what will happen to your hormones, your period, or your fertility?

In today's episode, I'm breaking down everything you need to know about transitioning off the birth control pill, whether you're preparing for pregnancy or simply want to reconnect with your natural cycle. We'll talk about what to expect when you stop taking the pill, how long it might take for your period to return, and the simple nutrition and lifestyle changes that can help support your hormones through the transition.

I'm also addressing some common misconceptions about post-birth-control detoxes, supplements, and hormone resets, and sharing practical ways to prepare your body without feeling overwhelmed.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Birth control affects ovulation and the difference between a withdrawal bleed and a true period.
• How long it can take for your natural cycle to return after stopping the pill, and when to seek medical advice.
• Symptoms like acne, irregular periods, and painful bleeding may return after birth control, especially with conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
• The key nutrients to focus on when coming off the pill, including folate, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and selenium.
• Build hormone-supportive meals with enough protein, fiber, healthy fats, and calories.
• Sleep and stress management are so important for healthy ovulation and progesterone production.
• Start tracking your menstrual cycle and recognize patterns in your hormonal health.
• You don't need expensive detoxes, restrictive cleanses, or complicated supplement protocols after birth control.
• +so much more

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

Today, I'm joined by Zee Bareli, a nutrition coach, entrepreneur, and former client of mine whose journey with endometriosis, fertility, and motherhood is truly remarkable.

For years, Zee struggled with debilitating period pain, digestive issues, recurring UTIs, and chronic fatigue, only to be told repeatedly that her symptoms were normal or caused by anxiety.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with both endometriosis and a unicorn uterus, leaving her uncertain about her fertility and future.

In this episode, we talk about how nutrition and lifestyle changes helped Zee regain her energy and manage her symptoms, her unexpected pregnancy, and the extraordinary challenges she faced when her husband was severely injured in Gaza just one day after she discovered she was pregnant. Zee also shares her experience navigating postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and learning to prioritize her own health while caring for her family.

Listen in to hear Zee share:

• Her years of unexplained pain and the journey to finally receiving an endometriosis diagnosis.
• What it means to have a unicornuate uterus and how her diagnoses affected her outlook on fertility.
• How nutrition, movement, and lifestyle changes helped improve her pain, digestion, and energy levels.
• The incredible story of discovering she was pregnant just before her husband was seriously injured in Gaza.
• How she navigated her first trimester while supporting her husband through months of hospitalization and recovery.
• Her struggles with breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, and learning to nourish herself as a new mother.
• Why prioritizing your own health isn't selfish and can help you show up more fully for your children.
• The importance of advocating for yourself, seeking second opinions, and never giving up on your health.
• + So much more!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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Nobody warned me that one of the hardest parts of becoming an adult would be maintaining friendships and making new ones.

In this solo episode, I'm diving into a topic that's been coming up constantly in conversations with my friends and even with my clients: why is friendship so much harder as an adult?

Between marriage, motherhood, work, and the never-ending mental load of everyday life, finding the time and energy to nurture friendships can feel almost impossible. But meaningful relationships aren't just a nice bonus in life. They're an essential part of our emotional, mental, and even physical health.

I'm sharing my own experiences with adult friendships, the common traps that keep us feeling lonely, and practical ways to build deeper connections, even when life feels overwhelmingly busy.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Why making friends felt so effortless as kids and why it's completely different in adulthood.
• The five essential ingredients for building meaningful friendships.
• Loneliness and social connection can impact our mental and physical health.
• Why waiting for others to initiate plans can keep us feeling disconnected.
• The friendship traps we fall into, from expecting instant connections to taking rejection personally.
• Why friendship breakups can be so painful and why our culture is sometimes too quick to give up on relationships.
• How unrealistic expectations of having the perfect friend group can make us overlook the wonderful friendships we already have.
• Practical ways to prioritize friendships, create recurring opportunities for connection, and become a better friend.
• Why vulnerability, intentional effort, and showing up for others are essential for deeper relationships.
• Build meaningful friendships that fit into your actual life, even during the busiest seasons of motherhood.
• + so much more!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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Cycle tracking can be an incredible tool for understanding your hormones, improving your health, and supporting your fertility. But what happens when something that's supposed to empower you starts creating more anxiety than clarity?

In today's episode, I'm talking about the often-overlooked downside of cycle tracking and how to recognize when tracking your temperatures, monitoring ovulation, and analyzing every symptom might actually be doing more harm than good.

As someone who loves tracking my own cycle and regularly encourages my clients to do the same, I've also experienced times when stepping away from tracking was exactly what I needed.

I share why more data doesn't always mean more control, how to recognize when tracking has become obsessive, and practical ways to build a healthier relationship with your cycle without losing the benefits of understanding your body.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding your hormones, fertility, and overall health.
• The warning signs that cycle tracking is becoming an obsession rather than a source of empowerment.
• Cycle tracking data to identify meaningful patterns over several months instead of obsessing over individual days.
• Tracking your cycle perfectly doesn't give you complete control over your fertility.
• Practical ways to set boundaries with fertility apps, ovulation tests, and wearable tracking devices.
• Taking a break from cycle tracking might actually be the healthiest decision you can make.
• Trust your body, release the need for certainty, and remember that your cycle data doesn't define your worth.
• When to seek professional support for fertility concerns or cycle-related anxiety.
• + so much more!

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, I’m talking about something I think so many of us struggle with: consistency.

After a busy season of holidays, hosting, solo parenting, moving, breastfeeding, and simply trying to keep up with life, I’m finally getting back into a more predictable routine—and it has me thinking about what actually helps healthy habits stick.

Most of us don’t have a knowledge problem when it comes to health. We know we should eat more protein and vegetables, move our bodies, drink water, and get enough sleep. The harder part is actually doing those things consistently when real life gets busy. Instead of constantly starting over, I want to help you build habits that can flex with the season of life you’re in.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Planning ahead and being proactive instead of reactive can make healthy eating and exercise so much easier
• Enjoying your food and feeling satisfied is an important part of staying consistent long-term
• Sharing and celebrating your wins can help healthy habits become part of your identity
• Frequency matters more than duration when you’re trying to build a new habit
• “Something is better than nothing” mindset can keep you from falling into an all-or-nothing cycle
• Different ways to create accountability without making your health journey feel restrictive or obsessive
• Tracking things like sleep, meals, movement, or your cycle can help you objectively see what’s working
• A simple exercise to choose your five-minute meal, satisfying meal, health win, minimum habit, and accountability strategy
• Consistency isn’t about creating the perfect routine—it’s about creating a system that can grow and change with you through different seasons of life
• + so much more.

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Ever find yourself looking for a snack even though you ate lunch a couple of hours ago?

In this solo episode, I’m talking about the difference between eating because you’re hungry and reaching for food out of habit, boredom, stress, or a need for a break. Snacking can be a helpful way to fuel your body.

The key is noticing what you need and making a choice that supports it.

Listen in to hear me share:

• When a snack can help, especially if your meals are far apart, you’re exercising, or you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
• Simple snack ideas that offer more lasting nourishment
• How afternoon grazing and late-night snacking can affect your appetite, sleep, and health goals
• A way to pause and identify what you need before reaching for food
• How to find other ways to rest, connect, or enjoy yourself when hunger isn’t the reason
• A seven-day challenge to notice your snacking patterns—without judging yourself or having to change what you eat
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dr. Carrie Carda is a board-certified OB-GYN with nearly 30 years of experience. After realizing that conventional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms rather than identifying their underlying causes, she earned a master’s degree in nutrition and metabolic medicine from the University of Florida and pursued additional training in functional and integrative medicine at Georgetown University. Today, she combines traditional medical care with a whole-body approach to help women better understand their hormones, fertility, and overall health.

Listen in to hear Dr. Carda share:

• Why “normal” lab results don’t always mean your body is functioning optimally
• The importance of comprehensive hormone testing before fertility or perimenopausal symptoms become severe
• Why vitamin D, ferritin, thyroid hormones, blood sugar, sleep, and gut health all matter for hormonal balance
• What peptides are, how they signal the body, and their potential role in fertility and women’s health
• Why peptides remain investigational and should only be used with qualified medical supervision
• How poor blood-sugar regulation can interfere with ovulation, conception, and pregnancy
• Why women should address perimenopausal symptoms early rather than waiting until menopause
• How flaxseed, soy, colostrum, glutamine, and zinc carnosine may support gut and hormone health
• The importance of active forms of nutrients such as folate and vitamin B12
• How women can become more informed and proactive participants in their healthcare
• +so much more!

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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The Jewish holidays can be meaningful and joyful, but they can also feel incredibly overwhelming. Between cooking, cleaning, hosting, traveling, disrupted routines, heavy meals, and children being home from school, many women feel like they have to choose between enjoying the Chagim and taking care of their health.

In this episode, I share how I’m approaching the holiday season without expecting myself to maintain a perfect routine. Instead, I’m focusing on realistic ways to support my health while remaining present for my family, my faith, and the experiences that make this season special. I also speak to anyone navigating infertility or pregnancy loss, acknowledging how emotionally difficult this time of year can be when prayers from the previous year still feel unanswered.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Taking care of yourself during the Chagim is not selfish
• Adjust your health goals without abandoning them
• Why I avoid thinking of the holidays as being “on track” or “off track”
• Practical ways to enjoy special foods without feeling restricted or physically uncomfortable
• How to build balanced meals that leave you satisfied without feeling overly heavy
• The importance of hydration and electrolytes, especially before Yom Kippur
• Simple ways to prioritize movement when regular workouts aren’t realistic
• Sleep should be treated like medicine during busy seasons
• Ways to simplify menus, repeat dishes, prepare easy meals, and reduce unnecessary pressure
• Why you don’t need to wait until “after the Chagim” to begin prioritizing your health
• Let go of perfection and create a holiday experience that feels healthy, meaningful, and joyful for you
• +so much more!

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dr. Kayla Smith is a holistic women’s health expert who helps women uncover the root causes behind hormonal and reproductive health challenges.

After receiving an unexplained infertility diagnosis at 36, she began exploring factors that conventional testing had overlooked—including being very thin and possibly experiencing hypothalamic amenorrhea. She later became pregnant twice and now uses both her personal experience and professional expertise to help women optimize their health and fertility.

Listen in to hear Dr. Kayla Smith share:

• Why “unexplained infertility” often means the root cause simply hasn’t been identified yet
• Her personal journey from an infertility diagnosis at 36 to becoming pregnant twice
• How thyroid function, hormone metabolism, adrenal stress patterns, and mineral status can affect fertility
• What DUTCH testing and hair mineral analysis may reveal beyond conventional testing
• How gut and vaginal microbiome imbalances—including issues affecting a partner—may influence conception
• Commonly overlooked basics like timing intercourse correctly, tracking ovulation, and evaluating luteal phase length
• Ways to reduce inflammation through nutrition, cleaner products, stress reduction, and better sleep
• How gratitude, visualization, and healthy circadian habits can support the fertility journey
• Why optimizing overall health may improve the chances of both natural conception and IVF success
• How peptides and hormone replacement therapy may be used as additional tools
• Perimenopause strategies, including eating more protein and prioritizing strength training
• Dr. Smith’s clinic, book, podcasts, and additional women’s health resources
• +so much more!

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Today, I’m sharing my personal breastfeeding journey across all three of my children—and how dramatically different each experience has been. After relatively smooth breastfeeding experiences with my first two babies, I went into my third postpartum journey assuming breastfeeding would be the easy part. Instead, it became one of the most challenging and humbling parts of my postpartum experience.

I share how my third baby suddenly stopped latching during the day at just three weeks old, despite continuing to nurse perfectly at night. I tried lactation consultants, different nursing positions, craniosacral therapy, pediatric physical therapy, stretches, courses, and more, but nothing seemed to fix the problem. Eventually, I transitioned to pumping throughout the day and nursing at night—and lived that way for months. Then, completely unexpectedly, around nine months old, she began nursing normally during the day again.

Throughout this journey, I’ve developed so much more compassion for how complicated and emotional feeding a baby can be. I’m passionate about breastfeeding and incredibly grateful I was able to continue, but I also believe a mother’s mental health matters tremendously and that there is no single “right” way to feed or bond with your baby.

Listen in to hear me share:

• How I prepared for breastfeeding before becoming a mom and why I think prenatal education can make such a difference
• What my relatively easy breastfeeding experiences with my first two children looked like
• How infertility affected my ability to trust my body during early motherhood
• Why my third breastfeeding journey completely humbled me
• What happened when my baby suddenly refused to latch during the day—but continued nursing normally at night
• The lactation consultants, therapies, positions, stretches, and other approaches I tried
• Why I eventually stopped trying to force daytime nursing and created a pumping routine instead
• The mental and logistical load of pumping multiple times every day while caring for three children
• How a wearable pump gave me back some freedom and allowed me to leave the house
• Why my baby unexpectedly started nursing normally again around nine months
• My mixed emotions around breastfeeding, formula, pumping, weaning, and protecting a mother’s mental health
• How this experience changed the way I soothed and bonded with my third baby
• Why motherhood continues to humble me—and why sometimes you can do everything “right” and still have a completely different experience than you expected
• Why I’m ready to wean, take a real break, and finally have my body and time back after years of pregnancy and breastfeeding
• +so much more.

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Dr. Sahar Wertheimer is a fertility specialist and double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist practicing in Beverly Hills, California. She also serves as chair of the Women’s Health Committee for the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association. Her research and publications cover topics including placental epigenetics and markers of androgen excess in PCOS and hirsutism. Dr. Wertheimer completed four years of OB-GYN training followed by a three-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Listen in to hear Dr. Wertheimer share:

• How to prepare for egg freezing, egg retrieval, IVF, and embryo transfer
• What fertility statistics can—and cannot—tell women about egg freezing and future family building
• Why male fertility deserves greater attention and how sperm health can affect treatment outcomes
• The connection between insulin resistance, PCOS or PMOS, ovulation, egg quality, and implantation
• How nutrition, sleep, exercise, and evidence-supported supplements may help optimize fertility
• Her perspective on GLP-1 medications for some patients with insulin resistance
• When advanced testing such as sperm DNA fragmentation analysis and PGT-A may be helpful
• Potential causes and evaluations following recurrent pregnancy loss
• Why IVF, donor-assisted conception, and surrogacy should be discussed without shame
• Encouragement for anyone navigating the emotional challenges of fertility treatment
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

I’m rating popular health and wellness trends as worth it, not worth it, or somewhere in between—based on the evidence, the cost, and whether they actually move the needle for your health.

In this episode, I share my honest thoughts on fads we find on the internet; intermittent fasting, detoxes, wellness retreats, seed cycling, lymphatic drainage, cold plunges, protein snacks, red light therapy, cycle tracking, and cycle syncing.

Listen in to hear me discuss:

• 10–14-hour overnight fasting
• Detoxes and juice cleanses
• Your body’s natural detoxification pathways
• Wellness retreats
• Seed cycling
• Lymphatic drainage
• Cold plunges
• Red light therapy
• Cycle-tracking devices
• Wellness trends you can confidently skip
• +so much more!

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

Instagram

Work With Me

Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Alexa Greenblatt is a certified health coach and the founder of Alexa Plan My Diet, where she helps women lose weight and build sustainable habits through personalized nutrition coaching.

She specializes in practical nutrition for busy women, including kosher eating, postpartum recovery, and breastfeeding. Alexa is also a mother of three—including twins—and pumped exclusively for her twins for more than 10 months.

Listen in to hear Alexa share:

• Her personal journey from struggling with her weight to becoming passionate about nutrition
• The realities of breastfeeding, exclusively pumping, and nourishing twins
• Simple, satisfying meal and snack ideas for busy postpartum mothers
• How to support gradual, healthy weight loss without compromising milk supply
• Why consistent meals, carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and hydration matter while breastfeeding
• How stress, lack of sleep, returning to work, and missed feedings can affect appetite and milk production
• The truth about lactation foods, electrolytes, vitamins, and milk-supply supplements
• Why some women lose weight while breastfeeding while others experience a plateau
• How to manage increased hunger and sugar cravings with realistic, healthier alternatives
• Giving yourself grace, releasing comparison, and accepting that every breastfeeding journey looks different
• Why breastfeeding and formula do not have to be viewed as an all-or-nothing decision
• Practical ways to care for yourself while caring for a newborn
• Finding flexibility with feeding, routines, motherhood, and postpartum recovery
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Work With Me

Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, I explore how understanding your menstrual cycle, hormones, and changing life stages can help you make sense of shifts in libido—and prevent those changes from creating unnecessary conflict in your relationship. Libido is about more than sex drive; it is also connected to energy, vitality, confidence, and feminine energy.

Listen in to hear me share:

• The many factors that can influence desire, including stress, sleep, mental and physical health, medications, body image, and relationship quality
• The difference between spontaneous and responsive desire
• My “finish line and obstacles” analogy for understanding why desire sometimes feels closer or farther away
• How the menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases can affect mood, energy, and libido
• How desire may change during pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and menopause
• Why changes in libido should not automatically be taken personally by either partner
• Practical ways to track your cycle, communicate your needs, prioritize your health, and build greater emotional and physical intimacy
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Rebekah Pearlman is a birth and postpartum doula who supports families through pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenthood. She spent more than a decade working in Israel’s high-tech industry at companies including Moovit, startups, and Guesty before leaving tech to pursue meaningful work supporting mothers and families.

Rebekah trained as both a birth and postpartum doula, and is passionate about helping parents feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their journey.

Listen in to hear Rebekah share:

• Why she left a successful career in high-tech after October 7 to become a doula
• How addressing fear and expectations can transform the birth experience
• Why a healthy mom, baby, and dad matter more than rigid birth plans
• Practical ways postpartum support—including meals, organization, and feeding guidance—can make recovery easier
• Her perspective on work-life "symbiosis," setting healthy boundaries, and letting go of guilt as a mother
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Comparison has become so normal that many of us don't realize the toll it's taking on our health.

I unpack why constantly measuring yourself against other people—especially on social media—can quietly increase stress, rob you of peace, and make it harder to trust yourself.

I also share practical ways to break the comparison cycle so you can focus on your own health journey with confidence.

Listen in to hear me share:

• Why comparison is a normal human instinct—but social media has taken it to an unhealthy extreme.
• How comparing yourself in areas like appearance, motherhood, fertility, career, and health habits increases stress and anxiety.
• The hidden factors—genetics, environment, finances, childcare, support systems, and access to healthcare—that make comparisons unfair.
• How comparison creates chronic stress, decision fatigue, and causes you to lose confidence in your own intuition.
• Practical strategies to stop comparing, spend less time scrolling, cultivate gratitude, clarify your personal health values, and focus on progress over perfection.
• +so much more.

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Jazzie is the creator of The Israel Bites, a celiac food blogger, social media manager, and kallah teacher. She created The Israel Bites to help English speakers navigate gluten-free living in Israel, sharing trusted restaurant recommendations, practical resources, and education about celiac disease. Jazzie holds a master’s degree in Talmud and combines her passion for Torah, health, and community in her work. Originally from a small island off the coast of South Carolina, she now lives in Israel with her husband and is expecting twins.

Listen in to hear Jazzie share:

• Her journey from South Carolina to Israel after studying at Hebrew University at just 19 years old
• How years of unexplained illness led to a celiac diagnosis and the role it played in her eating disorder and recovery
• Why she started The Israel Bites and how to safely navigate gluten-free dining and food labeling in Israel
• Setting healthy boundaries on social media while balancing multiple roles as a content creator, kallah teacher, and student
• Her experience navigating a twin pregnancy, finding support, and processing motherhood in Israel after October 7
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

I’m excited to announce that my live, four-week Balance Your Hormones 101 program is officially open again! This course includes comprehensive hormone education along with four live Q&A sessions where you can get your questions answered directly. As a podcast listener, you can save 20% with the code PODCAST at laurenallenutrition.com.

Join here: https://www.laurenallennutrition.com/balance-your-hormones-101

In this episode, I’m talking about the hidden connection between blood sugar and your mood, anxiety, PMS, energy, sleep, and overall well-being. I share my own story of growing up on a high-sugar diet and struggling with daily anxiety, only to see a dramatic improvement within weeks of reducing refined sugar and eating meals that supported stable blood sugar.

I also share stories from clients who experienced improvements in depression, anxiety, energy levels, marriage, and parenting simply by focusing on blood sugar balance. I explain how blood sugar spikes and crashes trigger insulin, cortisol, and adrenaline, contributing to chronic stress, inflammation, and disruptions in neurotransmitter function. We’ll also discuss how modern foods and drinks make it easier than ever to get caught in this cycle.

Listen in as I Share:

• Why blood sugar impacts far more than just weight and diabetes risk
• How blood sugar fluctuations can contribute to anxiety, mood swings, PMS, and poor sleep
• The signs of unstable blood sugar, including shakiness, energy crashes, cravings, waking between 2–4 a.m., severe PMS, and dependence on caffeine
• Simple strategies to stabilize blood sugar, including eating regular meals, reducing added sugars and refined carbohydrates, building balanced meals, prioritizing sleep, and moving your body
• How improving blood sugar balance can positively affect your hormones, relationships, and daily quality of life
• +so much more.

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

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Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Charlotte Leventhal is a certified doula, content creator, and single mother living in Israel. Through her social media platform, @daniellesmom, she shares openly about marriage, divorce, motherhood, and rebuilding life after unexpected challenges.

She is passionate about supporting women through pregnancy and birth, and works as a doula while also advocating for greater understanding and support around divorce within the Orthodox community.

Originally from the United States, Charlotte now lives in Israel with her daughter and is navigating the realities of co-parenting, single motherhood, and building a new future for herself and her family.

Listen in to hear Charlotte share:

• What it was like to be told she was heading toward divorce while nine months pregnant
• How she navigated the grief of losing the future and family life she expected
• The shame, secrecy, and stigma that often surround divorce—and why she chose to share her story publicly
• The critical role friendships, therapy, and community played during one of the most difficult seasons of her life
• How she is rediscovering herself through creativity, exercise, journaling, and intentional self-care
• The realities of co-parenting, custody arrangements, and raising a young child after divorce
• Her journey into becoming a doula and why supporting women through birth has become deeply meaningful
• Lessons she's learned about resilience, identity, and finding strength when life takes an unexpected turn
• Her message to others navigating divorce, loss, or major life transitions
• +So much more.

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

Instagram

Work With Me

Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode, I explain why sleep is one of the most powerful and most underutilized tools for improving health, hormones, fertility, and overall well-being.

I break down how quality sleep affects everything from brain function and emotional regulation to metabolism, reproductive health, and hormone balance.

I also share practical strategies that can help you improve your sleep, even if you're a busy parent, work night shifts, or struggle with waking up in the middle of the night.

Listen in to hear me share:

• How sleep helps clear toxins from the brain, supports memory, promotes neural repair, and protects long-term cognitive health
• The impact of sleep deprivation on cortisol, melatonin, fertility, menstrual cycles, PMS, thyroid function, appetite hormones, insulin sensitivity, and metabolism
• Why sleep pressure matters and how understanding it can help you fall asleep more easily
• Practical ways to optimize melatonin production through darkness, reducing blue light exposure, and creating a sleep-friendly environment
• How caffeine, screens, and stimulating evening activities can silently undermine sleep quality
• Strategies for navigating sleep challenges with partners, newborns, night-shift work, and middle-of-the-night awakenings
• The role of supplements such as magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, glycine, and low-dose melatonin
• How I apply principles from Atomic Habits to build sleep habits that are realistic, sustainable, and effective
• +so much more

Connect with Lauren:

Get my FREE PCOS Guide here

Join the Empowered Path to Pregnancy here

Instagram

Work With Me

Thank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today’s episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.

I’m so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!

This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy