Why PMS Feels Worse in Perimenopause (And How to Finally Feel Better)

If you’re exhausted, relying on caffeine, and still not feeling like yourself, this episode is for you.Because if you’re eating well but still struggling with low energy, it’s likely not about what you’re eating, it’s about what your body is actually absorbing and producing.In this episode, I’m breaking down how your gut microbiome impacts your energy, metabolism, and overall resilience.In this episode, I cover:Why your gut microbiome plays a major role in your energy levelsHow your gut bacteria turn food into usable energy for your bodyWhat short-chain fatty acids are and why they’re essential for energy productionThe key roles of butyrate, acetate, and propionate in metabolism and blood sugar balanceWhy symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and crashes may point to gut dysfunctionHow your oral microbiome impacts energy through nitric oxide productionThe top foods that support your gut (like resistant starch, fiber, and polyphenols)Why feeding your gut bacteria is more important than just “eating healthy”How minerals like magnesium and potassium support digestion and energyWhy building resilience in your body is the key to long-term, stable energyIf you’re ready to stop chasing quick fixes and start supporting your energy at the root, this episode will completely change how you think about your gut and your health.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I am joined by Sarah Thompson, and we’re diving into homeopathy—what it is, how it works, and how you can actually start using it in your home with confidence.This is one of the most requested topics, and for good reason. Homeopathy can be one of the most powerful tools to have in your medicine cabinet, especially for families.In this episode, we cover:What homeopathy actually is (and how it’s completely different from supplements, herbs, or conventional medicine)How homeopathy works with your body’s natural healing ability instead of suppressing symptomsWhy symptoms are actually communication from your body, not something to immediately shut downThe concept of the “vital force” and how it guides true healing on a deeper levelHow to start using homeopathy at home, even if you’re a complete beginnerThe first remedies to keep on hand and when to use themWhy your kids may all need different remedies for the same illness and how to start recognizing those differencesA simple breakdown of potency (30C vs 200C) so you actually understand what you’re usingHow homeopathy can support emotional health, including anxiety and mood shiftsThe difference between acute vs. chronic healing and when to work with a practitionerWhile homeopathy is an incredibly powerful tool, it’s not a replacement for the basics like nutrition, sleep, and stress management. Instead, it’s something that works with those foundations to help your body respond better.At the end of the day, homeopathy isn’t just about remedies, it’s about learning how to listen to your body, trust what it’s telling you, and respond in a way that actually supports long-term healing.If you’re ready to feel more calm, confident, and equipped when it comes to your family’s health, this episode is going to completely change the way you think about healing.Sarah’s free download: https://nodrughealth.com/?l/leahLeah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏Thank you to Eversio Wellness for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://www.eversiowellness.com/discount/LEAH or enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

One of the biggest myths women are told about hormones is that low progesterone is the problem. So the solution becomes progesterone cream, bioidentical hormones, or supplements meant to “boost progesterone.” But in reality, progesterone is rarely the root issue. It’s a signal that something deeper in the body isn’t functioning properly.In this episode, I’m breaking down what low progesterone is actually telling you about your health and why simply trying to raise progesterone often fails to solve the problem. From ovulation quality to nervous system stress and thyroid health, progesterone levels are influenced by multiple systems working together, not just one hormone.If you struggle with PMS, mood swings before your period, spotting, painful cycles, infertility, or short cycles, understanding the root causes of low progesterone can completely change how you approach healing.In this episode, I cover:The common symptoms that often point to low progesteroneWhy progesterone is a signal of deeper hormone dysfunction—not the root problemHow ovulation quality directly determines progesterone productionThe role egg quality and nutrient status play in hormone balanceWhy digestion and nutrient absorption impact reproductive hormonesHow chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation suppress progesteroneWhy your body deprioritizes reproduction when it feels unsafe or overwhelmedThe connection between thyroid health and ovulation signalingWhy minerals play a critical role in hormone production and balanceWhy testing and individualized support matter more than guessing with supplementsYour hormones don’t work in isolation. When one system becomes dysregulated, the entire hormonal “orchestra” can fall out of tune. The key to restoring progesterone isn’t just boosting a hormone, it’s addressing the deeper root causes that allow your body to produce it naturally.If you’ve been chasing hormone fixes that never seem to work long-term, this episode will help you understand what your body may actually need.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏 Thank you to Paleovalley for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://paleovalley.com/leah and enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m chatting with Kaitlyn York, a coach inside the Hormone Reset Program, to share the real story behind Kaitlyn’s hormone, skin, and mindset transformation.Kaitlyn opens up about the long journey that started with stubborn acne, birth control struggles, and trying every product and supplement imaginable, only to realize that true healing required going deeper into the foundations of her health. From balancing blood sugar and supporting detox pathways to eventually uncovering gut imbalances through functional testing, Kaitlyn explains why healing skin and hormones is often a long game that requires patience and consistency.If you’ve ever struggled with skin issues, hormone symptoms, or feeling stuck in unhealthy thought patterns, this episode pulls back the curtain on the deeper layers of healing.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why skin healing often takes years—not weeks—and why that’s normalThe foundational habits that support hormone balance long-termWhy supplements alone rarely solve chronic skin or hormone issuesHow gut health, liver support, and blood sugar balance affect acneThe role alcohol and lifestyle habits can play in skin and hormone healthHow NLP and subconscious beliefs influence health behaviorsWhy emotional regulation and nervous system safety are essential for healingHow changing your inner dialogue can shift long-term health outcomesTrue healing isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about building sustainable habits, addressing root causes, and learning to work with your body and mind for the long term.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏Thank you to Eversio Wellness for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://www.eversiowellness.com/discount/LEAH or enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

If you’re constantly “starting over” on Monday, buying the next planner, trying the next supplement, or looking for the next diet that will finally fix everything, this episode is for you. The problem isn’t discipline. It isn’t laziness. And it’s not that you haven’t found the right plan yet. The real reason you keep stopping and restarting has everything to do with your nervous system and subconscious patterns.In this episode, I’m breaking down why willpower isn’t the solution, and what actually creates lasting change.I'm covering:Why your brain’s #1 job is survival and how that quietly sabotages changeThe real reason you’re great at starting but struggle to maintain or finishHow your subconscious patterns run 90% of your habits (and why affirmations alone don’t work)Why your nervous system chooses familiar discomfort over unfamiliar healingThe connection between thoughts, emotions, and actual hormone chemistryWhy you can’t hate your body into health and how negative self-talk keeps you stuckThe identity shift that has to happen before consistency becomes naturalHow dysregulation fuels procrastination, cravings, scrolling, and self-sabotageThe difference between forcing change vs. creating emotional safety around itA simple nervous system regulation pattern you can use immediately to interrupt old habitsIf you feel like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of “on track” and “off track,” this episode will completely reframe what’s happening. Healing isn’t about trying harder, it’s about teaching your body that change is safe.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏 Thank you to Paleovalley for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://paleovalley.com/leah and enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m joined by Katie, one of our Hormone Reset Program coaches, whose journey is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to accept feeling miserable in your body as “normal.” Katie opens up about her experience with painful periods, constant fatigue, blood sugar crashes, and relying on caffeine just to get through the day, and how discovering the root causes of her symptoms completely changed her health and her life.As a coach, Katie shares how her own transformation fuels her passion to help other women find answers, restore their energy, and finally feel confident and in control of their bodies. Her story is proof that healing is possible when you have the right guidance, support, and tools.In this episode, we talk about: • Katie’s personal struggle with painful cycles, fatigue, and low energy • Why so many women think their symptoms are “normal” • The turning point that led her to the Hormone Reset Program • How balancing blood sugar transformed her daily energy and wellbeing • What inspired her to become a coach and help other women heal • The power of personalized support and accountability in your health journeyIf you’ve ever felt stuck, exhausted, or frustrated with your body, this episode will remind you that change is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

If you feel like you’re doing everything right (eating well, taking supplements, supporting your hormones) but you still don’t feel better or can’t stay consistent, this episode may explain why. The missing piece for so many women isn’t another protocol. It’s brain rewiring. Your nervous system and subconscious patterns directly control your hormones, digestion, inflammation, and stress response, and until those patterns shift, your body will stay stuck in survival mode.In this episode, I’m breaking down:What brain rewiring actually is and why it’s not “woo,” but rooted in neuroscienceThe difference between calming your nervous system temporarily vs. truly regulating and rewiring itHow your subconscious brain runs patterns that control cortisol, blood sugar, ovulation, thyroid function, digestion, and inflammationWhy your brain acts like a prediction machine and how past experiences shape your current hormone responsesHow chronic fight-or-flight keeps your body stuck prioritizing survival over healing, reproduction, and repairWhy no supplement, diet, or protocol can override a nervous system that feels unsafeHow language, identity, and internal beliefs directly impact hormone outcomesThe concept of “pattern interruption” and how changing your response in the moment rewires your physiologyReal client examples of reduced IBS flares, inflammation, and stress symptoms through nervous system rewiringWhy brain rewiring is about teaching your body safety not eliminating stress completelyYour symptoms are not random and they’re not just physical. They’re the result of patterns your nervous system has learned over time. When you interrupt those patterns and teach your brain that it’s safe, your body can finally shift out of survival mode and into healing mode.This episode will help you understand why brain rewiring is one of the most powerful tools for hormone healing and how reclaiming control of your nervous system allows your body to finally do what it was designed to do.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏Thank you to Eversio Wellness for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://www.eversiowellness.com/discount/LEAH or enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

If you’re dealing with painful periods, low energy, mood swings, acne, and bloating, and feel like nothing you try actually sticks, this episode is for you. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through a real client case study to show how hormone symptoms don’t exist in isolation. When cycles are debilitating and energy is gone, it’s almost never about just one hormone, it’s about foundations, minerals, digestion, and nervous system safety.In this episode, I’m sharing:Why we always start with foundations before supplements or protocols and what “stabilize before you heal” really meansHow blood sugar balance, stress capacity, circadian rhythm, digestion, and drainage pathways set the stage for hormone repairWhat this client’s Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) revealed and why high copper paired with low adrenal minerals often shows up with painful periods and acneHow low sodium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and zinc explain chronic exhaustion, mood issues, and poor digestionWhy weak adrenals can’t properly transport copper and how that creates hormone and skin symptomsThe critical link between nervous system regulation, mindset, and consistency and why this became the turning point in her healingWhy digestion sometimes doesn’t improve with minerals alone and how we decide when to dig deeperWhat her GI-MAP revealed, including low-level H. pylori, low stomach acid, weakened gut immunity, and early inflammatory markersHow addressing gut infections, rebuilding keystone bacteria, and supporting stomach acid changed everythingWhy personalized testing matters and why no two protocols should ever look the sameThe result? Pain-free periods, more energy, clearer skin, improved digestion, and a regular cycle without chasing random supplements or masking symptoms. This episode is a powerful reminder that your body isn’t broken, it’s communicating. When you support it in the right order, healing becomes not only possible, but sustainable.If you’ve ever wondered whether testing, foundations, or a personalized approach could finally help you feel better, this episode will connect the dots in a way you haven’t heard before.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

If you’ve been told you have estrogen dominance and your instinct has been to detox harder, cut more foods, or throw every estrogen-lowering supplement at the problem, this episode is for you. Estrogen dominance does not automatically mean you have too much estrogen, and aggressively trying to lower it often makes symptoms worse. In this episode, I’m breaking down what estrogen dominance actually is, why it’s more about clearance than production, and how to support your body without pushing it into burnout.In this episode I’m sharing:What estrogen dominance really means and why your estrogen labs can look “normal” or even lowHow estrogen is supposed to rise and fall across your cycle and where things break downWhy low progesterone often masquerades as “high estrogen” symptomsHow impaired drainage (not detox) creates a hormone traffic jamThe overlooked role of copper dysregulation in estrogen-heavy symptoms like breast tenderness and PMSCommon estrogen-dominant symptoms: heavy or painful periods, PMS, migraines, anxiety, weight gain, and sleep issuesWhy DIM, calcium d-glucarate, fasting, and aggressive detox can backfireHow liver detox actually works (phase 1 vs phase 2) and why protein and amino acids are non-negotiableWhy you can’t detox what you can’t eliminate, and the importance of pooping, peeing, sweating, and breathingThe gut–estrogen connection, including beta-glucuronidase and how low fiber leads to estrogen recirculationSimple food-based supports: cruciferous veggies, flaxseed, berries, citrus, bitters, garlic, onions, and a daily carrotHow to increase fiber slowly without bloating and when digestive enzymes helpHormone balance isn’t about forcing detox it’s about building capacity. When drainage pathways are open, minerals are supported, digestion is working, and fiber intake is consistent, estrogen can finally move the way it’s meant to. This episode will help you stop fighting your hormones and start supporting them in a way that actually creates relief.If you’re ready to move beyond symptom-chasing and understand what your body is really asking for, this episode gives you a clear place to start.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites🙏 Thank you to Paleovalley for sponsoring this episode!👉 Go to https://paleovalley.com/leah and enter code LEAH at checkout for 15% off.—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant, have very irregular cycles, a history of long-term birth control use, and a high-stress lifestyle, this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m walking you through a real fertility case study to show what’s possible when we stop chasing quick fixes and instead support the body as a whole. This client’s story is a powerful reminder that fertility challenges aren’t always complex — but they do require the right foundations.In this episode, I take you through:Why coming off birth control without proper nutrient replenishment often leads to irregular or missing ovulationHow chronic stress and a “go-go-go” lifestyle quietly suppress ovulation and fertilityWhy we started with a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) instead of running endless labsWhat mineral patterns like low sodium, potassium, magnesium, and high calcium tell us about adrenals, thyroid, and cellular stressThe role of zinc, copper, and mineral balance in ovulation, egg quality, estrogen, and progesteroneWhy low detox capacity doesn’t mean you should push detox, and how doing so can backfireHow supporting digestion improves mineral absorption and hormone signalingWhy fertility work must include both partners, not just the womanI also share how we approached her retest and what changed:How improving cellular vitality allowed her body to begin detoxing safelyWhy retesting labs uncovers the next layer of healing instead of guessingHow nervous system support, habit-building, and letting go of perfection became a turning pointWhy fertility healing isn’t about forcing results, but creating safety, nourishment, and resilienceJust weeks after her retest, this client became pregnant, not through aggressive protocols, but through steady replenishment, stress reduction, and foundational support. This episode is meant to educate, encourage, and remind you that your body is not broken. With the right support, timing, and patience, fertility can return, often more simply than you’ve been led to believe.If you’re navigating fertility challenges and want to understand why your body is responding the way it is, this episode will help you see the bigger picture and where to start.Leah’s Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites—I’m Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you’ll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a life-long pharmaceutical prescription.Let’s connect:📷 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/🙋🏻‍♀️ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/🎥: Watch episodes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leahbrueggemann🌐 Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/📧 Email: [email protected]