Endocrine Essentials: Cortisol

In this episode, Dr. Alan Bauman, an expert physician in the field of hair restoration, joins Dr. Smeaton to explore the complicated world of hair loss and the options that are available to treat it. Hair loss can have genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle causes. Even if patients aren’t experiencing symptoms now, they may still be concerned about what’s to come. Dr. Bauman shares his insights on the many factors that can lead to hair loss and how genetics and hormones can go hand-in-hand. Not to worry, though, there are treatments available! From red light therapy to probiotics, what’s most important is to start taking care of your hair early while the follicles are still resilient. Listen in to learn even more about hair and scalp health in this insightful episode! Show Notes: Learn more about Dr. Alan Bauman and his clinic at www.baumanmedical.com Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Read the DUTCH Blog to learn more about hormone health. Learn more about hair loss from our conversation with Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN, NP from Season 2 of the DUTCH Podcast 

Discover the secrets to mastering your body's natural rhythms in this enlightening episode of the DUTCH Podcast. Join Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, Senior Doctor at Parsley Health, to understand the intricacies of the circadian rhythm, HPA axis, and sleep hygiene. Dr. Tolentino joined Dr. Smeaton to explain why sleep is so important for our overall wellness. She explains the profound impact of natural light on our bodies and the surprising dangers of artificial light at night, deemed a carcinogen by the WHI.  In this episode, you'll gain practical advice on enhancing your daily routine, from the best times to bask in natural light to dietary tips that support a healthy circadian rhythm. Discover why timing matters—from the ideal moments for outdoor exposure to optimizing your bedtime for peak melatonin production. The conversation also covers the personalized nature of exercise and the importance of self-assessment in our busy lives. Beyond lifestyle tips, this episode emphasizes the power of testing in patient care plans. The right assessment can track your patient’s progress towards a harmonious life rhythm and can validate their symptoms that are sometimes disregarded. Tune in to transform the way you think about your daily habits and sleep!  Show Notes:Learn more about Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, DO: drjaclyntolentino.com   Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest Related Articles from the DUTCH Blog Sleep Hygeine: Foundational Techniques for Your Best Sleep Circadian Rhythm and Human Health.  

Dive deeper into the complexities of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in this episode. Dr. Krystal Richardson, ND, joins us to discuss the difficult and confusing journey providers must take in order to reach a PCOS diagnosis. She highlights the inadequacies in conventional medical approaches and offers a holistic perspective on the condition. You'll learn more about the importance of considering co-morbidities and personal experiences when evaluating PCOS symptoms, and you’ll hear her challenge the notion that the ovaries are the primary issue in PCOS and why you should instead focus on broader endocrine disruptions. This enlightening episode also offers a fresh perspective for patients who are struggling with PCOS, and how the school of thought is moving away from standard, ineffective weight-loss recommendations. Dr. Richardson explores the impact of diet, exercise, and supplements in PCOS treatment, stressing the importance of individualized care plans that prioritize long-term health and quality of life. From debunking myths about weight loss and dieting to discussing the accuracy of lab tests in detecting PCOS, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and innovative approaches to managing this complex condition.  Show Notes Learn more about Dr. Richardson at www.nfmseattle.com Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest  Check out our previous podcast episodes on PCOS: Season 2, Eps 5 & 6 DUTCH Summer School, Ep 8 Season 3, Eps 14 & 15  Related Articles from the DUTCH Blog The Role of Adrenals in PCOS  Metabolic Factors in PCOS  Improving Treatment Plans for PCOS and Pregnancy 

This enlightening episode of the DUTCH Podcast takes listeners on a journey to understand how to manage stress and rejuvenate the body featuring our special guest, Dr. Carrie Jones, ND. Dr. Jones wants to shift the mindset of the high-energy “boss babe era” to help listeners embrace more rest-based lifestyles. She discusses how omnipresent stressors can be in our lives and how the brain is constantly evaluating threats in the world. This “always on” mentality can pose significant impacts on the body’s resources. She also sheds light on the effects of norepinephrine, noting that running on this stress hormone hinders the body's ability to heal and repair at the cellular level. This conversation is not just about identifying stress but also about practical, foundational changes for better health management. Key topics include the importance of hydration, sleep, and managing blood sugar, as well as understanding the glymphatic system and the circadian rhythm's role as the master regulator of the body's various rhythms. Dr. Jones explains the nuanced balance of stress and resilience, particularly in relation to exercise, and the potential hormonal shifts when pushing too far. She also highlights the significance of cortisol testing for understanding diurnal rhythms and optimizing patient care plans. Tune in to this groundbreaking discussion on transforming stress management into a tool to repair the body and maintain a resilient, healthy lifestyle.  Show Notes Follow Dr. Carrie Jones on Instagram: @dr.carriejones Learn more about Dr. Jones’ Metabolic Mentor University Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest  Access DUTCH Webinars to learn how Cortisol and Stress can impact your life – and what you can do about it! Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing.   Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers!   

In this week's episode, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton and Mark Newman, MS reflect on the DUTCH team’s advancements in hormone education and research in 2023, plus they give insights for what’s to come in the year ahead. Listen in to hear more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing course and DUTCH Interpretive Guide that became available to DUTCH providers in 2023. They also explain the significance of two groundbreaking research studies including the first peer-reviewed study comparing FDA-approved estrogen patches, gels, and creams published in the journal Menopause. This pivotal research underscores the clinical validity and utility of urine metabolite testing in transdermal estrogen replacement therapy.  As we look ahead to 2024, DUTCH is committed to furthering our mission to profoundly change lives by making it easier for providers and patients to access reports and hormone education. Be the first to hear about a new educational course on menopausal hormone therapy, designed to help providers navigate the complexities of monitoring and dosing HRT. We also have some exciting advancements coming to our customer experience plus even more research to help providers make more confident hormone-related decisions. This will be an exciting year at DUTCH, and we are so grateful to our provider community for joining us in our mission!  Show Notes Read more about the latest DUTCH research published in Menopause Discover even more peer-reviewed research validating DUTCH and learn how DUTCH Trust can help you feel more confident in your treatment decisions. Learn more about all of the expert hormone education available to DUTCH providers. Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. 

In this replay of an episode from Season 2, Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton welcomes Dr. Christina O'Brien to the show to dive into cortisol and the HPA axis.Sometimes a traditional diurnal cortisol test isn’t enough to properly evaluate a patient. With the DUTCH Plus, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) gives additional insight into your patient’s stress response. A “mini stress test” the CAR takes snapshots in the minutes and hours after waking to paint a clearer picture of HPA axis function.  In this episode, Christina O’Brien, DC, discusses the value of the CAR in finding hidden points of dysregulation in patients. She and Dr. Smeaton cover typical cortisol testing procedure and dive into the benefits of measuring the CAR to enhance patient care.  Show NotesDUTCH Complete https://dutchtest.com/info-dutch-complete/  DUTCH Plus https://dutchtest.com/info-dutch-plus/  Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) https://dutchtest.com/info-dutch-plus/#cortisol-awakening-response  

The DUTCH Podcast is back for part two of this fascinating conversation about PCOS with expert practitioner Dr. Felice Gersh, MD! In the second installment of this interview, Dr. Gersh and DUTCH Podcast host Jaclyn Smeaton, ND, dive into the lifestyle interventions that can support women with PCOS. From strategic eating windows to stress-reduction techniques and other diet recommendations, this episode is full of suggestions to help patients with PCOS thrive. Show Notes Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Visit Dr. Felice Gersh’s website https://integrativemgi.com/ Read the DUTCH Blog to learn more about hormone health. The Role of Adrenals in PCOS  Metabolic Factors in PCOS  Improving Treatment Plans for PCOS and Pregnancy 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects between 10%-20% of reproductive-aged women. While this can be a very difficult diagnosis for women these days, there are evolutionary benefits that may have led to its proliferation.  Host Jaclyn Smeaton, ND, unpacks the physiology and human history of PCOS with guest Dr. Felice Gersh, MD, in this groundbreaking episode of the DUTCH Podcast. They dive into the possible causes of PCOS and the various “types” of PCOS that are affecting female patients today. In fact, there is so much to uncover about PCOS that we had to split it into two episodes! Check back next week to hear part two of this interview. Show NotesBecome a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Visit Dr. Felice Gersh’s website https://integrativemgi.com/ Read the DUTCH Blog to learn more about hormone health. The Role of Adrenals in PCOS  Metabolic Factors in PCOS  Improving Treatment Plans for PCOS and Pregnancy 

How to best monitor hormone replacement therapy is hotly debated in the integrative medicine community, and unfortunately, common practice is not always supported by research. This week, the president and founder of Precision Analytical, Mark Newman, MS, joins Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to help you understand the best approach to monitoring hormone replacement therapies. You’ll learn why you should monitor, which tests are effective, and they’ll dive into the research about monitoring with serum, saliva, and urine. Newly published research in the journal Menopause is the first peer-reviewed study to compare FDA approved patches and gels to compounded estrogen creams, and highlights the accuracy of urine metabolite testing for monitoring of estrogen replacement therapies. Listen in to understand the implications of this new study so you can feel more confident when caring for patients facing menopausal hormone decline.  Show Notes Watch the full recording from our November DUTCH Webinar.Read more about the latest DUTCH research published in Menopause Discover even more peer-reviewed research validating DUTCH and learn how DUTCH Trust can help you feel more confident in your treatment decisions. Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! 

Dr. Stefani Hayes is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist who specializes in helping fertility patients. In this week’s episode, she joins Dr. Smeaton to dive into a very mysterious aspect of infertility called Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). POI is becoming an increasingly frequent problem in women and, unfortunately, it’s typically identified far very late when it’s already progressed through the disease process. We don’t know for sure why it happens, but we do know that POI has impacts on a patient’s overall hormone health, so we need to understand it.  You'll hear why infertility is a lot like the canary in the coal mine that can help providers get a clearer picture of the trajectory of their patients' health. Plus, you’ll learn what to look for when assessing POI, why this could be happening, and what you can do about it.  Show Notes Learn more about Dr. Hayes and Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center: Dr. Stefani Hayes, ND, L.Ac. (she, her, hers) - Kwan Yin Healing Arts Become a DUTCH provider and profoundly change your patients’ lives through comprehensive hormone testing. Learn more about the Mastering Functional Hormone Testing Course – free to registered DUTCH providers! Follow DUTCH on Social Media: @dutchtest