Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones

The test most doctors use to check your thyroid is not even a thyroid hormone. TSH is a brain hormone, and relying on it alone is how so many women end up with "normal" labs while they feel completely awful. It is a gap that causes most women to never get the full picture of the status of their thyroid.
You can be eating clean, working out, doing all the right things, and still gain weight, lose hair, and feel a crushing fatigue that no amount of caffeine can fix. And too often, women are told it is just perimenopause or just aging, when the real story goes much deeper.
In this episode of Hello Hormones, I sit down with Dr. Amie Hornaman, thyroid expert, podcast host, and author of the brand new book The Thyroid Fix:The No Nonsense Guide to Fix Fatigue, Fogginess and Fat That Won't Budge. Dr. Amie has a gift for making thyroid health make sense, busting the myths most women have been handed, and showing them what optimal thyroid approaches really look like.
If you have ever been told your labs are fine while your hair is falling out and your energy is gone, this one is for you.
What's Discussed:
(02:11) Thyroid myth or fact: your "normal" labs mean your thyroid is fine.
(04:31) The medication myth, and why perimenopause can make your thyroid meds stop working.
(06:45) The biggest red flags that your thyroid is being undertreated.
(08:26) The everyday habits quietly tanking your thyroid.
(12:10) Thyropause explained: when your thyroid craps the bed after 40.
(16:06) Why the standard TSH test misses the picture, and what to ask for instead.
(21:46) Why your body raises reverse T3 and thinks you are lying in the ICU.
(25:08) The birth control stat: a 243% higher risk of hypothyroidism.
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Timeline Nutrition: Support your cells and how you age with Mitopure® Gummies from Timeline. Visit timeline.com/DRCARRIE and save up to 39% OFF your Mitopure® Gummies. 
 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.com/stages

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones

Find more from Amie Hornaman:
Website: dramie.com 
Instagram: @dramiehornaman 
YouTube: @dramiehornaman 
Facebook: Dr. Amie Hornaman 
TikTok: @dramiehornaman 
The Thyroid (And Hormone) Fixer Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thyroid-and-hormone-fixer-podcast/id1529800263
The Thyroid Fix Book: thyroidfixbook.com 
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Cortisol always gets a bad reputation online, but here's the thing: it's not the villain. It's actually essential for your stress response, blood sugar, sleep-wake cycle, and even keeping inflammation in check.

The problem isn't cortisol itself. It's what happens when it stays chronically elevated, and your body starts sending signals you've probably been brushing off as "just stress" or "just getting older."
In this solo episode, I'll walk you through the five warning signs of chronic high cortisol that most women don't connect to stress at all, including one that directly links to your blood sugar and why that matters more than you think.
If you're a woman in midlife and have a gut feel that your cortisol levels are elevated, this episode is exactly where to start.
What's Discussed:
(0:49) The five warning signs of chronic high cortisol
(2:34) Why your weight and face shape might be changing
(3:35) The cortisol-insomnia connection most women miss
(4:40) Hair loss and the stress delay nobody warns you about
(7:23) How cortisol is quietly affecting your blood sugar
 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: https://www.drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://www.drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: https://www.drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://www.drcarriejones.com/stages

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Every cell in your body has hormone receptors, which means when your hormones are off, nothing works the way it should. And yet, hormone replacement therapy remains one of the most misunderstood and under-explained topics in women's health.
The confusion isn't your fault. A lot of it traces back to one study from 2002 that scared an entire generation of doctors away from prescribing hormones, and the ripple effects are still being felt today.
In this solo episode of Hello Hormones, Dr. Carrie is answering the questions you actually submitted, the ones your doctor glossed over, the ones nobody's giving you straight answers on, and the ones you weren't sure were okay to ask.
If HRT has felt overwhelming or out of reach, this is the episode that changes that.
What's Discussed:
(4:27) Can supplements replace hormones in full menopause?
(7:09) The hysterectomy question that trips everyone up.
(11:22) Finding the right HRT provider when your current one won't go there.
(15:41) More HRT options than you were probably told about.
(20:25) Why HRT is giving you a skin rash and what to do instead.
(23:06) Water retention on HRT and how to actually fix it.
(24:02) Symptoms vs. labs: how do you know it's actually working?
(28:22) Just started BHRT: when should you test?
Thank you to our Sponsors!

Timeline: Support your cells and how you age with Mitopure® Gummies from Timeline. Visit timeline.com/DRCARRIE and save up to 39% OFF your Mitopure® Gummies. 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: https://www.drcarriejones.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://www.drcarriejones.com/labs
The 101 on Stress, Cortisol And Your Nervous System Ebook: https://www.drcarriejones.com/stressfreebie  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://www.drcarriejones.com/stages

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Did you know that the heat in your sauna might not even be the most important part? Most women hear "sauna" and think of sweating buckets, longevity bros, and biohackers. But there is actually a whole spectrum of light energy happening inside an infrared sauna that is doing the real work, and it has a lot to do with your hormones.
In this episode of Hello Hormones, I sit down with Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten and one of the original pioneers of the infrared sauna industry. With over 25 years of experience studying how infrared light and heat impact the body at the cellular level, Connie breaks down what is actually happening when you step inside, why wavelength matters more than temperature, and what perimenopausal and postmenopausal women specifically need to know.
If you have ever wondered whether a sauna is actually worth the hype, or if you have been told to skip it because of your hormones, this one is for you.
What's Discussed:
(06:41) The number one symptom of perimenopause (and it is not hot flashes)

(07:13) Myth buster: why near infrared matters more than red light

(10:17) Should you sauna in the morning or at night

(17:40) The surprising fact about sweating that changes everything

(27:43) Can you sauna in perimenopause if you already run hot

(34:36) What near infrared does to your brain and memory

(51:04) Infrared sauna vs cold plunge: which one wins for women

(54:46) The most underrated benefit nobody talks about

Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Timeline Nutrition: Support your cells and how you age with Mitopure® Gummies from Timeline. Visit timeline.com/DRCARRIE and save up to 39% OFF your Mitopure® Gummies. 
Sunlighten: Supercharge your cells in a Sunlighten Sauna. Visit sunlighten.com/partner-savings/ to get $2100 OFF and free shipping. 

 
Studies Mentioned:
Core Temperature Study 

University of Missouri, Blood Pressure Study 

Blood, Urine, and Sweat Study for Detox: 

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21057782/ 

sunlighten.com/blog/bus-study/ 

 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: drcarriejones.com/myths

Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  

The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist 

The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  

Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause  


Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones

Find more from Sunlighten:
Website: sunlighten.com/ 
Instagram: @sunlightensaunas
Facebook: Sunlighten Saunas
YouTube: @SunlightenSaunas
Contact no.: +8772920020
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

Progesterone is one of those hormones that gets mentioned everywhere but explained almost nowhere, and that gap is costing women a lot. What most women don't know is that progesterone isn't just a fertility hormone. 
You have progesterone receptors from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, which means when levels start to drop, the effects show up everywhere. We're talking worse PMS, heavier periods, anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere, and that lovely 1am wake-up where your brain decides it's time to think about everything you've ever done wrong.
In this solo episode of Hello Hormones, I'm breaking down the top three things most women don't know about progesterone, including the brain chemistry behind why it's basically your built-in calm-down switch, what actually happens to your levels as you move through perimenopause and into menopause, and why having had a hysterectomy does not mean you're off the hook.
If you've been wondering whether progesterone might be part of what's going on for you, this one is a great place to start.
What's Discussed:
(0:00) The top three progesterone facts most women have never been told.
(0:43) Why progesterone is called the pro-gestation hormone and what it does beyond pregnancy.
(1:11) The surprising ways progesterone helps if you're still cycling.
(1:27) When your body actually makes progesterone and why it's not all the time.
(1:51) Why your progesterone levels should be way higher than your estrogen.
(2:14) Why progesterone is the first hormone to drop in perimenopause and what that feels like.
(2:41) How far progesterone falls once you're fully menopausal.
(3:10) The ALLO-GABA connection and why it explains your sleep, anxiety, and irritability.
(4:39) When to talk to your practitioner about progesterone replacement.
(5:05) The hysterectomy myth Dr. Carrie wants to clear up once and for all.
(5:49) Bioidentical progesterone vs. synthetic progestin and why the difference matters.
 
✍️ FREE GUIDES:
Top 7 Perimenopause Myths You Need to Stop Believing ASAP: www.drcarriejones.com/myths
Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  
The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist 
The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  
Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause  

Find more from Dr. Carrie Jones:
Website: www.drcarriejones.com
Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter
Instagram: @dr.carriejones
Facebook: @drcarriejones
TikTok: @drcarriejones
YouTube: @drcarriejones
Pinterest: @drcarriejones
 
Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.