Health with Holland Podcast

Are you taking supplements you don't actually need, or paying for ingredients that aren't doing what the label promises?
In this episode, Becca talks to Kevin Leivers, pharmacist and founder of The Naked Pharmacy, about how to make more informed choices about supplements, particularly during perimenopause and menopause.
From magnesium and vitamin D to ashwagandha, creatine and collagen, they explore the difference between a promising ingredient and a well-formulated product. Kevin shares what he's found when auditing suppliers, why a long ingredient list can be misleading and what to check before buying.
They also discuss how to identify deficiencies, avoid overlapping doses, choose targeted support for symptoms such as poor sleep and night sweats, and track whether a supplement is actually helping.

In this episode you'll learn:
Why taking multiple supplements can mean doubling up on ingredients

Why dose, strength, sourcing and independent testing matter

What to look for on herbal supplement labels

How HRT and targeted supplements may fit together

What Kevin says about creatine, collagen, ashwagandha and saffron

How to assess whether a supplement is worth continuing

Becca also introduces The Regulation Map, her seven-video workbook-based guide to understanding your triggers and building a practical regulation plan. Find it here: https://healthwithholland.com/regulation-map/

CHAPTERS
[00:00] Coming Up: The Perimenopause Supplement Myth
[00:25] Meet Kevin Leivers & The Naked Pharmacy
[01:32] Why Women Are Overwhelmed by Supplements
[03:42] Supplement Stacking & Overlapping Doses
[05:09] Vitamin D, Blood Tests & Deficiencies
[08:53] B12 & Supplements at Ineffective Doses
[10:29] The Problem With Multi-Ingredient Menopause Blends
[12:02] Who Formulates Your Supplements?
[13:29] Turmeric, Testing & Ingredient Quality
[15:33] Expensive Urine & Manufacturing Solvents
[18:24] Ashwagandha, Herbal Remedies & Safety[
25:05] How to Track Whether Supplements Work
[27:13] Perimenopause Symptoms, HRT & Targeted Herbs
[30:44] Poor Sleep in Perimenopause
[33:36] Melatonin, Morning Light & Sleep
[35:45] Saffron, Stress & Mood
[38:33] PMDD & Supplement Marketing
[40:29] Researching Supplements & Reading Labels
[44:09] Creatine: Benefits, Dosing & Purity
[48:10] Collagen Quality & Manufacturing
[52:01] Kevin's Three Supplement Takeaways
[56:26] Where to Find Kevin
[57:01] Becca's Final Takeaway & The Regulation Map

CONNECT & LEARN MORE
Becca Holland
Connect with Becca on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at @healthwithholland for practical education on nervous system regulation, women's health and sustainable behaviour change.
The Regulation Map
If you've been trying different nervous system regulation tools but still aren't sure what works for you, The Regulation Map helps you understand your triggers, recognise when you're wired or flat, and build a practical plan you can actually stick to.
Includes 7 short videos and a workbook. €37, one-time payment.
Get The Regulation Map: https://healthwithholland.com/regulation-map/

Kevin Leivers
Kevin is a pharmacist and founder of The Naked Pharmacy, which offers supplement guidance and pharmacist consultations.
Website: https://thenakedpharmacy.com
10% off for Health with Holland listeners
Use code HOLLAND10 at checkout for 10% off The Naked Pharmacy products.
Valid once per customer on full-priced The Naked Pharmacy products only. Cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or subscriptions.

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"Just smile" by LiQWYD   / liqwyd  
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Download / Stream: https://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
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What happens to your libido when you're constantly rushing, overwhelmed and running on empty?
In this episode, Becca is joined by Tia Maher for an open conversation about libido, relationships and the nervous system, and why losing desire isn't always as simple as blaming hormones.
Tia shares how building a successful business while constantly pushing for more affected her marriage and sex life, and why she eventually realised that perfectionism, stress and old patterns were following her into the bedroom.
They explore resentment in relationships, the mental load many women carry, communication, pleasure and what happens when your body doesn't feel safe enough to switch off. They also discuss why surface-level fixes don't always address what's happening underneath and why nervous system regulation is about much more than breathwork and somatic tools.
In this episode you'll learn:
How chronic stress and overwhelm can affect libido

Why resentment can have such a big impact on desire

How perfectionism can follow you into your sex life

Fight, flight, freeze and appease responses in relationships

Why knowing your own patterns can change how you communicate

The connection between emotional processing, pleasure and regulation

Why nervous system tools alone may not change repeated patterns

Join the Rebalance Membership for practical support with female nervous system regulation, sleep, stress, emotional patterns and everyday habits:https://healthwithholland.com/r_membershp_/

CHAPTERS
[00:00] Coming Up: Perfectionism, Libido & the Nervous System
[00:38] Why Stress & Overwhelm Can Affect Your Libido
[01:11] Meet Tia Maher
[03:06] Why Libido Drops When You're Constantly Rushing
[04:44] Shame, Female Pleasure & Knowing Your Body
[08:34] Perfectionism, Achievement & Desire
[12:02] When Your Relationship Reaches Breaking Point
[13:18] Resentment & Low Libido
[16:04] How Communication Changes Relationship Dynamics
[20:00] Understanding Your Relationship Triggers
[22:19] Fight, Flight, Freeze & Appease in Relationships
[25:01] Why Surface-Level Libido Fixes Don't Work
[27:32] How We Distract Ourselves From Difficult Emotions
[29:17] How to Start Changing Nervous System Patterns
[31:00] Why You Need to Feel Your Emotions
[34:02] Numbing Pain Can Also Numb Pleasure
[36:17] Nervous System Regulation Is More Than Breathwork
[38:53] Why Regulation Tools Aren't Enough
[42:33] How Your Past Can Drive Present Patterns
[44:06] Why Modern Life Makes Regulation Harder
[47:45] Where to Find Tia Maher
[48:20] Becca's Final Takeaway & Rebalance Membership

CONNECT & LEARN MORE
Becca Holland
Connect with Becca on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at @healthwithholland for practical education on nervous system regulation, women's health and sustainable behaviour change.
More resources and podcast episodes at healthwithholland.com
Tia MaherFollow Tia on Instagram at @iamtiamaher for more on nervous system patterns, relationships, libido and personal growth.
Join The Weekly Undress, Tia’s weekly email:tiamaher.com/theweeklyundress
Listen to Tia's podcast, Wealthy and Worthy.
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Music by LiQWYD 
"Just smile" by LiQWYD   / liqwyd  
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Download / Stream: https://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb Promoted by FreeMusicPromo   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ / @freemusicpromo

Have we made healthy eating far more complicated than it needs to be?
In this episode, Becca is joined by organic grower, nutritionist and personal trainer Colman Power to bring health back to basics and show how surprisingly simple it can be to grow more of your own food.
Colman explains why eating seasonal, freshly harvested food matters, how nutrients can decline after produce is picked and why you don't need a huge garden or polytunnel to start growing. A windowsill, balcony or kitchen-table-sized patch can be enough.
They also explore the connection between nutrition and nervous system regulation, gut health, blood sugar balance and why getting back outside can support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Most importantly, Colman shares practical advice you can actually use, including the easiest vegetables and herbs for complete beginners and how to start without becoming overwhelmed.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why fresh, seasonal food can offer nutritional benefits

5 easy vegetables to grow with very little space

The easiest herbs to grow on a windowsill or at home

Why growing your own doesn't have to mean becoming self-sufficient

How nutrition, gut health and blood sugar connect with nervous system health

Why gardening can be a regulating, mindful activity

How to start growing when you've never done it before

Join the Rebalance Membership for simple, practical support with nervous system regulation, sleep, nutrition and habits that support your body: https://healthwithholland.com/r_membership_/

CHAPTERS
[00:05] Why Growing Your Own Food Matters
[02:12] Have We Overcomplicated Healthy Eating?
[04:29] Seasonal Eating, Fibre & Gut Health
[07:35] Protein, Healthy Fats & Undereating
[09:39] Eating the Rainbow: Why Food Variety Matters
[10:49] How to Grow Food in a Small Space
[11:52] How to Grow Basil & Keep It Alive
[16:04] 5 Easy Vegetables to Grow for Beginners
[18:29] How to Start a Vegetable Patch
[22:18] Easy Herbs to Grow at Home
[24:22] Getting Back to Nature
[29:50] Vitamins & Minerals: Food vs Supplements
[30:38] Gardening & Nervous System Regulation
[35:29] 5 Easy Herbs for Beginners
[37:49] Colman's Journey From Fast Food to Growing His Own
[42:52] Nutrition, Gut Health & Blood Sugar After 35
[44:03] How Food Loses Nutrients After Harvesting
[45:55] Where to Find Colman Power
[46:23] Becca's Final Takeaway & Rebalance Membership

CONNECT & LEARN MORE
Becca Holland
Connect with Becca on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at @healthwithholland for practical education on nervous system regulation, women's health and sustainable behaviour change.
More resources and podcast episodes at healthwithholland.com
Colman Power
Colman Power is an organic grower, nutritionist and personal trainer who helps people make growing their own food and healthy living simpler and more accessible.
Find Colman across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X by searching Colman Power / Colman Power Organic Fitness, where he shares practical advice on growing, food, nutrition and exercise.
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Music by LiQWYD 
"Just smile" by LiQWYD   / liqwyd  
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Download / Stream: https://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb Promoted by FreeMusicPromo   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ / @freemusicpromo

What if there isn't one big reason you're anxious?
In this episode, Becca is joined by Caroline Foran, journalist, author and host of the Owning It anxiety podcast, to explore why anxiety can become overwhelming even when, on paper, everything seems fine.
Caroline shares her experience of going from panic attack to panic attack without a single trauma or event she could blame, and why understanding her nervous system changed the way she approached anxiety.
They discuss the pressure to control your thoughts, why manifestation and toxic positivity can create more self-blame, and why you can't simply think your way out of a body stuck in fight or flight. They also explore how modern life, social media, constant stimulation, poor sleep and never allowing ourselves to rest can gradually push the nervous system towards hypervigilance.
Caroline explains why overcoming anxiety isn't about never feeling anxious again, why self-compassion was the missing piece in her own recovery and how small experiences of safety can be more powerful than throwing another ten wellness tools at yourself.

In this episode you'll learn:
Why anxiety doesn't need one obvious cause

The difference between stress and anxiety

Why trying to control anxious thoughts can make things worse

How chronic stress can push the nervous system towards hypervigilance

Why modern life and constant stimulation can fuel anxiety

Why your comfort zone is important for recovery

How scrolling affects your nervous system

Why nervous system regulation doesn't mean never feeling stressed

Why self-compassion can be essential for overcoming anxiety

Join the Rebalance Membership for practical support with nervous system regulation, sleep and building habits that work for your body: https://healthwithholland.com/r_membershp_/

CHAPTERS
[00:00] Why You Can Feel Anxious for No Reason
[01:30] Caroline's Experience of Crippling Anxiety
[05:38] Has the Wellness Industry Made Anxiety Worse?
[07:40] Manifestation, Anxious Thoughts & Self-Blame
[11:40] Understanding Your “Anxiety Goggles”
[13:07] Stress vs Anxiety: What's the Difference?
[15:29] When Life Looks Fine But You Still Feel Anxious
[20:00] How the Modern World Fuels Anxiety
[26:10] Why We Need Our Comfort Zones
[27:05] Sleep, Stress & Nervous System Regulation
[28:10] What Scrolling Does to Your Nervous System
[32:00] Learning to Tolerate Boredom Again
[36:44] When Distraction Can Actually Help Anxiety
[39:33] Finding What Works for Your Nervous System
[44:00] Why More Nervous System Tools Aren't Better
[46:18] Regulation Doesn't Mean Always Being Calm
[49:35] Top-Down vs Bottom-Up Anxiety Support
[52:01] Self-Compassion, Exercise & Overcoming Anxiety

CONNECT & LEARN MORE
Becca Holland
Connect with Becca on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at @healthwithholland for practical education on nervous system regulation, women's health and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review or share it with someone who might need to hear it.
Ready to go deeper? Join the Rebalance Membership: https://healthwithholland.com/r_membershp_/
More courses, resources and podcast episodes at healthwithholland.com
Caroline Foran
Caroline Foran is a journalist, three-time author and host of Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast, which has been downloaded more than 6.5 million times.
Her new book, Everything I Wish I'd Known About Anxiety, draws on her own experience of crippling anxiety and offers a structured roadmap for understanding and moving through it.
Connect with Caroline on Instagram: @carolineforan
Look for Everything I Wish I'd Known About Anxiety online and wherever you buy books.
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Music by LiQWYD "Just smile" by LiQWYD   / liqwyd  
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Download / Stream: https://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Promoted by FreeMusicPromo:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ

So many women reach their late 30s and 40s and suddenly feel like their body isn't responding the way it used to. Sleep changes, stress feels harder to handle, digestion shifts and the habits you once relied on don't seem to work anymore.
Becca is joined by Maeve O'Sullivan, a former nurse trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, to explore a different way of understanding the body.
They discuss why women often wake around 3am, the Chinese medicine organ clock and the connection between sleep, stress and the liver. Maeve explains yin and yang, why constantly pushing through can become harder in perimenopause and how acupuncture may support sleep, stress and hormonal balance.
They also explore why more isn't always better, why how you eat matters as much as what you eat, and reconnecting with your body's signals.
If you're doing everything "right" but still don't feel like yourself, this offers a different perspective on sleep, stress, hormones and women's health.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why women commonly wake around 3am according to Chinese medicine

How stress and perimenopause can change what your body can tolerate

What yin and yang can teach us about balancing stress, exercise and rest

How acupuncture may support sleep, stress and hormonal balance

Why cold breakfasts and smoothies may not suit everyone

How to stop adding more and listen to what your body needs

Join the Rebalance Membership for support with sleep, stress and nervous system regulation
CHAPTERS
[00:00] Why You Keep Waking Up at 3AM
[00:58] Meet Maeve O'Sullivan: From Nursing to Chinese Medicine
[05:21] What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
[09:23] Why Women Feel Different in Their 40s
[13:11] When Your Blood Tests Are Normal But You Don't Feel Well
[18:24] Why You Can't Keep Pushing Through in Perimenopause
[19:26] The Chinese Medicine Organ Clock Explained
[21:44] Why You Wake Up Between 11PM and 3AM
[24:47] Why Alcohol Affects You Differently in Perimenopause
[26:21] Yin & Yang: Balancing Stress, Exercise & Rest
[30:09] How Acupuncture Affects the Nervous System
[33:55] Acupuncture for Sleep, Stress & Hormonal Balance
[38:37] How Your Body Moves Into Rest & Repair
[41:15] Nutrition, Inflammation & Perimenopause
[43:00] Why How You Eat Matters as Much as What You Eat
[46:15] Stop Following Every Wellness Trend
[47:02] Stress, Food & the Blue Zones
[48:23] Supplements, Coffee, Alcohol & Listening to Your Body
[49:23] Where to Find Maeve O'Sullivan
[50:18] Becca's Final Takeaway & Rebalance Membership
CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
Becca HollandYou can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube at @healthwithholland, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women's health and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a review or sharing it with someone who might find it helpful.
Ready to go deeper? Join the Rebalance Membership for simple, practical support with nervous system regulation, sleep and building habits that support your body:
https://healthwithholland.com/r_membershp_/
You'll also find courses, resources and more podcast episodes at: healthwithholland.com
Maeve O'Sullivan
You can connect with Maeve O'Sullivan and Escapada Health on Instagram, where she shares insights on Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and women's health.
Maeve spent 15 years as a nurse before training in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through Escapada Health, she supports women with sleep, stress, hormonal health and understanding their bodies more deeply.
Maeve offers treatments at Escapada Health in Dún Laoghaire and online health coaching.
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Music by LiQWYD "Just smile" by LiQWYD   / liqwyd  
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Download / Stream: https://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb
Promoted by FreeMusicPromo:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ