{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6790d0371ab6c8a3677d4132/696fd8463738e9e7d18fa2c5?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Stop Trying to Fix Hormonal Imbalance and Do This Instead","description":"<h3>In this powerful and deeply reassuring episode, I am joined by&nbsp;<strong>BANT-registered nutritionist and hormone expert Hannah Alderson</strong>, author of&nbsp;<strong>Everything I Know About Hormones</strong>.</h3><p>If you’ve ever felt&nbsp;<em>overwhelmed, exhausted, hormonal, confused by conflicting advice, or blamed your body for not behaving “properly”</em>&nbsp;– this conversation is for you.</p><p>We gently dismantle the idea that hormones are something to “fix” or fight. Instead, we explore a far more compassionate – and science-backed – approach:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Your hormones aren’t broken. They’re responding to the environment they’re living in.</strong></p><p><br></p><h2>In This Episode, You’ll Learn:</h2><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Why Hormones Are Not the Enemy</h3><p>Being “hormonal” has become an insult – but in reality, hormones are your&nbsp;<strong>greatest allies</strong>. Hannah explains why symptoms often arise not because hormones are faulty, but because modern life makes it incredibly hard for them to do their job.</p><p><br></p><h3><br></h3><h3>The “VIP Hormones” You Actually Need to Understand</h3><p>With over 50 hormones in the body, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Hannah simplifies things by focusing on the key players that influence most symptoms, including:</p><ul><li>Cortisol (stress and energy)</li><li>Insulin (blood sugar and fat storage)</li><li>Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone</li><li>Thyroid hormones</li><li>Melatonin and serotonin</li></ul><p>You don’t need to know everything – just the right things.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Why “Balancing Hormones” Is the Wrong Goal</h3><p>Hormones don’t want to be balanced – they want to&nbsp;<strong>move</strong>. They work in rhythms, cycles and relationships. Hannah explains why the idea of hormone “balance” is misleading, and what to focus on instead.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Cortisol, Burnout and Why You Wake Up Exhausted</h3><p>If you’re tired-but-wired, struggle to get out of bed, rely on coffee, or feel flat and unmotivated, cortisol may be running the show. Hannah breaks down:</p><ul><li>The cortisol awakening response</li><li>Why skipping breakfast can worsen stress in women</li><li>How chronic stress disrupts sleep, weight, mood and hormones</li></ul><h3>Breakfast, Blood Sugar and Energy (Without Perfection)</h3><p>This episode offers some of the most practical, doable advice you’ll hear:</p><ul><li>Why breakfast matters for women’s hormones</li><li>How to eat within 90 minutes of waking without overwhelm</li><li>Simple, realistic options like smoothies or eggs</li><li>Why it’s not about calories, fasting trends, or willpower</li></ul><h3><br></h3><h3><strong>Insulin Resistance – The Hormone Link No One Explains Clearly</strong></h3><p>Hannah explains insulin resistance in a way that finally makes sense – and why it affects:</p><ul><li>Fat storage (especially around the middle)</li><li>Energy levels and brain fog</li><li>PCOS, perimenopause and menopause symptoms</li><li>Hormone transport in the body</li></ul><p>And most importantly – how&nbsp;<strong>small changes can reverse it</strong>.</p><p><br></p><h3>The Role of Stress, Sleep and the Nervous System</h3><p>This conversation goes far beyond food. You’ll hear why:</p><ul><li>Stress is not a personal failure</li><li>The nervous system needs safety, not pressure</li><li>Light exposure, phones, routines and boundaries matter</li><li>Oxytocin (connection, laughter, love) is cortisol’s kryptonite</li></ul><h3><br></h3><h3>Why Consistency Beats Perfection</h3><p>Hannah shares why wellness plans fail when they’re too rigid, and how:</p><ul><li>Tiny, repeatable habits change the brain</li><li>Self-discipline eventually creates motivation</li><li>You don’t need to “start again on Monday”</li><li>Feeling good becomes the reward</li></ul><h2><br></h2><h2>A Key Takeaway From This Episode</h2><blockquote><strong>“The biggest job isn’t fixing your hormones – it’s creating an environment where they can thrive.”</strong></blockquote><p>This episode is a permission slip to:</p><ul><li>Stop blaming your body</li><li>Stop chasing extremes</li><li>Start listening, responding, and supporting yourself gently</li></ul><h2><br></h2><h2>About Hannah Alderson</h2><p>Hannah Alderson is a BANT-registered nutritionist specialising in women’s hormone health. She combines clinical science with real-life practicality, helping women understand their bodies without fear or overwhelm.</p><p>Her book,&nbsp;<strong>Everything I Know About Hormones</strong>, breaks down complex science into simple, compassionate guidance that actually fits real life.</p><p>👉 Follow Hannah on Instagram:&nbsp;<strong>@hannahaldersonnutrition</strong></p><p>👉 Learn more or book a discovery call:&nbsp;<strong>hannahalderson.com</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h2><br></h2>","author_name":"Alexandra Simms"}