Lara Briden's Podcast

Do you feel hungry all the time? Abnormally hungry? If so, it’s worth trying to figure out why. Potential drivers of abnormally high hunger include insulin resistance, gut and microbiome issues, low blood sugar, and food addiction—just to name a few. In this episode, Lara explores food addiction and some of the controversy around the term. She also discusses the next best steps on the road to recovery. Links: new book about metabolic healthAddiction to highly processed food among older adultsResource page

For some women, stopping normal dairy products can relieve period symptoms. But why? In this episode, Lara discusses: Links: Successful mast-cell-targeted treatment of chronic dyspareunia, vaginitis, and dysfunctional uterine bleedingChildhood asthma, allergies and risk of premenstrual disorders in young adulthoodCasomorphins and gliadorphins have diverse systemic effects spanning gut, brain and internal organs

Did you know that what’s happening in your gut can affect your periods and hormones? In this episode, Lara discusses: Links: The curious link between estrogen, mast cells, and histamineAltered intestinal permeability in patients with primary fibromyalgia and in patients with complex regional pain syndrome

Why do antihistamines cause weight gain? And how does hormonal birth control affect metabolism? In this episode, Lara looks at: Links: The histaminergic system as a target for the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndromeHigh H1-affinity antidepressants and risk of metabolic syndrome in bipolar disorderNatural treatment of menstrual migrainesWeight change among women using intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, a copper intrauterine device, or a levonorgestrel implant for contraceptionImpact of micronized progesterone on body weight, body mass index, and glucose metabolism: a systematic reviewCyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are you a morning person or an evening person? And could that affect your ability to lose weight? In this episode, Lara looks at chronotype, which is your individual disposition to be awake or asleep at certain times. And how that might affect your overall health and metabolism.

The supplement inositol is a superstar for treating polycystic ovary syndrome. It’s also been clinically trialled for weight loss, thyroid disease, anxiety, insomnia, and premenstrual mood symptoms. In this episode, Lara looks at: One thing Lara forgot to mention is that to get results with inositol, you need to commit to it for at least three months. And if it works, you’ll probably want to stay on it for years. Luckily, inositol can be quite inexpensive, especially if you choose straight myo-inositol powder. Links: Myo-inositol for insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetesInositol treatment for PCOS should be science-based and not arbitraryCyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

What do post-pill acne, hair loss, and weight gain all have in common? They can all be the result of a temporary surge in androgens when trying to come off certain types of hormonal birth control. In this episode, Lara discusses post-pill androgen symptoms including: Links: Ovulation is the main event of the menstrual cycleThe central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesteroneBeyond the label: A patient-centred approach to polycystic ovary syndromeCyclic progesterone therapy for PCOS

Are premenstrual mood symptoms caused by progesterone or helped by progesterone? And why do antihistamines give such relief? In this episode, Lara discusses premenstrual mood symptoms including: Links: Lara Briden's mailing listMagnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review8 Ways magnesium rescues hormonesTaurine: 5 benefits for women's health

There can be a strong hormonal component to abdominal weight gain. And in most people, that hormone is insulin. In this episode, Lara discusses insulin resistance including: Links: Online workshop: Metabolic health and vitality for women over 40Insulin resistance is a cellular antioxidant defense mechanismHigh-dose fructose can cause or worsen insulin resistance (but fruit is okay)

If you're going to take hormone therapy, it's safer to take hormones that are identical to human hormones. In other words, hormones that are body-identical or bioidentical. The concept of bioidentical used to be controversial but is now conventional and mainstream. In this episode, Lara discusses hormone therapy including: Links: The crucial difference between progesterone and progestinsCyclic progesterone therapy for PCOSThe central role of ovulatory disturbances in the etiology of androgenic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Evidence for treatment with cyclic progesteroneBlog post with a list of body-identical brand namesMetabolic health and vitality for women over 40

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that’s affected by hormones but is not caused by hormones. Instead, endometriosis is, at least in part, a disease of immune dysfunction. In this episode, Lara discusses some of the new endometriosis research including: Links to: Immune treatment for endometriosis Why I prescribe iodine for breast pain, ovarian cysts, and PMDD

Were you told you have polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS based on a pelvic ultrasound? That may or may not be an accurate diagnosis because PCOS cannot actually be diagnosed or ruled out with ultrasound. In this episode, Lara discusses PCOS including: Links to: PCOS cannot be diagnosed (or ruled out) by ultrasound4 types of PCOSDiagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Which Criteria to Use and When?Lara's forum where you can post

In a normal period, you should not lose more than about 80 mL of menstrual fluid over all the days of the bleed. That’s equivalent to about five tablespoons spread over all the days of the bleed. In this episode, Lara discusses heavy periods including: Links to: heavy periodstesting for insulin resistance list of brand names of body-identical progesteroneManaging menorrhagia without surgeryLara's forum where you can post

The pill is commonly prescribed to "regulate periods," but it can't actually do that because withdrawal bleeds from contraceptive drugs are not real menstrual cycles. In episode one of The Lara Briden Podcast, Dr Lara covers: Links to: cyclic progesterone therapy for PCOSLara's forum where you can post