Hormone imbalances are best addressed through Testing Self-care Lowering toxicity Exercise   With so many falsehoods being shared on social media and doctor’s offices about women’s health, it’s hard to know what to believe. Many practitioners even say that there’s no such thing as hormonal imbalances. This really infuriates me, because our hormones are the most important communicators in our bodies. Today, I’ve invited my favorite integrative OBGYN and good friend to help to speak about the hormonal imbalances that he has seen and treated for decades.   About Dr. Shawn Tassone Shawn Tassone MD, Ph.D. is double board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. He holds a medical degree in addition to a Ph.D. in mind-body medicine. Dr. Tassone is a practicing OBGYN in Austin, Tx, hormone specialist, author, speaker, and highly rated patient advocate. In his 20+ years of practice, Dr. Tassone has seen over 40,000 women and is determined to remove the myths surrounding women's health. As an integrative health practitioner, Dr. Tassone believes you should have an active role in your care. His work includes studies and publications on hormonal imbalances, spirituality in medical care, whole foods to heal the human body, and integrative medicine. Dr. Tassone is featured in many publications including The New York Times, NBCNews Online, Stanford MedX.   Addressing Common Hormonal Imbalances In this episode, Dr. Tassone describes how many women and practitioners are unaware of the most common hormone imbalance - testosterone deficiency. Part of this is because mainstream medicine lacks viable solutions to treat low testosterone in women.  To make up for this deficit in medicine, Dr. Tassone has some recommendations. First of all, he wants us to eat better and reduce exposure to toxins. Proper exercise is also an important factor. With all these different elements at play, it is becoming more and more apparent that getting the right advice and direction is crucial to maintaining a healthy hormonal balance.   The Common  Effects of Imbalances and What They Signify The fact of the matter is that hormonal imbalances will affect you on many levels. They can lead to insulin resistance, reproductive issues, energy and mood swings, a decrease in cellular energy and metabolic rate, and so much more. That’s why it’s incredibly irresponsible for practitioners to act like these imbalances don’t exist.  To this point, Dr. Tassone explains how we can make incremental shifts and changes in our health to prevent larger problems before they begin. Not only will taking an integrative approach to hormonal health help to prevent serious issues, they will also help you feel better in the interim. Have you been dealing with low testosterone? What steps have you tried to address it? Leave a comment on the episode page!   Quotes: “I always thought the number one hormone imbalance in women was estrogen dominance, but it turns out that one is number two. Far and away ... testosterone deficiency is number one in women of all age groups.” [12:09] “When the imbalance becomes a problem is when it interferes with the way that you want to live your life.” [24:55] “The way I do medicine is I love to give people a bunch of options and then have them pick whatever resonates.” [36:14]   In This Episode Why an integrative mindset is the best approach to addressing women’s hormonal health [7:06] Understanding the most common hormone imbalance in women [11:50] Steps to take to boost testosterone [21:09] The instances when a hormonal imbalance is normal [24:00] The best tests to identify hormonal imbalances [31:40] Having options about addressing your health needs [35:00]   Resources Mentioned: The Hormone Lab Testing Checklist and Guide Find Dr. Shawn Tassone online Follow Dr. Tassone on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Hormone Balance Bible 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Andrew Weil   Other Resources: Check out the full sho