Welcome back to #get2theroot, the podcast from Hope for Healing in The Woodlands, Texas, where we uncover the root causes of health challenges and guide families toward lasting solutions.

In this episode, Dr. Paula Kruppstadt takes a closer look at one of the most powerful — and misunderstood — systems in women’s health: hormones. From puberty and fertility to perimenopause and menopause, hormones influence energy, mood, sleep, brain health, and overall well-being. When they are out of balance, the ripple effect can impact nearly every area of life.

Why Hormones Matter

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate key processes in the body. They influence:

• 🧠 Brain and mood health — including anxiety, focus, and resilience
  

• 💪 Energy production and metabolism — how efficiently the body creates and uses fuel
  

• 🩸 Reproductive cycles — fertility, PMS, and menstrual health
  

• 😴 Sleep rhythms — regulating restorative rest
  

• 🦴 Bone and muscle strength — vital for long-term vitality
  

When hormones are imbalanced, women may experience irregular cycles, mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, sleep disturbances, or even autoimmune flare-ups.

Root Causes of Hormone Imbalances

Hormonal health is shaped by more than age or life stage. Dr. K emphasizes that imbalances often trace back to:

• 🧬 Genetics — Variants that affect hormone metabolism, detoxification, and neurotransmitter balance
  

• 🏠 Environmental exposures — Endocrine disruptors in personal care products, cleaners, plastics, and even dental hygiene
  

• 🍽️ Diet and gut health — Poor detox support and food sensitivities can throw hormones off balance
  

• 😮💨 Chronic stress — Elevated cortisol disrupts thyroid and sex hormone regulation
  

• 🛌 Lifestyle habits — Lack of restorative sleep, high toxin load, or sedentary behavior
  

Understanding these influences makes it possible to move beyond symptom management and instead restore balance from the inside out.

A Functional Medicine Approach

Rather than masking symptoms, functional medicine focuses on discovering why hormone imbalances exist and tailoring solutions to each woman. This approach includes:

• 🧬 Genetic testing – Insight from the Wellness Blueprint Genetic Panel shows how each woman’s body metabolizes and clears hormones.
  

• 🩺 Immune and inflammatory panels – Reveal if inflammation is contributing to hormone disruption.
  

• 🍎 Nutrition and lifestyle – Targeted diet and detox strategies that remove endocrine disruptors and nourish hormone pathways.
  

• 🌿 Targeted supplementation – Restoring balance with natural support, not just prescriptions.
  

Products & Supplements Mentioned in This Episode

Dr. K highlights several practical tools and supports for hormone balance:

• Boar’s Hair Bristle Toothbrush – A safer oral care option, free from plastics and chemicals.
  

• Hand Sanitizers – Choosing clean alternatives that avoid hormone-disrupting ingredients.
  

• Flax Seeds – A natural source of phytoestrogens and fiber that support hormone metabolism.
  

• Wellness Blueprint Genetics Panel – Provides insight into hormone and detox pathways.
  

• Glutathione – Essential antioxidant for detoxification and immune balance.
  

• Broccoli Sprouts Supplement – Supports estrogen detoxification and hormone metabolism.
  

• Immune, Autoimmune, and Inflammatory Panels – Help evaluate the role of inflammation in hormone health.
  

• Vitamin D – Critical for immune regulation and reproductive hormone balance.
  

• PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) – Supports immune and inflammatory balance.
  

• CBD – Helps reduce inflammation and promote nervous system calm.
  

• Curcuminoids – Natural anti-inflammatory compounds that support hormone health.
  

(Each woman’s plan is individualized. These supplements and tools are most effective when used as part of a guided functional medicine plan.)

Why This Matters

For too long, women have been told that fatigue, mood swings, irregular cycles, or hot flashes are “just part of life.” Functional medicine offers a different perspective: those symptoms are signals. By uncovering root causes, supporting detox pathways, and restoring hormonal balance, women can feel like themselves again — with energy, clarity, and vitality at every stage of life.