48 episodes

Hormonally Yours with The Hormone Dietitian


Hi, I’m Melissa Groves Azzaro, an award-winning integrative women’s health dietitian. I’ve helped thousands of women struggling with hormone-related issues and helped them identify and address the root causes of THEIR hormone imbalances, so they can have regular, symptom-free periods and optimize their fertility naturally.

My mission is to be the no-BS hormone nutrition education resource for smart, busy women struggling with hormone imbalances.

Most of the women I work with are bosses in every area of their life except their own hormones. And they appreciate learning the science and wanting to understand they WHY behind their symptoms… but what they don’t have is TIME to do their own research. And there’s so much misinformation out there around what actually works. As a licensed healthcare practitioner, my hope with this podcast is to dispel some of those myths and give you the information you actually need to feel better and thrive by living a more balanced life.

A little disclosure – the information I share on this podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be taken as medical advice. Yes, I’m A dietitian, but I am not YOUR dietitian. Always consult with YOUR healthcare provider before implementing diet, exercise, or supplement changes.

Join me each week as I share science-based information about PCOS, fertility, and other hormone imbalances, interview guest experts who specialize in this field and talk with women just like you. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review so you don’t miss an episode, and you can find all of the episodes & links at thehormonedietitian.com/podcast

Hormonally Yours with The Hormone Dietitian Melissa Groves Azzaro RDN LD

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.9 • 86 Ratings

Hormonally Yours with The Hormone Dietitian


Hi, I’m Melissa Groves Azzaro, an award-winning integrative women’s health dietitian. I’ve helped thousands of women struggling with hormone-related issues and helped them identify and address the root causes of THEIR hormone imbalances, so they can have regular, symptom-free periods and optimize their fertility naturally.

My mission is to be the no-BS hormone nutrition education resource for smart, busy women struggling with hormone imbalances.

Most of the women I work with are bosses in every area of their life except their own hormones. And they appreciate learning the science and wanting to understand they WHY behind their symptoms… but what they don’t have is TIME to do their own research. And there’s so much misinformation out there around what actually works. As a licensed healthcare practitioner, my hope with this podcast is to dispel some of those myths and give you the information you actually need to feel better and thrive by living a more balanced life.

A little disclosure – the information I share on this podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended to be taken as medical advice. Yes, I’m A dietitian, but I am not YOUR dietitian. Always consult with YOUR healthcare provider before implementing diet, exercise, or supplement changes.

Join me each week as I share science-based information about PCOS, fertility, and other hormone imbalances, interview guest experts who specialize in this field and talk with women just like you. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review so you don’t miss an episode, and you can find all of the episodes & links at thehormonedietitian.com/podcast

    Breast Cancer Nutrition

    Breast Cancer Nutrition

    Does nutrition make a difference in breast cancer prevention, treatment, and recurrence? If so, what specific changes make the most difference? There are so many myths about breast cancer nutrition that I wanted to find out what's really true by talking with an oncology dietitian who specializes in breast cancer.
    I wanted to know... is it true that sugar feeds cancer? Do you have to go vegan after a breast cancer diagnosis? What about soy? And more...
    In this episode, I'm talking to Tamar Rothenberg, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian who specializes in recovery after breast cancer in her private practice in Los Angeles. She co-led the clinical study, Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen, published in the journal Nutrients. She is also the author of a new book, Cancer Diet for the Newly Diagnosed, which focuses not only on breast cancer but all cancers. And she is a breast cancer thriver herself.
    This Week We Talk About:  Myths around nutrition following a breast cancer diagnosis and why some recommendations do more harm than good The most important goals of nutrition through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment What may shift in your nutrition plan after completion of treatment Why "breast cancer prevention" is itself a myth... and research-based tips to reduce risk of recurrence Why you don't have to go vegan to benefit from adding plants to your diet The real truth about soy and breast cancer Lifestyle and supplement recommendations for breast cancer thrivers Resources for people thriving after breast cancer  
    Mentioned in this episode PCOS Meal Prep Made Easy Workshop – In this hour-long workshop, I break down exactly HOW to eat for PCOS. Learn my simple 3-step formula for planning meals with PCOS, no matter where you are so that you can have balanced blood sugar, lower inflammation, and support gut and hormone health... without giving up a single food or spending hours in the kitchen!
    Where to find Tamar Rothenberg, MS, RDN: Tamar's Website: Tamarrothenberg.com
    Tamar's Instagram: @breastcancer.nutritionist
    Tamar's Facebook Group: A Fresh Start for Breast Cancer Thrivers
    Find out if you're eligible and apply for the free Sharsheret in the Kitchen coaching program, made possible by a grant from Cedars Sinai here
    Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook for daily posts on PCOS, hormones, and fertility. Check out our website for more articles and information and to learn how to work with Melissa.
     
    Disclaimer: This website and podcast are not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before implementing nutrition, lifestyle, or supplement changes. 

    • 41 min
    Why Work With a Dietitian Doula?

    Why Work With a Dietitian Doula?

    If you're thinking about trying to conceive... why might you want to consider working with a doula? What's the difference between a doula and a midwife? Can you work with a doula if you're having a hospital birth? When should you reach out to a doula during pregnancy? I had these questions about working with a doula and more, and I suspect you do too!
    In this episode, I'm talking to Erika Watson-Lawson, who is not only a doula but a dietitian as well. In fact, she refers to herself as a Doula-Dietitian Diva and a Dietitian by Day, Doula by Night, and she is able to help her clients in a unique way, supporting them not only through preparing for birth physically but also nutritionally!
    Erika, founder of Purely Nourishing Doula, has been a registered dietitian for over 15 years, and added virtual and in-person (Jacksonville, FL area) doula services which include nutrition coaching, pregnancy and labor services, and postpartum care. She strives to educate and empower pregnant people and their partners through the whole process. Having PCOS herself, and the mother of 4 (including a set of twins!), she not only knows what she's talking about, but she's been there herself!
    In this episode, I'm talking with Erika about all the reasons why you might want to consider having a doula on your team for your next birth!
    This Week We Talk About:  What doulas do, the difference between doulas and midwives, and who might benefit from doula support The different times and places where doulas can offer support to birthing parents How being a doula dietitian allows her support her clients with 360º care What working with a virtual doula actually looks like How doulas work with birth partners to keep them involved in the process The importance of doulas in the Black community Why postpartum support is essential and what to focus on Erika's personal journey with PCOS and becoming a mother  
    Mentioned in this episode PCOS Meal Prep Made Easy Workshop – In this hour-long workshop, I break down exactly HOW to eat for PCOS. Learn my simple 3-step formula for planning meals with PCOS, no matter where you are so that you can have balanced blood sugar, lower inflammation, and support gut and hormone health... without giving up a single food or spending hours in the kitchen!
    Where to find Erika Watson-Lawson, Doula-Dietitian: Erika's Website: Purely Nourishing Doula
    Erika's Instagram: @purelynourishingdoula
    Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook for daily posts on PCOS, hormones, and fertility. Check out our website for more articles and information and to learn how to work with Melissa.
     
    Disclaimer: This website and podcast are not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before implementing nutrition, lifestyle, or supplement changes. 

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Is The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap™ Right for YOU?

    Is The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap™ Right for YOU?

    I wanted to do something a little different today and help you decide if enrolling in my PCOS course, The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap™, is the next best step for you at this time!
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is my signature program that has already helped over 700 women with PCOS:
    Get regular periods Regain energy Banish cravings Have clearer skin and thicker hair Lose weight Get pregnant naturally and more... So in this episode, I walk you through why I created the course in the first place, who it's right for, a bit more about my proven and proprietary 6-step method to PCOS success, and more.
    If you're overwhelmed by all of the conflicting info out there and confused about what to do next to manage your PCOS, give this a listen!
    In this week's solo episode, I'm going through all the reasons why you might want to consider joining The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap before we close the doors on Friday October 14th. This is one of the most comprehensive PCOS courses out there, and it's the only one that focuses on overall PCOS management from a root cause perspective that's taught by a licensed integrative dietitian!
    This Week I Talk About:  Who The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is right for All the nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement strategies you've probably already tried My proven 6-step method for PCOS success What kind of results my students get from the course Why I created this PCOS course in the first place How following a proven roadmap can save you time and money How to know if NOW is the right time And you'll hear from several of my students about their experiences! Mentioned in this episode The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap – If you've been struggling with alll of the symptoms of PCOS and don't know where to start, The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is my proven and proprietary 6-step signature method to PCOS success. I help you identify and address the root causes of YOUR PCOS symptoms so that you can feel confident you're making the right nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement changes for your situation.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is based on the exact same methods and tools I use with my clients to get results. They periods back, confirm ovulation, increase energy, decrease cravings, improve skin and hair, lose weight while eating MORE food, and get pregnant naturally. It contains everything you need for support: including dietitian-designed suggested weekly meal plans and hundreds of PCOS-friendly recipes, 6 exclusive PCOS yoga videos developed to complement the modules of this program, and a private support community where you can join the over 700 women who've gone through the course. And you get lifetime access, so there's no rush in working through the program and you can always go back if things change.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is only open for enrollment 2x a year! We start this round on October 17th! There is an option to upgrade to VIP and add weekly group coaching and lab testing, but those spots are extremely limited.
    Now open for enrollment! (enrollment closes 10/14/22)
    If you are looking for more information about the RCR, watch my FREE Masterclass: PCOS Foundations: A No-BS Root Cause Approach to Sustainable PCOS Management Watch before it disappears on 10/14/2022!  
    Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook for daily posts on PCOS, hormones, and fertility. Check out our website for more articles and information and to learn how to work with Melissa.
     
    Disclaimer: This website and podcast are not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before implementing nutrition, lifestyle, or supplement changes. The symptom resolution timelines discussed in this episode are typical of clients and students of The Hormone Dietitian and may not be typical.

    • 50 min
    Breast Health: What You Need to Know

    Breast Health: What You Need to Know

    A Breast Health Episode October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it's a great time to think about breast health.
    What's normal, what's not, and what can you do to keep your breasts healthy all year long, not just during October!
    In this episode, I'm talking to Dr. Linsey Gold, a breast surgeon who is not only a practicing medical doctor but also shares her insights as a host on The Breast of Everything Podcast as well as on their Website.
    She is a Fellowship trained Breast Surgeon, has worked as the Clinical Director of the Michigan Center for Breast Health, the Director of the Comprehensive Breast Center, Genesys Regional Medical Center. She is involved in the American Society of Breast Surgeons and is certified in Breast Ultrasound. Dr. Gold is alsoan Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. She is actively involved in clinical research and is an investigator and participant in a number of clinical trials under the oversight of the National Cancer Institute.
    For 20 years she has been involved in the care of women throughout every stage of their life, from puberty through pregnancy, menopause, and beyond, she knows how daunting navigating your own personal health journey can be. Her goal is to make the process of finding quality information about breast health more intuitive and empowering. 
    In this week's episode, I'm talking with Dr. Gold about all things breast health, including normal breast changes, problematic changes, diagnostic tests, treatments, and how to prevent breast cancer.
    This Week We Talk About:  Common conditions that lead women to schedule an appointment with a breast surgeon Benign breast health conditions such as abscesses, breast pain What are inverted nipples and when they may be a problem The differences between types of breast imaging techniques Advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment Tips for breast health and care for healthy breasts for a lifetime Dr. Gold's 2 big "no's" when it comes to breast health Should you wear a bra? Is there a best "type" of bra?  
    Mentioned in this episode The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap – If you've been struggling with alll of the symptoms of PCOS in this episode and don't know where to start, The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is my proven and proprietary 6-step signature method to PCOS success. I can help you identify and address the root causes of YOUR PCOS symptoms so that you can feel confident you're making the right nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement changes for your situation.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is based on the exact same methods and tools I use with my clients to get periods back, confirm ovulation, increase energy, decrease cravings, improve skin and hair, lose weight while eating MORE food, and get pregnant naturally. It contains everything you need for support including dietitian-designed suggested weekly meal plans and hundreds of PCOS-friendly recipes, 6 exclusive PCOS yoga videos developed to complement the modules of this program, and a private support community where you can join the over 700 women who've gone through the course. And you get lifetime access, so there's no rush in working through the program and you can always go back if things change.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is only open for enrollment 2x a year and the next round starts October 17, 2022! There will be an option to upgrade to VIP and add weekly group coaching and lab testing, but those spots will be extremely limited.
    Now open for enrollment! (enrollment closes 10/14/22)
    Where to find Dr. Gold: Dr. Gold's Website: The Breast of Everything  & Online Shop
    Dr. Gold's Podcast: The Breast of Everything — be sure to catch my episode
    The Breast of Everything Instagram
      Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook for daily posts on PCOS, hormones, and fert

    • 56 min
    How Do You Know If Your PCOS Plan is Working?

    How Do You Know If Your PCOS Plan is Working?

    How do you know if all the changes you're making to manage your PCOS are actually working? How can you tell if your PCOS is actually improving?
    I got that question from a member of The Hormone Dietitian Community recently, and I thought you might want to hear my answer as well, so I dedicated this episode to answering how to know if PCOS symptoms are improving!
    PCOS is complex, and the symptoms can affect nearly every system in the body. And every case of PCOS is unique — different symptom presentation, different root causes driving those symptoms, different severities of root causes. Not to mention your unique needs, goals, preferences, lifestyle, time and budget to spend implementing changes, access to care, other medical conditions and medications, and more. It may seem like a lot, but the "perfect" PCOS plan for YOU has to be personalized.
    In other words, you can spend a lot of time trying different dietary approaches, different exercise regimens and routines, making sure you're getting enough sleep, finding a stress management approach that works for you,  etc... but which changes are going to make the biggest impact on YOUR PCOS symptoms?
    And that's not even mentioning supplements... there are so many that can potentially be helpful in PCOS, but which is right for your situation?
    It's easy to waste a lot of time and money on approaches that don't work for you, so knowing how to evaluate if your PCOS plan is working or not — and relatively quickly — is important!
    In this week's solo episode, I'm walking you through how to know if your PCOS plan is working for YOU — in other words, how to know if PCOS symptoms are improving, and what timeline you can expect to see improvements happen on.
    This Week I Talk About:  Common PCOS symptoms and the 4 root causes of ALL PCOS symptoms Why I don't consider diet and lifestyle to be root causes of PCOS My 4-pronged treatment approach for PCOS Why the order of my 6-step process impacts time to specific PCOS symptom resolution Which symptoms I typically see clear up first in my PCOS patients and students A realistic timeline for PCOS symptom improvement, and which symptoms take the longest to improve I also take a deeper look at 2 symptoms in particular — weight and infertility — because these are the two most common symptoms my clients and students want to improve What your next step should be in getting relief from PCOS symptoms  
    Mentioned in this episode The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap – If you've been struggling with alll of the symptoms of PCOS and don't know where to start, The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is my proven and proprietary 6-step signature method to PCOS success. I help you identify and address the root causes of YOUR PCOS symptoms so that you can feel confident you're making the right nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement changes for your situation.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is based on the exact same methods and tools I use with my clients to get results. They periods back, confirm ovulation, increase energy, decrease cravings, improve skin and hair, lose weight while eating MORE food, and get pregnant naturally. It contains everything you need for support: including dietitian-designed suggested weekly meal plans and hundreds of PCOS-friendly recipes, 6 exclusive PCOS yoga videos developed to complement the modules of this program, and a private support community where you can join the over 700 women who've gone through the course. And you get lifetime access, so there's no rush in working through the program and you can always go back if things change.
    The PCOS Root Cause Roadmap is only open for enrollment 2x a year! We start this round on October 17th! There is an option to upgrade to VIP and add weekly group coaching and lab testing, but those spots are extremely limited.
    Now open for enrollment! (enrollment closes 10/14/22)
     
    Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a

    • 42 min
    Infertility & Me: A Journey to Infertility Advocacy

    Infertility & Me: A Journey to Infertility Advocacy

    An Infertility Advocacy Episode If you're struggling to get pregnant, are you public with your journey? Infertility advocacy is not easy, and it puts your private life in the public eye. But my guest today decided that the pros far outweighed the cons of sharing her journey to becoming a mother. As a result, she built a strong infertility community of people who understand the struggles where she shares others' stories and helpful resources.
    Wife, mom, women's health, and infertility advocate. Monique Farook has been an entrepreneur for more than ten years.  When she isn't obsessing over home and work life, you can find her on Instagram creating content for her award winning podcast entitled "Infertility And Me." She created the podcast after her own path to motherhood was disrupted by female-factor infertility. Through the podcast, Monique has been able to reach thousands of men and women from all over the world—passing the mic to other survivors to share their stories authentically. Monique's podcast has been featured in Apple iTunes "New & Noteworthy" editor's picks.
    In this week's episode, I'm talking to Monique about her own fertility journey, her work as a fertility advocate, and what it's like being so public about infertility on social media.
    This Week We Talk About:  Monique's journey to conceiving — her diagnoses and challenges finding supportive fertility care What made her step away from fertility treatments for 4 years after a first failed IUI All of the things she tried when she wasn't working with a fertility clinic Why we can't ignore our mental and emotional health while trying to conceive Why she made the decision not to pursue further fertility treatments for a second child When and why she began sharing about infertility online and on her podcast Why you should care about politics if you're undergoing fertility treatments Challenges of social media Helpful resources for evidence-based fertility information and grants  
    Mentioned in this episode PCOS Meal Prep Made Easy Workshop – In this hour-long workshop, I break down what foods you want to include for PCOS and what you may want to consider avoiding or minimizing. Learn my simple 3-step formula for planning meals with PCOS, no matter where you are!
     
    Where to find Monique at Infertility and Me Podcast:
    Infertility and Me Podcast
    Instagram: @infertilityandme
    Additional resources mentioned in this episode:
    Cade Foundation Bundle of Joy Fund The Broken Brown Egg Fertility Rescripted Chasing Creation  
    Love the podcast? Leave a rating and review! Or share an episode with a friend who could benefit!
    Give us a follow on Instagram or Facebook for daily posts on PCOS, hormones, and fertility. Check out our website for more articles and information and to learn how to work with Melissa.
     
    Disclaimer: This website and podcast are not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before implementing nutrition, lifestyle, or supplement changes.

    • 59 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
86 Ratings

86 Ratings

Bea Juliet ,

Hope

This is the most informative education I’ve EVER received on PCOS and that’s saying a lot, because I was diagnosed in 2008 and it’s now 2022. No one ever took the time to explain the A to Z of PCOS to me. I’m so grateful I found Melissa through my own research and, fate-ishly enough, my SIBO dietician recommended her shortly after I found Melissa. I’m looking forward to working with her. It’s been tough, to say the very least, “living” with all my symptoms. Again, I’ve learned so much just by listening to only the first few episodes (so far) of this podcast. What a total shame conventional doctors don’t have this knowledge. They don’t even care to have this knowledge.

terrepp ,

Love the content but the audio needs improvement

Still rating a 5 star review because I love Melissa’s content! But sometimes it’s difficult to listen to with headphones because the audio is so poor. Hopefully that can improve as the podcast expands :)

lesliedietitian1 ,

Wow

Just so much information that anyone looking to improve their hormones with some basic take home messages can follow! Really well done highlight the latest research updates !

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