Alcohol. It's the kind of frenemy that many women have a love-hate relationship with. It may make us feel good in the moment—relaxed, more social, less anxious—but many women find that after a drink or several, they’re moody, irritable, don’t sleep as well, and feel overall kind of not-so-great. Are there reasons for this that are unique to women? And can alcohol have hidden effects on our estrogen? Progesterone? Menstrual cycles? What about your gut? Circadian rhythm? Thyroid?

That’s exactly what we’ll explore together in this two part series on women, alcohol, and our hormones. Whether you’re having a dry July 4th or just hitting the brakes a little now, what better time of year is there to do a little self-check-in on this anyway? It can be a perfect time to revaluate your relationship with alcohol altogether.

We’ll be diving straight into the research and discussing the direct impact alcohol has on women’s hormonal and long-term health, so you can make the most informed decisions when it comes to alcohol consumption that best fit your lifestyle.

In the first of this two part series on women, alcohol, and our hormones, we'll deep dive into...

• Why we need to know how much a "drink" really is in terms of alcohol content
• The differences between how men and women metabolize alcohol and why this is so important
• The differences between light, moderate, heavy, and binge drinking and why it matters
• How your personal background can play a role in the way you react to alcohol
• The truth about red wine consumption and the French Paradox
• The dynamic between alcohol, inflammation, leaky gut, blood sugar, and thyroid health
• How alcohol impacts estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and our menstrual cycles

This episode will give you food for thought and some important information to consider as you intentionally reflect on whether and how much to include alcohol in your lifestyle with zero judgment.

Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

I’m so excited to share an encore interview with the brilliant, hilarious, and incredibly insightful Emily Nagoski, author of Come As You Are, Come Together, and Burnout (co-written with her sister). Emily is a renowned sex educator who brings a blend of scientific rigor and relatable storytelling to the conversation about women's sexual health and pleasure. Get ready for a foxy (you’ll have to listen to hear why this is literally true!)conversation full of laughter, wisdom, and relatable experiences. Today we talk about her latest book: Come Together (she does come up the most perfect titles!). Note we talk about SEX and get real. So perhaps not an episode with littles in the car unless you want to do a lot of explaining while you listen.

In this episode we dive deep into:

• High Expectations and Reality Checks: Emily shares the unexpected challenges of writing Come As You Are and the personal journey that inspired Come Together. Discover how stress and exhaustion can impact desire, even for a sex educator.
• The Emotional Floor Plan: Learn about the emotional floor plan concept that Emily developed to understand her journey from stress to pleasure. This framework is a game-changer for navigating intimacy in long-term relationships.
• Say the Words: Emily and Aviva discuss the importance of desensitizing yourself to sexual language. Get ready to laugh and learn as they share exercises for getting comfortable talking about sex - starting with getting comfortable talking about body parts.
• The Patriarchy and Pleasure: Emily dives into the complex impact of the patriarchy on sexual relationships. Discover how societal norms and expectations shape our desires and how to break free from them.
• Unleashing Your Inner Wild: Aviva and Emily explore how women can reconnect with their deep feminine energy and inner wise woman. Learn about the power of rewilding and embracing your authentic self.
• Navigating Change: Practical tips for couples on how to navigate change and maintain a strong sexual connection. From creating safe conversations to understanding each other’s needs, this segment is packed with actionable advice.
• The Four Questions: Emily shares four essential questions to help couples understand and improve their sexual relationship. These questions are a roadmap to deeper connection and pleasure.
• The Power of Love: Emily’s profound realization about the impermanence of life and the importance of kindness, compassion, and play in relationships. Aviva reflects on her own 40-year marriage and the lessons she’s learned.

We hope this episode helps you feel seen, heard, and empowered. If you enjoy it - and On Health in general - please share this with a friend and leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes on the regular.

Resources Mentioned:

• Emily Nagoski’s books: Come As You Are, Come Together, and Burnout (co-written with her sister).
• Aviva Romm’s courses and blog: AvivaRomm.com

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in...

In this fresh and delightful episode I sit down with Olivia Amitrano, herbalist, host of the popular What’s the Juice podcast and founder of Organic Olivia, a successful botanical medicines company. Olivia opens up about her transformative journey through herbalism, personal growth, and the essential practice of honest self-reflection on the relationships in our lives and our relationship to ourselves.

We dive deep into Olivia’s:

• First encounters with plants and how this sparked her enduring passion for herbal medicine.
• Insights on the art of noticing and the power of forming deep, meaningful relationships with the natural world.
• Exploration of how our health is intricately influenced by our relationships and environments.
• Personal experiences with codependency, the importance of establishing boundaries, and the journey of self-discovery and the courage it takes to face uncomfortable truths.
• Revelation that deeper personal changes were needed beyond herbs and foods to heal not just her insulin resistance, but her resistance to making changes in her habits.
• Realizations about the effects of substances like caffeine and cannabis on her health and well-being.
• Unique practice of hosting internal funerals to release habits and relationships that no longer serve her.
• Engagement with "parts" work and internal family systems therapy to understand and heal different facets of herself.

Olivia and I share insights about:

• The use of herbs in dreamwork and their subtle, yet profound, influence on the psyche.
• How slowing down and allowing plants to guide us can lead to profound personal growth.
• The intersection of mindfulness and self-compassion in achieving true well-being beyond herbs and foods.

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements