The Hormone Cafe

In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson dives into nutritional status and nutrition testing—why it’s foundational for hormone production, fertility, and overall health, what nutrients are most important to test, and how to turn results into a personalized action plan.

Dr. Sarah explains why even “healthy eaters” can be nutrient deficient, how deficiencies impact ovulation, egg quality, energy, and metabolism, and why targeted testing allows for precise nutrition and supplement support instead of guesswork.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🥗 Why Nutrition Is the Foundation of Hormone Health
Hormone production depends entirely on having the right nutritional building blocks.
Dr. Sarah explains how proper nutrition supports:

• Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone production
• Regular ovulation and healthy cycles
• Energy, metabolism, and gut function
• Mitochondrial and cellular health

Feeling good, ovulating regularly, and having stable energy all start with nutrition.

🧪 Why We Test Nutrients Instead of Guessing
Even with a “clean” diet, it’s hard to know:

• If you’re absorbing nutrients
• If ratios are correct
• If what you’re doing is actually working

Testing provides clarity, direction, and measurable progress.

🧬 The NutrEval: A Comprehensive Nutrition Panel
One of Dr. Sarah’s favorite tests evaluates:

• Antioxidant status
• Oxidative stress
• Mitochondrial function
• Omega fatty acid ratios
• Toxin exposure
• Methylation needs

This gives a full picture of cellular health and hormone-building capacity.

✨ Antioxidants & Egg Quality
High antioxidant levels are essential for:

• Reducing oxidative stress
• Protecting egg quality
• Preventing chromosomal abnormalities

Key antioxidants evaluated include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Alpha-lipoic acid
• CoQ10

Low antioxidants = increased cellular stress and reduced fertility potential.

⚡ Mitochondrial Health = Energy & Hormones
Mitochondria are the energy factories of your cells.
Poor mitochondrial function can lead to:

• Fatigue
• Poor hormone production
• Brain fog
• Metabolic dysfunction

Nutrition testing helps identify where mitochondrial support is needed.

🔥 Omega-3, Omega-6 & Inflammation Balance
Dr. Sarah explains why omega balance matters:

• Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory and hormone-supportive
• Omega-6s are abundant in seed oils and easy to overconsume

Even “healthy” diets can have excess omega-6 due to salad dressings and packaged foods. Testing ensures proper ratios, not just good intentions.

🐟 Why Omega-3s Are Hard to Get from Diet Alone
Top omega-3 sources are almost exclusively fish.
If fish isn’t eaten 2–3x per week, supplementation is often necessary—and must be measured to ensure it’s working.

☣️ Toxins & Heavy Metals That Impact Hormones
Nutrition testing also screens for:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Arsenic
• Cadmium

These toxins can interfere with estrogen production and overall endocrine function, sometimes requiring detox support or increased antioxidant intake.

🧠 Methylation Support: Are You Using the Right Vitamins?
Some bodies require methylated forms of nutrients like:

• Folate (methylfolate)
• Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)

Without proper methylation, vitamins can build up without being utilized—testing identifies what form your body needs.

🥦 Food First, Supplements Second
Dr. Sarah emphasizes:

• Nutrition should always come first
• Supplements should be targeted, not random
• High levels don’t need more supplementation

Brightly colored fruits and vegetables provide plant-based antioxidants, while supplements fill only true gaps.

💊 Why Supplements Sometimes “Don’t Work”
Low blood levels despite supplementation may indicate:

• Poor absorption
• Capsule fillers (like microcrystalline cellulose)
• Gut or stomach issues

Switching forms (liquid, powder, different capsule) can dramatically improve absorption.

🧂 Minerals Matter More Than You Think
Key minerals tested include:

• Magnesium (sleep, metabolism, hormone balance)
• Zinc (ovulation, immunity)

Deficiencies may reflect absorption issues, mineral imbalances, or endocrine dysfunction.

📊 Personalized Plans, Not Supplement Overload
Dr. Sarah explains why random supplement stacks:

• Overwhelm the gut
• Don’t address root causes
• Waste time and money

Targeted plans focus only on deficiencies—and are re-tested to ensure improvement.

💉 When IV Nutrition Is Helpful
In cases of severe deficiency or malabsorption, IV nutrients can:

• Rapidly replenish vitamins
• Support healing while gut protocols are underway
• Fast-track hormone recovery

IVs may include vitamin C, B vitamins, glutathione, and alpha-lipoic acid.

Key Takeaways:

• Nutrition is the foundation of hormone production
• “Eating healthy” doesn’t guarantee nutrient sufficiency
• Antioxidants are critical for egg quality and cellular health
• Omega balance directly affects inflammation and estrogen
• Supplements should be personalized and measured
• If nutrients aren’t absorbing, gut health must be addressed