The Thorne Podcast

Low T? Natural Ways to Support Testosterone Levels

It’s not just for men: The sex hormone testosterone plays a role in both men’s and women’s health by supporting metabolism, libido, and bone density. Dr. Jennifer Greer, ND, returns to the podcast to discuss the best ways to balance healthy testosterone levels at every age.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. This week’s returning guest, Dr. Jennifer Greer, Thorne’s Director of Medical Education [1:01]
2. What is testosterone? How is testosterone different in men and women? [4:24]
   • How age affects testosterone levels [6:49]
   • Endocrine disruptors and aromatase: Why testosterone levels are declining across all age groups [10:18]
3. Dietary interventions and supplements to help optimize testosterone levels [14:44]
   • Benefits of shilajit, a supplement from Ayurvedic medicine [16:05]
   • Ashwagandha, an adaptogen that helps balance hormones in men [19:20]
   • Zinc for men’s health [22:02]
4. Questions from the community
   • How do a man’s testosterone levels affect fertility? [25:27]
   • What’s the difference between testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and a testosterone support supplement? [28:02]
   • What ingredients should I look for in a testosterone support supplement? [30:41]
   • How do I prevent my testosterone levels from dropping? [33:58]
   • Are there safe ways to support testosterone levels at age 50 and older? [35:20]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• How Thorne's Medical Affairs Promotes Supplement Education, with Dr. Jennifer Greer
• Meet the Sex Hormones and Their Role in Your Health
• How Exercise Routines (Or Lack of One) Affect Your Testosterone Level
• Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men
• Too High or Too Low? A Guide to Women’s Testosterone Levels
• Mayo Clinic: 10 Things You Didn't Know about Male Menopause
• Zinc 101
• Can a Man Boost His Fertility Through Diet?
• How to Create a Men's Health Diet Plan
• The Thyroid's Role in Regulating Your Sex Drive
• Mayo Clinic: Essential Health Screenings for Men
• Hormones and Your Health
• Common Endocrine Disruptors and Hormone Health

Products related to this episode: Advanced Testosterone Support, Zinc, Men's Multi 50+, Hormone Advantage

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Podcast Rewind: Lifestyle Factors that Lead to High Blood Pressure

Note: This episode originally aired in November 2021. Find out what Dr. Lipman and Dr. Rountree have to say about the rise of blood pressure in U.S. adults, hypertension symptoms, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for your heart.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. High blood pressure as a lifestyle issue [1:54]
   • Modern society and high blood pressure [2:20]
   • Influence of western diet [3:05]
2. Lifestyle factors for high blood pressure [4:08]
3. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome [5:00]
4. Salt sensitivity [5:47]
5. Diet and high blood pressure [6:47]
6. Stress and high blood pressure [7:29]
   • Lack of sleep and exercise [8:00]
7. What to do about high blood pressure [8:36]
   • Addressing lifestyle issues [8:48]
8. Consequences of high blood pressure [10:48]
   • Symptoms [11:20]
9. Measuring blood pressure [12:20]
10. Supplements [13:30]
    • Fish oil [14:48]
    • Methyl-Guard [15:08]
    • Olive oil and olive leaf [18:08]
11. Questions for the community [20:00]
    • How does blood pressure work? [20:20]
      • Understanding systolic and diastolic numbers [20:30]
      • Hypertension [22:27]
    • What to look for if you have high blood pressure [22:48]
    • How can I lower blood pressure immediately? [22:43]
    • Why is blood pressure called hypertension? [25:12]
    • Does blood pressure vary by age? [26:02]
      • Blood pressure going up with age [26:26]
    • What is the best kind of yoga for dealing with blood pressure? [27:06]
    • Why does anxiety increase blood pressure? [29:11]
      • Stress chemicals [29:20]
    • How to maintain healthy blood pressure [31:00]
    • Understanding low blood pressure [32:15]

Products mentioned in this episode: Methyl-Guard®, L-Arginine, PolyResveratrol-SR®, CoQ10, Magnesium Bisglycinate, Berberine, Super EPA Pro

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Nutrition For Healthy Blood Vessel Elasticity
• The Benefits of Healthy Blood Vessels
• What’s the Connection: Understanding How Weight Affects Blood Fats

• Metabolic Syndrome Guide 

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Optimize Your Health with Polygenic Risk Scores

At-home DNA tests are everywhere, but what can your DNA tell you about your risk for developing serious diseases like cancer? Returning guest Dr. Joel Evans from Genetype and The Center for Functional Medicine explains how a polygenic risk score may help optimize your future.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. This week’s guest: Dr. Joel Evans, OB-GYN and functional medicine doctor [0:55]
2. How to use polygenic risk scores, a powerful disease prediction tool [2:45]
   • What are SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)? [5:57]
   • Breakthrough genome-wide association studies (GWAS) [7:15]
3. From GWAS to PRS: Polygenic risk scores show genetic predisposition to disease [10:55]
   • How polygenic risk scores compare to popular DNA test kits [13:14]
4. Who may benefit from getting their polygenic risk score measured? [17:22]
5. Questions from the community
   • If I score high on polygenic risk for something like cancer, does that mean I will get cancer? [22:22]
   • How much do polygenic risk tests cost? Are they worth the cost? [26:49]
   • Are polygenic risk scores the same as ancestry DNA tests? [28:55]
   • How do polygenic risk scores work? Are they secure? Do I need to worry about privacy? [30:02]
   • How can I use my polygenic risk score to optimize my health? [33:21]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Dr. Joel Evan’s work on polygenic risk scores at Genetype and The Center For Functional Medicine
• Discover more ways to test your health at home with Thorne
• Assess Your Biological Age With Thorne's Biological Age Health Panel
• How It Works: Health Panel Blood Draw
• What Can A Microbiome Test Tell You That A Genetic Test Can't?
• How Does Thorne's Biological Age Panel Work?

Products mentioned in this episode: Biological Age Health Panel, Essential Health Panel, Advanced Health Panel

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

How to Make a New Year’s Resolution Stick

Is it possible to make a New Year’s resolution that lasts? Yes! Dr. Jennifer Greer, Thorne’s Director of Medical Education, joins Dr. Robert Rountree to share tips that will help you set realistic goals and achieve your New Year’s resolutions without losing motivation along the way.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. This week’s guest: Dr. Jennifer Greer, ND, MEd, Thorne’s Director of Medical Education [1:00]
2. How to build a successful New Year’s resolution [2:57]
   • Small steps vs. big changes [4:56]
   • Do something you like to find something you love [7:16]
   • Set a goal that can adapt and evolve with you [8:30]
3. How to prepare for a fitness resolution [9:34]
   • Exercise safely [10:30]
   • Go at your own pace; don’t compare your progress to others [11:26]
   • Listen to your body and monitor your biomarkers [11:59]
4. What are the best health tests for New Year’s success? [17:27]
5. Is your resolution related to diet? Why you should see a nutritionist [21:31]
6. Questions from the community
   • What are some low-effort, high-reward New Year’s resolutions? [25:24]
   • How do I set realistic goals without losing motivation? [28:17]
   • Is it worth setting resolutions that may be out of my direct control? [30:34]
   • What are the best resolutions to support mental health? [34:26]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Home Health Tests from Thorne: Meaningful insights, personalized plans
• How to Set and Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution
• 6 Tips to Jumpstart Your New Year's Resolutions
• The Science of Change | 7 Steps to Create New Habits This Year
• The Thorne Testing Philosophy: 5 Ways We’re Revolutionizing Wellness
• Five Strategies for Healthy Weight Management
• Healthy Living: We Know What to Do. Why Don't We Do It?
• Combat Winter Fatigue with Hygge – a Danish Secret to Happiness
• What is Dry January? Your 5 Questions, Answered

Products mentioned in this episode: Stress Test; Biological Age Health Panel; Sleep Test; Gut Health Test

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

All About GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs

Everyone is talking about GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Dr. Robert Rountree and Dr. Amanda Frick explain how glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs work, their history of use for insulin resistance, what the common side effects are, and how to support patients who take GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. What is GLP-1? [2:52]
   • How do GLP-1 weight-loss drugs work? [3:24]
2. Why are weight-loss drugs controversial? [5:42]
3. How long do you have to stay on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? [9:05]
   • Effects of GLP-1 weight-loss on mental and emotional health [10:54]
4. How to support patients on GLP-1weight-loss drugs [11:39]
5. Questions from the community
   • What are GLP-1 side effects? [15:17]
   • How can I avoid nausea and GI upset while taking GLP-1 medicine? [16:13]
   • What alternatives to GLP-1 drugs may benefit weight management? [19:15]
   • How do GLP-1 drugs affect the brain and promote a positive mood? [21:33]
   • What foods should I avoid when taking GLP-1 drugs? [22:34]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Explore Thorne’s Wellness Guides for Weight Management and Medically Guided Weight Loss
• Download all Thorne’s free Wellness Guides
• Managing Side Effects of Weight Loss Medicines
• Top 5 Ozempic® Questions Answered
• 20 Surprising Things that Can Affect Your Weight
• Five Strategies for Healthy Weight Management
• Weight Management Tips While Working from Home
• 6 Tips for Keeping Your Weight in Check During the Holidays
• Can a Probiotic Help You with Weight Management?
• Manage Your Weight with Mindful Eating
• The Six Best Supplements for Healthy Weight According to a Registered Dietician
• Here's the Skinny on Healthy Weight Gain – 4 Steps to Help Your BMI
• Previously on The Thorne Podcast: What is Metabolism?; The Secrets to Effective Weight Management; We Took Thorne's Weight Management Test
  • Weight Management Series: Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle, Supplements, Listeners’ Questions

Products related to this episode: Weight Management Test; Berberine; Metabolic Health; GI Relief

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

How to Interpret Your Vitamin D Test Results

Are you getting enough vitamin D? How much is too much? Dr. Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree took Thorne’s at-home Vitamin D Test to answer these questions and more. Listen here and visit Thorne’s YouTube channel to allow along as they analyze their results.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Why you need to test vitamin D levels [0:58]
   • Benefits of at-home health testing [5:48]
2. How to take Thorne’s Vitamin D Test: Blood spot collection tips [10:26]
3. Robert Rountree’s Vitamin D Test results [13:00]
   • Benefits of re-testing vitamin D levels throughout the year [16:27]
   • Vitamin D diet recommendations [17:09]
   • What are some vegan vitamin D foods? [18:33]
4. Amanda Frick’s Vitamin D Test results [19:36]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Watch Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree go over their results.
• Follow Thorne on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest health and wellness news
• Connect with Frick on LinkedIn
• The Sunshine Supplement: Understanding Vitamin D and the Sun
• Seven Reasons to Know Your Vitamin D Level
• Can You Take Too Much Vitamin D?
• Can You Take Vitamin D During Pregnancy?
• The Risks of Being Vitamin D Deficient as an Athlete
• Soaking Up the Sun: Should You Supplement Vitamin D Year-Round?
• 5 Foods High in Vitamin D
• Anxious or Depressed? Focus On These Micronutrient Blood Levels
• Multivitamin vs. Individual Vitamins: Which is Best?
• How the Stress Test Works: Results and Insights
• We Took Thorne's Weight Management Test
• What Do My Sleep Test Results Mean?
• What My Menopause Test Results Mean for My Cycle
• The Thyroid Test: What to Expect and How It Works
• What You’ll Learn From Biological Age Testing

Products mentioned in this episode: Vitamin D Test; Vitamin D Supplements; Super EPA; Methyl-Guard®; Methyl-Guard Plus®; Basic Nutrients 2/Day

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

Adaptogens, Revisited: Benefits of Ginseng

Adaptogens, like ginseng root, are botanicals that help the body “adapt” to stress, promote physical endurance, and fortify mental clarity. But are there side effects of adaptogens? Host Dr. Robert Rountree and Dr. Amanda Frick explore the short-term and long-term benefits of supplements with ginseng and other common adaptogens.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. The history of adaptogens, from traditional medicine to modern uses [1:49]
   • Ginseng: One of the best adaptogens that promotes energy and focus [4:31]
   • Why is ginseng so expensive? [7:11]
   • Wildcrafted vs. cultivated ginseng, which is best? [9:07]
2. Long-term and short-term benefits of adaptogen supplements [12:43]
   • What are adaptogens’ side effects [15:57]
   • How adaptogens promote physical and mental endurance [18:43]
3. Questions from the community
   • Should I talk to a doctor before starting an adaptogen supplement routine? [23:56]
   • Can adaptogens interfere with the sleep-wake cycle? [25:51]
   • How do adaptogens work within a broader wellness routine for stress relief? [27:38]
   • What are the different types of ginseng? [31:11]
   • How long should I take an adaptogen supplement? Should I alternate taking different adaptogens? [32:50]
   • What is the best way to take an adaptogen? As a tea? As a capsule? As a powder? [35:28]

Resources related to this episode:

• Thorne: Redefining Healthy Aging
• What Are Adaptogens and Why Should You Care?
• Navigating the Science Behind Botanical Extracts
• Eleuthero: A Botanical that Supports Your Vitality
• Easy Ways to Decrease Stress at Work
• The Potential Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom
• 4 Ways Stress and Technology Can Wear You Out
• Thorne’s Medical Affairs Team: Turning Science Into Education
• The Perfect Supplements for Stressed Parents
• All About Adaptogens: Types, Benefits, and Uses

Products related to this episode: Ginseng Plus; Daily Greens Plus; Stress Balance; Emotion Balance Support

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

Common Endocrine Disruptors and Hormone Health

Pesticides, plastics, pollution, and even certain foods can interfere with the body’s hormones. These agents are called endocrine disruptors, and they can affect fertility, growth and development, and thyroid function. Dr. Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree explore lifestyle tips to ease the impact of environmental endocrine disruptors.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. What are endocrine disruptors? How do they interfere with hormones? [1:15]
   • Examples of endocrine disruptors: Plastics, pesticides, and more [3:13]
2. Effects of endocrine disruptors on fertility in women and in men [9:04]
3. Can foods act as endocrine disruptors? [11:26]
4. Birth control pills and why endocrine disruptors are not all bad [15:10]
5. Proactive steps to take at home to mitigate negative effects of endocrine disruptors [20:40]
6. Questions from the community
   • How do endocrine disruptors influence disorders like PCOS? [23:02]
   • Can endocrine disruptors in certain foods and plastics interfere with the effectiveness of birth control? [25:16]
   • Why do people respond so differently to different hormones? What role does genetics or individual microbiome play? [26:55]
   • What are the best nutrients that help mitigate the effects of endocrine disruptors? [31:53]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Healthy Aging at Thorne
• Four Common Endocrine Disruptors and How to Avoid Them
• Estrogen Dominance: What it is, how to recognize it, and what you can do about it
• Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men
• Metabolic Syndrome – What is it and What Causes it?
• Symptoms, Causes, and Consequences of an Overactive Thyroid
• 9 Factors That You Didn’t Know Can Affect Fertility
• Lifestyle Tips for Managing PCOS
• How Lifestyle and Environmental Factors Contribute to PMS
• How to Support Healthy Ovarian Aging
• Healthy Aging Quiz
• Hormones and Your Health

Products related to this episode: Broccoli Seed Extract, Biological Age Health Panel, Ovarian Care, Basic B Complex, Stress B-Complex

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

Podcast Rewind: The Secrets to Healthy Skin

Note: This episode originally aired in May 2022. Achieving healthy, glowing skin starts by supporting a healthy lifestyle. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree cover the nutrients, lifestyle habits, and other ways to support radiant skin. 

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Basic principles of skin health [2:30]
2. Cigarettes impact on skin health [3:44]
3. Sunbathing and skin [5:05]
   • Vitamin D [6:18]
4. Skin protectants [9:00]
   • Sulforaphane [9:18]
5. Skin supportive nutrients [12:30]
   • Collagen Plus [14:00]
6. Collagen and skin health [15:40]
   • Collagen forms [17:30]
   • Peptides [18:30]
   • Collagen taste [19:30]
7. Questions from the community [23:22]

• Why do we need lotions and creams? [23:30]
• What does sunscreen do for skin health? [28:00]
  • What fruits are good for glowing skin? [30:00]
  • What cause acne and what can be done about it [31:39]
  • Water and your skin [33:56]
  • What destroys collagen in the body? [35:05]
  • How can I manage eczema? [36:00]
  • What is Botox? [39:35]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Expert Tips for Ultimate Skin Hydration
• The Plant Extracts that Support Healthy Skin Aging
• Considering Botox for Younger-Looking Skin? Read These Tips First
• 6 Supplements that Maintain Healthy Skin from the Inside Out
• Collagen For Your Skin
• Fish Oil and Skin Health – What's the Connection?
• Mayo Clinic: How Sunlight and Pollution Cause Skin to Age (And What You Can Do About It)
• Mayo Clinic: Effective Tools for Skin Longevity
• Mayo Clinic: Protect Fragile Skin as You Age
• Mayo Clinic: How Antioxidants Protect Your Skin from Sun-Induced Aging
• Mayo Clinic: Under Pressure – The Impact of Stress on Skin Health
• Mayo Clinic: The Beauty of Sleep – How Your Skin Reflects Your Rest
• The Microbes on Your Skin: Your Partners in Healthy Living
• Five Expert Tips for Cold-Weather Skincare
• Tips for Protecting Your Skin Inside and Out This Summer
• Pros and Cons of Different Types of Sunscreen

Products related to this episode: Collagen Plus, Collagen Fit, Biotin, Skin Health Bundle

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Menopause Self-Care – Before, During, and After

All women face menopause, but not all women have the same menopause symptoms. Dr. Joel Evans, OB-GYN, returns to the podcast to talk about hormone changes women face before, during, and after menopause and what self-care lifestyle interventions women can practice to address their symptoms.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Returning guest Dr. Joel Evans, OB/GYN [0:54]
2. What is menopause? When does menopause start? [2:35]
   • Can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) ease menopause symptoms? [5:49]
   • How long does menopause last? [8:03]
3. Lifestyle factors that influence when menopause starts and ends [10:19]
   • How gut health influences hormonal health [11:52]
4. How do hormones like estrogen and testosterone affect menopause? [13:50]
   • Is HRT beneficial for managing menopause symptoms, like hot flashes? [16:16]
   • How long should a woman continue hormone therapy after menopause ends? [19:38]
5. Questions from the community
   • What is premenopause and when can it start? [24:03]
   • What causes hot flashes? What are treatments for hot flashes? [24:45]
   • What cause menopause weight gain? How can a woman lose weight during and after menopause? [28:31]
   • How can someone interested in biohacking prepare for menopause and hormone changes? [35:48]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more about Dr. Joel Evans’s work at The Center for Functional Medicine and The Institute for Functional Medicine
• Am I in Menopause?
• How to Stay Healthy During and After Menopause
• 6 Strategies to Control the Menopause Chaos
• Embracing A Positive Mindset During Menopause From Mayo Clinic
• 6 Foods You May Want to Avoid During Menopause
• 6 Women's Health Allies to Support You During Every Life Phase
• A Lifetime of Balanced Nutrition Advice for Women
• Are You an Athlete Who Suffers From Leaky Gut?
• What My Menopause Test Results Mean for My Cycle
• What Causes a Leaky Gut?
• All About the Thyroid, the Body's ‘Sentinel Gland’ (featuring Dr. Joel Evans)
• What is Stress and How Does It Affect the Body? (featuring Dr. Joel Evans)

Products mentioned in this episode: Menopause Test, Vitamin D Test, Advanced Bone Support, B Vitamins, Calcium, Vitamin D

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.