Dr. Sara Szal: Stop Ignoring What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You! (THESE Are the Hormone Signals You Can’t Afford to Miss!

About this episode

Have you ever felt totally off but couldn’t explain why? Did you ever figure out what was causing it? Today, Jay sits down with Dr. Sara Szal, a Harvard- and MIT-trained physician, researcher, and bestselling author, to dive into a topic that affects everyone but rarely gets the attention it deserves: hormones. Together, they break down what hormones really are, how stress and daily habits can throw them off balance, and why understanding these powerful chemical messengers can completely transform the way we think about health. Dr. Sara shares how simple changes, from better sleep and mindful eating to managing stress, can help reset your body’s natural rhythm in just a few days. This is a conversation that beautifully bridges science and self-awareness, revealing just how deeply our biology and emotions are connected. Jay and Dr. Sara also explore one of today’s most misunderstood topics: women’s health and birth control. Dr. Sara explains how the pill, though widely used, can disrupt hormone balance, increase inflammation, and even affect fertility, insights many women never hear about. She breaks down what’s really happening inside the body and offers practical ways to restore balance through nutrition, testing, and natural alternatives. Together, they also discuss how emotional stress and relationships deeply influence hormonal health, and why learning to understand and manage your body’s signals is one of the most empowering steps you can take for your well-being. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Balance Your Hormones Naturally How to Manage Stress and Lower Cortisol  How to Reset Your Body in Just 3 Days How to Heal Fatigue by Listening to Your Body How to Transition Off Birth Control Safely How to Support Fertility and Hormone Health How to Regulate Before You React When you slow down, nourish yourself, and make small, consistent changes, you create space for balance to return. Health isn’t about perfection or control; it’s about awareness, alignment, and kindness toward yourself. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Join over 750,000 people to receive my most transformative wisdom directly in your inbox every single week with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:28 What Exactly Are Hormones? 02:30 What Causes Hormonal Imbalance? 04:02 How to Measure Stress Hormones 05:11 When You’re Running on Cortisol 06:01 The Truth About Insulin Resistance 07:45 How Hormones Differ in Men and Women 10:21 Why Measuring the Right Hormones Matters 11:30 Simple Ways to Rebalance Your Hormones 14:19 Why Estrogen and Progesterone Decline 20:19 Why You Should Start with Cortisol 22:19 Four Powerful Ways to Reduce Stress 24:17 How to Turn Stress into Strength 25:58 Breaking Free from Chronic Stress 27:52 Everyday Habits to Lower Cortisol 30:08 Feeling Low on Energy But Can’t Explain Why?  35:09 How to Decompress and Recenter Yourself 39:00 Do Men or Women Heal Faster After a Divorce? 41:37 Creating Healthy Emotional Distance 43:06 The Power of Boundaries in Healing 46:35 People-Pleasing: A Hidden Stress Response 49:06 The Biggest Hormonal Shifts in Life 53:09 What You Need to Know About Andropause 54:09 The Evolution of Birth Control 56:24 Painful Periods Are Not Normal! 57:23 Lifestyle Fixes for Acne and Hormone Health 59:09 The Hidden Long-Term Effects of the Pill 01:01:56 How to Reverse the Pill’s Impact 01:03:47 Does Birth Control Affect Fertility? 01:05:33 The Complexity and Simplicity of Hormones 01:08:31 How to Take Ownership of Your Health 01:09:36 Is Natural Birth Control Effective? 01:11:27 How to Make IUD Insertion Less Painful 01:14:05 Getting Pregnant After Birth Control 01:16:31 What Science Says About Cycle Syncing 01:18:06 How to Safely Transition Off the Pill 01:20:41 Where Science Meets Spirituality 01:25:49 Sara on Final Five Episode Resources: Dr Sara Szal | Website Dr Sara Szal | Instagram Dr Sara Szal | YouTube Dr Sara Szal | LinkedIn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices