Amy Nelson, ND

05/18/2026

I spend a lot of time studying the gut, neurotransmitters, and hormones, and one thing I see over and over again is how many people have gut inflammation without realizing it.
A lot of people assume they would “know” if something was wrong with their gut. They think they’d have bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, or obvious digestive symptoms. But that’s not always the case.
I was reading several studies today looking at silent gut inflammation and even silent inflammatory bowel disease — meaning there can be active inflammation happening in the GI tract without noticeable symptoms at all.
This is why I don’t rely on symptoms alone when evaluating gut health. Symptoms matter, but they don’t always tell the whole story. Sometimes you have to actually measure what’s happening in the body to understand whether the gut is inflamed, healing, or functioning properly.
Your body can be communicating long before it starts screaming.

05/16/2026

Urinary Hormone and Cortisol Testing IS Valid - Let's Get Into the Details! -

I am puzzled when I hear the claim that urine testing for hormones is invalid. Usually my follow up question is “why do you think that?” The response is typically, “Well, someone said so.” This is when I am reminded of the “appeal to authority” fallacy of logic; it’s when one argues a ...

05/15/2026

Yes, breastfeeding can impact your hormones and nutrient status more than most people realize.
Milk is made from your blood, so if iron, vitamin D, or thyroid levels are low, your body will feel it—often as fatigue, hair loss, and feeling “off.”
There’s also a hormonal seesaw between prolactin and thyroid function that can shift how you feel postpartum.
This is why postpartum labs matter. Consider checking:�• Iron / ferritin�• Thyroid panel�• Vitamin D
Support your body—it’s doing a lot right now.

05/14/2026

I love sharing health talks in the community— meeting everyone, hearing your questions, getting out of the office and away from my desk LOL! Here are a few pictures from my talk last weekend at Natural Grocers in North Austin!
Big thanks to everyone that came out! If you missed it, you’ll have another chance this Saturday! I’ll be speaking at the Natural Grocers in Georgetown from 2-3pm. We’ll be discussing gut health and its effect on the hormonal system. Consider this your personal invitation! I would love for you to join us! Details below!!

05/13/2026

Let’s talk about hormones and the nervous system!

05/13/2026

Normal Labs Don’t Always Tell The Whole Story

Feeling “fine” on paper—but not fine in your body—is more common than most people realize.
Standard lab work often provides a limited snapshot. But many patterns only show up when you look at a broader set of markers and trends over time.
That’s why deeper investigation matters—using the right testing, enough data points, and a full clinical picture to understand what’s actually going on.
Because real health isn’t just about being “within range”, it’s about how your body is functioning as a whole.

05/12/2026

One of the most common things I see in practice is that hormone symptoms—like fatigue, PMS, weight changes, or irregular cycles—aren’t just about hormones themselves.
They’re often connected to gut health and how the body is processing and eliminating hormones, especially estrogen.
When digestion is sluggish or the gut is inflamed, it can affect how well the body maintains hormonal balance. This is why addressing gut health is often an important piece of the bigger picture.

I’ll be speaking at a free community health talk at Natural Grocers-North Lamar where I’ll be covering this in more detail:

📍 May 16th | 2:00–3:00 PM� Natural Grocers – North Lamar Blvd/The Triangle

If you’ve been curious about what might actually be driving your symptoms, these talks are designed to help you better understand the connection between gut health and hormones—and what you can start paying attention to.

If you’d like more personalized support, you can learn more about working with me here:�👉 dramynelsonnd.com

05/11/2026

“Your labs are normal.”
But are you actually healthy?
Think of it like a smoke detector. You don’t wait until flames are shooting out the windows to realize there’s a fire, you want the early warning signs.
Most conventional labs are designed to catch disease once it’s obvious, not when it’s quietly developing.

So “normal” often just means:
No major pathology yet
Nothing severe enough to flag
The fire hasn’t fully started

But underneath, trends, imbalances, and early dysfunction can already be there.
This is where real prevention lives. Noticing subtle shifts early and doing something about them before things escalate.
Don’t wait for the flames. Pay attention to the smoke.

05/08/2026

Cortisol plays a much bigger role in weight and metabolism than most people realize.
It naturally peaks in the morning, but when it stays elevated all day due to chronic stress, the body stays in a “high alert” state.
That keeps blood sugar elevated, even without food intake, which over time can increase insulin resistance and make weight regulation more difficult.
From a biological standpoint, this is a survival response. Your body interprets stress as potential danger or scarcity and adapts accordingly.
The goal is not just hormone balance, but helping your body feel safe again through stress regulation, nervous system support, and daily habits that restore a sense of stability.

05/07/2026

If you’re stressed, intermittent fasting might be doing more harm than good.
When your body is already under stress, skipping meals can spike anxiety, dysregulate blood sugar, and put extra strain on your adrenals. Instead of pushing through, it may be time to shift your approach.
Stabilizing your blood sugar doesn’t require restriction—it can be as simple as consistently fueling your body with protein and fiber throughout the day.
Your body isn’t something to fight. It’s something to support.