Dr. Amanda Tracy, ND

03/23/2026

GLP-1 medications are changing the metabolic health conversation. They can reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve blood sugar regulation. But here's what's often missed: Weight loss does not automatically mean metabolic health.

When appetite drops significantly, many people unintentionally under-eat protein, fiber, micronutrients, and electrolytes.
This can lead to muscle loss, hair thinning, fatigue, constipation, and a slower metabolism over time.

If you're using a GLP-1, your focus should be:

Prioritizing protein at every meal
Strength training to preserve muscle
Hydration + electrolytes
Fiber to support gut health
Monitoring nutrient status

These medications are tools. Long-term metabolic resilience still depends on muscle mass, nutrient density, and nervous system balance.

03/22/2026

Many women notice that in their 40s, alcohol hits differently.

More flushed. More anxious the next day. Waking at 3am. Heart racing overnight. And your hormones play a role.

Estrogen influences how your body metabolizes alcohol and regulates sleep. As levels fluctuate in perimenopause, your tolerance can drop, even if your habits haven't changed.

What used to feel fine now disrupts:

Sleep quality
Mood stability
Stress resilience

If alcohol suddenly feels different, your hormones may be part of the story.

03/22/2026

2026 Resolution still going strong - March new restaurant Tea House Cafe in Petaluma, CA. Lots of beverages choices and surprisingly delish vegan chocolate banana bread.

03/20/2026

"I'm just busy."
"It's stress."
"I'm getting older."

Your body doesn't create symptoms randomly. Low energy, poor sleep, stubborn weight gain, mood swings... they're signals. Signals that something is out of balance.

Hormones.
Blood sugar.
Inflammation.
Nutrient status.

We don't ask, "What suppresses this?" We ask, "Why is this happening?"

You don't have to accept feeling "off" as your normal.

Ready to understand what your body is trying to tell you? Book a comprehensive health evaluation.

03/19/2026

The body is always trying to regulate itself. Cravings can be attempts to restore.

If someone skips breakfast, eats a light lunch, pushes through the day on caffeine, and feels strong carb cravings at 9 p.m., that is physiology correcting an energy imbalance.
If chocolate cravings intensify before a period, that is often progesterone decline interacting with serotonin and dopamine pathways.
If salty foods feel irresistible during high stress, that may reflect fluid shifts, cortisol patterns, or simple dehydration.

We need to look at what system is under-supported.

When we stabilize blood sugar, improve sleep, increase protein intake, build muscle mass, and regulate stress physiology, cravings often soften naturally.

If cravings feel intense, frequent, or hard to control, it may be a sign that your metabolism or nervous system needs support, not that your willpower is failing.

03/16/2026

Researchers are launching a major study to better understand something many women have experienced but few have talked about:

The link between perimenopause and serious mental health changes.

We've known that depression and mood shifts can increase during midlife. What's less discussed is that risk for more severe psychiatric symptoms can also rise during this hormonal transition.

This new study will track daily hormone fluctuations in women ages 40-60 to better understand how shifting estrogen and progesterone may impact brain health.

Why this matters: Perimenopause isn't "just hormones." It's a neurological transition.

And for many women, mental health changes during this time are real, biological, and deserving of proper attention.

https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2025/10/researchers-lead-$37m-study-to-shed-light-on-perimenopause-and-psychosis

03/14/2026

The truth is: Desire is influenced by neurochemistry, hormones, metabolic health, and nervous system regulation. It is not simply a reflection of interest or effort.

Chronic stress increases cortisol. Elevated cortisol suppresses reproductive signaling. Testosterone, which plays a role in desire for women as well as men, gradually declines with age and can drop more quickly under prolonged stress.

Add in thyroid dysfunction, blood sugar instability, perimenopausal hormone shift, and libido often changes.

We consider, everything when it comes to low libido concerns for both men and women:
Free and total testosterone
Progesterone and estradiol balance
Thyroid markers
Cortisol rhythm
Sleep quality

If your libido has shifted and you're not sure why, it may not be in your head.

03/13/2026

When you were planning to review labs for next week's patients but your keyboard batteries die and your computer mouse needs to be charged...c'est la vie! 📖 🏊‍♀️

03/13/2026

When they ask...do we have anything to make a salad for dinner? 🥗

How about..
Romaine
Radicchio
Parsley and Mint
Red and Yellow Bell peppers
Beets
Red onion
Purple cabbage
Carrots
Black Lentils
Chickpeas
Quinoa
Vegan feta

03/11/2026

https://redefiningmenopause.com/articles/why-menopause-doesnt-have-to-mean-suffering/

Synopsis: This article challenges conventional medicine's approach to menopause by presenting it as a natural life transition requiring holistic support rather than a hormone deficiency disease needing symptom suppression. It reveals how naturopathic medicine addresses root causes (nutrition, stress...

03/11/2026

Hormones don't work based on levels alone. They work based on how well your cells can respond to them. If inflammation, chronic stress, metabolic dysfunction, or environmental toxins interfere with hormone receptors, the signal never fully reaches the cell - even when blood work looks "fine."

This missing piece explains why so many people feel dismissed despite persistent symptoms.

Book your Free Hormone Health Analysis
https://dramandatracy.practicebetter.io/ #/61c10e253980330ecc7e6cd2/bookings?s=6480b17696138164dbc7eda8

02/27/2026

👉 Step 1: Protein. You need more than you think. Aim for 20–30 grams per meal to fuel muscle, balance blood sugar, and reduce cravings.
👉 Step 2: Fiber-rich carbs. Think roasted sweet potatoes, lentils, or quinoa. These stabilize energy and feed your gut — which is deeply connected to your hormones.
👉 Step 3: Healthy fats. Avocados, olive oil, flax — they help your body actually make hormones and keep inflammation in check.
👉 Step 4: Colorful veggies. Cruciferous ones like broccoli and kale support estrogen detox through the liver. Every color brings a benefit.

Comment the word GUIDE below, and I’ll send you my free Hormone Support Recipe Guide to get you started!