Episode 104: Why Allergy Season Hits So Hard — The Histamine, Gut, Liver & Stress Connection

Episode 113: Stop Chasing Symptoms: Why Your Hormones Might Not Be the Real Problem with Patricia Elliott

You've been told it's your hormones. Maybe it's your thyroid. Maybe it's stress. Maybe it's just getting older. But what if your symptoms are pointing to something else entirely? In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, Monika Eva is joined by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach Patricia Elliott to explore why so many women stay stuck treating symptoms instead of uncovering what's actually driving them. Fatigue, stubborn weight, brain fog, digestive issues, hormone imbalances, and thyroid concerns often look incredibly similar on the surface. The challenge? The root cause isn't always what you think. Together, Monika and Patricia discuss why conditions like Hashimoto's, mold exposure, chronic stress, grief, gut dysfunction, and hormone imbalances can all present with overlapping symptoms—and why chasing one diagnosis or one supplement rarely leads to lasting results. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" but still don't feel like yourself, this episode will help you understand why connecting the dots is one of the most powerful things you can do for your health. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why it's not always "just hormones" • How different root causes can produce nearly identical symptoms • Why Hashimoto's, mold exposure, and hormone imbalances are often confused • The impact chronic stress and grief can have on your physical health • Why women often have more than one root cause contributing to their symptoms • How functional practitioners identify patterns instead of simply treating symptoms • Why personalized testing and a thorough health history matter • How shifting your focus from symptom management to root-cause healing can change everything Whether you're navigating stubborn weight, low energy, digestive issues, thyroid concerns, hormone imbalances, or simply know something feels "off," this conversation will give you a new perspective on what your body may actually be trying to tell you. Connect with Monika Eva Follow Monika on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Click Here for Free Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Connect with Patricia Elliott 🌿 Website: www.lifecyclehealing.net [http://www.lifecyclehealing.net] 📖 Free Awareness Guide: https://lifecycle-healing-auvgfe.subscribepage.io/ [https://lifecycle-healing-auvgfe.subscribepage.io/] 📱 Instagram: @lifecyclehealing 📱 Facebook: @lifecyclehealing 📱 TikTok: @lifecyclehealing If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to The Balanced Body Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman who's been told "everything looks normal" but knows there's more to the story. Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 112: Don't Let Summer Become Your Setback | How to Enjoy BBQs, Vacations & Patios Without Sabotaging Your Health

Summer doesn't have to mean starting over in September. In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, I'm sharing how to enjoy BBQs, vacations, patio dinners, weddings, and summer treats without falling into the all-or-nothing mindset that leaves so many women feeling bloated, exhausted, and frustrated by the end of the season. We'll talk about why one indulgent meal isn't what derails your progress, how to make empowered food choices without feeling deprived, and why supporting your hormones, gut health, and energy doesn't mean missing out on the memories that make summer so special. You'll also learn why asking "How do I want to feel tomorrow?" is far more powerful than asking "Can I eat this?" and how small, intentional choices throughout the summer can help you head into the fall feeling energized instead of feeling like you need another reset. If you've ever found yourself saying, "I'll get back on track after summer," this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why women tend to abandon healthy habits during the summer. * How to overcome the all-or-nothing mindset. * The difference between restriction and empowerment. * How to enjoy vacations, patios, BBQs, and celebrations while still supporting your health. * Why choosing foods that help you feel your best isn't deprivation—it's self-respect. * Simple ways to make healthier swaps without sacrificing the summer experience. * How to stop starting over every September. And if you're ready to finally release the stubborn weight, feel light, energized and incredible inside out, send me a DM with the word "SUMMER" [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] and I'll help you figure out your next best step. Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 111: PCOS/PMOS, Hormone Balance & Healing After Cancer with Maddy Pollack

If you've been told that irregular periods, stubborn weight, acne, mood swings, or feeling disconnected from your body are just something you have to live with, this episode is for you. In Episode 111 of The Balanced Body Podcast, Monika Eva sits down with Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Hormone Health Coach, and Yoga Instructor Maddy Pollack to discuss a whole-body approach to healing hormones and managing PCOS naturally. After surviving cancer at just 25 years old, Maddy's health journey transformed the way she views wellness, helping women move beyond symptom management and reconnect with their bodies through nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and cycle awareness. In this episode, we discuss: *  Common misconceptions about PCOS and hormone imbalance  *  Why weight loss can feel impossible with PCOS  *  Signs your hormones may be out of balance  *  The role of nutrition, movement, and mindfulness in hormone health  *  How to rebuild trust with your body  *  The mind-body connection and why it matters for healing  *  Lessons Maddy learned through her cancer survivorship journey  *  Simple steps women can take today to support their hormones naturally  Whether you're navigating PCOS, struggling with hormone symptoms, or simply looking for a more sustainable approach to health, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered and hopeful. Connect with Maddy: Instagram: @maddypollack_health TikTok: @maddy.pollack.health Website: maddypollackhealth.com Free PCOS Starter Guide: https://maddypollackhealth.myflodesk.com/pcos-starter-guide [https://maddypollackhealth.myflodesk.com/pcos-starter-guide] BBT Membership: https://stan.store/maddypollackhealth/p/becoming-balanced-together-bbt [https://stan.store/maddypollackhealth/p/becoming-balanced-together-bbt] Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 110: Your Skin Is Talking: The Hidden Hormone, Gut & Detox Clues Behind Pigmentation, Melasma and Premature Aging with Ariana Juarez

On this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, Monika sits down with Functional Nutritionist and creator of the Metabolic Beauty Code™, Ariana Juarez, to explore why chronic skin concerns are rarely just skin deep. If you've been struggling with melasma, pigmentation, accelerated aging, acne, or skin changes that seem to have appeared out of nowhere, this conversation will change the way you think about your skin. Ariana explains how your skin acts as an early warning system, revealing deeper imbalances involving hormones, gut health, metabolism, detoxification pathways, and toxic burden. Together, Monika and Ariana unpack the gut-skin connection, why many popular detox protocols can actually make symptoms worse, the importance of drainage and bile flow before detoxification, and the surprising factors that drive UV damage and premature aging beyond sun exposure alone. Whether you're dealing with stubborn pigmentation, estrogen dominance, insulin dysregulation, or simply want healthier, more radiant skin from the inside out, this episode offers a functional perspective on what your skin may be trying to tell you. In This Episode, You'll Learn: • How your digestion influences skin health and aging  • The connection between gut health, pigmentation, and inflammation  • Why detox protocols often backfire  • The role of bile flow and drainage pathways in healing  • What melasma and pigmentation may reveal about estrogen dominance and metabolic health  • The hidden causes of accelerated skin aging  • Why the sun isn't the whole story when it comes to UV damage  • Simple foundational strategies to support healthier skin from the inside out Connect with Ariana Juarez 🌐 Website: Alura Wellness [https://www.alurawellness.com] 📸 Instagram: @alura.wellness [https://www.instagram.com/alura.wellness/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]

Episode 109: Anxiety, Brain Fog & Fatigue? Why Your Gut Could Be the Missing Piece with Colleen Kurtz

In this episode of The Balanced Body Podcast, I sit down with Colleen Kurtz, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and Certified Integrative Mental Health Practitioner, to explore the powerful connection between your gut, brain, hormones, thyroid, sleep, mood, and energy. If you've been struggling with anxiety, brain fog, low mood, exhaustion, digestive issues, poor sleep, or have been told that your labs are "normal" despite not feeling like yourself, this conversation is for you. Colleen shares how chronic illness completely changed the trajectory of her life and career, why mental health symptoms often have physical roots, and how functional lab testing can uncover hidden imbalances that conventional approaches may miss. Inside this episode, you'll learn: ✔️ Why anxiety, low mood, and fatigue may actually start in the gut ✔️ The connection between gut health, thyroid function, hormones, and sleep ✔️ Common signs your digestive system may be affecting your mental health ✔️ How chronic stress and illness can change the course of your life ✔️ Why guessing isn't enough—and how functional testing changes the game ✔️ What to do if you've been told your labs are "normal" but you still don't feel well Whether you're dealing with bloating, burnout, chronic fatigue, mood swings, insomnia, hormone imbalances, or simply want to understand the gut-brain connection better, this episode is packed with practical insights and hope. Connect with Colleen Kurtz 📱 Instagram: @colleen_mindfullynourished 🌐 Website: www.mindfully-nourished.com [http://www.mindfully-nourished.com] ✨ Gut Strategy Session (90-Minute Deep Dive):  https://l.bttr.to/KApiu [https://l.bttr.to/KApiu] Thanks for listening. Please rate & review so we can reach more women with this very important information. Share with a friend whom you know would benefit from listening to The Balanced Body Podcast. Follow your host, Monika Eva, on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva [https://www.instagram.com/monikaeeva] Take my FREE Weight Loss & Energy Blocker Assessment to find out what's blocking you from releasing the weight & being energized here: https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou [https://www.monikaeva.com/whatsblockingyou] Learn more about working with Monika here: https://www.monikaeva.com [https://www.monikaeva.com]