How Stress and Missing Nutrients Impact Women's Blood Glucose Control and Metabolic Health

What if the key to balancing your blood sugar, boosting energy, and easing hormonal symptoms wasn’t just about cutting carbs—but about nourishing your nervous system and replenishing overlooked nutrients? In this deeply insightful episode, I sit down with Lara Briden, renowned naturopathic doctor and author of The Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual, to unpack the profound connection between stress, metabolic health, and the autonomic nervous system.

Together, we explore why stress management is non-negotiable for women—especially during perimenopause—and how five often-missing metabolic nutrients can be game-changers for insulin sensitivity, sleep, mood, and hormone function. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, foggy, or just not yourself lately, this episode might hold the answers your body’s been asking for.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The Autonomic Nervous System Drives Metabolism
  Lara explains how stress alters blood sugar, hunger, and hormone regulation by disrupting the balance of your sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

• HRV as a Metabolic Health Marker
  Heart Rate Variability (HRV) isn’t just about recovery—it’s a dynamic indicator of nervous system health and metabolic resilience.

• The “Lara Briden Stack” of Metabolic Nutrients
  Discover Lara’s top 5: magnesium, taurine, choline, inositol, and glycine—nutrients often missing in modern diets but essential for metabolic balance.

• Inositol for Insulin Resistance and Sleep
  This unsung hero supports blood sugar regulation, neurotransmitter balance, and sleep quality—especially helpful in PCOS and perimenopause.

• Glycine: Gentle Yet Powerful
  Glycine calms the nervous system, supports detox, and helps improve tolerance to other supplements—making it a safe entry point for sensitive individuals.

• Berberine vs. Metformin
  Berberine’s gut-health benefits and insulin-sensitizing effects are comparable to metformin—but Lara advises caution due to potential medication interactions.

 

TIMESTAMPS AND KEY TOPICS:

00:00 – Introduction

00:41 – Nervous system’s role in metabolism

02:35 – HRV tracking and daily stress load

03:13 – Ovulation as a metabolic health marker

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