For most of our lives as women, we hear the word hormones and think of the negative impacts they have on us. It’s been drilled into our heads since a young age that women have hormones to deal with; they make us moody; we have to get a period every month; there are negative connotations around hormones and aging through menopause. But what if we flipped this mindset around to recognize the amazing impact hormones can have on our lives once we learn how to truly optimize them?  Dr. Nicky explains how our hormones can be our superpower and they can unlock our greatest potential. We just need to learn how to work with them. Although we’ve studied the body for years, we’re still just scratching the surface of studying the details of the female body specifically.  It’s so important that women understand their own bodies. And to achieve optimal health and performance as a woman throughout our reproductive years into menopause, we need to be in tune with our biological rhythm. We deserve female-centric routines that work for our unique bodies to boost our metabolism, maintain our blood sugar, keep our stress hormones in check, and allow our brains to function at their best.  Once we’re aware of how to optimize the hormones that regulate our energy, metabolism, and ovulatory cycle, we can truly start to feel amazing in our bodies.  Dr. Nicky Keay is a cutting-edge doctor who’s making strides in women’s health research. And she’s here to share the tips she’s discovered through her extensive understanding of the endocrine system. Her newest book shares insight into how to unlock our human potential through our hormones, and the knowledge she offers is something you won’t want to miss. So check out this podcast as soon as you can to learn about your body’s potential. We as women face so many challenges when it comes to maintaining hormonal balance– from our reproductive years into menopause! So recognizing how to optimize our health and understand our inherent biological rhythm will allow us to achieve– and maintain– our wellness goals.   Dr. Nicky Keay is a doctor, a graduate of Cambridge University, UK., and the author of “Health, Hormones and Human Potential: A Guide to Understanding Your Hormones to Optimise Your Health and Performance”. She’s an honorary clinical lecturer in the division of medicine at University College London.  Dr. Nicky provides a more personalized approach to female hormone health. Her main clinical endocrine work is with athletes, dancers, and exercisers, focusing on Relative Energy Deficient in Sport (RED-S) and athletes navigating perimenopause and menopause.  She authored the British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (BASM) online resource– Health4Performance. She’s a medical advisor to the Scottish Ballet, and is a dancer herself– taking 4 ballet classes a week!  IN THIS EPISODE Why are hormones so essential for our health? The importance of harnessing hormones as women  Challenges when it comes to female hormones  Key hormonal points during a woman’s life Why we need Vitamin D  Customized exercise and nutrition for optimal hormone function How sleep impacts hormone regulation  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)  Lifestyle choices to optimize hormonal health RESOURCES MENTIONED This Episode is Sponsored by Olive and June. Get 20% off your first Mani System at: https://www.oliveandjune.com/mariza Hormones, Health and Human Potential Publisher Website for Hormones, Health and Human Potential  Health 4 Performance  Dr. Nicky Keay’s Website  | Nicky Keay’s Instagram RELATED EPISODES  #398: 3 Things You Do Every Day That Affect Your Hormones #283: The Real Truth About Hormone Imbalances In Women With Shawn Tassone #285: The Lowdown On Declining Hormones And How They Impact Weight, Mood And Sleep With Maria Claps And Kristin Johnson #146: How To Own Each Phase Of Your Menstrual Cycle #35: Sync Your Menstrual Cycle With Your Life With Nicole Jardim