Rethink everything you've been told about hormones – with Dr Louise Newson
Age Better with Liz Earle
Liz Earle
4.6 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 22 May 2026
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Thought hormones were just for period regulation and menopause support? In this eye-opening conversation, GP and hormone specialist Dr Louise Newson joins Liz to explain the surprising role progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone play in everything from brain health to inflammation.
They discuss the misinformation that’s letting women down, the crucial difference between body-identical and synthetic hormones, and why progesterone may be far more powerful than most of us realise.
Louise also explains why cholesterol is essential for hormone production, how testosterone is a natural painkiller, and the questions every midlife woman should feel confident asking about her health and treatment options.
In this episode:
· The difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones
· The truth about cholesterol
· Why progesterone might play a role in mental health care
· Why the contraceptive pill needs updating
· Prescribing testosterone as a natural painkiller
· Why post-hysterectomy women still need progesterone
More from Louise:
· Order Louise’s book, The Power of Hormones
· Get tickets for Louise’s tour Breaking The Cycle: The Power of Hormones
Get in touch with a question for Liz:
· Email: podcast@lizearlewellbeing.com
· WhatsApp: 07518 471 846
More from Liz:
· Order Liz's new book – How to Age
· Follow Liz Earle Wellbeing on Instagram
Host: Liz Earle
Producer: Anouszka Tate (Fresh Air Production)
Social Media Manager: Naomi van Geelen
Content Writer: Lucy Parley
Head of Brand: Ellie Smith
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Progesterone is a real mother hormone. |
| 0:02.6 | It's really important. |
| 0:04.0 | It's not just a hormone that works on the lining of our womb and helps regulate our periods. |
| 0:08.9 | It works everywhere. |
| 0:10.6 | And it's a very important neuro-steroids. |
| 0:13.1 | It's very, very important in the brain. |
| 0:15.5 | In fact, one of the first things our brain does, if we had a stroke or head injury, is produced progesterone to repair those |
| 0:23.4 | brain cells very quickly. Yes, the inimitable Dr Louise Newsom is back on the show. And today, |
| 0:32.0 | a look at just how powerful hormones really are when it comes to our physical and our mental health. |
| 0:38.9 | I'm Liz Earle. Welcome to Age Better, the podcast on a mission to change the conversation |
| 0:44.3 | around aging because, you know, we can decide how to thrive in later life. Aging well is a |
| 0:51.0 | journey and I want you to discover just how good it can feel to age better |
| 0:55.7 | than you ever thought possible. Well, Dr. Louise Newsom, what can I say? GP, hormone specialist, |
| 1:02.5 | founder of Newsome Health, and of course the Balance app, is on the very same mission. And in her |
| 1:08.4 | new book, brilliant new book, it's called The Power of Hormones, |
| 1:11.8 | she explains just how vital progesterone, estrogen and testosterone are to the female body. |
| 1:18.3 | They play a critical role in the function of our brains, our bones, our hearts and of course |
| 1:23.1 | long-term health. So why are hormone imbalances so often left untreated or misdiagnosed? |
| 1:30.1 | Well, Louise is here to provide the knowledge that's been withheld from us for far too long. |
| 1:38.8 | Welcome back, Louise. It's such a thrill to have you here, always such a popular guest. |
| 1:44.1 | Oh, thanks, Liz. Well, thank you for |
| 1:45.8 | inviting me yet again. Well, how could I not? And with such a blockbuster, newly out, I mean, |
... |
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