Find Your Specialty 813-433-2277

Integrative Doctor Taz Bhatia’s 30-day Plan for Balancing Hormones

On a recent episode of The goop Podcast, Dr. Taz Bhatia, MD, a board-certified integrative medicine physician and author of the book “The Hormone Shift,” discussed her 30-day plan for balancing hormones at any age.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Good or Bad?

Dr. Bhatia addressed the confusion surrounding hormone replacement therapy.

With so many contradictory reports on its safety and benefits, she said, confusion was understandable. But hormone replacement isn’t bad therapy, she stressed. The problem lies in how it’s administered. She attributes much of the uncertainty over hormone replacement to the therapy not being bio-individualized

“Individual needs vary,” she said, “and there are no shortcuts. Short cuts produce side effects.”

If you’re considering hormone replacement, it’s essential that you understand the entire health picture, she said, including nutrition, sleep, gut health, and genetics. Only then can you make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you.

As hormone research has grown, though, opinions about hormone replacement have slowly changed. Dr. Bhatia pointed out that in 2022, the North American Menopause Society issued a statement that menopausal women actually do better with hormone augmentation. However, she said, hormone replacement is more effective if we’ve also paid healthy attention to our nutrition, gut health, and sleep quality.

Dr. Bhatia’s own health struggles and frustration over a lack of diagnosis or solution motivated her to study integrative medicine. Slowly, by applying what she learned, not only did she eventually recover, but she also came to the understanding that the human body is intricately interconnected—”a single system with parts that all need attention and communicate with each other.”

As it turned out, it was a hormonal imbalance caused by a thyroid problem that was at the root of her health problems, and her diet was the primary cause of her thyroid issue.

Integrative Medicine Diagnostic Techniques

Dr. Bhatia discussed the integrative medicine diagnostic method at length and how it differs from a traditional approach. In short, the integrative medicine diagnostic process focuses on the patient’s health history, physical activity, sleep, work life, daily stress, and nutrition, and can include lab work and imaging. By utilizing different medical approaches and disciplines—such as Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and even energy medicine—integrative medicine practitioners gain a real understanding of their patients. And what’s even better, patients also come away with a more complete understanding of themselves. Unfortunately, Dr. Bhatia said, most people don’t have this level of knowledge about their health. However, many of these diagnostic techniques and labs are not expensive and are readily available, and even if an individual chooses to visit an integrative medicine practice for more extensive lab work, it doesn’t need to be costly and can be covered by regular health insurance.

When Should Hormone Testing Begin?

Everyone should be testing their hormones every year, if not twice a year, starting at age 13, Dr. Bhatia said. Why? Because testing serves as a baseline; our foundational hormone chemistry should be the same later in life.

Hormones are not just about hormones, she emphasized—they are related to mental health, energy, and vitality. When it comes to anxiety, depression, and conditions like ADHD, and OCD that impact many teens today, doctors should pay more attention to hormone levels. For example, spikes in levels of hormones such as estrogen can affect mental health. Hormones also affect gut health. In her practice, Dr. Bhatia has seen a fair number of teens grappling with hormonally rooted conditions that have been diagnosed as something else.

The Role of Food

While there are many endocrine disruptors that cause illnesses, Dr. Bhatia stresses the importance of food. Pay attention to food quality, as well as the presence of preservatives, and the amounts of ingredients, like sugar and gluten. All of these can impact hormone levels. For example, individuals going through precocious puberty tend to have high levels of glyphosate, which is a pesticide derivative. But the chemical so pervasive and there is so much cross-contamination in the environment that it’s essential to understand how you can better handle your body’s pesticide load, and deal with the effects of the products like skin creams and lotions that we use every day.

The 5 Hormone Stages

Dr. Bhatia has identified five stages of hormone development. The first stage, which she calls the Rock Star Stage, covers ages 13 to 19 and is marked by instability and confusion.

The next stage, the Hustlers Stage occurs in our 20s and is marked by high energy and a feeling of invincibility. But at this stage we begin seeing symptoms of adrenal fatigue and the ill effects of cortisol on the body and mind.

The next stage, the Superstar Stage, is when there is a measure of settling down, when we start building a family. This is also the stage when hormone levels begin to decrease. For instance, women’s progesterone levels start declining slightly.

The fourth phase covers roughly ages 36 to the early 50s. In this Superwoman Stage, women may experience perimenopause, with heavier menstruations, as well as postpartum hormonal shifts that dramatically affect mood. Hormones decline naturally during this phase, and the stress of juggling the demands of career and family can exaggerate the hormonal shift.

The final shift is menopause, or the Commander Stage. In contrast, to the fear and depression with which many women face menopause, the Eastern medical traditions view this phase as a time to re-create ourselves and fully come into our own and our roles in society. Dr. Bhatia encourages this mindset of taking command.

The 30-Day Plan

Dr. Bhatia’s 30-Day plan is a holistic one, based on a combination of Eastern and Western medicine. The goal of the plan is to lay down a foundation on which to develop a better understanding of your body before deciding whether to undergo hormone therapy.
Week 1 is about repletion, or building energy. Many women lack the fundamental tools to build energy. Through a food-based strategy, such as adding more proteins to their diet as well as foods with glutathione, an antioxidant that increases oxygen levels in cells, women can reverse perimenopause symptoms such as brain fog, low libido, and poor sleep.

Week 2 focuses on gut and liver health with the aim of lowering your toxic load by cleaning the gut and liver. That’s why it’s important for you to identify the sources of toxicity in your life. Air and water quality are common sources; others include food, sugar, alcohol, and gluten. All of these make it harder for the gut and liver to process food effectively.

By Week 3, it’s possible to identify your dominant hormone pattern through testing. This information is then used to create a customized hormone balance plan for you.

The final week is when the mind-body component is introduced, and you begin paying close attention to your emotions, nutrition, and stress levels to keep your hormones balanced as you navigate life’s hormonal shifts.

Dr. Bhatia’s 30-day plan allows you to better understand your body by experiencing how much healthier you can feel based on lifestyle changes. As a result, the plan also prepares you to make a well-informed decision on whether you should pursue hormone replacement therapy.

Save the Date
House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
June 10-15, 2022
Plan Your Visit. Meeting Information
Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
Meet Our Staff Read All Reviews
Boards
Careers
Login
Contact