Ep. 63 - Gut Health, Hormone Dysfunction and Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore with Balance and Body Diagnostics

I'm back! I have missed you guys.

In this episode we get into the knitty gritty of female health in bodybuilding and in particular we discuss the correlation between gut health and hormone dysfunction. I welcome founders of Balance and Body Diagnostics, Simone Maman and Angelica Lazic, who collectively have decades of experience in competitive and professional bodybuilding, functional health practice, functional diagnostics, nutrition and blood chemistry analysis. These ladies are powerhouses and combined, are pushing the diagnostic and functional health space forward in leaps and bounds.

In this episode we discuss:

- How Balance and Body Diagnostics came to be; their respective backgrounds and motives for creating a space for athletes to access a wide range of diagnostic labs to help better support performance and improve functional health;
- Gut health basics, common misconceptions and personal experiences which poor gut health;
- Implications of gut health in a prep and off season setting, how mistreatment of gut symptoms can cause further complications and mask the real bump in the road;
- Symptoms in prep, can they be overlooked and why;
- Correlation between gut health and hormone dysregulation, reversing symptoms and making your way back to better health;
- Importance of alternative testing, is blood work enough;
- Long term implications when it comes to misdiagnosis and mismanagement of your health;

and so much more.

We will be launching a brand new series so stay tuned for more in depth discussions, particularly in recognizing and raising common symptoms with your general practitioner. We want to armour every athlete with the information and tools to take autonomy over their health whilst competing at their very best.

EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY
Simone and Angelica have offered an exclusive competition for The Backstage Bikini Podcast audience to draw a free HTMR (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) for free!!! Winner will be announced on 19th March 2025 so stay tuned.

Enter by following the link below:

https://www.balanceandbodydiagnostics.ca/giveaway

Post-show struggles like fatigue, weight rebound, stalled progress, bloating, mood swings, or hormonal chaos? Even if you’re following the “perfect” plan, your body might not be responding—because minerals run the show.

The HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) isn’t just about testing for deficiencies. It’s about finding the right balance of minerals that control your metabolism, stress response, thyroid, digestion, hormones, and recovery.

Why does this matter?
Your minerals don’t work in isolation. It’s the ratios between them that determine how well your body functions.

Calcium to Potassium impacts metabolism and thyroid function
Sodium to Magnesium influences stress resilience and recovery
Calcium to Phosphorus affects energy and nervous system function
Zinc to Copper regulates hormones, immunity, and mood
Sodium to Potassium plays a key role in adrenal function and hydration
After contest prep, these ratios are often thrown off. The HTMA helps identify exactly where your body needs support, so we can optimize recovery, fix metabolic dysfunction, and get you back to feeling strong, lean, and energized.

Follow:  @BalanceandBodyDiagnostics on Youtube for their own independent podcast

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.