Overview
In this episode, Rachel sits down with Dr. Brienne Kallonen, a naturopathic doctor specializing in hormones, gut health, and resistant weight loss. Dr. Kallonen’s own postpartum health struggle, dismissed as normal by conventional medicine, led her to discover subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s through functional testing. This conversation covers insulin resistance, PCOS, thyroid health, the myths around weight loss, and why addressing root causes through testing and lifestyle always comes before medication.
You’ll Learn
- Why a TSH alone is not enough to evaluate thyroid function, and why running a full panel including free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies can catch Hashimoto’s up to 10 years before the TSH is ever affected
- What insulin resistance actually is, why so many people have it without knowing, and how high insulin levels quietly drive weight gain, hair loss, acne, irregular periods, and hormonal imbalances in both men and women
- The three blood markers that best identify insulin resistance: fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and hemoglobin A1c, and why cortisol, thyroid, iron, and vitamin D all factor into the full picture
- A direct comparison of berberine and metformin for blood sugar, including efficacy, tolerability, gut microbiome benefits, and why inositol is the preferred option for anyone trying to conceive
- Why PCOS does not require ovarian cysts to be diagnosed, how birth control masks the condition without fixing the underlying blood sugar and hormonal drivers, and what testing actually needs to happen first
- Why the eat less move more model fails so many people, and how shifting carbohydrate quality rather than eliminating carbohydrates entirely produces better and more sustainable results
- Why Dr. Kallonen reduces exercise entirely for six weeks at the start of her Metabolic Reset Program, and why most clients are surprised to find their tolerance and results actually improve after the break
- How intermittent fasting can support insulin resistance when done correctly, why snacking frequency matters more than most people realize, and when fasting becomes a stressor rather than a tool
- Stress management approaches that do not require a large time commitment, including five-minute pre-bed breathing or journaling, grounding sensory techniques to interrupt anxious thought loops, and evaluating which relationships are draining versus supportive
Resources
Connect with Dr. Breanne Kallonen: Website: https://www.breannekallonen.com
Read to uncover your root causes and heal?
If you’re struggling with an autoimmune disease, thyroid issues, gut problems, or mystery health issues that conventional medicine can’t explain, I can help. Through functional medicine lab testing, we will uncover what’s really going on in your body and create customized protocols to help you heal. If you’re ready to reverse your health issues naturally, you can book a health consultation with myself or someone on my team below.
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