Functional Hormone Testing: Hidden Messengers | Triune Wellness
- Dr Brian Gaughan DC
- May 28
- 5 min read
(TLDR: Hormones run literally everything and when they're off, you feel it everywhere. Skip ahead to testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, insulin and vitamin D. Being "normal" on labs is fine but we're aiming for feeling optimal - get your hormones checked! And answer our poll on 'how stressed do you feel HERE.)
Hormones: The Hidden Messengers Behind Your Health
Hormones play a massive role in human physiology and influence nearly every system in the body. From energy levels and mood to sleep, metabolism, muscle growth, fertility, and stress resilience, hormones act as the body’s communication network. When hormones are balanced, the body functions beautifully. When they are off, symptoms can appear everywhere.
One of the biggest challenges with hormones is that many people are told their labs are “normal,” even though they still feel exhausted, foggy, inflamed, anxious, or stuck.
Triune Wellness focuses on functional hormone health: we look at where levels are optimal, not just where disease begins.
Testosterone in Men: More Than Just Muscle
Testosterone is one of the most important hormones for male vitality. While it’s often associated with muscle mass and libido, testosterone also affects mood, confidence, motivation, cognition, fat metabolism, bone density, cardiovascular health, and energy production.
As men age, testosterone levels naturally decline, but stress, poor sleep, processed foods, inflammation, insulin resistance, and environmental toxins can accelerate the process dramatically.
Symptoms of Low Testosterone
Fatigue and low motivation
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Increased belly fat
Loss of muscle mass or strength
Decreased libido
Erectile dysfunction
Depression or irritability
Poor recovery from exercise
Reduced drive and confidence
Functional medicine looks beyond “barely normal” lab values and instead focuses on optimal ranges associated with performance, vitality, and long-term health.
Supporting Testosterone Naturally
Lifestyle plays a huge role in healthy testosterone production. Helpful strategies include:
Prioritizing quality sleep
Resistance training and sprint-based exercise
Eating enough healthy fats and protein
Reducing excessive alcohol intake
Managing stress and cortisol levels
Getting adequate zinc, magnesium, and vitamin D
And foods that support testosterone include:
Grass-fed red meat
Eggs
Salmon and sardines
Pumpkin seeds
Brazil nuts
Avocados
For low Testosterone, we often recommend Tongkat Ali, a botanical traditionally used to support healthy testosterone levels, stamina, recovery, and male vitality.
Progesterone in Women: The Unsung Hero Hormone
Progesterone is one of the most important hormones in the female body, yet many women are never educated on how essential it truly is. Progesterone rises after ovulation during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Its job is to help balance estrogen, regulate the menstrual cycle, support mood and sleep, prepare the uterine lining for implantation, and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Progesterone is incredibly important for overall health and hormonal balance.
Symptoms of Low Progesterone (Low progesterone may contribute to:)
PMS symptoms
Anxiety or mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
Heavy or painful periods
Spotting before a cycle
Irregular cycles
Headaches or migraines
Breast tenderness
Difficulty conceiving, or early miscarriage risk
Exercise and the Female Cycle
Women often benefit from changing exercise intensity based on where they are in their cycle because of the level of progesterone.
During the follicular phase (first half of the cycle), many women tolerate higher intensity workouts and strength training very well.
Around ovulation, energy and performance are often highest.
During the luteal phase (second half), the body may respond better to lower-impact movement, walking, Pilates, yoga, or recovery-focused training.
Listening to the body during different phases can improve recovery, hormone balance, and overall well-being.
Supporting Healthy Progesterone
Supporting progesterone often involves reducing chronic stress, improving sleep quality, stabilizing blood sugar, and ensuring proper nutrient intake. Helpful foods and nutrients include:
Wild-caught fish
Leafy greens
Pumpkin seeds
Sweet potatoes
B vitamins
Magnesium-rich foods
One herbal support we commonly discuss is Chaste Tree. Chaste tree has traditionally been used to support healthy progesterone balance and menstrual regularity.
Fun historical note: it earned the nickname “chaste tree” because monks reportedly used it centuries ago to help suppress sexual desire.
Cortisol and the Adrenals: The Stress Hormone Connection
Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone,” but it is essential for survival. Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure, energy production, and our sleep-wake cycle.
Problems occur when stress becomes chronic. The body produces cortisol from the same hormone-building pathways used to create other important hormones. When the body is constantly under stress, whether from poor sleep, emotional stress, overtraining, inflammation, blood sugar swings, or chronic illness, it may prioritize cortisol production at the expense of other hormones.
This is why stress can impact testosterone, progesterone, thyroid function, and overall hormonal balance.
How Stressed do you feel?
Super Chill - what is stress?
Meh: Manageable but not thriving.
Running on caffeine and willpower.
My cortisol has a cortisol problem.
Symptoms of Adrenal Exhaustion or Burnout
Afternoon energy crashes
Feeling “tired but wired”
Difficulty falling asleep
Reliance on caffeine
Brain fog
Salt or sugar cravings
Feeling overwhelmed easily
Low resilience to stress
Lightheadedness when standing
Poor recovery and fatigue
Supporting the Adrenals Naturally
Prioritizing sleep
Stabilizing blood sugar with protein-rich meals
Reducing excessive caffeine
Walking outdoors and getting sunlight
Breathwork and stress reduction practices
Avoiding overtraining
Taking recovery seriously
Nutritionally, the adrenal glands require high amounts of vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
One supplement we often use for adrenal support is Adrenal Desiccated, which is designed to nutritionally support healthy adrenal function and resilience.
Other Hormones We Often Forget About
The big hormones we usually hear about are testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol, but there are other critically important hormones including insulin and vitamin D.
Insulin
Insulin regulates blood sugar and energy metabolism. Chronically elevated insulin levels can contribute to weight gain, inflammation, fatigue, and metabolic syndrome.
Helpful strategies include:
Prioritizing protein and fiber
Reducing ultra-processed foods
Strength training
Walking after meals
Improving sleep quality
Vitamin D
Vitamin D functions more like a hormone than a vitamin and impacts immune function, mood, hormones, bone health, inflammation, and energy. Helpful strategies include:
Safe sunlight exposure
Eating fatty fish and egg yolks
Optimizing gut health
Supplementing when appropriate based on testing
We Don’t Guess, We Test
Symptoms are important, but objective testing matters just as much.
Hormone testing can provide valuable insight into why you may be experiencing fatigue, mood changes, weight gain, low libido, poor sleep, irregular cycles, or difficulty recovering.
Rather than guessing, functional testing allows us to look deeper into physiology and create personalized recommendations involving nutrition, lifestyle, supplementation, and recovery strategies.
When it comes to hormones, the goal is not simply being “normal”, the goal is helping your body function at its optimal, so that you can feel your best.
Ready to get your hormones checked?
CALL US: 508-810-0220
If you’ve been dealing with symptoms that don’t seem to fully resolve or you just want to take your health to the next level, get your functional bloodwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my hormones are actually off? My PCP said my labs were "normal".
"Normal" just means you're not in disease territory, it doesn't mean you're thriving. If you're dealing with fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, low libido, or weight changes that won't change, your hormones could still be the culprit. At Triune, we look at optimal ranges so we can actually figure out what's going on.
What does hormone testing at Triune actually look like?
It starts with a functional bloodwork review where we look deeper than a standard panel. We're checking where your levels sit relative to optimal function and not just disease thresholds. From there we build personalized recommendations around nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements specific to what your body needs.
Do I need a prescription or medication, or are there natural ways to support my hormones?
For most people, lifestyle changes and targeted supplementation make a significant difference with better sleep, stress management, healthy foods, and clinically-backed supplements like Tongkat Ali or Chaste Tree. We start there first and let follow up testing guide the next steps.
Have questions for your doctor?
Or call our office: 508-810-0220
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