Welcome to Medicine with Meaning, where we dive into the science behind the everyday choices that impact our health and well-being. In today’s episode, we’re exploring a topic many of us know about from the perspective of relationships, but rarely consider as a foundation of physical health: boundaries. Host Dr. Julie Taw takes us through a thought-provoking conversation about how boundaries aren’t just a communication skill, they’re a biological necessity.

Together, we uncover how chronic overextension and constant availability can quietly affect our nervous system, increase stress hormones, and ultimately contribute to issues like fatigue, poor sleep, digestive troubles, and even hormone imbalance. You’ll hear Dr. Julie Taw share both clinical insights and personal experiences, shedding light on why boundary work is one of the most powerful forms of preventive medicine, especially for women and caregivers.

Whether you struggle with saying no, wrestle with guilt when protecting your time, or are curious about ways to support your body’s resilience, this episode will help you reframe boundaries as essential tools for healing. Tune in for practical advice, science-backed explanations, and empowering stories to guide you in setting limits that nurture your body and mind.

00:00 "Boundaries and Nervous System Health"

05:51 Women’s Caregiver Stress Cycle

08:16 "Biology or Conditioning in Women?"

12:01 "Learning Self-Worth and Growth"

16:13 "Practicing Boundaries for Well-Being"

19:07 "Feeling Good: Mind and Body"

22:39 "Guilt as a Nervous System Response"

26:09 "Boundary Overload and Stress Symptoms"

28:56 "Awareness to Heal and Align"

33:35 "Inner Self and Boundaries"

36:03 "Start with Small Protected Time"

40:21 "Reach Out for Support"

Show Website - https://medicinewithmeaning.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Clinic Website - https://julietawmd.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Instagram - @julie.taw.md

Media/Podcast Partner: TopHealth - www.tophealth.care

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Welcome to a new episode of Medicine with Meaning. In this conversation, host Dr. Julie Taw explores a powerful, often-overlooked connection: how blood sugar balance impacts our mood, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. As the new year begins and many of us set intentions around health, Dr. Julie Taw digs into why feelings like anxiety, irritability, and even exhaustion aren’t always just “emotional” problems, they can actually be signals from our metabolism.

Drawing on both science and personal experience, Dr. Julie Taw explains how the brain relies on steady blood sugar to support emotional stability, and how stress, whether physical or emotional, can throw this balance off. Together, they share practical ways to notice how food choices and meal timing may be driving emotional ups and downs, and offer compassionate advice for breaking the cycle of self-blame and overwhelm.

If you’re curious about how what, when, and how you eat could be affecting your mood or you want to embrace the new year with more self-awareness and self-care, this episode is for you. Discover how nourishment, mindfulness, and listening to your body can help you build not just better health, but real emotional balance.

00:00 "Blood Sugar and Emotional Stability"

04:30 "Blood Sugar Fluctuations Affect Emotions"

09:10 Stress Links Emotions and Blood Sugar

11:44 "Blood Sugar's Impact on Emotions"

13:54 "Stress, Diet, and the Cycle"

17:01 Food, Glucose, and Self-Awareness

22:39 "Impact of Stress on Health"

25:30 "Pair Carbs with Fat & Fiber"

29:48 "Redefining Self-Talk and Cravings"

32:17 "Stabilizing Blood Sugar Builds Trust"

34:45 "Mood Awareness Linked to Eating"

38:45 "Listen, Nourish, Trust Yourself"

41:18 "Emotional Care Through Nourishment"

Show Website - https://medicinewithmeaning.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Clinic Website - https://julietawmd.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Instagram - @julie.taw.md

Media/Podcast Partner: TopHealth - www.tophealth.care

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Welcome to Medicine with Meaning, where we dive deep into the hidden stories your body is trying to tell you. In today’s episode, host Dr. Julie Taw demystifies one of the most misunderstood aspects of our health: hormones. We’re exploring how these chemical messengers shape everything from energy and mood to metabolism and stress and why the symptoms you experience aren’t just random, but meaningful signals from your body.

Whether you’ve ever felt dismissed by “normal” lab results, struggled with fatigue and irritability, or wondered what’s really behind hormonal changes throughout life’s transitions, this episode offers a perspective shift. Dr. Julie Taw unpacks how hormones respond to our sleep, nourishment, stress, and daily rhythms, why they’re responders, not troublemakers, and how tuning into their cues can be a powerful act of self-care.

From practical steps for regaining balance to reframing menopause and perimenopause as an invitation for deeper alignment, you’ll learn how to move from frustration to compassion in your journey with hormonal health. Get ready for actionable wisdom and heartfelt stories that will help you see your symptoms and yourself in a new light.

00:00 "Hormones: Responders, Not Root Cause"

04:04 "Thyroid, Hormones, and Metabolism"

08:38 Stress-Induced Reproductive Adaptation

10:04 "Hormones: Responders, Not Root Cause"

14:56 "Listening to the Body's Signals"

16:25 "Listening to My Body's Needs"

21:09 "Symptoms Matter More Than Labs"

22:54 "Body as a Hormonal Ecosystem"

26:02 Hormones, Rhythm, and Balance

32:07 "Empowering Women's Menopause Journey"

36:44 "Finding Balance Through Simple Anchors"

40:06 "Hormones Communicate, Not Betray"

41:51 "Contact Dr. Julie Ta"

Show Website - https://medicinewithmeaning.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Clinic Website - https://julietawmd.com/

Dr. Julie Taw's Instagram - @julie.taw.md

Media/Podcast Partner: TopHealth - www.tophealth.care

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”