How to Enjoy This Summer (Without Wrecking Your Hormones or Gut) (Ep. 78)

Summer heat literally changes how your digestion works — and it's not the food, it's the environment. Jensen, Kira, and Lacey break down why your gut, hormones, and stress levels need a different approach once temperatures rise.

This week, Jensen, Kira, and Lacey dive into how to actually enjoy summer without derailing your hormone or gut health progress. They cover why heat affects digestion, how cortisol quietly spikes during "relaxing" summer months, sunlight and circadian rhythm, hydration and electrolyte needs, navigating BBQs and social events, setting boundaries around alcohol, and their go-to "floor and ceiling" method for staying consistent without burning out.

Key Takeaways:

Summer heat redirects blood flow away from digestion, so smaller meals and warm/room-temp foods help if you're prone to bloating. Cortisol often rises in summer from packed social schedules, so setting boundaries before events prevents the anxiety-and-overdoing-it cycle. The "floor and ceiling" method — defining your minimum and best-case effort for nutrition, movement, and nervous system care — keeps you consistent without all-or-nothing thinking.

Chapters:

[00:00] - Intro

[00:34] - Staying on Track This Summer

[06:44] - Supporting Digestion in Summer Heat

[11:37] - Cortisol, Stress & Hormones in Summer

[14:52] - Setting Boundaries & Summer Intentions

[18:42] - Sleep, Circadian Rhythm & Sunlight

[23:27] - Sunscreen & Sun Exposure for Kids