Is fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, declining muscle, and loss of motivation simply part of getting older—or are your hormones trying to tell you something?
In this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with functional medicine expert Joya Van Der Laan to discuss the science of testosterone, estrogen, menopause, metabolic health, and longevity.
They explore why hormone levels are changing across modern populations, the difference between "normal" and "optimal" lab values, and why muscle may be one of the strongest predictors of healthy aging. The conversation also covers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, sleep, nutrition, strength training, cardiovascular health, and how functional medicine approaches root causes rather than simply treating symptoms.
Whether you're navigating menopause, low testosterone, or simply looking to improve your health-span, this episode provides practical, evidence-informed insights to help you feel stronger, think clearer, and age with greater vitality.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why testosterone levels have declined over recent decades
- The difference between "normal" and "optimal" hormone levels
- Menopause, perimenopause, and andropause
- Strength training as the #1 longevity strategy
- Hormones and cardiovascular health
- Functional medicine vs conventional medicine
- Sleep apnea, snoring, and hormone health
- Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)
- Pellets vs creams vs injections
- Practical lifestyle strategies to optimize hormones naturally
Timestamps
01:45 Joya's Journey into Functional Medicine
04:15 Why Root-Cause Medicine Matters
05:30 Understanding Low Testosterone
08:00 Symptoms Most Men Ignore
10:30 Natural Ways to Support Testosterone
15:00 Free vs Total Testosterone
17:00 Exercise, Muscle & Longevity
22:00 "Normal" vs "Optimal" Hormone Levels
24:00 Testosterone & Metabolic Health
26:30 Sleep, Snoring & Hormones
30:00 Testosterone Therapy Options
33:00 Pellets vs Creams vs Injections
35:30 Women's Hormones & Menopause
39:00 Hormone Testing & Functional Medicine Labs
43:00 Hormones After Cancer: What Does the Evidence Say?
49:00 The Future of Functional Medicine
What is The Curious Cardiologist?
Rethinking heart health, one question at a time.
I’m Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj—interventional cardiologist, functional medicine expert, and lifelong student of what really keeps us well. In this podcast, we go beyond prescriptions and procedures to explore the deeper drivers of health, disease, and healing.
From inflammation to intuition, cholesterol to consciousness, I sit down with doctors, researchers, and changemakers who are reshaping how we think about the heart—and the whole human behind it.
Whether you're a fellow clinician, a health seeker, or someone navigating your own transformation, this show will challenge what you thought you knew—and invite you to stay curious.