Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

I am delighted to welcome Dr. Shivani Gupta today for the first of two interviews. Dr. Gupta is the founder and CEO of Fusionary Formulas and the author of The Inflammation Code. She has both a master's degree and a PhD in Vedic sciences, where her dissertation focused on turmeric's role in inflammation, joint health, and cardiovascular health.

In today’s conversation, we explore the physical effects of chronic inflammation, habits to support stress reduction, the differences between inflammaging and normal physiologic aging, and ways to nurture ourselves in midlife (which Dr. Gupta calls the Vata season). We also discuss how ama can contribute to inflammatory processes in the body, digestive fire, constipation and strategies to address it, the importance of curcumin, and the research surrounding it.

Dr. Gupta and I will continue our conversation on our next podcast together. Stay tuned for part two!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Dr. Gupta shares the personal experiences that motivated her to write The Inflammation Code

• Environmental and lifestyle factors that contribute to the body’s inflammatory burden

• Why inflammation can become more difficult to manage during the perimenopause and menopause transition

• How the symptoms of normal aging could actually be signs of inflammaging

• Dr. Gupta explains the Ayurvedic concept of Agni, or digestive fire, and shares ways to support digestion

• Practical Ayurvedic ways to support regular bowel movements

• How Dr. Gupta approaches gut and immune health after repeated antibiotic exposure

• The Ayurvedic approach to diet differs from restrictive or extreme eating patterns. 

• The potential anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric, curcumin, and other polyphenol-rich spices   

• How culinary turmeric differs from concentrated curcumin extracts

Bio:

Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner, turmeric researcher, and founder of Fusionary Formulas.

She holds a Master's degree in Ayurvedic Sciences and completed her PhD dissertation- specifically on turmeric making her one of the world's foremost experts on its pharmacology and clinical application.

She is the author of The Inflammation Code, published by Hay House, bridging ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern inflammation science. Dr. Gupta is known for making complex science accessible without dumbing it down — her work speaks equally to the everyday health-conscious woman and to clinicians who want to go deeper.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

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• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Shivani Gupta

• FusionaryFormulas.com - Use the code CYNTHIA for 15% off!

• Website

• Instagram

• YouTube

• Facebook

• Pinterest

• The Inflammation Code (Book Website)

• The Inflammation Code Podcast

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, I’m answering listeners’ questions about cardiovascular risk, focusing on Lp(a), LDL, statins, and the changes women experience after menopause.

Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why women should have their Lp(a) checked both before and after menopause

• How Lp(a) works as a risk enhancer, and how cardiovascular risk becomes more significant when elevated Lp(a) occurs alongside high LDL

• Why family history is particularly helpful for women with a 10-year calculated cardiovascular risk that looks reassuringly low

• I review the current guidelines for primary prevention

• Why, even though research has shown reductions in major cardiac events with GLP-1s, GLP-1s do not replace statins for lowering LDL 

• What a CAC score can reveal about coronary artery calcification, and what it cannot detect

• How AI-assisted CT angiography (such as Clearly) can map, quantify, and characterize plaque throughout the coronary branches

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

References:

1.  ​Lipoprotein(a) and Women's Cardiovascular Health: A Review. JACC. Advances. 2026. Michos ED, Saucier S, Mehran R, Koschinsky ML.Recent

2.  ​Sex Differences of Lipoprotein(a) Levels and Associated Risk of Morbidity and Mortality by Age: The Copenhagen General Population Study. Atherosclerosis. 2022. Simony SB, Mortensen MB, Langsted A, et al.

3. Managing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adults: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2022. Stone NJ, Smith SC, Orringer CE, et al.Review

4. Thirty-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Healthy Women According to Clinical Thresholds of Lipoprotein(a). JAMA Cardiology. 2026. Nordestgaard AT, Chasman DI, Moorthy V, et al.RecentObservational

5.  ​Lipoprotein(a).The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2025. Mora S, Kronenberg 

6. Clinical Practice Guideline on Lipid Management for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction.

Department of Veterans Affairs (2026). 2026. Paul Heidenreich, Lance Spacek, Neil Gregor, et al. Guideline

7. Lipoprotein(a) and Family History Predict Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020. Mehta A, Virani SS, Ayers CR, et al.Observational

8. 2010 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2010. Greenland P, Alpert JS, Beller GA, et al.Guideline

9. Prevalence and Prognostic Implications of Coronary Artery Calcification in Low-Risk Women.

The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2016. Kavousi M, Desai CS, Ayers C, et al.SR

10. ​Coronary Artery Calcium Scores and Risk for Cardiovascular Events in Women Classified as “Low Risk” Based on Framingham Risk Score: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007. Lakoski SG, Greenland P, Wong ND, et al.Observational

11. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2019. Arnett DK, Blumenthal RS, Albert MA, et al.Guideline

12. HOPE for Rational Statin Allocation for Primary Prevention: A Coronary Artery Calcium Picture Is Worth 1000 Words. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2020. Orringer CE, Maki KC.Review

13. Summary of Updated Recommendations for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020. Cho L, Davis M, Elgendy I, et al.Review

14. Health Maintenance in Postmenopausal Women.

American Family Physician. 2025. Plesa M, Wong A, Katsaggelos E.Guideline

15.  ​Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes by Baseline HbA1c and Change in HbA1c in People With Overweight or Obesity but Without Diabetes in SELECT.

Diabetes Care. 2024. Lingvay I, Deanfield J, Kahn SE, et al.RCT

16.  ​Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes.

The New England Journal of Medicine. 2023. Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al.RCT

17. Long-Term Weight Loss Effects of Semaglutide in Obesity Without Diabetes in the SELECT Trial. Nature Medicine. 2024. Ryan DH, Lingvay I, Deanfield J, et al.RCT

18. Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Cardiometabolic Multiple Long-Term Conditions. Lancet. 2026. Valabhji J, Hope D, Sayed NE, et al.RecentReview

19. Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1 Receptor Agonists and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With and Without Diabetes: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized‐Controlled Trials.

Clinical Cardiology. 2024. Hosseinpour A, Sood A, Kamalpour J, et al.SR

20. ​FDA Orange Book. FDA Orange Book. 2026.

21. 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2026.

Diabetes Care. 2026. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes*.RecentGuideline

22. Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Women: Sex-Specific Risk Factors, Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Annals of Medicine. 2026. Li F, Hong D, Yang M, et al.RecentReview

23. Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women: The Impact of Race and Ethnicity: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023. Mehta LS, Velarde GP, Lewey J, et al.Guideline

24. Preventing CVD in Women: Common Questions and Answers.

American Family Physician. 2023. Westfall E, Viere AB, Genewick JE.Review

25. Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020. El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.Guideline

I’m honored to connect with Dr. John La Puma today. Dr. La Puma spent three decades building the case that food, nature, and light are clinical tools, not just lifestyle add-ons. He was the first physician to complete a professional cooking curriculum, and he used that training to co-develop the first cooking and nutrition course taught in a U.S. medical school, a course now adapted across roughly 80% of U.S. medical schools. He later did the same thing for Nature, co-developing and teaching the first skills-based Nature as Medicine CME course for physicians with UCLA. His most recent work extends the same logic to the built environment, coining the phrase "digital obesity and indoor epidemic" to describe a specific underdiagnosed driver of modern fatigue tied to how little time people spend outdoors and how much artificial light and screen exposure they get instead.

In our conversation, Dr. La Puma discusses how we went from chefs' training to co-developing the first culinary medicine course; the indoor epidemic and digital obesity; how most people spend about 93% of their lives indoors; how light impacts bone health; and deep sleep metrics. We also explore how poor air quality can reduce cognitive performance, the significance of phthalate exposure and other endocrine-mimicking chemicals, and green dopamine. Dr. La Puma highlights the health benefits of gardening, explaining how it exposes us to microbes and stimulates serotonin. We also cover nervous system awe, movement, how forest bathing can boost your immune system while reducing inflammatory markers, how exercise can help us live longer, nighttime red light therapy exposure, sleep and recovery, and animal companionship as a health intervention.

Stay tuned for today’s interesting and highly informative conversation about lifestyle as medicine with Dr. John La Puma. I highly recommend his book, The Indoor Epidemic, with the actionable information it contains.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Dr. La Puma shares his motivation for bringing nutritional science and cooking into his medical practice

• How spending much of your life indoors can affect your nervous system, circadian biology, and metabolism

• The value of morning light for supporting sleep and rebuilding bones during perimenopause, menopause, and andropause

• How indoor air quality impacts cognitive performance

• Dr. La Puma shares his approach to reducing exposure to chemicals from household cleaning products

• The potential benefits of gardening and spending time with your hands in the soil

• How intentional time outdoors can support sleep, mood, energy, and memory

• A bright blue-white light at night may interfere with restorative sleep.

• Animal companionship and how it can improve our health and wellbeing

Bio:

John La Puma, MD, ChefMD™ is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, board-certified internist, and professionally trained chef who pioneered Culinary Medicine. He now pioneers EcoMedicine from his small regenerative teaching farm. His upcoming book, Indoor Epidemic, reveals how spending 93% of life indoors steals sleep, focus, and years, and how reclaiming just 7% outdoors can restore them using the evidence-based Outdoor Rx framework. This is a clinically validated intervention, presenting nature as foundational medicine, an essential component of health and the missing pillar in optimizing longevity and healthspan.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. John La Puma

• On his website

• The (Indoor Epidemic) book website

This episode is another in our podcast series of conversations with highly vetted brands I feel confident recommending to my community.

Today, I was delighted to connect with Julie Sawaya, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Needed, a women's health company advancing nutrition standards across the mother span, from fertility through menopause. Julie holds a degree from Northwestern and an MBA from Stanford.

In our conversation, Julie and I discuss the silent epidemic of nutritional deficiency. We explore how oral contraceptives and food restriction can contribute to nutrient depletion, current RDA standards, and the impact of pregnancy, breastfeeding, the postpartum period, and perimenopause on women's nutritional needs. We examine the MTHFR SNP and its variants, explain how to read supplement labels and what pixie dusting is, and discuss why it's important to know your omega-3 index and how this can influence both food choices and supplementation. Julie also shares a "repletion, not restriction" reframe for midlife and discusses the policies and standards she would like to see improved, including updated recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women and a straightforward perimenopause RDA. We also discuss practical takeaways, including specific supplement recommendations and testing that may be helpful.

Stay tuned for another conversation you'll likely want to listen to more than once.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How depleted food, environmental toxins, and normalized fatigue have contributed to the silent nutrient deficiency epidemic among women

• How oral contraceptives can deplete key vitamins and minerals, and how pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum, and perimenopause increase women’s nutritional needs

• What the current RDA standards were developed for—and how the research underpinning them largely excluded women of reproductive age

• How symptoms and cycle changes can overlap between perimenopause and nutrient depletion

• Nutrients that are essential for bone health, cognitive function, energy, nutrient absorption, and overall health during the menopause transition

• Julie reviews the evidence surrounding MTHFR variants

• What to look for on supplement labels

• Why nourishing your body properly can support your metabolism more effectively than food restriction

• How your omega-3 index can help you decide whether supplementation is needed

• Julie shares practical recommendations for supporting your nutritional health during perimenopause.

Bio:

Julie Sawaya is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Needed, a women’s health company advancing nutrition standards across the motherspan—from fertility through menopause.

Julie earned departmental honors in Economics at Northwestern University for her work on nutritional access and her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She is a frequent speaker and writer on women’s health and modern motherhood.

Julie is a trained nutritionist and a mother of three.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Julie Sawaya

• Needed

• Instagram

• TikTok

Today, I’m thrilled to connect with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer. Dr. Gajer was previously an academic emergency medicine physician who pivoted after realizing ER medicine was functioning less as a place that saves lives and more as a place that manages chronic conditions that should have been caught and addressed years earlier. That observation led her to leave ER medicine and take over an established Northern Virginia internal medicine practice focusing on hormone optimization, peptide therapy, and preventative longevity-oriented care.

In our conversation today, we discuss how perimenopause is treatable and suffering through it is optional. Dr. Gajer explains how she manages body composition changes, weight loss resistance, bone health, and orthopedic-related complaints in midlife. We take a deep dive into the sourcing and research limitations of peptides, exploring healing peptides, growth hormone-promoting peptides, and thymic peptides, and also discussing immunosenescence, bioregulators, mitochondrial RNA-coded peptides, pheno age testing, and using low-dose ketamine, when appropriate, for mental health challenges.

Stay tuned for a fascinating conversation about the science and limitations of research on peptide therapies, and what Dr. Gajer is looking forward to in the near future.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The health struggles Dr. Gajer experienced that led her to explore integrative therapies

• Why women may wake up at 2 or 3 a.m. during perimenopause

• How hormone changes in midlife can contribute to weight loss resistance

• Why Dr. Gajer encourages women to have their bone mass assessed earlier than conventionally recommended

• How declining estrogen and estradiol can contribute to orthopedic-related symptoms during perimenopause and menopause

• What women need to understand about sourcing peptides and the limitations of peptide research

• The different ways in which growth hormone-promoting peptides, thymic peptides, epitalon, and MOTC work

• How GLP-1s can be helpful for midlife women beyond changing their body composition and assisting with weight loss

• How Dr. Gajer uses low-dose ketamine lozenges for treatment-resistant anxiety and depression  

Bio:

Dr. Aleksandra Gajer is a board-certified physician and founder of The Gajer Practice. In this precision and longevity medicine clinic, she helps high-performing patients optimize their healthspan through a whole-person, root-cause approach. Trained in emergency medicine at the University of Maryland and George Washington University, she brings rigorous clinical thinking to hormone optimization, peptide therapy, metabolic health, and gut healing. Her own journey through Lyme, alongside more than twenty years of contemplative practice, shapes her belief that emotional and spiritual health underlie physical wellness. A recurring Fox 5 DC health expert with more than fifty podcast appearances, she is also building physician education around the responsible, evidence-based use of peptides.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com. 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer

• The Gajer Practice 

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute episode.

Today, we’re diving into listener questions about HRT dosing and the confusion surrounding administration. We explore several key themes, including absorption issues, lab draws, and cycling versus daily continuous dosing. I also compare oral progesterone with vaginal and transdermal progesterone.

Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The estradiol dosage range I prefer, for bone protection

• How heart disease risk can influence the route you select for HRT

• I clarify the “start low and slow” approach to HRT dosing

• Why women with uteruses need progesterone when taking estrogen 

• Why HRT dosing can become more complicated during perimenopause

• How FDA-approved bioidentical hormones differ from compounded preparations

• Various factors to consider when using an estradiol patch

• Alternative routes of administration for women who feel unwell when taking progesterone orally

• How providers can safely transition women from transdermal estradiol patches to other options

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Research:

Please visit https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/podcast for research.

We have an extra-special podcast today with my husband, Todd, where we answer many listeners' questions about our relationship, how we met, and our shared interests.

In this episode, Todd and I discuss ways to support your partner through perimenopause and menopause, the importance of shared interests and connections, and why communication is essential in midlife relationships. Todd shares his views on fatherhood and marriage, how physical activity and food are integral to our relationship, and the empty-nest/open door season of our lives. He also describes his own health and daily lifestyle, the bigger picture in our relationship, and we share some lighthearted and fun discussions.

I love the interest this topic has generated, and I truly hope you and your significant other will find it an invaluable conversation about navigating midlife as a couple.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What Todd came to understand about my perimenopause to menopause experience  

• How education and communication can help couples navigate the menopause experience

• The changes Todd has noticed in my personality since my 30s 

• How our shared values have influenced our business decisions

• What Todd values most about being a husband and father

• How, over time, Todd came to understand more about my childhood experiences and appreciate how I focused on creating a different environment for our children

• How the prospect of having both boys leave home is affecting us, both as individuals, and as a couple

• How Todd’s approach to his health has changed due to my influence

• What Todd believes men should understand as their partners navigate the perimenopause-menopause transition

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Today, I am thrilled to reconnect with a previous guest, Dr. Mary Claire Haver. 

Dr. Haver is a board-certified OBGYN, a certified menopause provider, and the founder of Mary Claire Wellness, a private medical practice focusing on women in midlife. Her best-selling book, the Galveston Diet, and her latest New York Times best-seller, The New Menopause, are fabulous resources for middle-aged women.

In today's discussion, we dive into various aspects of perimenopause and the associated challenges. We discuss factors accelerating ovarian aging, the role of contraception, mental health shifts, and the often delayed diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency. We examine the differences between hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives, discussing the importance of advocacy for women's health and the benefits of vaginal estrogen. We explore the disparity in federal funding for women's health research, the impact of the Women's Health Initiative, body composition changes, the estrabolome, the 30 Plant Challenge, and the advantages of HRT. Dr. Haver also talks about her preferred supplements. 

I'm sure you will find this conversation a valuable resource that you will likely revisit several times.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why perimenopause is so fraught with chaos

• Some of the factors that hasten ovarian aging

• How perimenopause causes significant changes in neurotransmitters, leading to cognitive changes

• The differences between HRT and oral contraceptives

• How estrogen loss during menopause affects vaginal tissue

• The benefits of vaginal estrogen for symptoms of menopause 

• How women's health research funding prioritizes reproduction over menopause and perimenopause

• How HRT can help with fat loss and muscle mass in postmenopausal women

• The emergence of eating-disordered behaviors in menopausal women

• Some of the lesser-known symptoms of menopause and ways to overcome them

• How HRT could impact the longevity and cognitive health of women

Bio: Dr Mary Claire Haver

Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified OB-GYN who has devoted her adult life to women's health. When she began experiencing the changes of menopause and midlife weight gain, she created her online program, The Galveston Diet, which currently has over 80,000 students. The Galveston Diet is the first and only nutrition program in the world created by a female OB-GYN, designed for women in menopause.

As part of her ongoing research, she became certified in Culinary Medicine in 2019, specializing in medical nutrition. In 2021, Dr. Haver opened Mary Claire Wellness; the clinic grew out of repeated requests from Galveston Diet students and Dr. Haver's social media followers for personal guidance. 

Dr. Haver lives with her husband and two daughters in Galveston, Texas. She is the author of The Galveston Diet (Rodale; January 10th, 2023).

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Mary Claire Haver

• On the⁠ Mary Claire Wellness website⁠

• ⁠Instagram⁠

• ⁠TikTok⁠

• ⁠Facebook⁠

• ⁠YouTube⁠

Books Mentioned

Dr. Haver’s books, ⁠The Galveston Diet⁠ and ⁠The New Menopause ⁠

⁠The Menopause Brain⁠ and the⁠ XX Brain⁠ by Lisa Mosconi

Previous Episode Mentioned

⁠Ep. 308 Dr. Mary Claire Haver: Weight Gain in Middle Age, Perimenopause and Inflammation

Today, I’m honored to connect with Dr. Salome Masghati, founder of Precision Gynecology, which provides the unhurried, root-cause-oriented care often missing in a system where women are rushed through short appointments, focusing on bioidentical hormone therapy, perimenopause, and menopause. Dr. Masghati has extensive surgical training and specializes in longevity medicine.

In today’s discussion, we explore the ovary as a signaling hub, not just a reproductive timer, and Dr. Masghati shares her views on hormone replacement therapy timing, intrinsic and infradian rhythm, ovarian function, and the differentiators between PCOS and PMOS in midlife women. We also cover oral versus transdermal estradiol therapy, FSH testing as an independent risk factor for bone and heart health, hysterectomies, ferritin and iron deficiency, coronary vasospasm, elevated Lp(a), estradiol and thyroid therapy, peptides, regenerative and esthetic offerings. Dr. Masghati also offers her personal perspective on what influences orgasms.

Stay tuned for today’s invaluable conversation with Dr. Salome Masghati on optimizing women’s health in midlife and beyond.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How a hysterectomy, partial hysterectomy, and other surgical interventions can impact ovarian function

• Dr. Masghati shares her approach to hormone replacement therapy for women going through premature or early menopause

• How elevated androgen levels, insulin resistance, and inflammation can affect the response to hormone replacement therapy in women with PCOS/PMOS

• Why Dr. Masghati generally prefers transdermal rather than oral estradiol

• How optimizing hormone levels can improve libido when women’s hormones change 

• Women may have low ferritin even when their serum iron looks good.

• Declining estrogen may contribute to coronary vasospasm in women.

• What women should know about regenerative therapies using PRP

• Why the source of peptides matters, and why Dr. Masghati specifically advises against using research peptides

Bio: 

Dr. Salome Masghati is a board-certified gynecologic surgeon who now focuses on hormonal wellbeing, functional medicine, and disease prevention. She specializes in women’s health conditions including perimenopause, PCOS, endometriosis, gut health, and metabolic dysfunction, using a root-cause and physiologic approach to help women restore balance and optimize their health.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Salome Masghati

• On her website

• On Instagram

• Email: team@drmasghati.com 

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute episode!

Statistically, one in three women will die of heart disease. So, today, we’re answering some of the many questions I received about lipids and heart health. Although I’ve done other lipid-focused Midlife Minutes before, this episode is yet another dedicated to Dr. Tom Dayspring, as I’ve received such a vast number of questions on this particular topic.   

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why understanding your ApoB and Lp(a) is an essential part of assessing your cardiovascular risk

• Why treatments for lipid abnormalities should be individualized to fit each specific abnormality 

• Essential lifestyle measures for supporting overall cardiovascular health

• How CAC scoring, CT coronary angiography, and Clearly AI-assisted imaging differ, what each test measures, and their limitations 

• How cardiovascular disease can sometimes present differently in women 

• Why are premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions often benign when the heart is structurally normal?

• How the roles of statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, GLP-1 medications, and emerging RNA therapies differ, and why they should not be considered interchangeable

• How declining estrogen impacts cardiovascular health

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

I’m delighted to bring you a midlife metabolic health masterclass for women today, with experts Dr. Yael Joffe, Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Lara Briden, Dr. Felice Gersh, and Dr. Alexandra Sowa.

In this masterclass, our panel of experts explores how women’s metabolisms change in perimenopause, how our fat cells change with age, and how those changes influence our estrogen, insulin, and body composition. We examine how muscle, estrogen, and satiety mechanisms can improve or worsen metabolic health, the roles of aging, stress, inflammation, and ovarian health, and how body changes become metabolic risks.

Join us for today’s impactful masterclass with our insightful panel of metabolic health experts.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why the amount of body fat you carry does not necessarily determine your metabolic health

• How declining estrogen during menopause can change where women store their body fat

• Why women have to work harder to maintain and build muscle as estrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause

• How women can continue building muscle at any age

• Why progesterone is not only a reproductive hormone or something prescribed to protect the uterine lining

• The changes women may experience as their estradiol and progesterone production declines in midlife

• What women considering GLP-1 medications for menopausal weight gain should look at, beyond the number on the scale

• How to support your gut health and manage gastrointestinal symptoms when taking a GLP-1

• The factors Dr. Joffe takes into account when evaluating women during their menopausal transition

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Yael Joffe

3X4 Genetics

Instagram

Facebook

Connect with Dr. Ben Bikman

On his website

Social media: @benbikmanphd

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden

Website

Social media: @Lara Briden

Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh

On her website: Integrative Medical Group of Irvine

Instagram

All of Dr. Gersh’s books are available on Amazon.

Connect with Dr. Alexandra Sowa

On her website  

Social media: @alexandrasowamd 

Purchase a copy of Dr. Sowa’s book, The Ozempic Revolution: A Doctor's Proven Plan for Success to Help You Reverse Obesity, End Yo-Yo Dieting, and Protect Yourself from Disease

Podcast Episodes: 

Ep. 558 Your DNA Isn’t Your Destiny – The Most Actionable Way to Use Genetics for Weight Loss with Dr. Yael Joffe 

Ep. 316 The Impact of Age, Gender and Lifestyle on Metabolic Health with Dr. Ben Bikman

Ep. 372 Metabolism Repair for Women: Strategies and Insights with Dr. Lara Briden

Ep. 570 We’ve Been Wrong About Progesterone! – The Most Powerful Hormone for Heart, Brain & Longevity with Dr. Felice Gersh|Menopause & HRT

Ep. 438 - The Rise of GLP-1s: Key to Weight Loss and Metabolic Health with Alexandra Sowa, MD

I’m excited to share another episode in our series of highly vetted companies.

Today, I’m delighted to reconnect with Angelo Keely, the Co-founder and CEO of Kion, for our third conversation.

I’ve been using essential aminos. I really leaned into them during my book launch, and I credit them with helping me maintain my muscle mass despite training at a lower volume.

In today’s conversation, Angelo and I discuss GLP-1s and muscle loss, exploring protein intake, the leucine threshold hypothesis, the association between declining estrogen and blunted muscle protein synthesis, and using essential aminos to build and maintain muscle. We unpack the role of sleep and recovery for muscle health, daily versus as-needed creatine monohydrate and essential amino acid supplementation, what omega-3s are, why they matter, and how to supplement. We also cover midlife women's body composition, weight loss, and muscle building, and Angelo shares his take on the disconnect between body composition changes in midlife women and how companies actively market to midlife women, knowing the challenges we face in that area.

Stay tuned for today’s insightful and informative discussion with Angelo Keely of Kion.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How caloric restriction leads to fat loss but can also cause the body to break down muscle 

• How essential aminos can help preserve our muscles as we age

• The essential amino formula Angelo recommends for midlife women

• Hormone changes may affect muscle protein synthesis

• The huge impact poor sleep has on whole-body protein synthesis 

• Essential aminos vs. whey protein and how they differ

• Value of essential aminos for maintaining muscle during caloric deficits 

• How aminos and creatine both need to be taken consistently, but for different physiological reasons

• What to look for when choosing a quality omega-3 supplement

• How to make daily supplementation easier to maintain

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Angelo Keely

• Visit GetKION.com/Cynthia for 20% off!

Today, I’m delighted to connect with Sara Hirsh Bordo, an autoimmune-diagnosed, 15-times award-winning documentary filmmaker, the founder and CEO of Women Rising, and the author of Autoimmunity and the Good Girls.

I loved Sara's book, and I love her work! I believe her message will resonate deeply with listeners with concurrent autoimmune conditions, and those who have grown up as people pleasers or have subjugated themselves over the course of their lives. Autoimmune conditions often tend to flare or first present during major hormonal transitions like postpartum, perimenopause, or menopause. So it’s important to understand the influence of chronic stress and how it intersects with our immune system function.

In our conversation, Sara and I discuss how self-silencing makes us sick, and overgiving keeps us that way. We explore the influence of family and culture on our health and longevity, the effects of autoimmunity, people pleasing, good-girl conditioning, and authenticity versus dissociation. We also discuss Gabor Maté’s book, The Myth of Normal, liberation, the fear of disappointment, Sara’s research, her concept of the license to be sovereign, the act of receiving, the role of epigenetics and birth order, and Sara's framework of coherence, authenticity, epigenetics, and permission.

Stay tuned for a wonderful conversation about autoimmunity, people-pleasing, authenticity, and permitting ourselves to be sovereign. Sarah's book, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls, will likely resonate deeply with many of you.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How self-silencing, self-neglect, and self-betrayal can impact a woman’s health

• The connection between chronic stress, suppressed feelings, good girl conditioning, and autoimmunity

• What it feels like to reclaim your authenticity and be more aligned with yourself

• How the fear of disappointing others can make it difficult for some women to claim their power

• What Sara discovered about adverse girlhood experiences, birth order, and the caretaker role when compiling the research for her book

• How becoming more sovereign can help women advocate for their own needs

• Why receiving can be difficult for women who are accustomed to giving

• How stillness and silence helped Sara identify her needs and wants

• How girlhood experiences, self-silencing, and self-compromise can become epigenetic inputs, and what women can do to create more supportive environments

• Why permission is a key part of Sara’s framework for reclaiming authenticity

Bio: Sara Hirsh Bordo

Sara Hirsh Bordo (pronounced Bordeaux) is a 15-time award-winning filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Women Rising®, named "One of the Most Innovative, Interesting, and Purpose-Driven Women-Led Startups to Watch” by Inc. Magazine.

Sara is currently directing short documentary films for Toyota and ESPN Women, and most recently, the executive producer of ConnectHer International Film Festival, consulting director for the Gates Foundation PitchFest Program, and the author and researcher behind the first proprietary quantitative survey at the intersection of female empowerment and health, Autoimmunity and the Good GirlsTM.

Sara previously held positions in media and entertainment, including Executive Director of Interactive Marketing at Paramount Pictures, VP of Digital Marketing at MGM Studios, and CEO and Co-Founder of NowLive. Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is her first book.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Sara Hirsh Bordo 

• Website 

• Instagram

• Autoimmunity & The Good Girls Book

Today, we have a metabolic health masterclass, featuring Dr. Robert Lustig, Ben Azadi, Dr. Ben Bikman, Mark Sisson, and Dr. Nick Norwitz. 

In today’s masterclass, we explore why metabolic dysfunction is not simply a calories-in, calories-out issue or a failure of willpower, how insulin and leptin influence appetite and behavior, how early signs of insulin resistance can appear years before a diabetes diagnosis, and the important relationship between muscle, glucose regulation, and insulin sensitivity. We also discuss how movement supports fat burning without sacrificing muscle, why chronic cardio may not produce the results many people expect, and how emerging technology could provide a far more personalized approach to metabolic care.

Stay tuned for today’s informative discussion, where our panel of experts shares their valuable perspectives on metabolic health.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Leptin resistance and how it can drive the overeating and inactivity commonly associated with obesity

• How elevated insulin blocks the effects of leptin

• Why it’s essential to pay attention to fasting insulin rather than waiting for blood glucose to rise 

• Ben Azadi highlights metabolic health markers that can provide information beyond fasting glucose.

• How our muscles help to regulate glucose and support insulin sensitivity

• The importance of building and preserving muscle to support insulin sensitivity as we age, and how even a brief period of inactivity can reduce insulin sensitivity

• Mark Sisson explains why running may not be the most effective fat loss strategy 

• How walking can increase your fat-burning capacity while also helping to preserve your muscles

• Dr. Nick Norwitz explains how type 2 diabetes can involve different underlying pathologies, and how CGM data and machine learning can eventually help to identify specific subphenotypes

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Robert Lustig

Website 

On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter 

Connect with Ben Azadi

Website

On Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok

Get a copy of Ben Azadi’s latest book, Metabolic Freedom.

Connect with Dr. Ben Bikman

Website

On social media: @benbikmanphd

Connect with Mark Sisson  

Mark’s book, Born To Walk 

Peluva Shoes

Connect with Nick Norwitz

On YouTube, X, and Instagram

His Substack

Previous Episodes:

Ep. 161 Robert Lustig & Cynthia Thurlow Discussing The Nutritional Battlefield & Debunking Chronic Diseases

Ep. 465 Metabolic Health 101: Fat Loss, Toxins, and Seed Oils with Dr. Ben Azadi

Ep. 316 The Impact of Age, Gender and Lifestyle on Metabolic Health with Dr. Ben Bikman

Ep. 422 Walking for Health: The Underrated Exercise You Need with Mark Sisson

Ep. 525 We’ve Been Misled About Metabolic Health – The Shocking Truth About Cholesterol, GLP-1 & Aging with Dr. Nick Norwitz

I am delighted to have Jessie Inchauspe, the Glucose Goddess, joining me on the podcast today!

Metabolic health is my passion! It is a huge focus of my work, and Jessie is truly a gift in this space! She is a rising-star author and biochemist with a clear, accessible way of explaining the science behind glucose metabolism. 

Jessie joins me today to discuss the impact of glucose metabolism and spikes. We dive into her background and how an accident created her pain-to-purpose story. We discuss the role of continuous glucose monitors and how glucose spikes impact our mitochondria, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We get into glycation and aging, how weight gain is a protective aspect of glucose spikes- or hyperglycemia, and the role of vinegar, movement, and fiber. We also talk about Jessie’s new book, her opinions on fasting, and so much more. 

I loved interviewing Jessie! Her enthusiasm is contagious, and it is easy to understand why she is such a beloved author in the health and wellness space!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Jessie shares how an accident led her to where she is today.

• How a continuous glucose monitor changed everything for Jessie.

• How Jessie developed her simple principles to steady glucose levels.

• What is the purpose of glucose in the body?

• How do glucose spikes impact our mitochondria?

• Jessie shares a fascinating vinegar hack to reduce the side effects and symptoms of glucose spikes.

• How being metabolically unhealthy impacts the aging process.

• The benefits of having savory breakfasts and eating vegetables first with every meal.

• Jessie talks about her new book, The Glucose Goddess Method.

• How gaining weight protects our bodies from the impact of glucose spikes.

• How walking or moving after meals balances blood sugar levels.

• Why is blood sugar so important?

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Jessie Inchauspe

On her ⁠website⁠  

⁠Instagram⁠

I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Rachel Goldman today. She is a licensed clinical psychologist based in New York City and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She specializes in the mind-body connection using cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on stress management, burnout, distorted eating, bariatric surgery support, and health behavior changes. I was honored to meet Dr. Rachel in Miami at an event where we both spoke earlier this year.

In our conversation, we discuss how to approach body image in midlife, how our families influence our relationships with food, what toxic positivity is, and how it invalidates our emotions. We also explore the vulnerability of midlife and parenting, the effects of GLP-1 drugs, obesity as a disease, and the impact of mindset. Dr. Rachel also defines burnout and shares the best ways to address it.

Stay tuned for today’s invaluable conversation on body image, mindset, emotions, and navigating the challenges of midlife.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Dr. Rachel shares her approach to helping midlife women struggling with body image and identity 

• How our thought processes around food can influence our emotions and behaviors

• Various factors that can influence our relationship with food

• How women with many rules around food can start changing their thinking

• How to navigate grief about your younger body and learn to appreciate the body you have now

• What toxic positivity is and how it invalidates our emotions

• How personal and professional role changes in midlife can affect a woman’s sense of identity

• Why Dr. Rachel recommends having more than one coping tool in your toolbox 

• The effects Dr. Rachel has been seeing in patients using GLP-1 medications

• What burnout is, and how to address it

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Rachel Goldman

• On social media: @DrRachelNYC  

• Purchase links for Dr. Rachel’s book are available HERE.

Welcome to the latest summer version of the Midlife Minute. 

In this episode, we’re focusing on the gut. Even though I’ve written a book about the gut microbiome changes that occur in perimenopause and menopause, I’m often asked whether the gut is truly central to midlife. So today, I provide direct answers to the many questions I received on this topic.  

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How the gut microbiome and estrogen work together, and the importance of supporting both 

• How the estrobolome helps recycle estrogen, and why its function could decline during menopause

• How poor sleep, blood sugar instability, histamine issues, and dysbiosis tend to be interconnected

• The value of practitioner-guided microbiome testing when investigating histamine intolerance, dysbiosis, and weight loss resistance

• Various factors that could contribute to weight loss resistance

• How my approach to stool testing has evolved as newer microbiome testing technology has become available

• Essential lifestyle habits for supporting gut health

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

I am honored to connect with Dr. Eric Osansky today. He is a chiropractic physician, clinical nutritionist, and functional medicine provider. He is also an author who loves to write about hyperthyroidism and a lifestyle-focused approach to it.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Osansky unpacks his own Graves diagnosis in 2008 and highlights the typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism, the unique physiology of thyroid dysfunction, and specific risk factors. We explore traditional treatment pathways, the influence of low-dose naltrexone and other immunomodulatory supplements, and the gut-thyroid axis. We also discuss how most of our immune system is located in the gut, the influence of leaky gut and autoimmune disease, perimenopause as a trigger window for symptoms, and how these often overlap with thyroid health.

Stay tuned for an interesting and insightful conversation on thyroid health, Graves' disease, hyperthyroidism, and more.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What Graves' disease is, and how it differs from other causes of hyperthyroidism

• The first symptom of Graves' disease that Dr. Osansky experienced, and other common symptoms of Graves’ disease

• Genetics, environmental triggers, and other factors that could contribute to autoimmune thyroid disease

• Conventional treatment options that are available for Graves’ disease, how they work, and why treatment decisions should be individualized

• Why Dr. Osansky recommends continuing to support immune and gut health after radioactive iodine or thyroid surgery

• How low-dose naltrexone may help some people with Graves’ disease modulate their immune systems

• Foods, lifestyle measures, and supplements that can support immune regulation alongside appropriate medical care

• The relationship between the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), and autoimmunity

• How thyroid symptoms and hormone changes during midlife can overlap, and why laboratory testing is important when symptoms overlap

Bio: Eric Osansky

Dr. Eric Osansky is a chiropractor, clinical nutritionist, and certified functional medicine practitioner who has been helping people with hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's since 2009. He is the author of the books "Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease", "The Hyperthyroid Healing Diet", and "Hashimoto's Triggers", and is the host of the Save My Thyroid podcast. Dr. Osansky was personally diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2008 and was able to restore his health through a natural approach, and since then has helped others reverse their hyperthyroidism through his SAVED Thyroid framework.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Eric Osansky

• Website

• Save My Thyroid Project

• Substack

• Newsletter

Dr. Osansky’s books, Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease, The Hyperthyroid Healing Diet, and Hashimoto’s Triggers, are available on Amazon.

In this episode, we’re featuring MitoQ, a company whose research around antioxidant support for mitochondrial function has been of particular interest to me.

I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Siobhan Mitchell, the Chief Scientific Officer at MitoQ. Dr. Mitchell completed her PhD at SUNY Albany and a postdoctoral fellowship on brain aging at the University of Washington. She has held roles at multinational food companies, leading research on brain nutrition, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and weight loss. She has published clinical research demonstrating the effects of stress on women’s heart health and the importance of nutrients such as polyphenols, omega-3s, probiotics, and amino acids for brain health, authored dozens of clinical studies and more than 80 papers, and given talks on nutritional neuroscience at conferences worldwide. She also holds eight patents for products related to aging, cognition, and mood.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Mitchell and I discuss mitochondrial physiology, energy, and dysfunction, exploring the impact of MitoQ and supplementation for supporting health. We examine research on menopause, how estrogen influences mitochondria, the roles of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and zombie cells, highlighting how mitochondria impact our cardiovascular health, the value of MitoQ in supporting vascular function in females, the importance of polyphenols and spices, and signs of mitochondrial dysfunction.

This is a truly invaluable conversation- one you’ll likely want to revisit. Stay tuned for today’s informative discussion on supporting our mitochondria and reducing oxidative stress with MitoQ.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How our mitochondrial function changes as we get older, and what those changes might look like

• How antioxidants protect the mitochondria from free radicals and oxidative stress

• The early signs of mitochondrial dysfunction 

• How women who have damaged their mitochondria earlier in life can proactively support their mitochondria

• Why some oxidative stress may be beneficial and when it could become problematic

• How mitochondrial dysfunction impacts heart function, blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome

• What Dr. Mitchell recommends for women learning about mitochondrial support for the first time

• Dr. Mitchell shares the daily practices she uses to support her brain and metabolic health.

• How long you may need to take MitoQ before noticing improvements, and what those improvements might look like

Bio: Dr. Siobhan Mitchell

Siobhan Mitchell is the chief scientific officer of MitoQ. She completed her PhD at SUNY Albany and a post-doctoral fellowship on brain aging at the University of Washington. Siobhan has held roles at multinational food companies leading research on brain nutrition, metabolism, cardiovascular health and weight loss.

Siobhan has published clinical research showing the effects of stress on women's heart health, and the importance of nutrients such as polyphenols, omega-3 oils, probiotics and amino acids for brain health. She has authored over a dozen clinical studies on best practices for weight management and prevention of chronic diseases during her time as senior director for Noom.

Siobhan is passionate about the intersection of nutrition and lifestyle factors, such as exercise, sleep, and mental well-being, to extend health span.

Siobhan has given talks on nutritional neuroscience at conferences all over the world. She's authored over 80 papers and holds eight patents for aging, cognition, and mood products.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Siobhan Mitchell

• MitoQ 

• The Mitochondrial Collaborative Research Programme (MCRP)

•  Email Dr. Siobhan Mitchell: s.mitchell@mitoq.com

I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Lanna Cheuck today. She’s a board-certified urologic surgeon who transitioned from academic medicine into a distinctive career in medical esthetics.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Lanna shares her inspiring origin story, and we explore the influence of sexual health and genitourinary syndrome of menopause, common symptoms women experience, and why so few women receive treatment despite how common the condition is. Dr. Lanna explains non-surgical treatment options that improve blood flow, increase orgasms, and improve pelvic floor health, and discusses the influence of senescent cells, the celebrity non-surgical facelift, and how GLP-1 medications influence facial aging. She also shares interesting insights on Korean skincare benefits versus a concierge U.S.-based system, clarifies what biostimulators are and how they stimulate collagen production over time, and explains the influence of PDGF growth factors, cadaver fat transfers, energy devices, and estrogen used on our faces.

Stay tuned for a fascinating conversation filled with practical insights into women’s health, medical esthetics, and healthy aging. 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How the continuum of symptoms associated with genitourinary syndrome of menopause is often dismissed as something women simply have to live with

• The value of vaginal estrogen, and how many women are still denied that treatment due to outdated concerns following the WHI study

• Non-surgical procedures that can improve blood flow, collagen, elastin, lubrication, sensitivity, orgasms, and pelvic floor health, and why Dr. Lanna considers them regenerative sexual health rather than cosmetic procedures

• Why it’s essential to seek practitioners with extensive training for intimate procedures

• Dr. Lanna’s celebrity non-surgical facelift combines multiple approaches to address every layer of facial aging.

• How rapid weight loss associated with GLP-1 medications can accelerate facial aging

• The advantages and limitations of Korean esthetics, and how it differs from a concierge U.S.-based approach

• What biostimulators are, and how they stimulate collagen production

• Why Dr. Lanna introduces energy-based devices according to skin quality rather than age alone

• Dr. Lanna shares her perspective on using topical estriol or estradiol for facial skin

Bio:

Dr. Lanna Cheuck, DO, FACS, is the CEO, Founder, and Medical Director of LC Medical PLLC with multiple locations and her flagship in the heart of midtown Manhattan. She is a board-certified, Ivy League-trained surgeon and self-taught businesswoman who built her brand into multi-million dollar companies in less than five years. She is the CEO and Founder of FACE Med-Spa Training, where she has over 30K injectors in her community. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of FACE Med Store, a seven-figure online shop specializing in the distribution of medical supplies, equipment, and skincare.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Lanna Cheuck

• On her website

• Instagram

I am delighted to connect with Michael Rubino today. Michael is the founder and CEO of Home Cleanse and the chair of Change the Air Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving indoor environments and public health. He is widely recognized as the leading authority on mold remediation and indoor air quality.

In our conversation, we explore the connection between indoor air quality, gut permeability, and systemic inflammation. Michael explains how modern building practices, energy efficiency measures, and newer building materials may be contributing to health challenges. We discuss the types of tests he uses in his business, the symptoms he often sees in middle-aged women, considerations for frequent travelers, and why a bio-individual, data-driven approach matters for remediation. We also examine the role of genetics; the link between poor indoor air quality, leaky gut, and inflammation; practical interventions; the influence of social media; and what to look out for when contemplating a home addition or renovation.

Mold exposure is, in my view, one of the most commonly overlooked contributors to chronic health issues in functional medicine. Its effects on the gut impact the health of the microbiome, increasing susceptibility to leaky gut, which can fuel neuroinflammation, and impair detoxification pathways.

Stay tuned for a truly insightful discussion on indoor air quality, mold exposure, and the hidden environmental factors that may be influencing your health.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How energy-efficient building practices may be contributing to indoor air quality concerns

• Why traditional air sampling may not provide a complete picture of mold exposure

• Testing options for evaluating mold and mycotoxin exposure

• Symptoms associated with mold and indoor environmental exposures

• How to reduce the likelihood of  mold exposure while traveling

• Factors to consider when developing a remediation plan

• How poor indoor air quality can contribute to gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, and inflammation

• How genetics can influence susceptibility to mold and environmental exposures

• Why recommendations such as dehumidification and opening windows can only be helpful when applied appropriately

• Practical ways to improve indoor air quality and reduce mold exposure

Bio:  Michael Rubino

Michael Rubino is an air quality expert and environmental wellness advocate. He is the founder of HomeCleanse, a company specializing in science-based remediation of toxic indoor environments, and chair & co-founder of the Change the Air Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to education and policy advancement around indoor air health. Michael hosts the podcast Never Been Sicker and is a published author and sought-after speaker on mold and environmental wellness.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Michael Rubino

• HomeCleanse

• The Dust Test

• Change The Air Foundation

Today’s episode is another in our podcast series featuring companies I genuinely feel aligned with.

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Lucy Goff, the founder of Lyma, a pioneering wellness brand transforming beauty and health through science-backed innovation. Before launching Lyma, Lucy built a successful career as a journalist and luxury-sector publicist, during which she honed her expertise in brand storytelling and consumer engagement. I’ve been using the Lyma laser for several months now, and I’ve noticed significant improvements in my neck, jawline, and even my knees.

Today’s conversation centers around Lucy’s near-death experience and the origins of Lyma. We explore the differences between cold and hot laser technology, the influence of sirtuins and longevity pathways, what constitutes a clinical-grade device, and the FDA approval process. Lucy explains how skin ages differently during perimenopause and menopause, why the Lyma laser is safe for all skin types, and how it requires no protective goggles and is completely pain-free. We also discuss gut health, HRT, and hormones, the influence of IDO2, and the role of probiotic fibers. Lucy highlights how simplifying can enhance your health in midlife, how using GLP-1 drugs can lead to weight loss and reduce skin laxity, and how the Lyma device can help improve skin quality.

I know you will enjoy today’s enlightening discussion with Lucy Goff as much as I did while recording it.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How Lucy's near-death experience led to the creation of Lyma

• How cold laser technology differs from heat-based skin treatments

• Why LED, red light therapy, and laser technology should not be grouped, and how LED and laser differ in their biological effects and gene expression

• Lucy explains the extensive testing required for FDA clearance

• How women’s skin changes during perimenopause and menopause

• The role of the gut microbiome during perimenopause and menopause

• What inspired the development of Lyma's IDO2 formulation 

• Why Lucy encourages a simpler approach to supporting your health in midlife 

• How the Lyma laser can help improve skin laxity following rapid weight loss with GLP-1 medications

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Lucy Goff

• Lyma - Use the code CYNTHIA 10 for a 10% discount on the Lyma device and products on the Lyma website

Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Elisa Port, a talented breast surgeon with a passion for helping women better understand breast cancer, breast health, and the science behind screening, diagnosis, and treatment. She’s the chief of breast surgery for Mount Sinai Health System in New York, a professor of surgery at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine, and the author of The Breast Advice.

In our conversation, we explore breast cancer risk factors, various screening mechanisms and their impact on dense breasts, and the role of diagnosis and pathology, including DCIS. We also discuss menopause symptom management, anti-hormone and targeted treatments, immunotherapy, de-escalation, and why a personalized approach to breast cancer treatment is so important. 

Stay tuned for a truly informative conversation with Dr. Port. With her infectious optimism, she has a wonderful way of translating the science and the research in her book, making it accessible and putting the statistics into context so the information feels far less scary than it otherwise might.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family cancer history

• How body weight and alcohol can influence breast cancer risk

• Why Dr. Port recommends annual mammograms beginning at age 40 for most women

• Dr. Port may disagree with recommendations against breast self-exams

• Why women with dense breasts may benefit from supplemental ultrasound or MRI in addition to mammography

• Unvalidated breast screening tests may lead to false positives, unnecessary testing, procedures, anxiety, and expense.

• What DCIS is, and how it influences treatment decisions

• Why an individualized approach is essential when using SERMs, SERDs, and aromatase inhibitors

• How Oncotype testing helps to identify women who may safely avoid chemotherapy

Bio: Dr Elisa Port

Dr. Elisa Port, MD, is chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, which encompasses seven different breast centers. Her team performs over a thousand breast surgical procedures each year. She is also the director of the Dubin Breast Center, a state-of-the-art breast center in Manhattan that opened in April 2011.

She personally consults with thousands of patients and performs hundreds of operations each year. Dr. Port is a trusted voice in the media and a sought-after speaker. She has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, CBS, Today, Mornings with Maria, and Pix11.

In addition to her media presence, Dr. Port regularly speaks at public events and is invited to present at conferences and panels across the country. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two dogs.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Elisa Port

• On her website

• On her personal Instagram 

• Breast Advice MD on Instagram

• The Breast Advice Substack

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute.

This episode is dedicated to the overwhelming number of HRT-related questions I’ve received from my community in 2026. Hormone replacement therapy has generated more questions than almost any other midlife topic, especially regarding timing, progesterone, testing, and special situations.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Women can still benefit from HRT later in menopause.

• The importance of working with a knowledgeable prescriber when making hormone replacement therapy decisions

• How progesterone tolerance can vary from one woman to another

• Why your blood work should be timed according to when you apply your estradiol patch, and why I prefer to focus on estradiol rather than routinely monitoring progesterone levels

• How the synthetic hormones used in oral contraceptives differ from the bioidentical hormones used in HRT

• How your medical history can influence your hormone replacement therapy plan

• Fear and outdated information may continue to create confusion about hormone replacement therapy.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Today, I’m delighted to reconnect with Dr. Tabatha Barber, also known as The Gutsy Gynecologist. She is a triple board-certified OB-GYN specializing in perimenopause, menopause, and functional medicine.

In today’s discussion, we explore why supporting your hormones involves much more than simply replacing them. Dr. Barber explains how our nervous system, internal dialogue, cellular health, stress response, and lifestyle work together to influence our hormones, energy, and overall health during midlife. We also discuss why addressing root causes is essential for lasting improvements, the role of mitochondrial health, and practical ways to better support your nervous system.

If you're looking for a more comprehensive approach to navigating perimenopause and menopause, you will not want to miss today’s insightful conversation with Dr. Tabatha Barber.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why regulating your nervous system is essential for lasting hormone and health improvements

• Why the conversations you have with yourself matter more than external circumstances

• Why Dr. Barber prefers to focus on identifying the root causes of health issues instead of repeatedly treating downstream symptoms

• How sympathetic dominance and unresolved stress patterns can influence hormone function

• Other factors, apart from HRT, that are essential for improving women’s health during midlife

• How oxidative stress, lack of sunlight, and disrupted circadian rhythms can contribute to fatigue and reduced cellular energy

• How hormone changes in midlife often coincide with greater self-awareness, stronger boundaries, and less people-pleasing

• How faith, prayer, and gratitude can support nervous system regulation

• Practical ways to support and regulate your nervous system

Bio: Tabatha Barber

Dr. Tabatha Barber is a triple board-certified physician — and one of the most distinctive voices in faith-based women's health today. Her story begins where most would have stopped. A teenage mother and high school dropout, she rebuilt her life through faith and perseverance — earning her doctorate and certifications before realizing the very system she trained in was missing the whole point. Today, as owner and medical director of Her Higher Health, creator of the Fast to Faith Coaching Academy, 40 Day program, supplement line, and international bestselling book Fast to Faith, Dr. Tabatha brings one message to every stage and microphone: your body is not broken — your approach is. She is known for doing what no one else does: mapping Scripture directly with how the body works — showing women that Romans 12:2 is the original neuroplasticity protocol, that Genesis 2:7 describes the gut-brain connection, and that God designed healing to happen in community.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Tabatha Barber

• Fast To Faith 

• On Instagram

Today, I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Darren Candow.

Dr. Candow is a distinguished professor and an internationally renowned researcher on creatine monohydrate, nutrition, and physical activity who joined me before on Episode 301, where we spoke about creatine. 

We are doing an AMA session today, delving into various themes surrounding creatine, from debunking outdated RDA recommendations to exploring the combined effects of strength training and creatine efficacy. We look into the cognitive benefits of creatine, exploring how it interacts with caffeine and its implications for bone health, hydration, anabolic resistance, and metabolic health. 

I trust you will find today's AMA session as enlightening and enriching as I did while recording it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• The safety and efficacy of creatine as a supplement

• How creatine increases muscle mass and reduces protein catabolism

• Benefits of combining creatine with protein 

• Is it better to take creatine before or after a workout?

• How creatine supplementation may improve brain performance and mental clarity

• Why exercise is essential for those who want to experience the benefits of creatine for maintaining their bone health

• Resistance-band workouts for post-menopausal women

• Are there any age-related limits for creatine supplementation?

Bio: Dr. Darren Candow

Dr. Darren Candow, PhD, CSEP-CEP, is Professor and Director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. The overall objectives of Dr. Candow’s research program are to develop effective lifestyle interventions involving nutrition (primarily creatine monohydrate) and physical activity (resistance training) that are clinically and practically relevant for improving musculoskeletal aging and reducing the risk of falls and fractures. Dr. Candow has published over 120 peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, supervised over 20 MSc and PhD students, and received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the Nutricia Research Foundation. In addition, Dr. Candow serves on the editorial review boards for the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Nutrients, and Frontiers.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Darren Candow

• On⁠ Instagram⁠

• X 

Previous Episode Mentioned:

⁠Ep. 301 Creatine: The Best Supplement for Better Bones & Brain Health with Darren Candow, PhD, CSEP-CEP⁠

Today, I’m honored to reconnect with Dr. Tommy Wood. He is a neuroscientist, a performance coach, and an elite-level professional nerd. He's also currently an associate professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington. He received his bachelor's in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, a medical degree from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Oslo.

In our conversation, we discuss his new book, The Stimulated Mind, and he explains how dementia is a confluence of factors that accumulate over decades, important contributors to dementia, and ways we can help prevent it. We explore the concept of headroom, specific risk factors for neurocognitive decline, brain fog in midlife, the 10-year HRT timing window, and the evidence supporting these concepts. Dr. Tommy shares what we can learn from his work with elite-level athletes, along with some of the biggest misconceptions in the brain health space, and his 3s model of stimulation, sleep, and nutrient supply. He also explains why nutritional status matters for neurocognitive function.

Stay tuned for today’s insightful conversation with Dr. Tommy Wood. I loved his new book, The Stimulated Mind, and it will definitely be part of my must-reads for 2026!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why dementia is not one single disease but a clinical outcome with multiple causes

• How sleep, oral health, nutritional status, and chronic inflammation may all influence dementia risk

• What headroom is, and the factors that help maintain it and protect cognitive function

• How the disease processes leading to dementia often begin decades before symptoms appear

• What the research suggests about the best time to start hormone therapy for brain health

• How Formula One drivers and elite athletes tend to prioritize sleep, nutrition, recovery, and focused work over chasing perfection

• How frequent notifications and interruptions train the brain to expect distraction, making sustained concentration more difficult

• How both overeating and chronic under-fueling can impair brain health

• How lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk, even in people with APOE4

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Tommy Wood

• On his website

• On Instagram

• The Stimulated Mind

• Substack

I’m delighted to reconnect with my dear friend Ben Azadi today, in honor of his newly revised book, Keto Flex.

Ben is a leading authority on metabolic health, an international Keystone speaker, and the New York Times best-selling author of Metabolic Freedom.

In today’s conversation, we discuss why women fail on keto. We examine how women’s menstrual cycles and various life stages influence both the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, and the importance of coming out of ketosis and incorporating feast days. We explain what the Randall cycle is, why we need to be finely tuned to it, how to support healthy cortisol regulation, particularly the HPA axis, and tools to determine whether we are balanced within the autonomic nervous system, including heart rate variability, sleep, and whether our glucose and ketones are within range. We also explore the effects of anti-nutrients and elimination diets, and Ben shares his approach for women who feel keto hasn't worked for them, explaining why keto should be viewed as a process rather than a diet.

This is, as always, a truly invaluable conversation with my dear friend Ben Azadi. Stay tuned, as we will also be offering giveaways to listeners of Ben's new book, Keto Flex.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Various factors that could influence how women respond to a ketogenic diet

• How women need to adjust keto and fasting according to their menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopausal years, rather than continuously following the same approach

• Why Ben encourages women to have intentional feast days instead of remaining in ketosis indefinitely 

• What a feast day looks like,  and how it differs from a cheat day

• Why fasting should be adapted to how well your body tolerates stress

• Factors that can help to determine whether fasting is working for you

• Why you should adjust your training intensity and focus more on recovery as you get older

• How a temporary carnivore elimination diet can help identify foods your body doesn't tolerate

• Why Ben views keto as a metabolic process rather than a diet, and why he prioritizes lifestyle before medication

Bio: Ben Azadi

Ben Azadi, FDN-P, is a leading authority on metabolic health, an international keynote speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of Metabolic Freedom.

After facing his own health challenges, Ben transformed his life in 2008—losing 80 pounds and stepping into metabolic freedom. That turning point sparked a global mission: to help 1 billion people break free from physical and mental obesity through education, not medication.

With 18+ years in the health and wellness space, Ben is now leading a bold 10-year initiative to naturally reverse type 2 diabetes in 1 million people.

Through his work, Ben has reached millions worldwide and personally coached thousands to reclaim their health. His audience includes nearly 3M+ on digital platforms, more than 1M YouTube subscribers with over 100M views, and his top-ranked podcast, The Ben Azadi Show, which has surpassed 100 million downloads.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Ben Azadi

• On his website

• Pre-order a revised-version copy of Keto Flex and claim your bonuses

I am thrilled to connect with my friend and colleague, Dr. Anthony Youn today. 

Dr. Youn is a nationally recognized board-certified plastic surgeon and the author of many best-selling books. He has a massive social media presence and hosts the widely acclaimed podcast The Holistic Plastic Surgery Show.

In our conversation today, we dive into Dr. Youn’s new book, Younger for Life, and he offers valuable insights on skin health and overall well-being. We explore the aging process and address oxidative-free radical damage, chronic inflammation, autophagy, and the impact of processed foods. We also get into helpful supplements for skin support, examine the concept of greenwashing, and discuss sunscreen, exfoliation, in-office treatments, breast implant illness, and the power of lifestyle choices.

Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• How to avoid aging too quickly through nutrition and lifestyle changes

• How sugar and seed oils impact skin aging

• The benefits of collagen supplements for healthier skin 

• Hormonal changes that affect the metabolism and skin health after menopause

• The importance of screening the ingredients in skincare products

• How chemical sunscreens differ from physical sunblocks

• Using Retinol for anti-aging and skin health

• Non-invasive fat reduction treatments and their potential risks

• Dr. Youn discusses breast implant illness

• What you need to look out for when using Botox

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Anthony Youn

• On his ⁠website⁠

• ⁠Youn Beauty⁠  

• ⁠Instagram⁠

• ⁠YouTube⁠

• ⁠TikTok

I am honored to connect with Dr. Sharon Stills today. She is a graduate of naturopathic medical school with extensive training in European biological medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement, and anti-aging therapies.

In our conversation today, we explore terrain-based medicine and strategies to support women in perimenopause and beyond. We talk extensively about gut health, the estroblome, the microbiome, how European biological medicine views these as terrain, disruptive factors, and why they matter for women in midlife. We also examine the influence of the lymphatic system and how castor oil packs support it, bioidentical hormones as a lifelong tool rather than a temporary fix, and why menopause is a sacred second act in women's lives.

Dr. Stills is thoughtful, insightful, and grounded, and I know you will enjoy this conversation with her as much as I did recording it.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How European biological medicine emphasizes the extracellular matrix (terrain) rather than focusing only on individual cells or mitochondria

• How declining hormones during menopause often expose longstanding yet previously hidden aspects of women’s health

• Dr. Stills shares what she did to prepare herself for menopause in the preceding years 

• Dr. Stills encourages women to create meaningful challenges or experiences to mark their major life transitions

• How limiting beliefs about aging can influence how you experience midlife and beyond

• Factors that could influence the health of your terrain

• How supplements can play an important role, but work best alongside lifestyle habits, mindfulness, and supporting your body's natural healing processes

• Why Dr. Stills considers the lymphatic system an overlooked contributor to hormone balance, and some practical ways to support healthy lymphatic flow

• How simple daily habits often have a greater impact on your health than wellness gadgets

• The value of bioidentical hormones, and why hormone therapy should be individualized rather than one-size-fits-all

Bio: Dr. Sharon Stills

Dr. Sharon Stills, a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor and graduate of The Sonoran University (2001), has spent over two decades transforming women’s health, with a special focus on guiding women through perimenopause and menopause.

Creator of the pioneering RED Hot Sexy Meno(pause) Program and host of the annual Mastering Your Meno(pause) Transition summit, she combines her expertise in European Biological Medicine, pro-aging therapies, and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement to help women rediscover vitality with natural methods.

A respected voice in her field, Dr. Stills has lectured internationally at the Paracelsus Academy in Switzerland, contributed to Women’s Health Network, and served on the boards of the Bio-Regulatory Medicine Institute and UCLA’s Archive of Healing.

She recently opened the Lasting Wellness Center in Scottsdale, AZ—alongside her son, Dr. Ben Stills—offering advanced diagnostic and therapeutic care for chronic illness and women’s health.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Sharon Stills

• On her website

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute episode.

Today, we’re talking about elimination diets, iron, and ferritin. I share my personal experience with prolonged antibiotic and antifungal use, clarify what the research actually says about restrictive diets, nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, and brain fog, and highlight why it’s essential to understand your iron status during the menopausal transition.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why elimination diets can be helpful in specific situations, but may not be appropriate for the long term

• How removing major food groups without a replacement strategy can cause unintended nutrient deficiencies

• Why some women become more reactive to certain foods during the menopausal transition

• How women’s protein requirements increase during perimenopause and menopause

• How low ferritin is often overlooked in women, even when they are experiencing fatigue and brain fog

• Why women’s iron status fluctuates during the perimenopause to menopause transition

• How some women experience significant symptoms long before anemia appears in their standard lab work

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Links:

1. The Importance of Nutrition in Menopause and Perimenopause—A Review

2. Weight gain during the menopause transition: Evidence for a mechanism

dependent on protein leverage

3. The gut microbiota in menopause: Is there a role for prebiotic and probiotic

solutions?

4. Cognitive Performance in Relation to Systemic and Brain Iron at Perimenopause

5. Accelerated Increase in Ferritin Levels During Menopausal Transition as a Marker of Metabolic Health

6. Iron and Menopause: Does Increased Iron Affect the Health of Postmenopausal Women?

7. Iron deficiency in peri-menopausal women: Clinical considerations from an expert consensus

8. Cognitive Function in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: Implications for

Considering Iron Supplementation

I’m delighted to reconnect with Dr. Philip Ovadia today. He is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in the operating room and the founder of Ovadia Heart Health, a telemedicine practice focused on preventing and treating metabolic and cardiovascular disease through dietary and lifestyle intervention. He has co-authored two books, including, most recently, Stay Off My Kitchen Table.

Today we discuss key statistics on metabolic health, metabolic health challenges, and lifestyle interventions, including Dr. Ovadia’s three I's (insulin resistance, inflammation, and imaging), optimal lab values, vulnerable populations, and why prevention is key, especially for women and heart disease. We discuss the influence of gut and metabolic health, elimination diets, the reintroduction of food, and the positive influence of AI on medicine. We also cover the impact of GLP-1s and so much more.

Stay tuned for an insightful conversation with Dr. Phil Ovadia on why improving metabolic health is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent cardiovascular disease.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why clinicians often fail to recognize the five metabolic syndrome criteria as signs of metabolic disease

• Dr. Ovadia introduces his "three I's”, and explains why they deserve far more attention when evaluating cardiovascular disease risk.

• How dietary and lifestyle interventions can improve metabolic health, reduce medication use, and help people feel more empowered

• Why blood work should always be interpreted as part of the bigger picture rather than focusing on a single value

• How metabolic changes during perimenopause and menopause can increase cardiovascular disease risk, and why prevention is particularly important

• How gut dysfunction can interfere with nutrient absorption and contribute to ongoing metabolic health challenges

• The value of using the carnivore diet as an elimination diet

• Dr. Ovadia explains why he is optimistic about AI in medicine

• How Dr. Ovadia’s perspective on GLP-1 medications has evolved, and how he now uses low-dose GLP-1s alongside dietary and lifestyle interventions for certain patients

• Some simple measures to help you better understand your current metabolic health

Bio: Dr. Philip Ovadia

Conducting over 3,000 heart surgeries taught Dr. Philip Ovadia that good health comes from lifestyle and nutrition, not surgery. Sadly, many of his patients considered their heart attacks “inevitable.”

Having lost 100lbs to overcome lifelong obesity, Dr Ovadia is on a mission to help people stay off his operating table by teaching them how to never need a heart surgeon through his Telehealth practice, Ovadia Heart Health.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Philip Ovadia

• On his website

• On social media: @ifixhearts

• Pre-order a copy of Stay Off My Kitchen Table

Today, we have a sponsored episode featuring One Skin, a super high-value company I’ve worked with over the past two years.

I'm joined today by Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira, one of the CEOs and co-founders of One Skin. Dr. Oliveira holds a PhD in stem cell biology and tissue engineering. She has co-invented five patents and co-authored numerous scientific publications. She and her team are disrupting the outdated anti-aging skincare industry with their cutting-edge research on skin and longevity.

In our conversation, Dr. Reis Oliveira shares her journey from receiving her PhD to co-founding One Skin. We explore the impact of cellular senescence and immunosenescence and how estrogen receptors in the skin change during perimenopause and menopause, increasing the rate of senescent cell accumulation. We discuss skin as a longevity organ and the research behind the OS-01 peptide, including how it supports the microbiome and blood flow, its exceptional results for increasing hair thickness, and how to use this peptide in skin, body, or hair care. We also cover the effects of sun and environmental exposures on skin aging, and Dr. Reis Oliveira discusses her current research on the influence of GLP-1s on stem cells and skin health.

Stay tuned for a truly interesting and insightful conversation on the science of skin, longevity, and the latest research behind One Skin.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What led Dr. Reis Oliveira and her team to focus on cellular senescence and skin as a longevity organ?

• What cellular senescence is, and why it becomes increasingly important during perimenopause and menopause

• How maintaining a healthy skin barrier and good hydration helps the skin recover from various stressors

• One Skin's research and product development process

• How Dr. Reis Oliveira's team measures the epigenetic signature of the skin to determine biological skin age

• The importance of supporting the barrier function across the entire body, and not just the face

• How stress, hormonal changes, and aging increase senescent cells within hair follicles, and how to support hair density and thickness

• Why protecting your skin from UV exposure remains an important part of healthy aging

• Investigating whether the OS-01 peptide could help support skin quality in people using GLP-1 medications

• How long does it typically take to see results with One Skin face, body, eye, and hair products

Bio: Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira

Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira is the CEO and co-founder of One Skin. She holds a Ph.D. in stem cell biology and tissue engineering, is a co-inventor of 5 patents, and a co-author of numerous scientific publications. She relocated from Brazil to Silicon Valley in 2016 to found One Skin, a fast-growing longevity company developing products to promote skin age reversal by targeting a central driver of aging, the accumulation of senescent cells.

Carolina and her team are disrupting the outdated anti-aging skincare industry with their groundbreaking research around skin and longevity.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira

• One Skin

• On TikTok

• Instagram

I am honored to have Dr. Carrie Jones back on the podcast today. She’s a naturopathic physician and hormone expert with over 20 years of clinical experience in women's health and endocrinology.

In today’s conversation, we unpack common social media myths about midlife, the influence of lifestyle choices in perimenopause, the role of cortisol and hormones, and current research on the parasympathetic nervous system. Dr. Jones explains vagal freeze, how our stress response can exacerbate it, and why stress has become so normalized. We also explore the influence of synthetic hormones, thyroid propaganda, immune system function, autoimmunity, lab reference values and ranges, and the timing hypothesis of hormone replacement therapy, and Dr. Jones shares her favorite new supplements.

Stay tuned for another insightful conversation with one of my favorite voices in the hormone space.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The importance of being thoughtful about information shared on social media regarding perimenopause and menopause

• How chronic stress becomes harder to tolerate and can cause an increase in inflammation during perimenopause

• Some simple strategies to help you feel safe, connected, and supported, and improve your vagal tone

• How actual stress, anticipated stress, and perceived stress all activate the same stress response

• How chronic stress affects every system within the body

• How certain women can tolerate synthetic hormones very well, while others develop various symptoms

• Why basic blood tests and reference ranges are not always optimal for everyone

• Factors that could influence thyroid function, and the benefits of a broader thyroid assessment than TSH alone

• Dr. Jones explains why she prefers to start hormone therapy early in perimenopause if appropriate

• The new supplements Dr. Jones uses to support mood, stress, and sleep

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Carrie Jones

• On her website

• Instagram

• YouTube

• Hello Hormones Podcast

I’m excited to welcome Dr. Dave Rabin today. Dr. Rabin is a translational neuroscientist and board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in treatment-resistant PTSD, addiction, vagus nerve activation, and HRV as a biomarker. He is also the author of A Simple Guide to Being Alive, a thoughtful and helpful guide to supporting our health, and one of my favorite books in the last several years.

In this episode, we explore the habitat crisis and why we cannot bully our nervous system into safety. Dr. Rabin explains trauma and support, healing from within, the role of anhedonia, and why the absence of pleasure is a physiologic issue rather than a moral one. We also discuss wonder, awe, and play; the importance of touch, intimacy, eye contact, oxytocin, and co-regulation; the role of psychedelics, medication, and psychotherapy in trauma healing, and how kindness toward ourselves and others can help activate the vagus nerve.

Stay tuned for an insightful discussion on supporting your nervous system, healing from within, and rethinking what it means to be truly alive.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why Dr. Rabin believes we are facing a habitat crisis rather than simply a mental health crisis

• What happens when you try to bully your nervous system into safety

• How the vagus nerve helps shift the body from chronic stress into recovery

• Being blamed or unsupported after hardship can reinforce a victim mindset.

• Why medicine, technology, practitioners, and other tools should help activate your own healing rather than become something you depend on

• Wonder, awe, play, and pleasure may support the body's natural healing response.

• How human connection, oxytocin, co-regulation, and shared experiences support nervous system regulation and recovery

• How psychedelic-assisted therapy fits into trauma healing

• How medication can help stabilize people while healing begins

• Why being kind to yourself is an essential part of healing

Bio: Dr. Davis Rabin

Dr. David M. L. Rabin, MD, PhD, is a translational neuroscientist, psychiatrist, entrepreneur & inventor on a mission to cure mental illness. He has been studying the impact of chronic stress in humans for over 20 years, focusing on trauma, addiction, and human performance. Dr. Rabin is a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder at Apollo Neuroscience, the Executive Director of The Board of Medicine Nonprofit Medical Board, and the Medical Director of The Apollo Clinic. In addition to hosting The Psychedelic Report and Your Brain Explained podcasts, Dr. Rabin regularly serves as an expert for news outlets such as The New York Times, Vogue, CBS News, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, dancing, playing volleyball, sailing, and hiking with his wife, Kathryn, and their son, Sammy.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. David Rabin

• On his website

• On social media: @DrDaveRabin

• The Psychedelic Report and Your Brain Explained Podcasts

• Dr. Rabin’s book: A Simple Guide to Being Alive

I am happy to connect with Coach Bronson Dant today. He has spent over a decade guiding and training people in health and fitness. He discovered the benefits of a whole-food, animal-based ketogenic diet for optimizing metabolic health and performance, and wrote The Ultimate Ketogenic Fitness Book.

In our discussion today, we dive into the powerful story of Coach Bronson’s pain-to-purpose journey. We explore the value of mindset and look at how age-related changes affect muscle, inflammation, and metabolic flexibility. He shares his three pillars of muscle health related to nutrient density, bioavailability, and satiety, and we examine the importance of sleep, the impact of extremes in exercise, and the value of stress management. We also unravel the complexities of weight-loss resistance, and Coach Bronson discusses his research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Health Science, sharing his perspective on macros and functional movement in menopausal women.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Coach Bronson shares his three pillars for nutrition

• The limitations of basing nutrition on calories alone

• How the hormone piece impacts effective weight management

• How to avoid physical deterioration through fitness and nutrition

• Why Coach Bronson advocates for living life to the fullest and dying quickly

• How does muscle mass impact metabolic health?

• The importance of taking a balanced approach to weight loss

• How sleep aids muscle recovery and growth 

• Stress management, nutrition, and fitness for overall well-being

• How alcohol affects our health and fitness

• The benefits of combining functional movement training and proper nutrition for older adults 

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Bronson Dant

• On his ⁠website⁠ 

• ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠

• ⁠The Ultimate Ketogenic Fitness Bundle⁠

Today, I’m delighted to share a compilation of adrenal-centric discussions with experts Drs. Sonya Jensen, Carrie Jones, Scott Sherr, and Will Bulsiewicz, and geneticist Dr. Yael Joffe, Nurse Practitioner Heather Quaile, and Physician's Assistant McCall McPherson.

In this masterclass, we explore the effects of generational silence and how the thrifty genotype impacts the likelihood of poor metabolic health outcomes over time. We define the GABAergic system and the effects of decreased progesterone in perimenopause, and examine how our immune and nervous systems are impacted in midlife. We discuss the impact of GABA cofactors, the connection between adrenal and thyroid health, how stress affects ovarian aging, and the impact of genetics on our lifestyle choices and responses. We also unpack shift work and circadian rhythm disruption, and their influence on the gut microbiome.

Join us for today’s action - and information-packed, adrenal-centric podcast. I know you will enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it all together.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The impact of generational trauma on stress resilience and metabolic health across generations

• How famine exposure, family history, and cultural background could contribute to our metabolic and hormonal health

• How estrogen metabolism pathways can influence hormone balance and long-term health

• The importance of B vitamins, magnesium, amino acids, protein, and overall nutritional status for healthy liver function and detoxification

• How ongoing fight-or-flight activation can impair energy production and contribute to a cycle of worsening stress and fatigue

• How hormones, sleep, toxins, infections, and insulin resistance can influence mitochondrial performance

• The importance of optimizing thyroid and adrenal dysfunction together 

• How chronic stress and adverse childhood experiences can influence ovarian aging 

• How gut barrier dysfunction can contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation

• How genetics and epigenetics can affect our appetite, hormone metabolism, mood, and treatment responses

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow 

• Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Sonya Jensen

• On her book website: Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself

• Instagram

Connect with Dr. Carrie Jones

• On Instagram

• Estrogen Detox Made Easy

• Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones - Podcast

Connect with Dr. Scott Sherr

• On his ⁠website⁠

• Troscriptions

• ⁠Health Optimization Medicine  

• One Base Health⁠⁠

Connect with McCall McPherson

• On Modern Thyroid Clinic

• Instagram and TikTok

• Modern Thyroid and Wellness Podcast

• Thyroid Lab Guide

Connect with Heather Quaile

• On her website 

• Instagram

Connect with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

• On his website

Connect with Yael Joffe

• On 3X4 Genetics

• Instagram

• Facebook

Podcast Links:

• Ep. 559 Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself: Women's Health in Midlife with Dr. Sonya Jensen | Perimenopause, Menopause & Hormones

• Ep. 567 “Timing Is Everything” – The Best Way to Test Hormones, Cortisol & Thyroid for Real Answers with Dr. Carrie Jones

• BONUS: "The Sympathetic Spiral of Doom!” – The Fastest Way To Reset Your Nervous System & End Burnout with Dr. Scott Sherr

• Ep. 478 Thyroid Truths: Labs, Adrenals & Appetite Explained with McCall McPherson

• Ep. 498 Chronic Stress Is Aging Your Ovaries – The Shocking Link Between Trauma, Hormones & Menopause with Heather Quaile

• Ep. 537 The #1 Longevity Nutrient You’re Missing – How Fiber Supercharges Your Gut, Immunity & Sleep with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

• Ep. 558 Your DNA Isn’t Your Destiny – The Most Actionable Way to Use Genetics for Weight Loss with Dr. Yael Joffe

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute.

In this episode, we’re focusing on progesterone, exploring the differences between progesterone and progestins, how progesterone is used in clinical practice, and how individual responses can vary significantly.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins are not interchangeable

• How early synthetic progestin studies continue to shape how progesterone is viewed

• How different routes of progesterone administration produce different effects 

• Why do some women experience stronger neurological or physical effects than others on the same progesterone dose

• How cyclical versus continuous use can affect how progesterone is used in the body 

• Why some women experience sleep or mood changes on oral progesterone

• The importance of personalized decision-making

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources: 

• The pharmacodynamics and safety of progesterone doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.06.002

• Profiles of plasma estrogens, progesterone and their metabolites after oral or vaginal administration of estradiol or progesterone doi:10.1016/0378-5122(93)90064-O

• Pharmacokinetics of progesterone and its metabolites allopregnanolone and pregnanolone after oral administration of low-dose progesterone doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.11.005

• Allopregnanolone and mood in the peripartum: a longitudinal assessment in healthy women doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104465

• Behavior of Male Gamete Fusogen GCS1/HAP2 and the Regulation in Arabidopsis Double Fertilization doi:10.3390/biom13020208

• Tolerance to allopregnanolone with focus on the GABA receptor doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01059.x

• Effects of exercise training on the cardiovascular system: pharmacological approaches doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.03.010

• Sex steroid induced negative mood may be explained by the paradoxical effect mediated by GABA modulators doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.02.003

• Paradoxical effects of GABA modulators may explain sex steroid induced negative mood symptoms in some persons doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.03.061

• Progesterone selectively increases amygdala reactivity in women doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4002030

• Progesterone and allopregnanolone neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system doi:10.1016/S0006-8993(02)02366-5

• Allopregnanolone and mood disorders doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.07.005

• GABA receptor plasticity and neurosteroid cell withdrawal during the estrous cycle doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2800-09.2009

• Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study doi:10.1007/s10549-007-9523-x

• Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Review doi:10.1001/jama.2022.24140

• Progesterone vs. synthetic progestins and the risk of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis doi:10.1080/13697137.2018.1467611

• Progesterone prevents sleep disturbances and modulates GH, TSH, and melatonin secretion in postmenopausal women doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2558

Today, I am thrilled to connect with a friend and colleague, Nat Niddam. Nat is a certified holistic nutritionist and epigenetic coach, and host of the Longevity with Nat Niddam podcast. She has one of the most engaged professional and public communities focused on peptide education and longevity protocols.

In today's discussion, we explain what peptides are and how they differ from HRT. We explore the differences between bioregulators and signaling peptides, clarify how peptides affect neurological and gut health, discuss beneficial peptides for muscle health and longevity, and examine the challenges surrounding peptide hype. We also explain why discernment is essential if you are considering peptides as part of a treatment plan with a licensed medical provider, and highlight specific topical peptides that can be helpful for aging skin.

I look forward to having Nat back to continue our conversation about peptide therapies. 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What are peptides?

• How signaling peptides differ from bioregulators

• Why it’s essential to work with a knowledgeable practitioner when considering peptides

• Why sleep, hormones, stress levels, and gut health must be optimized before utilizing peptides

• How peptides can support recovery, muscle maintenance, and heavy training periods

• The importance of finding trustworthy practitioners and being skeptical of claims that sound too good to be true

• Peptide compounds that can help people recover faster between workouts

• Peptides and bioregulators that can support the immune system as we age

• Topical peptides that can support collagen, elastin, wound healing, and skin repair

Bio:  Nathalie Niddam

Nathalie Niddam, a holistic nutritionist and longevity educator, is dedicated to helping us all live joyful, vibrant lives well into our 50s, 60s, and beyond.

She shares strategies—from health tech to ancestral health, to peptides and more on her podcast, Longevity Podcast with Nathalie Niddam.

She speaks internationally, sharing her deep expertise on bioregulators—leading-edge compounds with the power to awaken the body's innate rejuvenation systems.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Nathalie Niddam

• On her website

• Longevity with Nathalie Niddam (Podcast)

• On Instagram

I am honored to connect with Dr. Stacy Sims today. She is a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist on a mission to revolutionize exercise and nutrition performance- particularly for women.

In our conversation, we discussed the exclusion of women from research in the modern science era and how gender differences begin in utero. We look into the importance of tracking our menstrual cycles, the differences between follicular and luteal phases, and problematic ovulatory cycles, exploring the current research on oral contraceptives, the impact of the Women's Health Initiative, and the kind of training that is essential for women in perimenopause and menopause. We also cover the physiologic changes that occur in perimenopause and menopause, and Dr. Sims shares her thoughts on weight loss resistance, SECO, undereating, the importance of protein, and essential supplements for middle-aged women.

I know you will love this invaluable conversation with Dr. Stacy Sims.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Why are women still excluded from many studies?

• How the physiological differences between men and women begin in utero and continue through adulthood

• How stress during pregnancy affects the developing fetus

• How the muscle morphology of women differs from that of men 

• Why girls need to learn new ways to move and build strength during puberty

• How tracking menstrual cycle phases helps women optimize their training

• The potential long-term effects of using oral contraceptives

• Why a diverse diet is essential for supporting gut health

• Common misconceptions surrounding hormone therapy

• Why Dr. Sims recommends creatine for women in perimenopause and menopause

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Stacy Sims 

• On her⁠ website⁠

• Instagram⁠

• ⁠Facebook⁠

• ⁠TikTok

Today, I am delighted to welcome Emily Sadri, a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and certified nurse-midwife, also trained in functional medicine. Emily is the founder of Aurelia Health, a private women’s health practice in the Van Aken district of Shaker Heights, Ohio, offering telehealth services specializing in hormone therapy and weight-loss support for women ages 35 to 55. As a leading hormone expert, she has built her practice around a hormones-first approach.

In today’s conversation, Emily explains the differences between being a nurse practitioner and a midwife, and we discuss nurse practitioner training, scope of practice, professional support, anticipatory guidance, and the limitations of conventional midlife care. Emily also shares why she prioritizes precision-oriented, personalized care, the value of Mira monitoring for precision hormone replacement therapy management in perimenopause, key hormonal changes she sees in early perimenopause, the impact of cyclic, static, and physiologic dosing of HRT, the influence of progestin IUDs, trends in healthcare, and less common reasons why women in midlife tend to become weight loss resistant.

Stay tuned for an insightful conversation on hormones, precision care, and supporting women through perimenopause and midlife.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How women's health nurse practitioner training differs from midwifery, and how midwifery shaped Emily’s professional philosophy and ethics

• Why women need to take ownership of their health throughout every life stage 

• The importance of moving beyond treating symptoms by using comprehensive lab work to identify broader hormonal and metabolic patterns

• The value of using Mira, an at-home hormone monitoring system, to follow hormone patterns throughout an entire menstrual cycle, rather than relying on isolated laboratory measurements

• Why Emily believes in looking at hormone patterns rather than progesterone decline or isolated estrogen levels when making hormone replacement therapy decisions

• How static, cyclic, and physiologic HRT differ, and why Emily believes physiologic dosing deserves greater consideration.

• Why treating hormones in isolation often fails to address the bigger picture, particularly during perimenopause

• The importance of women being fully informed when considering hormonal birth control and intrauterine devices

• Factors beyond sarcopenia, nutrition, sleep, and stress that could contribute to weight loss resistance 

Bio: Emily Sadri

Emily Sadri is a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and hormone expert who founded Aurelia Health, a modern concierge telehealth company that serves women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Emily's areas of expertise include metabolic health, precision hormone care, and longevity medicine. Her mission is to advance comprehensive care in midlife, create a model that fills in the gaps where primary care is failing women, and to recenter care around the relationship AS the medicine.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, four children, and two dogs.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Emily Sadri

• On her website

• Instagram

• Aurelia Health

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, we’re discussing how oral contraceptives and Depo Provera can impact women’s bone health over time.Stay tuned as I walk you through the research, prescribing trends, and ways women can support their bone health.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How peak bone mass in adolescence affects bone health later in life

• How oral contraceptives can interfere with the bone development of young women

• The lack of informed conversations about the bone health risks associated with long-term contraceptive use

• Why Depo Provera may have a stronger impact on bone density than oral contraceptives

• The importance of nutrition and strength training for supporting bone health

• How hormonal contraceptives can affect the gut microbiome and immune system

• What you need to consider regarding your bone density and long-term health if you’ve been using oral contraceptives or Depo for many years

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources:

• Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral contraceptives and bone mineral density in a cohort of adolescent girls doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.07.005

• Oral Contraceptive Use and Bone Density Change in Adolescent and Young Adult Women: A Prospective Study of Age, Hormone Dose, and Discontinuation doi:10.1210/jc.2010-3027

  
  

• Adolescent use of combined hormonal contraception and peak bone mineral density accrual: A meta-analysis of international prospective controlled studies doi:10.1111/cen.13932

• No need to specialize: reproductive health is for all adolescents doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2006.01.055

• Injectable Hormone Contraception and Bone Density: Results from a Prospective Study doi:10.1097/00001648-200209000-00015

• Hormonal contraception and the development of autoimmunity: A review of the literature doi:10.1080/00243639.2017.1360065

• Oral contraceptives, reproductive factors and risk of inflammatory bowel disease doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302362

• Combined oral contraceptive use and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus doi:10.1002/art.24398

• Oral Contraceptives and Multiple Sclerosis/Clinically Isolated Syndrome Susceptibility doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149094

• The Experience of Surviving a High-Risk Pregnancy doi:10.1080/23293691.2016.1166104

• Effects of 0.9 mg Recombinant Human Thyrotropin on Thyroid Size and Function in Normal Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial doi:10.1210/jc.2004-0914

Today, I’m delighted to welcome Craig Emmerich as my guest. He's an electrical engineer and bestselling author who works closely with his wonderful wife, Maria. Craig has been following a keto diet for over 17 years and a carnivore diet for over six years to help him overcome chronic Lyme disease and inflammatory response syndrome. Focusing on the science of human nutrition, he has helped thousands of clients regain their health and vitality.

In today’s discussion, we explore the principles of metabolic health, the role of ultra-processed foods, the bliss point, and the loss of nutrient density. We examine midlife changes in metabolic health and body composition, and highlight the critical importance of metabolic flexibility and adequate protein intake. Craig clarifies why body composition should be considered rather than the scale and explains how he determines carbohydrate tolerance. We also examine the research on the gut microbiome, the insulin-fat cell relationship, insulin resistance, fasting, and the protein-sparing modified fast as strategies for weight loss, and discuss leptin resistance, alcohol, the effects of cortisol and sleep on the hormone cascade, and troubleshooting women’s midlife challenges around HRT, hydration, electrolytes, and body composition shifts.

Stay tuned for today’s informative discussion with Craig Emmerich, who has recently launched a new book, The Art of Metabolic Health, that he and his wife co-authored.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The importance of consuming whole foods and prioritizing your protein intake

• How companies engineer foods to encourage overeating

• Why body composition matters more than the number on the scale

• How building and maintaining muscle helps to improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic health

• Why adequate protein intake is essential for maintaining and improving bone density

• How your carbohydrate intake should be tailored to suit your personal goals, health status, and your response to different foods

• How insulin resistance develops

• Why alcohol can interfere with fat loss efforts

• How inadequate sleep can worsen insulin resistance

Bio:  Craig Emmerich

Craig Emmerich, who graduated in Electrical Engineering, has spent the last 16-plus years researching nutrition and working with thousands of clients alongside his wife, Maria Emmerich. He is an international bestselling author of “Keto: The Complete Guide” and “The Carnivore Cookbook”. He uses his knowledge of how our bodies work to help clients heal and lose weight, leveraging their biology to make it easier.

Craig has helped hundreds of thousands of people regain their health and vitality with a strong focus on the science of human nutrition.

Craig has been keto for over 17 years and carnivore for over 6 years to help treat his chronic Lyme disease and CIRS pain.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Craig Emmerich

• On his website

I am delighted to have Dr. Ken Berry returning to the podcast for his fourth appearance today. He is a physician, bestselling author, and passionate advocate for health, known for his no-nonsense approach to wellness. Dr. Berry has practiced at the Berry Clinic since 2003 and is an active community member. He has a YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers- one of my favorite go-to resources for patients. 

In our discussion today, we explore a recent Time news article and the growing concerns around the declining trustworthiness of media sources. We dive into the limitations of observational research, the problem with celebrity endorsements of ultra-processed foods, rising obesity rates in children and teens, and whether genetic factors are actually behind obesity, as highlighted recently in a 60 Minutes segment. We also discuss the impact of sugar, grains, and seed oils, as well as the significance of visceral fat.

You will not want to miss this invaluable discussion with Dr. Ken Berry.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

• Dr. Berry breaks down some deeper issues surrounding the recent Time article, where a lone registered dietitian claimed that ultra-processed foods are acceptable.

• How media sources are losing their credibility

• The vital part social media plays in changing the narrative and holding media sources accountable

• Why consumers must stay informed and be proactive in their health choices 

• The health implications of eating ultra-processed foods

• Dr. Berry shares his concerns about the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending drugs like Ozempic for children. 

• The benefits of eating whole foods 

• Dr. Berry shares his three rules for a healthy diet.

• Why we need to avoid sugar and seed oils

• How following a low-carb diet can help reduce visceral fat.

• Dr. Berry introduces the American Diabetes Society and explains its mission.

Bio: 

Dr. Ken D. Berry, MD, is a licensed family physician, best-selling author, and leading advocate for the Proper Human Diet (PHD). With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Berry specializes in helping patients improve their health through low-carbohydrate, nutrient-dense eating. His best-selling book, "Lies My Doctor Told Me: Medical Myths That Can Harm Your Health," and his popular YouTube channel, which has over 3 million subscribers, provide accessible, evidence-based guidance on nutrition and wellness. Dr. Berry's mission is to empower individuals to reclaim their health by debunking common medical myths and promoting sustainable dietary and lifestyle changes. He is also a member of the Diet Doctor low-carb expert panel and an active participant in the keto and low-carb communities. Dr. Berry lives with his wife Neisha and their children on a farm in Holladay, Tennessee.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Ken Berry

• On his ⁠website⁠

• ⁠YouTube⁠

• Dr. Berry’s Books

⁠The American Diabetes Society ⁠

I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Catherine Clinton today. She’s a licensed naturopathic physician, author, and the Founder and Chair of the Quantum Biology Health Institute. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience, she helps wellness seekers and healthcare practitioners understand health through a systems-based, quantum biology lens. Her work is dedicated to expanding our understanding of health by honoring the body’s intelligence and its relationship with light, water, and the environment.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Clinton explains what quantum biology is and how light shapes circadian rhythms and hormone balance. We discuss the emerging science of structured water, grounding, fascia, mitochondrial health, and the gut's energetic environment, also exploring practical ways to support your health by paying attention to your body's relationship with its surroundings.

Join us for a truly fascinating discussion on how light, water, energy, and environment can influence our health in ways we have never even considered.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How quantum biology differs from conventional biology

• Why is natural morning light so important for our bodies?

• The disruptive effects of LED lighting

• Dr. Clinton explains what structured water is and the important role it may play in cellular function.

• How healthy mitochondria support cellular energy production, hydration, overall health, and longevity

• In addition to producing ATP, how the mitochondria can contribute to cellular hydration

• How the minerals in drinking water can help the water move into and around cells

• The value of grounding to support the electrical systems within the body

• Why fascia is increasingly viewed as an active communication network within the body

Bio:  Dr. Catherine Clinton

Dr. Catherine Clinton, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician, author, and the Founder and Chair of the Quantum Biology Health Institute. With more than 18 years of clinical and educational experience, she helps wellness seekers and healthcare practitioners understand health through a systems-based, quantum biology lens.

While in naturopathic medical school, her diagnosis of two autoimmune conditions and Lyme disease reshaped her understanding of healing and led her beyond conventional models.

Dr. Clinton has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, teaches internationally, and maintains a small clinical practice in Eugene, Oregon. Her work is dedicated to expanding our understanding of health by honoring the body’s intelligence and its relationship with light, water, and the environment.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Catherine Clinton

• On her website

• Order a copy of Dr. Clinton’s book, Optimize, and get free bonuses

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, we’re exploring the benefits of creatine monohydrate, essential aminos, grass-fed beef liver, and Yolked (fortotropin). I explain how these products work together, the importance of resistance training and hormone optimization as foundational factors in midlife, and how supplements fit in.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• The benefits of using creatine monohydrate when training

• The value of essential aminos for muscle protein synthesis and reducing protein breakdown

• The nutrients provided by grass-fed beef liver

• What research suggests about how Yolked may relate to myostatin modulation, muscle hypertrophy pathways, and growth factor signaling

• Why I recommend using creatine, essential aminos, beef liver, and Yolked together as a stacked approach

• Why resistance exercise remains the primary signal for muscle growth

• The importance of hormone optimization for energy, muscle building, executive function, motivation, and recovery

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

• Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

• Check out Cynthia’s website.

• Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 

• Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

• Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

• Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

• The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources: 

Visit getkion.com/cynthia for 20% off.

Yolked: Use the code CYNTHIA for 20% off

Ancestral Supplements: Use the affiliate code CYNTHIA 

Today, I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein, a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician specializing in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, including POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

In our discussion, we discuss the invisible illness problem and complex medical illnesses, and Dr. Bluestein shares how being diagnosed with EDS in her 40s prompted her to pivot her career to focus on what is missing in medicine regarding those complex illnesses. We explore different types of hypermobility conditions and why women are disproportionately more affected by those conditions than men. We clarify what hypermobility means, the cluster of EDS, POTS, and MCAS, what to do when you have unexplained multi-system symptoms, and how AI can be beneficial. We also examine pain science, hypermobility, sympathetic overdrive, kinesiophobia, anesthesia considerations in connective tissue disorders, and the impact of midlife transitions, HRT, medical gaslighting, nervous system regulation, movement, nutrition, and validation and hope for patients with complex medical illnesses.

I am delighted to share this informative conversation with Dr. Linda Bluestein with the Everyday Wellness community, and look forward to having Dr. Bluestein back to explore this topic further.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How patients with complex symptoms often go from specialist to specialist, yet none of them connect the dots.

• How patients tend to be blamed when treatments fail

• How POTS diagnosis is often based on heart rate changes, even though it’s not primarily a heart rate condition

• How dysautonomia affects multiple body systems

• How, apart from joint flexibility, hypermobility can also involve skin, tissues, organs, and multiple body systems.

• How EDS, POTS, and MCAS can overlap

• The value of AI tools for helping patients organize complex symptom histories

• How sympathetic overdrive and kinesiophobia can worsen chronic pain

• The impact of medical gaslighting

Bio:  Dr. Linda Bluestein

Dr. Linda Bluestein is a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician who specializes in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, such as POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

She is the founder of Hypermobility MD and the host of the internationally recognized Bendy Bodies Podcast, where she bridges the gap between patients and clinicians by unpacking complex medicine through a pattern-based, whole-person lens. Dr. Bluestein is also an EDS patient herself, bringing both clinical expertise and lived experience to conversations about diagnostic delays, medical gaslighting, and compassionate, effective care.

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Connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein

• Bendy Bodies Podcast

• Dysautonomia Support Network