Today, I am blessed to have Kristin Johnson & Maria Claps here with me. Their personal and clinical experiences have taught them that midlife is a pivotal time in a woman’s life, often accompanied by unique challenges. They recognized a gap in specialized care for women over 40 and have made it their mission to fill it. While there's an abundance of health advice for women in their teens, 20s, and 30s, the messaging becomes unclear as women enter their 40s. Kristin and Maria believe that generalized health information isn’t sufficient—and in some cases, can even be harmful—for midlife women. Their goal is to empower women over 40 to take control of their health, ensuring that the next chapter of their lives is their best yet.

Kristin and Maria emphasize that menopause is far more than just the loss of fertility and menstruation. They argue that menopause signifies a deeper metabolic change in the body that affects over 4,000 physiological processes, not just the commonly known symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Even women without symptoms are impacted by hormonal shifts and need to address them proactively. Their work offers a comprehensive deep dive into hormone replacement therapy (HRT), debunking myths and urging women to take control of their health during this life stage. They advocate for personalized, multi-faceted health approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, emphasizing the importance of understanding hormonal changes.

Kristin and Maria emphasize that many women are harming their bodies through excessive cardio, under-eating, and stress, perpetuating a cycle of catabolic damage. They highlight the importance of nourishment, stress management, sleep, and strength training for maintaining health, particularly as hormone levels decline with age. While optimizing hormones can help, it’s not a standalone solution; addressing the underlying stress is crucial for hormonal balance. They also discuss the need for a tailored approach to hormone therapy to not only alleviate symptoms but also reduce chronic disease risks, challenging the limited, symptom-focused perspective of mainstream menopause treatment.

Tune in as Maria and Kristin emphasize that progesterone plays a significant role in women’s health; its effectiveness is tied to the presence of progesterone receptors, which fluctuate throughout the ovarian cycle and are mainly influenced by estradiol levels. They caution against relying solely on progesterone hormone replacement therapy, especially in perimenopausal women, where estrogen decline reduces the number of receptors, leading to symptoms like anxiety and mood dysregulation. They advocate for a more holistic approach, managing stress, balancing hormones, and incorporating oxytocin to ensure well-being and metabolic freedom.

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