Afterpause

As we navigate midlife and beyond, our bodies change, our hormones shift, and unfortunately, many of us have been conditioned to believe that sexual pleasure naturally fades with age. Some of you may have never experienced true sexual pleasure at all. But here's the truth: pleasure is a right to all women, right now, in whatever season of life you're in. Understanding your body, your desires, and how to prioritize your pleasure is vital to your overall well-being.

In this episode we're breaking down myths, tackling the realities of midlife sexual health, and empowering you with knowledge to enhance intimacy and confidence. Whether you're in a long-term relationship, dating again, or simply reconnecting with yourself, this conversation is about reclaiming your right to pleasure. We'll be exploring everything from the role of the clitoris, the impact of menopause on sexual function, and practical ways to embrace and nurture your sexuality for years to come.

Dr. Laurie Mintz is a professor, author, speaker, and therapist. As an Emeritus Professor at the University of Florida, she teaches the Psychology of Human Sexuality to hundreds of undergraduates each year. She is the author of two popular books, both with published studies demonstrating their effectiveness: Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters and How to Get It (HarperOne, 2017) and A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex (Adams Media, 2009). Dr. Mintz gives presentations and workshops to professionals and lay audiences, including a TEDx talk nearing three million views. Finally, for over 30 years, Dr. Mintz has also maintained a small private practice, working with both individuals and couples on general and sexual issues. Dr. Mintz is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, indicating her work has had a positive national influence. In 2023, she was named one of Forbes "50 over 50" woman innovators.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Learn more about Dr. Mintz:

Website: https://www.drlauriemintz.com/

IG: @drlauriemintz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC26-52USQtXQ2q9HauWKQuw

FB: @drlauriemintz

Resources:

Books: https://www.drlauriemintz.com/books-about-sexuality

Vibrator Guide: https://www.lelo.com/blog/sex-therapist-recommended-vibrators/

OMGYES: https://www.omgyes.com/join

Rosy App: https://meetrosy.com/

Stay connected with JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

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Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

In 2015, I discovered my cholesterol levels were rising, my APOB was high-risk, and I was prediabetic. I also carried the APOE4 allele, a risk factor for Alzheimer's, and was a hyper-absorber of cholesterol. By 2020, post-menopause, my numbers had doubled, and in 2022, I learned I was also a hyposynthesizer, meaning my body now overproduced cholesterol. Despite a lifelong healthy lifestyle, I faced an uphill battle.

If this sounds confusing, stay with me—today's episode is about screening and solutions for preventing heart disease during menopause and beyond - still the #1 killer of women. The internet is full of conflicting and fear-mongering guidance when it comes to women's heart disease risk and prevention. This episode will gift you with the current science on:

-Women's Health Initiative findings on heart disease and hormone therapy

-Estrogen's protective effects on the heart and whole body

-What lab biomarkers are essential to assessing risk

-What is the Cholesterol Balance Test?

-Statin therapy options

-Should you get a CAC Scan (coronary calcium score)

My special guest, Dr. Thomas Dayspring, is a leading expert in lipidology and women's cardiovascular health. A renowned educator and clinician, he has given over 4,000 lectures, authored lipid textbook chapters, and is a trusted voice in cardiovascular medicine. His expertise will help midlife women navigate heart disease risk with science-backed insights and practical solutions.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

To follow Dr. Dayspring:

X: @drlipid

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-dayspring-md-facp-fnla-3aaa876/

Stay connected to JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

At-home devices have become an innovative and accessible way for women to target solutions for menopause-related challenges. Red light therapy caps, designed to stimulate hair follicles, can be a game-changer for women experiencing thinning hair due to hormonal fluctuations. These caps use low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to promote blood flow to the scalp, encouraging healthier and fuller hair growth over time. Similarly, red light therapy devices for skin health have gained popularity for their ability to reduce wrinkles, improve elasticity, and boost collagen production, addressing skin changes that can accompany menopause. By incorporating these non-invasive treatments into a routine, women can enjoy effective results from the comfort of home.

Sleep, often disrupted during menopause, can also benefit from advancements in at-home technology. Cooling mattress pads are a game-changer for managing night sweats and hot flashes, offering temperature regulation to promote deeper and more restorative sleep. These mattress pads work by dispersing cool water through tiny tubes in the mattress pad to maintain an optimal sleeping temperature, allowing midlife women to wake up feeling refreshed. These devices empower women to take control of their menopause journey, addressing the physical changes of menopause with practical and science-backed tools.

Today, I share my top three at-home devices to consider investing in during menopause and beyond.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Resources:

Studies referred to:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8277709/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35357365/

Podcast links:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-trip-podcast-jill-foos-wellness/id1559610637?i=1000625315255

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-trip-podcast-jill-foos-wellness/id1559610637?i=1000591629256

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/health-trip-podcast-jill-foos-wellness/id1559610637?i=1000591629224

Stay connected with JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

Deep sleep is crucial for changing your body composition, brain function, and overall health and well-being, but hormonal changes during menopause can make achieving it more challenging. In this episode, I discuss three strategies to consider when working on sleep during menopause and beyond. Together, these practices—avoiding alcohol, embracing morning sunlight, and removing electronics—can help menopausal women reclaim the deep sleep they need for optimal health.

I discuss the effects that alcohol has on sleep, why removing electronics from the bedroom can help, and breakdown how early morning light exposure can significantly impact sleep. You may have heard about these strategies before, and in this episode, I dive deep into the why, and what to consider doing instead.

Stay connected to JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

The menopause transition offers a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and reshape what health and vitality mean to you. It's not about chasing old ideals or adhering to outdated standards; instead, it's about creating a personalized roadmap for thriving in every physical, mental, and emotional dimension. Whether navigating hormonal changes, rethinking your fitness goals, or exploring aspects of yourself you never gave much attention to, this episode offers you three ways to start a reimagined version of wellness.

First, we'll talk about building your healthcare dream team—a group of professionals who truly understand your goals and concerns. It's about finding people who listen, collaborate, and empower you to take control of your health journey. Together, we'll explore tips on assembling this team and why it's essential to advocate for yourself in every interaction.

Then, we'll shift gears to cover the importance of embracing strength over striving for "skinny." The conversation around fitness is evolving, and it's time to prioritize function, energy, and resilience over societal pressures to shrink ourselves. And finally, we'll delve into a subject that's often overlooked but profoundly important: staying curious about your sexual wellness. From understanding how your body changes to exploring new ways of connection and intimacy, this aspect of health deserves as much attention and care as any other. Let's redefine what wellness means to you with openness, curiosity, and a commitment to living fully.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Stay connected with JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

One of the team members to consider on your menopause journey is a preventive cardiologist. While your GP or internist may be ordering annual labs for you, they are not experts in lipidology. Most women will see their cholesterol increase steadily during the menopause transition and not have the proper labs taken to assess their cardiovascular disease risk, which is

the leading cause of death among women (and men). That risk increases significantly after menopause.

This phase of life brings not only physical and hormonal changes but also heightened vulnerability to heart disease. In this episode, we explore how menopause influences heart health and why it's essential for women to be proactive about their cardiovascular wellness. We discuss the hormonal shifts that affect everything from blood pressure to cholesterol. We will also discuss the impact of family history, and genetics and what labs and tests are crucial for assessing your risk. We discuss the ongoing debate over using estrogen as a tool for heart disease prevention versus statins.

Dr. Martha Gulati, MD is a preventive cardiologist with a long, impressive list of accolades. To name a few, she is the Past President of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, professor of cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, and the associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center. She holds the Anita Dann Friedman Endowed Chair in Women's Cardiovascular Medicine and Research. She is the author of the best-seller, "Saving Women's Hearts". Her exceptional commitment to studying women and cardiac diseases has won her numerous awards and distinctions, including being named by Crain's Chicago Business as one of Chicago's Top 40 under 40. She was a co-investigator in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). She has published articles in peer-reviewed publications, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Circulation, and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

If I continue going on about Dr. Gulati our time will be up! Let's dig in.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Podcast Resources:

IG: @drmarthagulati

Website: https://drmarthagulati.com/

To locate a preventive cardiologist: https://www.aspconline.org/

Stay connected to JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

Did you know that less than 10% of the people who create New Year's resolutions successfully keep them? And, only about 30% of people even set them up to begin with. Most people tap out of their new healthy habit by the third week (23%). The most popular resolutions focus on exercising more, eating more nutritious foods, and losing weight.

Midlife women are experiencing a variety of negative physiological changes, including weight gain, poor sleep, hair loss, increased anxiety, and so much more, due to hormonal decline. This past year menopause education and awareness have been a shining star to midlife women, physicians, and like-minded providers. Yet, so many women continue struggling to create healthy lifestyle habits once they leave their doctor's office and are on their own, living their reality.

A wellness vision is a roadmap to help you create the path to follow to help you reach your goals. It's a long-term vision broken down into smaller pieces highlighting your character strengths, values, feelings, habits you want more of, and people who support you. It's time to put pen to paper and get to work, ladies.

In this episode, I share the first three steps in creating your wellness vision, just in time for 2025. No more unfinished resolutions. Think about your 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. What do you see?

Stay connected to JFW:

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here: https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

Menopause brings to the table a variety of physiological symptoms, including gut health issues. Women in perimenopause start to experience increased constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating. Other signs that a woman's gut health may be in dysbiosis are hair loss, skin changes like acne, joint pain, newly diagnosed autoimmune conditions, and weight gain. How many of you have tried different medications, diets, and supplements to heal your gut? It's not normal to experience these gut health issues. It's time to address your gut health so that you can focus on your fitness, sleep, nutrition, and optimal health outcomes as you transition through menopause and continue to enjoy your post-menopausal years. You will be post-menopausal for the next 20, 30, and 40 years of life, hopefully. How do you want to feel, live, and exist in your 70s, 80s, and 90s? Gut health plays a dominant role in your overall well-being.

In this episode, learn how AI will play a role in assessing your gut microbiome's health through stool testing and the thousands of published papers on the gut microbiome. JONA's technology uses AI to drive a customer's personalized gut health protocol through lifestyle interventions, possible supplementation, and strains of microbes that may be beneficial to you. They have not developed a supplement line to use and have no intention to do so, which is something very unique to them. Their testing may take the guessing out and support you with personalized actionable steps to take to support better gut health and health outcomes.

My guest today is Leo Grady, the founder and CEO of JONA, an AI-driven gut microbiome company. Leo is internationally recognized for his work to deliver AI in healthcare for 20 years at pioneering Bay Area startups (HeartFlow), multinational medical companies (Siemens), and, most recently, as CEO of Paige.ai. As CEO of Paige, Leo led the company to become an industry leader, internationally launching groundbreaking products and receiving the first-ever FDA approval for an AI product in pathology. Leo is currently CEO in Residence with Breyer Capital and Founder and CEO with Jona.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

To learn more about JONA:

Website: https://jona.health/

IG: @jonahealth

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JonaHealth/

Order a test and save $50: https://jona.health/products/microbiome-test

Stay connected to JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

Understanding risk factors is key to staying proactive about skin health during menopause. This episode examines how hormonal changes, such as decreased estrogen levels, may affect skin elasticity, immune response, and overall vulnerability to damage. We'll highlight the importance of regular skin checks, recognizing warning signs like unusual moles or persistent lesions, and understanding how a history of tanning or sunburns can compound your risk.

Finally, we'll cover treatment options and actionable steps for reducing your risk and improving outcomes. From the latest advancements in skin cancer therapies to practical prevention tips—like wearing sunscreen, embracing protective clothing, and incorporating dermatologist visits into your routine—we provide a roadmap for maintaining healthy skin at every stage of life.

My guest today is Dr. Neda Ashourian who is a double-board-certified Dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. Dr. Ashourian completed an internal medicine internship at Indiana University, a dermatology residency at Rush University, and a fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery and cutaneous oncology at Northwestern Skin Cancer Institute. Before joining NWSCI, she was an assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation and the head of the department's dermatology services at Jesse Brown VA Hospital.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

To learn more about skin cancer:

https://www.mohscollege.org/

https://www.aad.org/

Stay connected with JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect women of all ages, including those in midlife. Over 42 million people are infected with the HPV virus in the US alone. At least 80% of sexually active women will have been infected with HPV at some point in their lives, and at least 4 out of every 5 women will have been infected by age 50. Most HPV infections clear up on their own within a couple of years, but high-risk HPV infections that persist can lead to cancer, including cervical cancer, cancer of the vagina, vulva, and anus in women. About half of all cervical cancer cases occur in women over 50, and more than 20% are found in women over 65. These cancers are rare in women who have had regular cervical cancer screenings before age 65. There are 4,000 deaths every year from cervical cancer and it is preventable. One issue is that many women who are past menopause stop seeing their OBGYNs on an annual basis, meaning that they are not continuing to be screened.

My guest today will share an incredible amount of information on HPV, including how to strengthen our immune system to clear the virus, how our gut and vaginal microbiomes affect our immune system, the importance of micronutrient status on a cellular level, different protocols to follow to clear the virus, and what screening should look like for you.

Mindfulness also plays a pivotal role in supporting menopausal women in clearing HPV and promoting overall health. Stress has been shown to weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to combat persistent HPV infections. By fostering a calm state and reducing chronic stress, mindfulness practices such as meditation and deep breathing can enhance immune function, potentially aiding in the clearance of HPV. Additionally, mindfulness helps women cultivate greater body awareness and resilience during menopause, a time of significant hormonal and emotional changes. This holistic approach empowers women to take proactive steps in supporting their well-being, including prioritizing immune health. Consider this episode Part 3 in my mindfulness series as it relates to chronic disease and infections.

Dr. Doni Wilson is a naturopathic doctor, professional midwife, clinical nutritionist, international speaker, and best-selling author of Master Your Stress Reset Your Health. For over 24 years, Dr. Doni has been in clinical practice and has raised awareness of the impact of stress and trauma on our health and how it is possible to recover and become resilient to stress.

Dr. Doni suffered from migraines for many years, and in the process of solving them, she developed her Stress Recovery Protocol®. She has used her protocol to help thousands of patients overcome health challenges, including assisting women to clear HPV and prevent cervical cancer.

Find out more about Dr. Doni's programs:

Website: https://doctordoni.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drdoniwilson/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/drdoniwilson/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DoniWilsonND

HPV 12 WEEK: https://dv296.isrefer.com/go/hpv12/JFWELLNESS/

HPV workshop: https://dv296.isrefer.com/go/5day/JFWELLNESS/

Stay Connected to JFW:

Watch on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

Enjoy 20% savings and free shipping at Fullscript for your favorite supplements by leading brands:

https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/jillfooswellness

Subscribe to the JFW newsletter at www.jillfooswellness.com and receive your FREE Guide on How To Increase Your Protein in 5 Easy Steps and your free Protein Powder Recipe Ebook.

Schedule your complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultation here:

https://calendly.com/jillfooswellness/30-minute-zoom-consultations