Today, I am honored to connect with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified OBGYN who has dedicated her entire adult life to championing women's health. 
Dr. Haver is the visionary creator of the Galveston Diet, the first and only nutrition program ever designed by a female OBGYN to cater to menopausal women. 
In our conversation today, Dr. Haver shares her background, and we discuss her new book, The Galveston Diet. We examine the glaring systemic gap where the health of middle-aged women remains undervalued and underfunded in research, and our discussion touches on various facets of women's health, including perimenopausal symptoms, the distinction between chronological and endocrine aging, the scientific misconceptions surrounding weight gain and hormones, the advantages of intermittent fasting, inflammation, macros. We also get into the supplements Dr. Haver finds beneficial for women in middle age, in addition to dissecting the impact of non-nutritive sweeteners and the role of continuous glucose monitors.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr. Haver highlights various symptoms of perimenopause

How menopause can increase health risks

How muscle loss with aging can make women more insulin resistant and lead to cardiovascular changes

How the hormonal changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause can impact weight management

What are the benefits of intermittent fasting for perimenopausal women?

How a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors can help women prepare for menopause and manage its symptoms

How sugar, alcohol, and gluten impact inflammation, insulin levels, and blood sugar

How a lack of protein and the wrong types of fats can lead to hunger and satiety issues and lead to muscle breakdown and weight gain in menopausal women

Dr. Haver talks about her book, The Galveston Diet

How do non-nutritive sweeteners impact the gut microbiome and blood sugar levels?

The benefits of using a continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar levels


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

Welcome to the Everyday Wellness podcast with Cynthia Thurlow! Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, author of the best selling book Intermittent Fasting Transformation: IF45, 2x TEDx speaker, with her second talk having more than 10 million views, and the host of Everyday Wellness Podcast. With over 20 years experience in health and wellness, Cynthia is a globally recognized expert in intermittent fasting and women’s health, and has been featured on ABC, FOX5, KTLA, CW, Medium, Entrepreneur, and The Megyn Kelly Show. Her mission is to educate women on the benefits of intermittent fasting and overall holistic health and wellness, so they feel empowered to live their most optimal lives. Her goal with Everyday Wellness is to help her listeners make simple changes to their everyday lives that will result in improved overall wellness and long term health.

Alternative Health

Health

Science

Nutrition

Health & Fitness

Life Sciences

I am excited to share our fourth class in our informative Lipid Masterclass series today, with the esteemed Dr. Thomas Dayspring. Dr. Dayspring is certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology and is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association. He brings a wealth of expertise to our discussion today.
In this class, we dive into lipid and lipoprotein dynamics during the menopausal transition, exploring the impact of estrogen on gut health and its effects on laboratory findings. We look at the differences between hyper absorbers and hyper synthesizers, sharing clinical insights on routine lipid panels that can let you know if you are one of those individuals. We talk about Boston Heart Testing, highlighting the impact of specific biomarkers on brain health lipids and lipoproteins, and we get into the staggering differences between the half-lives of peripheral cholesterol and brain cholesterol. We discuss lipid permeability across the blood-brain barrier, highlighting those at risk for brain health concerns as they age, and we reveal strategies for managing lipid abnormalities. We also focus on LP(a), an ApoB lipoprotein with potent atherogenic and thrombotic properties, and its implications regarding calcific aortic stenosis. 
I am sure you will find this enlightening conversation with Dr. Dayspring invaluable. There is one more class yet to come in this masterclass series. Be sure to listen in!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How cholesterol absorption in the gut increases in perimenopausal women

How hyper cholesterol absorbers tend to have elevated HDL cholesterol

The impact of phytosterols on cholesterol absorption

When should hyperabsorbers consider treatment?

What research has shown regarding the differing effects of estrogen on brain health for older versus younger menopausal women

What happens if a statin crosses the blood-brain barrier?

How cholesterol synthesis relates to cognitive impairment 

The importance of understanding LP-PLA2 test results

How Lp(a) levels in women tend to fluctuate, particularly during menopause

Should women with heart disease consider hormone replacement therapy?

 
Bio:
Thomas Dayspring MD is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology. After practicing in New Jersey for 37 years, in 2012, he moved to Virginia to serve as an educational director for a nonprofit cardiovascular foundation until mid-2019 as a Chief Academic Advisor for two major CV laboratories. Since then, he has served as a virtual cardiovascular / lipidology educator. Career-wise, he has given over 4000 domestic (in all 50 states) and several international lectures, including over 600 CME programs on atherothrombosis, lipids/lipoproteins (and their treatment), vascular biology, biomarker testing, and women’s cardiovascular issues. He has authored several manuscripts and lipid textbook chapters and performed several podcasts. For several years, he was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. He received the 2011 National Lipid Association’s Presidents Award for services to clinical lipidology and the 2023 Foundation of NLA Clinician/Educator Award. He has over 34K followers on his educational Twitter (X) feed (@Drlipid). He has Gold Heart Member status as a professional member of the American Heart Association, and he serves as a Social Media Ambassador for the European Atherosclerosis Society and the National Lipid Association.

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Ep. 358 Lipid Masterclass: Impact of the Menopausal Transition with Dr. Thomas Dayspring

Today, I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Nick Bitz, a renowned naturopathic physician specializing in Ayurvedic medicine. 
Dr. Bitz is an influential figure in the natural products industry, specializing in nootropics, anti-aging, medicine, biohacking, herbology, nutrition, and dietary supplements. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Neurohacker Collective.
In our discussion, we cover cellular senescence, zombie cells, and distinctions with autophagy, highlighting some hallmarks of the aging process. We discuss the gut microbiome and the significance of akkermansia, also exploring the impact of senomorphics and senolytics, brain aging, lifestyle factors, the challenges of sarcopenia, and anabolic resistance.
Join us for today’s enlightening conversation with Dr. Nick Bitz as we journey into various aspects of holistic health and wellness.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How modern lifestyle factors exacerbate age-related cellular dysfunction

Why it is critically important to consume enough fiber each day 

Senescent cells and their impact on aging, health, and disease

What is the difference between senolytics and senomorphics?

How senolytics get used in a clinical setting to target different body parts

Diet, lifestyle, and supplements for brain health

How adaptogens are used in Ayurvedic medicine

The role of senescent cells in muscle aging

Dr. Bitz discusses the popular senolytic product he created with Neurohacker Collective


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Neurohacker Collective

Collective Insights Podcast


Use the code EverydayWellness to save 15% on any Qualia formulation

Ep. 357 Aging Well: Biohacking Longevity and Lifestyle with Dr. Nick Bitz

I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Felice Gersh today for our fourth discussion. 
Dr. Gersh is a globally recognized expert on women's hormones. As the Medical Director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, she often collaborates with numerous research organizations. 
In our discussion today, we dive into cardiovascular disease risks and menopause, highlighting the metabolic transition that menopause represents and exploring risk factors like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and PCOS. We get into the use of oral contraceptives, particularly before the age of 20, early puberty, and premature ovarian failure, while examining the role of the RAS system, synthetic hormones, and the differences between estrone and estradiol. We discuss the optimal timing for starting hormone replacement therapy and explain why we should love our menstrual cycles, addressing the risks related to circadian rhythm disruption. We also look at arterial changes, cholesterol dynamics, the autonomic nervous system, gut health and cardiac wellness in menopause, and proactive ways to support our bodies. 
I am confident you will find today’s conversation with Dr. Felice Gersh most enlightening and informative.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Why women need to understand basic female physiology 

How pregnancy-induced insulin resistance and leaky gut can lead to cardiovascular issues later in life

Dr. Gersh highlights the importance of metabolic health in pregnancy and menopause

Why it is risky for young women to use oral contraceptives

What irregular bleeding in perimenopausal women might indicate

Why the inflammatory response is critical for survival, even though it may become problematic if not properly regulated

How estrogen is a family of hormones, not a single hormone

How estradiol differs from estrone

Why should menopause be treated like any other hormone deficiency state?

The optimal time for hormone replacement therapy

Why post-menopausal women are more susceptible to heart attacks than men 


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All of Dr. Gersh’s books are available on Amazon
Ep. 297 Dr. Felice Gersh: Estrogen, Immunity & Menopause Mysteries
Ep. 237 Perimenopause and Menopause: What You Didn’t Know with Dr. Felice Gersh
Ep. 221 Part 1- An Integrative Approach to PCOS and Menstrual Irregularities with Dr. Felice Gersh

Ep. 356 Menopause, Heart Health and HRT with Dr. Felice Gersh

I am thrilled to have the award-winning personal trainer, Doug Bopst, joining me today. 
Doug is also an author and host of the Adversity Advantage Podcast. He is a former convicted felon and drug addict who spent time in jail and is now on a mission to inspire others to conquer adversity and realize their fullest potential.
Today, Doug and I engage in a thought-provoking conversation on gratitude, how exercise enables individuals to confront their fears and connect with themselves, the distinction between healthy and unhealthy habits, and the restrictions associated with seeking validation externally. We also discuss the transformative power of resilience, faith, and learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 
Doug’s remarkable journey from adversity to triumph serves as a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals seeking transformation, and I am confident that our conversation will resonate deeply with listeners. Stay tuned for Doug’s profound insights on personal development.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How gratitude reshaped Doug’s life

How people use drugs as a coping mechanism to numb emotional pain

Doug explains how he realized he had power and was able to control his life despite feeling powerless 

How exercise can catalyze self-discovery and growth

Why anxiety and stress are normal responses for those raised in troubled environments

Why do some individuals constantly seek external validation instead of seeking self-worth internally?

How self-awareness can help to conquer the need for external validation

The benefits of coaching and therapy for overcoming unhealthy relationships with food

Why many women avoid pushing themselves to the limit during workouts

How faith helped Doug to transform his pain and become a better person


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The Adversity Advantage Podcast

Ep. 355 Embracing Growth: The Impact of Gratitude and Connection with Doug Bopst

I am delighted to have the remarkable Dr. William Li joining me again today. He was previously with me on Episode 260, which became one of the most popular podcasts in 2023. 
Dr. Li is a world-renowned physician-scientist and New York Times bestselling author known for his role as President and Medical Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation. 
In our conversation today, we dive into the vocabulary surrounding health and microbiome-supporting foods, exploring how to measure the microbiome, the benefits of fermented foods, and the role of the appendix. We also look at pre, and post-biotics, strategies for supporting the microbiome after a colonoscopy prep, foods to avoid, immune function, and metabolic nuances, and discuss the differences between subcutaneous visceral fat, brown fat, and white fat, and polyphenol-rich beverages. 
I know you will find today’s conversation with Dr. William Li as enlightening as I did. I eagerly anticipate inviting him back to the podcast later this year.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr. Li explains the importance of the gut microbiome 

The interrelationship between the microbiome, body fat, and the metabolism

How to measure your gut microbiome

Foods that promote gut health and support the microbiome

The role of the appendix

How a colonoscopy prep impacts the gut microbiome

How excess body fat can fuel the metabolism rather than slowing it down

Why sleep is crucial for metabolism

The role of brown fat in weight loss

The benefits of polyphenols in coffee and tea


Bio:
William W. Li, MD, is an internationally renowned physician, scientist, and New York Times bestselling author of “Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, Live Longer”. His groundbreaking work has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments and impacts care for more than 70 diseases, including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease, and obesity. His TED Talk, “Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?” has garnered more than 11 million views. Dr. Li has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, CNBC, LIVE with Kelly and Ryan, and the Rachael Ray Show, and he has been featured in USA Today, Time Magazine, The Atlantic, and O Magazine. He is the president and medical director of the Angiogenesis Foundation.

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Ep. 260 Eat To Beat Your Diet: Achieve a Balanced and Healthy Lifestyle with Dr. William Li

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

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