In Episode 18 of the Abstract Blood Type Wellness Podcast, host and Certified Wellness Nutrition Coach & Educator AC Price opens a conversation that has been long overdue — the full, science-grounded, deeply personal truth about perimenopause, menopause, and the role cortisol plays in every symptom women have been told to simply endure.

From the cultural silence that reduced this profound biological transition to "the change" to the peer-reviewed research confirming that women of African American descent experience perimenopausal symptoms at rates up to 20% higher due to ancestral DNA trauma — this episode names what has gone unnamed for far too long.

Drawing on research from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, AC breaks down the HPA axis, chronic cortisol elevation, and the specific hormonal cascade that drives belly fat, sleep disruption, anxiety, and mood dysregulation during the menopausal transition.

Personalized by blood type, this episode delivers cortisol reset strategies for Type O, A, B, and AB — alongside a special Great Eats Healing Tea Ritual Edition featuring five cortisol-calming herbs.

This episode also marks the official launch of the 14-Day Culinary Cortisol Reset for Perimenopausal & Menopausal Women, available Friday, April 3rd at www.acartoffood.com.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

*The NIH identifies cortisol dysregulation via HPA axis hyperactivation as a central driver of perimenopausal symptoms — not just a side effect.Harvard T.H. Chan research links chronically elevated cortisol to visceral belly fat accumulation, sleep disruption, immune suppression, and mood dysregulation during menopause.

*Peer-reviewed research confirms women of African American descent experience perimenopausal symptoms at up to 20% higher rates due to ancestral DNA trauma encoded in HPA axis reactivity.

*Five adaptogenic and hormone-supportive herbs — ashwagandha, holy basil, raspberry leaf, maca root, and black cohosh — provide targeted cortisol support for each blood type.

*Three daily rituals — the morning anchor, the blood type plate, and the evening wind-down — begin retraining the HPA axis toward calm and hormonal repair.

*The 14-Day Culinary Cortisol Reset for Perimenopausal & Menopausal Women will be available this Friday.

BLOOD TYPE WELLNESS BREAKDOWN

🩸 Type O — The Adrenal WarriorMost reactive HPA axis — cortisol spikes fast and hard. Protein-anchored, anti-inflammatory eating combined with vigorous movement is the primary cortisol reset strategy.

🩸 Type A — The Cortisol AccumulatorAccumulates cortisol rather than discharging it.

🩸 Type B — The Hormonal BalancerBalanced but vulnerable to dietary disruption during perimenopause.

🩸 Type AB — The Sensitive ProcessorAbsorbs cortisol and emotional stress deeply. Holy basil, black cohosh, and raspberry leaf provide calming hormonal and nervous system support. Avoid alcohol, processed foods, and overstimulation.

THE GREAT EATS — Healing Tea Ritual EditionCortisol Reset Herbal Tea Guide

🌿 Ashwagandha

🌿 Holy Basil (Tulsi)

🌿 Raspberry Leaf

🌿 Maca Root Tea

🌿 Black Cohosh

BLOOD TYPE WELLNESS ORIGINBlood type wellness principles are inspired by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo, author of Eat Right 4 Your Type. AC Art of Food pairs this framework with modern nutrition science and mindful living to support sustainable, personalized wellness.

BRAND SUPPORTwww.acartoffood.com

14-Day Culinary Cortisol Reset for Perimenopausal & Menopausal Women — ENROLLING NOW

Culinary Health Assessment — available on the home page

Blood Type Wellness 101 Starter Kits

Wellness Coaching & MembershipsCustom Meal Plans & Healing Tea BlendsSeven wellness eBooks & eCookbooksAbstract Spice Gold Seasoning Blends — heart-healthy, small-batch, flagship productLongevity begins with honoring your biology.

Until next time —

Great Eats & Healthy Living! 💚🎧