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

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 discuss 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:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Dr. Stacy Sims 

Today, I am thrilled to connect with Josh Dech. Josh is a former paramedic and holistic nutritionist specializing in Crohn's, Colitis, and other gut-related disorders. He has collaborated with some of the most renowned doctors worldwide, and he serves as a medical lecturer at the Priority Health Academy, where he educates doctors on the holistic approach to gut health and inflammatory bowel disease. 

In today's conversation, we explore the alarming statistic that 50% of all gut diseases occur in the United States, and the 105 million ambulatory care visits, 14 million hospital admissions, 236,000 deaths, and the 142 billion dollars these conditions cost annually. We dive into the impact of chronic stress, toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and life stages on gut health, and we look at the significance of the vagal nerve, the microbiome, and how it impacts mental health. We also cover dysbiosis, stool and organic acid testing, nutritional choices, and supplements.

This riveting conversation with Josh Dech contains many valuable insights, and I know you will love and appreciate it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Bio Josh Dech:

Josh is an ex-paramedic and Holistic Nutritionist specializing in Crohn’s and Colitis, as well as other related gut issues. After reversing over 250 cases of Crohn’s and Colitis (previously thought to be impossible to fix), he has been connected to some of the world’s most renowned doctors. He has since been recruited to the Priority Health Academy as a medical lecturer, helping educate doctors on the holistic approach to gut health and inflammatory bowel disease, and has launched a top 5% globally ranked podcast.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Josh Dech

On his website

Today I have the honor of connecting with Temple Stewart! She is a registered dietician specializing in low-carb dieting for women’s weight loss. 

I have spoken on the stage with Temple several times over the last year, and she is delightful! In this episode, she shares her background, and we dive into how she was able to reverse her PCOS and Hashimoto’s by adopting a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. We discuss food psychology, woke nutrition, whether or not “if it fits your macros” is a good philosophy, issues surrounding the traditional allopathic nutrition model, and challenges related to nutrition research. We also get into plateau busters and share five ways to measure success other than the scale. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Follow on Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website

Connect with Temple Stewart

On Instagram

TikTok

Twitter

Spotify (@the.ketogenic.nutritionist)

The Ketogenic Nutritionist Podcast

Books mentioned:

Metabolical, by Robert Lustig

I am delighted to have my dear friend, Dr. Anna Cabeca, joining me for the fourth time today. She was with me before on episodes 94, 202, and 317. 

Today, we dive into various questions from listeners about their GYN concerns, covering why suffering is optional in perimenopause and menopause and why we must refine ourselves during that life stage. We discuss the symptoms of perimenopause, explaining the best time to start using bioidentical hormones, issues with pellet therapy, especially testosterone, and various kinds of bioidentical hormones and vaginal estrogen. We also look at DHEA and testosterone therapies, symptoms to watch out for, sexual health, treatment therapy options for incontinence, and vaginal rejuvenation. 

I know you will love this invaluable discussion with Dr Anna Cabeca.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca

Previous Episode Mentioned:

Ep. 94 Reclaim Your Vibrancy, Sexuality, Health and Happiness! - with Dr. Anna Cabeca

Ep. 202 Dr. Anna Cabeca - Healing Your Hormones and Becoming Empowered with The Girlfriend Doctor

Ep. 317 Perimenopause Wisdom: Dr. Cabeca on Ovarian Health, Menopause & More!

I am thrilled to connect with the talented culinary personality and tastemaker Anna Vocino today. With her extensive experience as a bestselling cookbook author, actor, stand-up comedian, podcast host, and clean-eating expert, and her role as the founder of Eat Happy Kitchen, Anna brings her wealth of experience to the show.

In our discussion, we dive into her journey with autoimmunity, exploring the role of nutrition, the effects of trauma, the importance of healthy eating, and how food can support our overall well-being. We cover her no sugar, no grains approach, especially during perimenopause and menopause, discussing insulin resistance and why we need to set healthy boundaries. We also get into the connection between food choices and mood, the harmful effects of the toxic diet culture, disordered eating, and fears of consuming carbohydrates, highlighting the significance of evaluating food labels, food manufacturing practices, and high-quality ingredients. Lastly, we touch on her latest book, Eat Happy Italian. 

I am confident you will enjoy this conversation with Anna Vocino as much as I did.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Bio: Anna Vocino

Anna Vocino is a comic, culinary tastemaker, clean-eating expert, and founder of the premium natural food company Eat Happy Kitchen. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, she has authored hundreds of gluten-free, low-carb recipes in her bestselling cookbooks Eat Happy, Eat Happy Too, and the upcoming Eat Happy Italian. 

As a respected voice within the clean-eating community, Anna can deftly transform almost any recipe into a low-carb version of the dish without sacrificing taste.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Anna Vocino

Today, I am excited to share the first class in a series of lipid masterclasses with the amazing Dr. Thomas Dayspring!

Dr. Dayspring is certified in internal medicine and clinical epidemiology and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association. He was previously the Educational Director of a nonprofit organization and has served as the Chief Academic Advisor for two major cardiovascular labs. 

Due to the in-depth nature of my discussions with Dr. Dayspring over several sessions, each lasting nearly six hours, it seemed logical to present these masterclasses in segmented chunks to make them easier to understand.

In our first class today, we dive into the fundamentals, exploring what lipids are and how lipids and fatty acids are classified. We cover the physiology and transportation of cholesterol and the role of apoptosis, apo-proteins, and apo-lipoproteins, unravel the differences between HDL, LDL, IDL, and VLDL, and explain how to calculate LDLs and triglycerides for assessing metabolic health. Dr. Dayspring also shares his preferences regarding lab values and the indicators that provide information to help him determine the early risk of cardiovascular disease.

We get into some detailed aspects of physical chemistry in this episode, so I highlight the main clinical points throughout our conversation to make it more understandable.

Be sure to join Dr. Dayspring and me for our next episode in the lipid masterclass series.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Bio:

Thomas Dayspring MD is a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association and is certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology. After practicing in New Jersey for 37 years, in 2012, he moved to Virginia. He served as an educational director for a nonprofit cardiovascular foundation and 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 was the recipient of 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 serves as a Social Media Ambassador for the European Atherosclerosis Society and the National Lipid Association.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Thomas Dayspring

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with Dr. Tim Spector today. He is a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College, the director of the Twins UK study, a scientific cofounder at Zoe, and a leading researcher. He is also trained in rheumatology and epidemiology and is the author of Food for Life, his most recent book on nutrition and health.

In our conversation today, we unpack the new science on the role of the microbiome, the benefits of diverse food choices, and why Dr. Spector does not support superfoods. We dive into plant-material diversity, fiber, polyphenol-rich foods, fermented foods, and protein, and explore and explore issues surrounding bio-individuality specific to fiber, the impact of antibiotics, the Predict study, the Zoe program, and research on menopausal gut microbiomes. Dr. Spector explains why he does not believe in snacking, the value of digestive rest and intermittent fasting, and why lifestyle is a critical factor in menopause and beyond. We also get into some fascinating upcoming research.

I know you will love this insightful discussion with Dr. Spector.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Dr. Tim Spector

I am honored to have Kristin Kirkpatrick joining me today. She is a registered dietitian, bestselling author, presenter, and dietitian with the Department of Wellness and Preventative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. 

The fatty liver epidemic now affects one in four people globally. In our discussion today, we explore who is most at risk, the essential functions of the liver, and how factors like COVID, stress, overeating, and alcohol contribute to the problem. We dive into the role of visceral fat, and Kristin shares her go-to labs and tests for assessing metabolic health. We break down why SECO is outdated, why sugar is particularly harmful to the body, and the effects of andropause, menopause, and other hormonal changes. We also tackle the toxic diet culture, under-eating, alcohol, poor sleep, exercise, carb restriction, beneficial supplements, and how nutrigenomics can guide us in navigating bio-individuality.

I know you will love this eye-opening conversation with Kristin Kirkpatrick.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Kristin Kirkpatrick

I am delighted and honored today to interview Dr. Lisa Mosconi. She is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Cornell Medicine and Director of the Women's BRAIN Initiative and the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is also a globally acclaimed neuroscientist with a Ph.D. in neuroscience and nuclear medicine and the author of the New York Times bestseller The XX Brain and, more recently, The Menopause Brain.

In our conversation, we discuss how women’s brains change during perimenopause and menopause, looking at the significance of puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause, as well as the lack of medical research on women and medical gaslighting. We explore the concept of bikini medicine and its misconceptions regarding women's health and hormones alongside the crucial roles of hormones like estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone in our neuroendocrine system. Dr. Mosconi also provides insights into evolving menopausal treatments, including lifestyle interventions. 

Dr. Mosconi is an esteemed figure in neuroscience and a prominent voice in women's health. I am confident you will gain valuable insights and perspectives from my discussion with her today.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Lisa Mosconi

I am delighted to connect with Dr. Darshan Shah today. He is a health and wellness specialist, a board-certified surgeon, a published author, an entrepreneur, and the founder of Next Health, the world's first and largest health optimization clinic. 

In our discussion today, we dive into the current state of U.S. healthcare, contrasting how the traditional allopathic model focuses on acute care and disease treatment with a preventative approach. We cover the health of children and teens, mitochondrial dysfunction, the impact of shift work on circadian rhythms, hormonal regulation through HRT and lifestyle changes, looking at Akkermansia, gut physiology, and the implications of ultra-processed foods. We also explore cutting-edge therapies like IV NAD and exosome treatments. 

I am sure you will love this enlightening and informative conversation with Dr. Darshan Shah as much as I did.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Bio: Dr. Drashan Shah

Dr. Shah graduated from the accelerated 6-year MD/BS program at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and earned his medical degree at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest physicians in the country. He then continued his training in general surgery and trauma in Kern County, California where he performed over 10,000 operations on all body systems.

From trauma surgery to reconstructive surgery, Dr. Shah has seen and done it all. He was also prolific in writing many articles published in dozens of academic journals, started a surgical education website, and was an outstanding teacher of fellow medical students and residents.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Connect with Dr. Darshan Shah