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

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, we’re exploring the benefits of creatine monohydrate, essential aminos, grass-fed beef liver, and Yolked (fortotropin). I explain how these products work together, the importance of resistance training and hormone optimization as foundational factors in midlife, and how supplements fit in.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

The benefits of using creatine monohydrate when training

The value of essential aminos for muscle protein synthesis and reducing protein breakdown

The nutrients provided by grass-fed beef liver

What research suggests about how Yolked may relate to myostatin modulation, muscle hypertrophy pathways, and growth factor signaling

Why I recommend using creatine, essential aminos, beef liver, and Yolked together as a stacked approach

Why resistance exercise remains the primary signal for muscle growth

The importance of hormone optimization for energy, muscle building, executive function, motivation, and recovery

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

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Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources: 

Visit getkion.com/cynthia for 20% off.

Yolked: Use the code CYNTHIA for 20% off

Ancestral Supplements: Use the affiliate code CYNTHIA 

Today, I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein, a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician specializing in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, including POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

In our discussion, we discuss the invisible illness problem and complex medical illnesses, and Dr. Bluestein shares how being diagnosed with EDS in her 40s prompted her to pivot her career to focus on what is missing in medicine regarding those complex illnesses. We explore different types of hypermobility conditions and why women are disproportionately more affected by those conditions than men. We clarify what hypermobility means, the cluster of EDS, POTS, and MCAS, what to do when you have unexplained multi-system symptoms, and how AI can be beneficial. We also examine pain science, hypermobility, sympathetic overdrive, kinesiophobia, anesthesia considerations in connective tissue disorders, and the impact of midlife transitions, HRT, medical gaslighting, nervous system regulation, movement, nutrition, and validation and hope for patients with complex medical illnesses.

I am delighted to share this informative conversation with Dr. Linda Bluestein with the Everyday Wellness community, and look forward to having Dr. Bluestein back to explore this topic further.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How patients with complex symptoms often go from specialist to specialist, yet none of them connect the dots.

How patients tend to be blamed when treatments fail

How POTS diagnosis is often based on heart rate changes, even though it’s not primarily a heart rate condition

How dysautonomia affects multiple body systems

How, apart from joint flexibility, hypermobility can also involve skin, tissues, organs, and multiple body systems.

How EDS, POTS, and MCAS can overlap

The value of AI tools for helping patients organize complex symptom histories

How sympathetic overdrive and kinesiophobia can worsen chronic pain

The impact of medical gaslighting

Bio:  Dr. Linda Bluestein

Dr. Linda Bluestein is a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician who specializes in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, such as POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

She is the founder of Hypermobility MD and the host of the internationally recognized Bendy Bodies Podcast, where she bridges the gap between patients and clinicians by unpacking complex medicine through a pattern-based, whole-person lens. Dr. Bluestein is also an EDS patient herself, bringing both clinical expertise and lived experience to conversations about diagnostic delays, medical gaslighting, and compassionate, effective care.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein

Bendy Bodies Podcast

Dysautonomia Support Network

I am delighted to have the privilege of reconnecting with Dr. Deb Matthew today. She joined me once before on Episode 259. She is a distinguished best-selling author, international speaker, and dedicated educator known as the Happy Hormone Doctor. 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing one of every 3.2 deaths among women annually. In our conversation today, Dr. Matthew and I delve into the realm of cardiovascular disease, exploring the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, essential laboratory testing, medications, and the neurocognitive changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause. We also focus on lifestyle, gut testing, and the all-time favorite topic: weight-loss resistance. 

Stay tuned for today’s engaging, enriching, and enlightening discussion with Dr. Deb Matthew.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How HRT reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease 

How long-term use of estrogen can reduce the risk of heart disease over time

Why you should do a hormone panel before starting HRT

How cortisol levels impact cardiovascular health

How the coronary calcium score helps to predict heart attack risk

Cholesterol markers and their significance in cardiovascular risk assessment

Managing cholesterol levels in perimenopausal women

The importance of addressing underlying hormonal imbalances in women to mitigate cognitive decline and lipid disorders

The connection between gut health and brain fog

How women’s testosterone levels impact their cognition and motivation

Hormone imbalance and weight loss resistance in women 

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Deb Matthew

On her ⁠website⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

Dr. Deb Matthew’s book This is Not Normal on Amazon⁠ 

Previous Episode featuring Dr. Matthew

⁠Ep. 295: HRT’s Impact on Women’s Health Through Time with Dr. Deb Matthew⁠

I am honored to connect with Dr. Navaz Habib today. He is the Vagus Nerve Doc, a bestselling author, and host of the Health Upgrade podcast.

In our discussion today, we look at what it takes to upgrade the vagus nerve, exploring how it is regulated, the role of vagal tone, and how it can be damaged with chronic stress. We examine the impact of allostatic load and dysregulation, and how midlife physiology compels us to proactively address our vagal tone. We cover the impact of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters, and why key nutrients like choline and omega-3s are necessary for proper vagal tone, and we dive into hormetic stressors and safety, how HRV and vagal tone are assessed, and targeted strategies to enhance vagus nerve performance. Dr. Habib also discusses his Vagus Program, which provides tools to improve vagal tone.

Stay tuned for this informative conversation with Dr. Habib. I look forward to inviting him back to continue the discussion.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr. Habib describes the vagus nerve as the brake system of the autonomic nervous system, and explains how it connects to most major organs, working as a central communication highway

What vagal tone is 

Dr. Habib frames allostatic load in the context of a combined stress burden

How “little t” trauma influences vagus nerve function and creates stress response patterns later in life

Why midlife can be a period of increased stress sensitivity and autonomic dysregulation

The key biochemical drivers of vagus nerve signaling and immune regulation

How diaphragmatic breathing can directly influence vagus nerve activity

What HRV actually measures, and how to interpret it correctly

A practical framework of small interventions to build long-term autonomic flexibility

Bio:  Dr. Navaz Habib

Dr. Navaz Habib, aka "The Vagus Nerve Doc," is a best-selling author of 2 books - “Activate Your Vagus Nerve” and “Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve” and host of The Health Upgrade Podcast.

After using functional medicine to overcome his own health challenges, Dr. Habib built Health Upgraded, an online health program implementing his VAGUS protocol, to guide parents and professionals to enhance their health by unlocking the healing power of the Vagus nerve to reduce the effects of stress and inflammation.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Navaz Habib

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, I’m taking a closer look at oral contraceptive use in perimenopause and menopause, exploring how oral contraceptives work, how they suppress or blunt perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, alter hormone signaling and testing, what women may experience when they stop taking them, and why the gut microbiome is an essential part of the conversation.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How oral contraceptives suppress certain key signaling hormones, making it difficult to assess women’s menopausal status accurately

What women may experience when transitioning off oral contraceptives

How long-term oral contraceptive use can alter gut microbial function and inflammatory pathways

The association between long-term oral contraceptive use and nutrient depletion

Why the standard reproductive hormone markers used to assess menopause (especially FSH/LH) are unreliable while on the pill

How the microbiome changes that occur as women age may compound the effects of previous oral contraceptive use

Helpful dietary, microbiome, and lifestyle strategies to support women navigating the post-pill transition

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources: 

Sitruk-Ware R, Nath A. Characteristics and metabolic effects of estrogen and progestins contained in oral contraceptive pills. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2013;27(1):13–24. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2012.09.004

Schaffir J, Worly BL, Gur TL. Combined hormonal contraception and its effects on mood: a critical review. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. 2016;21(5):347–355. doi:10.1080/13625187.2016.1217327

Panzer C, Wise S, Fantini G, Kang D, Munarriz R, Guay A, Goldstein I. Impact of oral contraceptives on sex hormone-binding globulin and androgen levels: a retrospective study in women with sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2006;3(1):104–113. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00198.x

Palmery M, Saraceno A, Vaiarelli A, Carlomagno G. Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2013;17(13):1804–1813. PMID:23852908

Khalili H, Higuchi LM, Ananthakrishnan AN, Richter JM, Feskanich D, Fuchs CS, Chan AT. Oral contraceptives, reproductive factors and risk of inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 2013;62(8):1153–1159. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302362

Flores R, Shi J, Fuhrman B, Xu X, Veenstra TD, Gail MH, Gajer P, Ravel J, Goedert JJ. Fecal microbial determinants of fecal and systemic estrogens and estrogen metabolites: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2012;10:253. doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-253

Baker JM, Al-Nakkash L, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Estrogen-gut microbiome axis: physiological and clinical implications. Maturitas. 2017;103:45–53. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.06.025

Hua X, Cao Y, Morgan DM, Miller K, Chin SM, Bellavance D, Khalili H. Longitudinal analysis of the impact of oral contraceptive use on the gut microbiome. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2022;71(4):001512. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.001512

Mihajlovic J, Leutner M, Hausmann B, Kohl G, Schwarz J, et al. Combined hormonal contraceptives are associated with minor changes in composition and diversity in gut microbiota of healthy women. Environmental Microbiology. 2021;23(6):3037–3047. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.15461

Seelig MS. Increased magnesium need with use of combined oestrogen and calcium supplementation. Magnesium Research. 1990;3(3):197–215. PMID:2133742

Donders GGG, Bellen G, Mendling W. Management of recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidosis as a chronic illness. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. 2010;70(4):306–321. doi:10.1159/000314022

Today, I’m thrilled to connect with Rowan Jacobsen. Rowan writes about science, nature, and the world’s lesser-explored corners for publications including Harper’s, Outside, The Atlantic, Scientific American, Smithsonian, and The New York Times, among others. He is the author of nine books, has lectured at Harvard and Yale, and has appeared on CBS, NBC, and NPR.

In today’s conversation, we discuss his unique and fascinating new book, In Defense of Sunlight, which explores the nuances surrounding light exposure. We look at the value of sun exposure and vitamin D, and Rowan explains why light acts as a master regulator in the body and how our modern lifestyles may be disrupting our natural biology more than we realize. We examine the effects of shift work, cortisol rhythm dysregulation, and the minimum effective dose of sunlight intensity and exposure, and Rowan breaks down how UVA and UVB wavelengths impact our physiology. We also cover the importance of nitric oxide production, and Rowan shares recommendations from his work.

Stay tuned for an eye-opening conversation on why sunlight may be one of the most overlooked foundations of human health. For those who enjoy reading about science, I highly recommend Rowan’s book!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why so many people fear any sun exposure rather than aiming for sensible, moderate exposure

How light acts as a master regulator for circadian biology

Why does spending most of the day indoors with artificial lighting make it harder to maintain healthy circadian rhythms?

How shift work disrupts the body’s normal repair processes

How cortisol and melatonin work together as part of a coordinated daily rhythm

What research shows about cloudy outdoor environments providing higher light levels than most indoor spaces 

The differences between how UVA and UVB exposure impact the body

How ultraviolet light can trigger nitric oxide release

Practical ways to support your circadian health

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Rowan Jacobsen

On his website

Rowan’s book, In Defense of Sunlight, will be available online and in bookstores on June 16th 

I had the honor of reconnecting with Chris Irvin today! (He was with me once before, on ⁠Episode 175⁠.)

Chris is a nutrition researcher, writer, and educator specializing in low-carb dieting for metabolic health and human performance. He is the author of Keto Answers, The Carnivore Diet for Beginners, and Mommy, Do I Have to Eat This? He is also the Chief Marketing Officer at BioCoach, a company dedicated to taking down prediabetes and diabetes.

Chris is an incredible resource on the value of keto and low-carb diets! His book, Keto Answers, is one of my favorite keto resources to recommend to clients! In this episode, Chris and I discuss the differences between micro- and macronutrients. We talk about the therapeutic uses of keto, low-carb, hormesis, and carnivore diets; the role of metabolic health; the value of protein; balancing longevity and sarcopenia; and the results of over-fasting, over-restricting, and creating too much stress on the body. We also dive into questions from listeners about the impact of low-carb and ketogenic diets on cholesterol panels and endurance, how to troubleshoot digestive distress, protein excess, and Chris’s favorite gadgets and supplements. 

I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as I did recording it! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

The therapeutic benefits of keto, carnivore, low-carb diets, and fasting.

The value of protein.

How much protein should you eat?

The importance of having muscle.

The benefits of eating grass-fed red meat.

The problem with over-restricting, over-exercising, and over-fasting.

Changing things up occasionally and using reverse dieting for optimum health.

Adding more protein to your diet will make you feel better, and you won't gain weight.

How will a low-carb or keto diet impact your overall cholesterol?

Chris explains how a low-carb or keto diet affects the performance of endurance athletes.

Products you can use to optimize endurance performance.

Chris explains why digestive distress could occur with keto and shares his recommendations for overcoming it. 

The impact of a low-carb diet on thyroid function.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line 

Connect with Chris Irvin

On his ⁠website⁠

On ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/TheKetologist⁠ 

⁠Thinking Health Newsletter⁠ 

⁠The Keto Answers Podcast

Today, I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. William Davis. He’s a cardiologist, New York Times bestselling author of the Wheat Belly book series, and author of Super Gut. He is also the founder and Medical Director of the Infinite Health Program and the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Realize Therapeutics Corp, which is developing innovative solutions to restore and support the human microbiome.

In our conversation, we explore the microbiome and how it is influenced by key changes in a woman’s life, including pregnancy and premature delivery, as well as how modern lifestyle factors disrupt our microbiome. Dr. Davis discusses endotoxemia and dysbiosis in fertility, uterine health, and cardiovascular disease, as well as antibiotic use, statins, atrial fibrillation, the role of blood glycocalyx, TMAO, and the dietary approach he considers important. He also discusses appropriate prescribed antibiotic use in the context of microbiome disruption.

Stay tuned for another fascinating discussion with Dr William Davis on the far-reaching impact of the microbiome on women's health, heart health, and longevity. I look forward to having Dr. Davis back on the show!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How factors such as omega-3 fatty acid intake and microbiome health may affect pregnancy outcomes.

How microbial health extends beyond the gastrointestinal tract and can influence multiple organ systems

The disruptive effects of antibiotics, glyphosate, food preservatives, and emulsifiers on the microbiome

Dr. Davis describes how endotoxemia can affect the brain, skin, joints, metabolism, and cardiovascular system.

How endotoxemia influences multiple cardiovascular risk markers

How endotoxemia and glycation can contribute to atrial fibrillation

The role of the glycocalyx, and how damage to the integrity of the glycocalyx could influence arterial function and cardiovascular risk

Why fermented foods remain a key strategy for microbiome diversity

Dr. Davis shares his dietary choices and his approach to microbiome support 

Bio: William Davis, MD 

William Davis, MD, is a cardiologist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wheat Belly series of books, as well as Undoctored and Super Gut.

Recent human clinical trials that Dr. Davis conducted have revealed that it is possible to lose fat weight while preserving muscle, thereby preventing weight regain and enjoying improved body composition, findings that inspired the writing of Bulge.

Dr. Davis is also Chief Medical Officer at Realize Therapeutics Corp., which he co-founded to explore the new science of the microbiome to improve health and appearance, including body composition.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. William Davis

On his website

Join Dr Davis’s Inner Circle

Dr. Davis’s books

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute.

Today, I’m focusing on all the questions I received about gallbladder health, including HRT-provoking symptoms, supplements that improve gallbladder health, and evidence-based food interventions.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why the risk of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation increases during the menopause transition

How estrogen and progesterone HRT have different effects on gallbladder functioning

The differences in risk between transdermal and oral HRT

How the progesterone in HRT can cause gallbladder issues in some women

What TUDCA is, and how it supports gallbladder health

The value of TUDCA for women who have had their gallbladders removed

How various nutrients and supplements support bile flow and gallbladder health

What can contribute to gallstone formation

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Gallbladder Research:

Cabrera D, Arab JP, Arrese M. UDCA, NorUDCA, and TUDCA in liver diseases: a review of their mechanisms of action and clinical applications. Seminars in Liver Disease. 2019;39(4):397–404. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1696799 

Vang S, Longley K, Steer CJ, Low WC. The unexpected uses of urso- and tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of non-liver diseases. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 2014;3(3):58–69. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2014.017 

Bai M, Yang L, Liao H, et al. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2024;72(41):22655–22668. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c04630 

Simon JA, Hudes ES. Relation of serum ascorbic acid to serum vitamin B12, serum ferritin, and kidney stones in US adults. *Archives of Internal Medicine.*1999;159(6):619–624. doi:10.1001/archinte.159.6.619 

Walcher T, Haenle MM, Kron M, et al. Vitamin C supplement use may protect against gallstones: an observational study on a randomly selected population. BMC Gastroenterology. 2009;9:74. doi:10.1186/1471-230X-9-74 

Tsai CJ, Leitzmann MF, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL. Long-term intake of dietary fiber and decreased risk of cholecystectomy in women. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2004;99(7):1364–1370. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.30281.x 

Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Spiegelman D, Colditz GA, Giovannucci EL. Coffee intake is associated with lower risk of symptomatic gallstone disease in women. Gastroenterology. 2002;123(6):1823–1830. doi:10.1053/gast.2002.37085 

Moerman CJ, Smeets FW, Kromhout D. Dietary risk factors for clinically diagnosed gallstones in middle-aged men — a 25-year follow-up study. Annals of Epidemiology. 1994;4(3):248–254. doi:10.1016/1047-2797(94)90099-x

Association between dietary magnesium intake and gallstones: the mediating role of atherogenic index of plasma. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2024;23(1):82. doi:10.1186/s12944-024-02074-4 

Pitt HA, Doty JE, Murphy MM, Schwarz MB. Progesterone alters biliary flow dynamics. Annals of Surgery. 1999;229(2):205–209. doi:10.1097/00000658-199902000-00008

I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Nicole LePera today. Trained in clinical psychology, she is a holistic psychologist whose work explores the interconnections among the mind, body, and soul, incorporating holistic lifestyle and psychological wellness practices. She has written multiple New York Times bestselling books, most recently Reparenting the Inner Child.

In today’s conversation, we unpack what the inner child really means from a clinical perspective. We explore how understanding your childhood wounds intellectually differs from truly re-parenting yourself at the nervous system level, and how perimenopause and menopause influence the way we view the world. We look at ACE scores and the biology of childhood adversity, how ACE scores measure what happened to us, but fail to measure resilience, protective factors, or the capacity for healing. We examine how reactive parents shape our nervous system, and how that shows up as hypervigilance, emotional scanning, and self-erasure, and how the fawn response can lead to chronic people-pleasing, relentless accommodation, and an inability to say no. We also cover how epigenetics and lifestyles influence behavioral patterns, critical parenting, stress addiction, gut-brain dysregulation, and the disruptive effects of vagal tone gadgets.

This is truly one of those must-listen conversations! I love Dr. LePera’s grounded and practical approach to helping people work through their childhood experiences and advocate for themselves.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How childhood wounds become stored in the nervous system rather than just the mind

Why understanding your dysfunctional habits intellectually will not change the emotional patterns that drive them

How perimenopause and menopause can magnify unresolved emotional patterns

What ACE scores measure and what they fail to capture

How reactive parenting can lead to hypervigilance and emotional scanning, even in safe environments

Dr. LePera describes the fawn response and explains how children learn to over-accommodate others, suppress their own needs, and avoid conflict.

How chronic stress becomes a learned response, and how stress responses can be passed across generations  

How chronic stress and a dysregulated nervous system can influence gut function and microbiome balance

Why it’s essential to return your attention to your body in the present moment to begin healing

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Submit your questions to [email protected] 

Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 

Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Nicole LePera

Website

Social media platforms: @The Holistic Psychologist 

Self Healers Circle (Membership community)

Purchase a copy of Dr. Pera’s latest book, Reparenting the Inner Child.