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

I am honored to connect with Dr. Neil Nathan today. Dr. Nathan has been practicing medicine for over 50 years. He is board-certified in family medicine and pain management, a founding diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, and a founding member of the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness. He is also a published author and has recently released an updated and expanded version of his book, Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness.

In our discussion, we explore various complex medical illnesses and the effects of mold, chronic inflammation, immunosenescence, and genetics on the immune system, vagus nerve, and limbic system. We discuss mold exposure and colonization, and what that means for midlife women, along with MCAS, Lyme disease, and mast cell degranulation, and we examine Epstein-Barr as a symptom rather than a primary driver. We also cover limbic and vagal retraining, and Dr. Nathan shares his systematic approach to supporting the adrenal glands and to detoxification efforts in treatment.

This episode with the renowned Dr. Neil Nathan is like a mini masterclass on complex medical illnesses. I found his book super-informative and probably the most systematic source I’ve ever read on mold, Lyme, and complex medical problems.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How our current medical system fails to support complex patients

• How limited appointment times prevent root-cause investigation

• What mold colonization means and why its location in the body matters

• Why leaving a moldy environment does not always resolve symptoms

• How Epstein-Barr often signals immune dysfunction rather than causing it

• Why limbic retraining is essential in today’s world

• Dr. Nathan shares his systematic approach to adrenal support 

• Practical steps to support liver, gut, kidney, and lymphatic detoxification

• Why addressing mold and Candida must precede SIBO treatment

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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Neil Nathan

On his website

I am excited to connect with Dr. Lara Briden today! She is one of my favorite naturopathic doctors and the author of the bestselling books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. She has 25 years of experience in women's health, and she currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.

Dr. Briden is a wealth of information! She brings a fresh perspective and a positive voice to the health and wellness space, and I often recommend her book, Hormone Repair Manual, to my clients and patients. 

Today, she and I dive into her background as an evolutionary biologist and discuss how she became passionate about supporting and advocating for women throughout their lives. We talk about perspectives on aging, what the second puberty (perimenopause) is, and the impact of histamine, mass-cell granulation, and estrogen. We discuss fat redistribution in middle age and the loss of insulin sensitivity. We speak about how using alcohol impacts brain health, sleep, the gut microbiome, appetite, cravings, and hinders estrogen metabolism. We also touch on ways to address dysfunctional uterine bleeding in middle age, explain how to advocate for your health, how middle age impacts the nervous system, and the role of inflammatory foods, including dairy. 

I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr. Briden discusses her background as an evolutionary biologist and how she changed her career to become an advocate for women’s health.

Many women fear the aging process. Dr. Briden and I discuss women’s mindsets and perspectives on aging. 

Why is there so little awareness about perimenopause?

Dr. Briden defines menopause and discusses the timeframe in which some women experience perimenopause symptoms.

How can ongoing hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause, or second puberty, increase the likelihood of women having issues with a histamine response?

Dr. Briden talks about fat redistribution in middle age and explains why women need to stay on top of it from a metabolic perspective.

How can our modern-day lifestyle make the metabolic shift women experience in menopause even more challenging?

Dr. Briden talks about natural treatments and hormone therapies to lighten the flow of the extremely heavy periods that some women experience during perimenopause.

Dr. Briden discusses the connection between cow dairy and an inflammatory reaction in some people.

Women need to understand what happens in their bodies when they have either a partial or a full hysterectomy.

Dr. Briden talks about estrogen and brain health.

How does alcohol affect the body?

What are the best options with the fewest side effects for hormone therapy for 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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden

On her ⁠website⁠  

⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/LaraBriden⁠ 

Dr. Briden’s ⁠blog⁠ 

Dr. Briden’s ⁠podcast⁠

Books mentioned:

⁠Period Repair Manual ⁠(for women in their 20s and 30s) by Dr. Lara Briden

⁠Hormone Repair Manual⁠ (for women of 40-plus) by Dr. Lara Briden

Free ⁠download⁠ of the first two chapters of both Dr. Lara Briden’s books

⁠The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease⁠ by Lisa Mosconi, PhD

Today, I’m honored to connect with Jerry Wise, a leading voice in family systems and self-differentiation. With over 45 years of experience healing adults from narcissistic, dysfunctional, and emotionally immature family systems, Jerry’s work guides people out of lifelong patterns of guilt, shame, and emotional enmeshment so they can finally live as their true selves.

This episode is not about telling anyone what they should do with their family relationships. It’s about understanding patterns, reclaiming choice, and recognizing that protecting your nervous system is essential for your wellness. We dive into narcissism, personality disorders, and the spectrum within which Jerry believes narcissism falls. We explore low, middle, and high-anxiety family systems, clarify why self-differentiation is critically important, and how long-term nervous system dysregulation often occurs when we grow up in narcissistic homes. We also cover trauma bonding, the impact of avoidance, the role of boundaries, and cultural myths around honoring our parents, and I answer some rapid-fire questions tailored explicitly to Jerry’s expertise.

I have wanted to interview Jerry for the podcast for a long time, and this is one of those truly impactful and deeply personal episodes.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How narcissistic parents differ from other types of parents

The developmental switches that get turned off in those growing up with narcissistic parents

Intergenerational trauma and how it impacts nervous system regulation and emotional health

How self-differentiation can help individuals manage their emotional systems

Challenges of setting boundaries with narcissistic parents

Why internal boundaries are essential

How avoidance can become a coping mechanism for dealing with uncomfortable feelings

The importance of maintaining reality and not giving up on your true self to honor your parents and/or meet their expectations

Strategies for managing family dynamics and reducing chronic anxiety

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 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Jerry Wise

On his website 

Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Today, we have another episode in the YouTube series where I answer listeners’ questions from the Everyday Wellness Podcast and my private free Facebook group, The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.

We’re continuing the conversation around hair loss today. In the last episode, we covered some common causes of hair loss. In this episode, we discuss how nutrition can either positively or negatively affect it. Some familiar themes come up again, but they’re hard to avoid because in midlife, nutrition is not optional. It’s essential!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why a protein-centric diet is vital in middle age 

How over-fasting can exacerbate hair loss

Why iron is essential for hair growth

Foods that are beneficial for their polyphenols and antioxidants

Why metabolic health is critical for hair follicle protection

How stress and disrupted sleep affect hair loss

The value of weight training and maintaining muscle mass 

The role of iodine, selenium, and red blood cell magnesium in hair growth and the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet

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 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Meghan Rabbitt as my guest. Meghan is an award-winning journalist and the author of The New Rules of Women's Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age. She specializes in women’s health and wellness, and her work has appeared in several national publications, including Oprah Daily, Prevention, Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, and others. 

Meghan is known for translating and clarifying complex medical and scientific topics into actionable information. In our conversation today, we dive into her new book and explore the process of writing a 700-page guide. We discuss how the old rules of women’s health have often failed, and Meghan shares her hope that things will shift. We cover underrecognized midlife issues such as heart disease, the power of knowledge, reframing the aging process, and how the lack of research funding and a paternalistic system contributed to the lack of information on how women’s bodies age.  We also examine the influence of social media, navigating the medical system, advocacy, the gut-brain-hormone connection, and the crucial role of fiber, and Meghan emphasizes why every woman’s story matters. 

Meghan’s book is incredibly valuable, as it speaks to women of all ages, from young adults to those in later life.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why personal context matters when following nutrition advice on social media

The value of seeking multiple clinician opinions when facing health choices

Improving your communication with clinicians to help them understand your priorities and concerns

An essential approach to diet and lifestyle 

Underrecognized midlife issues, like heart disease, and why they are often overlooked in women’s health

How midlife changes in estrogen are linked with alterations in the microbiome and astrobolome

Understanding the gut-brain-hormone connection can help clarify your symptoms and guide your lifestyle choices.

Gut health and why fiber is important

Knowledge, advocacy, and reframing aging empower women to navigate the medical system and make better-informed decisions

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 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Meghan Rabbitt

On The New Rules of Women’s Health website

Purchase a copy of Meghan’s new book

I am delighted and honored to interview Dr. Lisa Mosconi today. 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:

How women's brains change during perimenopause and menopause

How the lack of information for young girls can lead to medical gaslighting and confusion during perimenopause

Dr. Mosconi explains how a simple sugar is used as a tracer to track glucose metabolism in the brain during perimenopause

Why brain changes during menopause may lead to mental fatigue and brain fog

How the lack of training and research on menopause in medical residency programs leads to a poor understanding among clinicians

Why women need to consider their brain and metabolic health during perimenopause

Why estrogen is essential after menopause

The benefits of HRT for menopausal women

How stress impacts hormone production

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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Lisa Mosconi

On her ⁠website⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

The Menopause Brain

I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Doug Lucas today for the second episode of a two-part masterclass on bone health. He is double board-certified as both an orthopedic surgeon and an osteoporosis specialist, and he is on a mission to prove to the world that osteoporosis is both preventable and reversible.

We continue our conversation, discussing bone health issues and diving into standards of care for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Dr. Doug unpacks the impact of drug therapies, from bisphosphonates to anabolics and lifestyle factors. We cover atypical fractures, mandibular necrosis, the challenges of hypermobility, and ways to support stability and training. Dr. Doug also breaks down osteogenic loading and training, clarifies why supplements are only as effective as your nutrition, and debunks common myths around bone health, mobility, and strength training.

You will not want to miss this valuable and informative masterclass with Dr. Doug Lucas. It is jam-packed with helpful insights, so you will likely want to listen to it more than once.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

The importance of personalizing supplements 

Why it’s essential to check your biomarkers before supplementing

The specific minerals and vitamins that are important for bone health

Why supplements should never replace foundational nutrition and lifestyle work

How boron and fat-soluble vitamins benefit bone health

The importance of personalizing your supplement plan 

How targeted testing and fewer supplements can yield better results

How osteoporosis can improve and, in many cases, be reversed  

How peptides and GLP-1s impact bone health and muscle preservation

The role of lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise in bone 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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Doug Lucas

The OsteoCollective Community

The Dr. Doug Show

Today, I answer the next round of listener questions, both from the podcast and those I’ve been asked to address more personally on YouTube.

Join me for this episode, where we dive into an honest and authentic exploration through the lens of traditional, allopathic medicine, of why women lose their hair during perimenopause and menopause.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

Why hair loss is often multifactorial and requires a comprehensive approach

How declining estradiol impacts the hair follicle cycle

Why hair growth slows and shedding increases as estrogen declines

The typical pattern of how hair loss presents in middle-aged women

How low or fluctuating thyroid hormone levels can increase hair loss

The importance of checking ferritin levels, even in women who are not overtly anemic

How insulin resistance, glycemic variability, and inflammation contribute to hair loss

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 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Today, I am honored to welcome my personal trainer, Linda Alexander, as my guest. Linda has been training middle-aged and older women almost exclusively for the last decade of the 40 years she has spent in personal training.

In our conversation, we explore the challenges of training middle-aged women. Linda highlights the importance of strength training over cardiovascular exercise, and we discuss the way my elementary school physical education teacher approached physical fitness for children many years ago. Linda explains how she evaluates new clients through movement and exercise progression, shares her personal view on intermittent fasting, and clarifies how it can contradict muscle building and maintenance. We also explore the importance of mindset and keeping nutrition simple, and we dive into many listener questions, ranging from progressive overload to nutrition and workouts. 

This conversation with my personal trainer is truly impactful, one that many of you have been asking for. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did while recording it.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How women's nutritional needs and exercise tolerance change at different life stages

How to control your carbohydrate intake without necessarily being ketogenic

Linda shares her approach to strength training

How our mindsets and self-expectations influence strength training experience

How functional movement can help older adults maintain their independence and prevent falls

Why combining a ketogenic diet with cardio can hinder achieving the results you want

The benefits of eating protein before or after exercise

The importance of staying well-hydrated and taking supplements to support your energy and recovery

How celebrating small wins and practicing self-kindness can strengthen your mindset and improve your long-term progress

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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Linda Alexander

I am thrilled to have Dr. Ken Berry joining me on the podcast for the third time today. He was with me before on episodes 111 and 139.

Dr. Berry is a physician, best-selling author, and passionate health advocate with a no-nonsense approach to health and wellness. He has been practicing at the Berry Clinics since 2003 and is an active community member. He has written two books, Lies My Doctor Told Me and the recently published Kicking Ass After Fifty, in addition to various other resources, including Common Sense Labs Today. He also has a YouTube channel, serving over 2 million subscribers- one of my favorite go-to resources for my patients. 

In our conversation today, we dive into the latest Lancet research on the impact of a diabetes diagnosis on life expectancy, along with insights from the American Diabetes Association regarding the costs of diabetes care. We discuss the need for proper diagnostic modalities to identify insulin resistance earlier and the labs Dr. Berry uses in his practice for identifying those at risk. We explore the recently recognized American Heart Association syndrome, CKM (Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome), and the role of GLP agonists, continuous glucose monitors, and glucometers. Dr. Berry also shares his views on plant-based diets, proper diets, and more. 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

 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) 

Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!

Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book

The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Ken Berry

Dr. Berry’s books

⁠Lies My Doctor Told Me⁠ 

⁠Kicking Ass After 50⁠   

⁠Common Sense Labs⁠ 

Dr. Berry’s Private Community

⁠Phdhealth.community⁠

Medical News article Mentioned

⁠Here’s What to Know About Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome, Newly Defined by the AHA ⁠ 

Previous Episodes Featuring Dr. Ken Berry

⁠Ep. 111 – Is The Keto Diet The Proper Human Diet? – with Dr. Ken Berry⁠

⁠Ep. 139 – Hyperinsulinemia: What You Should Know About This National Health Crisis with Dr. Ken Berry