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

I have the honor of connecting with James Nestor today! James is a science journalist and author of the book Breath. Breath was one of my favorite books to read in 2021! It was awarded the prize for Best General Nonfiction Book of 2020 by the American Society of Journalists and Authors and shortlisted for the Royal Society Best Science book of 2020. It explores the million-year-long history of how humans have lost the ability to breathe properly and why we suffer from issues like snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, autoimmune disease, and allergies.

James traveled the world in his effort to figure out what went wrong and how to fix our ability to breathe properly. He did not discover the answers in pulmonology labs but in the muddy digs of ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, New Jersey choir schools, and the smoggy streets of Sao Paulo.

In this episode, James and I dive into how humans have become poor breathers and how crooked teeth contribute to poor breathing. We discuss the nasal anatomy and the impact it has on poor breathing. We talk about alternate nostril breathing, the vagus nerve, the anatomical changes that occur with aging, how overeaters become over-breathers, chewing, and how our palates and facial bones have evolved and changed. We also get into James’s experience in the Paris catacombs and the impact of breathwork on the autonomic nervous system. 

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

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with James Nestor 

Dr. Barr joins me on this episode and I am thrilled! Dr. Barr is a dual board-certified dermatologist and menopause specialist. She is a prominent leader in women's medicine, creating a bridge between hormones, skin, and mind-body medicine to optimize the mid-life experiences of women. She is a fierce patient advocate dedicated to uncovering the root cause of hormonal imbalances. Dr. Barr empowers women worldwide to take control of their health and hormones in menopause. 

Dr. Barr takes a different approach to skin health. She realized that as women head north of thirty-five, the emphasis is always on the concept of anti-aging and finding ways to camouflage the effects of aging. So she helps women appreciate that their skin can be an ally because it can help them understand what happens in their bodies and empower them to make the changes that are within their control.

In this episode, Dr. Barr and I unpack the changes that happen to women's skin from the age of thirty-five onward. We dive into skin physiology, the impact of hormones, and the changes that occur as we age. Dr. Barr explains how our skin reflects our physical, mental, and emotional well-being and talks about progesterone, stress, and regulating the nervous system. We discuss Botox, self-love, the social conditioning of women, the benefits of breath-work, getting enough sleep, and taking the time to enjoy yourself. We talk about psoriasis, food, choosing the best skin care products, and caring for your skin, and Dr. Barr shares her thoughts on skin peels, lasers, and bio-identical hormone supplementation.

I hope you gain a lot from this insightful conversation with Dr. Barr! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Keira Barr

Social: IG: https://www.instagram.com/drkeirabarr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keirabarr/

Website: https://www.drkeirabarr.com

Book: The Skin Whisperer

Books mentioned: 

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming

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

Resources mentioned:

Environmental Working Group

Today, I feel honored to share the first of two episodes with one of my favorite women in the health and wellness space! Dr. Tabatha Barber is a triple board-certified OB-Gyn specializing in perimenopause, menopause, and functional medicine. She is often affectionately referred to as the Gutsy Gynecologist, and she has a wonderful podcast called The Gutsy Gynecologist Show.

Dr. Barber is speaking out on behalf of middle-aged women! She does not focus on any specific age group because she prefers to think about women on a continuum. 

In this episode, she talks with me about perimenopause, lifestyle management, and navigating the transition to middle age. We discuss the impact of oral contraceptives, their effect on the gut microbiome, and informed consent. We talk about vitamin and mineral depletion and therapies typically used in middle age- including IUDs, ablations, and hysterectomies. We dive into how to navigate cycle mapping and successfully integrate intermittent fasting during perimenopause. We also briefly touch on how to manage vasomotor symptoms. 

I hope you will gain a lot from this invaluable podcast! We will be sharing the second part of this show later this summer. Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Tabatha Barber

I am delighted to have the opportunity to connect with Dr. Rick Johnson today! Dr. Johnson is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado and is a clinician and researcher. He is an international expert on sugar and fructose and has made many discoveries on how sugar and fructose play a role in obesity and diabetes. 

Dr. Johnson is a gracious, humble, and brilliant man! He is also extremely curious and loves diving into things! As well as running a clinical practice, he has been doing medical research throughout his career. 

In this episode, we talk about his new book, Nature Wants Us to Be Fat. We get into how his curiosity has fueled his entire medical career, and talk about the intricate connection between fructose, weight gain, and re-gaining weight. We discuss the impact of obesity and hormonal regulation and how fructose lowers the ATP and impacts the mitochondria. We talk about artificial sweeteners, the polyol pathway, and uric acid. We dive into dehydration and explain how it can create fructose in the body. We also talk about the impact of alcohol and the Switch Diet.

I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I did while recording it! Stay tuned to find out all you need to know about the biological switch that drives obesity!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Rick Johnson

I am delighted to have Joel Greene, one of my favorite biohackers, joining me today! Joel is very well-known in the health and fitness community! He is knowledgeable and passionate about science, and he has some fresh and distinctive notions about the gut microbiome and weight loss. 

Joel is the author of The Immunity Code. He has figured out different ways for us to focus on our gut microbiome and immune function while targeting specific pathways in the body that could amplify our results for body composition and various other things. 

In this episode, we dive into common ideologies and dogma, diet variations, and how the second law of thermodynamics relates to food. We discuss calories in calories out, the health of the gut microbiome, dysbiosis, inflammation, butyrate, fasting amplifications, and the concept of reductionism. Joel also shares some hacks for overall wellness and better sleep quality, and I talk briefly about my background and health journey. 

Tune into today's fascinating conversation with Joel Greene to learn how to optimize your health with very little effort!  

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Joel Greene

I have the honor of connecting with Gabby Bernstein today! Gabby is a spiritual teacher, motivational speaker, and catalyst for profound inner change. She recently launched her latest book, the New York Times bestseller, Happy Days. 

Gabby has been transforming lives- including her own for more than sixteen years. She is a number 1 New York Times best-selling author. She has written nine books, including The Universe Has Your Back, Super Attractor, and her latest, Happy Days. In her weekly podcast, Dear Gabby, she offers real-time coaching, straight talk, and conversations about personal growth and spirituality with unique and inspiring guests.

In this episode, Gabby and I dive into undoing the patterns that made us feel unworthy of love. We discuss the impact that big and little T traumas have on the brain, how our coping mechanisms could reflect the traumas we experienced, and the value of supporting the autonomic nervous system- specifically the sympathetic overdrive, which is a chronic state of hyper-arousal. We also discuss the effects of shame and how it clouds our perspective on the experiences we have had, and talk about using compassion as the antidote.  

I hope you enjoy today’s conversation with Gabby Bernstein! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

About Gabby’s new book, Happy Days

Gabby has long been loved by her readers as a spiritual teacher, motivational speaker, and catalyst for profound inner change. Her new book presents her most powerful teaching yet: a practical plan for transforming the pain of your past, whatever that may be, into newfound strength and freedom. It will answer your questions about why you feel blocked, scared, anxious, depressed, or alone. It will guide you to become the best version of yourself. 

Happy Days may not look like Gabby’s other eight books on manifesting, spirituality and connecting to the Universe. But it’s actually her greatest spiritual book of all. The journey she underwent to overcome addiction, trauma, and depression has guided her to become the woman she is today. 

The methods she was led to for healing, and her remarkable path of recovery, are nothing short of a miracle.

“This isn’t a book filled with self-help tools offering a quick fix for your discomfort,” Gabby writes. “Instead, it’s a journey toward lifelong transformation filled with stories of resilience.” 

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Gabby Bernstein

I feel honored and privileged to re-interview Dr. Anna Cabeca today! She was with me once before in Episode 94. Dr. Anna is triple-board certified. She is also a fellow of gynecology and obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. She has special certifications in functional medicine, sexual health, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Over the past 20 years, she has served more than 10,000 women in her private practice and millions more through her books, online videos, and articles. 

Dr. Anna has a new book out, called Menupause. When reviewing her book, I was surprised to discover that only 20% of those going into obstetrics and gynecology trained in menopause medicine. It almost seems that once women move beyond their child-bearing years, they become irrelevant and invisible. Fortunately, Dr. Anna is helping to change that narrative! 

In this episode, Dr. Anna and I dive into her new book. In addition, we talk about the need for female empowerment, the stigma of middle age, perimenopause, and menopause. We discuss intimacy as the key to connection and the importance of understanding the changes in a woman's body as she moves through that phase of life. (Dr. Anna refers to that as pausing.) We talk about understanding the role of the connection hormone oxytocin and the importance of women being solution-based when approaching that key phase of their lives. We get into statistics and the microbiome of the gut and the vagina, talk about Dr. Anna’s various six-day eating plans, and explain how those changes can improve our physiology and stabilize symptoms. We also look into stubborn weight-gain issues, the health needs of middle-aged women, and how different cultures view middle age.  

I am thrilled to be bringing you today’s exciting conversation! I hope you gain a lot from listening to it!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca

I am delighted to reconnect with Teri Cochrane today! Teri is the founder of the Global Sustainable Health Institute® and an international thought leader in longevity. Through her decades of clinical work, Teri has developed The Cochrane Method®, a future-facing, multisystem health and longevity model that examines the intersection of gene expression due to pathogenic and environmental causes, energy, and her clients’ unique personal blueprint. Teri specializes in solutions to complex health conditions and serves world-class athletes. She is the author of the Amazon best-selling new release book, The Wildatarian Diet: Living As Nature Intended.

Teri’s perspective on health and longevity is fresh and unique, and she has her own quirky way of describing certain potentially intangible concepts. She understands that we are all different, so every individual requires a particular and very granular approach to their diet and lifestyle to achieve optimal health.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the role of bio-individuality and focus on women’s hormones and the endocrine system. We talk about applied kinesiology. We discuss the role of oxalates and the impact of genetics, SMPs, mycotoxins (mold), candida, and strep on our health. We get into methylation, gut health, estrogen detoxification, liver detox, and ways to support our bodies. We talk about why women tend to feel fluffy, the impact of cortisol, how sleep and stress affect our health, the importance of micronutrients- especially for thyroid function, and the role of neurotransmitters. We also discuss the quality of animal-based protein and explain why chicken is a dirty bird.

I hope you love listening to this valuable conversation and learn a lot from it! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Teri Cochrane

I am delighted to have Dr. Renee Wellenstein joining me today! Dr. Renee is a double board-certified doctor who has been working with women for over 20 years. Due to her own health challenges, she stepped outside the box of conventional medicine to take a radically different approach to heal herself from the deep depths of burnout. She has had her fair share of obstacles throughout her journey, and she has mastered the art of leaping into transitions with each pivot! Now Dr. Renee empowers women to take control of their health, jump-start their energy, improve their confidence, and reignite their libido!

Low libido in women is a topic that is grossly misunderstood on many levels and does not get discussed often enough between doctors and patients. Research has shown that 43% of women experience low libido at some point in their lifetime. That is why we need to discuss it and keep the conversation open. We have to talk about low libido even though most women feel some degree of stigmatization around it and tend to feel uncomfortable talking about it with their girlfriends, loved ones, and especially their significant others.

In this episode, Dr. Renee dives into connection, intimacy, sleep, exercise, and the influence of food choices on libido. She gives her specific recommendations for women who have experienced vaginal changes and the effects of hormone replacement therapy. She discusses options that can help support women who have had breast cancer treatment whose healthcare providers do not advocate hormonal replacement therapy. Dr. Renee and I explain why we do not love pellets. We also discuss some of the physical reasons for women having low libido, including the effects of certain types of medication, alcohol, gynecological surgery, the impact of hormonal changes and fluctuations, and neurotransmitters. 

I hope you will learn a lot from this conversation and enjoy it as much as I did! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Renee Wellenstein

Resources:

Books mentioned:

Estrogen Matters by by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris

The XX Brain by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

I have the honor of talking to Dr. Michael Breus today! Dr. Breus is the author of The Power of When, and his latest book is called Energize. He is a double board-certified Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Sleep Specialist. He is one of only 168 psychologists in the world to have taken and passed the Sleep Medicine Boards without going to Medical School.

After completing his undergraduate studies in psychology, Dr. Breus did all of his pre-meds in one year. Then he went to the University of Georgia to do a P.h.D. in Clinical Psychology. He wanted to do a sports internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after getting his P.h.D., but he could not get into the program. They were offering graduate students a sleep track, so he decided to do that initially and then get into the sports internship program through the back door. However, things did not end up working out quite how they thought they would!

Most people do not think much about sleep until they experience sleep problems. In this episode, Dr. Breus shares his background and explains how he pivoted into becoming a sleep specialist. He talks about the impact of chronotypes and genetics. He discusses how movement and other lifestyle strategies can influence our chronotype and talks about melatonin and other hormones, including cortisol, serotonin, dopamine, leptin, and touches on biohacking and intermittent fasting. He cautions us about orthosomnia and discusses how napping can influence sleep scores. He also talks about some of his favorite items for sleep modalities.

I hope you enjoy this thought-provoking podcast as much as I did!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Connect with Dr. Michael Breus