Midlife Mayhem

SLU-PP-332, 5-Amino-1MQ, and the Truth About Midlife Muscle & Fat

Hey friends, welcome back to Midlife Mayhem! I’ve just returned from a whirlwind trip through England and Greece—a mix of family remembrance, laughter, tears, chaos, and joy. I’m running on jet lag fumes, but I wanted to sit down and share something important with you today: two breakthrough compounds that could be absolute game-changers for midlife body composition—SLU-PP-332 and 5-Amino-1MQ.

👉 SLU-PP-332 is now available at www.slu332.com

And don’t forget—my Mastering Midlife program kicks off September 21 – November 1. Learn more and sign up at www.slu332.com

5-Amino-1MQ → www.5amino.com

Mastering Midlife (Sept 21 – Nov 1) → www.midlifemonth.com

Email me anytime with questions: [email protected]

We tend to think of the liver as “the detox organ.” We imagine green juice cleanses, detox teas, and vague ideas about “flushing toxins.” But your liver is so much more than that — it’s a powerhouse that affects every aspect of your body composition, from how much fat you store to how much energy you have.

And while the liver is incredibly resilient (it can literally regrow after being partially removed), modern lifestyles are pushing it past its limits. That’s why we’re now seeing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) not just in adults, but alarmingly, in children.

In this episode, we’re diving deep into:

The liver makes fat — it’s not meant to store it.

When the liver is overwhelmed and can’t push fat out fast enough, it starts storing it internally — that’s how fatty liver develops.

About 75% of stored carbs (glycogen) live in your muscles — but muscle glycogen is locked away for personal use. Your biceps can’t “share” their carbs with the rest of your body.

The liver’s glycogen, however, can be broken down into glucose and released into your blood to keep your energy steady between meals, during sleep, or under stress.

If your blood sugar stays high even when you’ve cut carbs, your liver may be releasing stored glucose — often a sign of insulin resistance.

Cortisol clearance: The liver inactivates cortisol, helping prevent the muscle loss, midsection fat gain, water retention, collagen breakdown, and cravings that come with high cortisol.

Thyroid activation: The liver converts inactive T4 thyroid hormone into active T3 — your metabolism’s “go” signal. Poor liver function can mean slower metabolism and stubborn fat.

Insulin resistance: A high-carb, low-activity lifestyle keeps insulin elevated. Overexposure makes the liver resistant to insulin’s signal, tricking it into thinking blood sugar is low — so it makes more sugar through gluconeogenesis, adding to the problem.

Leaky gut: Low-fiber, high-sugar, ultra-processed diets damage the gut lining. Toxins and undigested food particles leak into the bloodstream, triggering constant inflammation. That inflammation travels to — and damages — liver cells.

Poor food quality: You can’t out-supplement or out-macro a bad diet. “Weekend junk” and overly restrictive eating both take their toll on gut and liver health.

A healthy liver helps you:

Efficiently use stored energy between meals (no energy crashes)

Convert thyroid hormones for optimal metabolism

Clear cortisol so you preserve muscle and control fat storage

Avoid fat buildup in the liver, which is linked to systemic inflammation and metabolic slowdown

When the liver is struggling, everything from fat loss to hormone balance to workout recovery becomes harder.

The liver is a workhorse — but it’s underappreciated and often abused. If your fat loss has stalled, your energy is inconsistent, or your hormones are out of balance, your liver might be the missing link.

📅 Next Live Program – Mastering Midlife (Sept 14 – Oct 25)

This year’s live program includes:

11 live coaching calls over 5 weeks (with a built-in review week so you can catch up)

Meal plans, workouts, and supplement guidance

Deep dives into the 6 hormones that change with age

Sessions on exercise adjustments, nutrition upgrades, HRT/TRT, peptides, biohacks, and more

Men and women welcome — and the results are incredible

We only run this once a year live. Reserve your spot today at:

We’ve all heard the term GMO — genetically modified organisms — and most of us know it’s controversial. But there’s a newer, slicker technology making its way into our food supply that’s flying under the radar: gene editing. It’s marketed as “natural,” it’s not always labeled, and it’s already on supermarket shelves. The problem? Most consumers have no idea it’s there… or what it could mean for our health.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on:

What gene editing actually is — how it differs from GMO technology, and why industry insiders argue it shouldn’t require labeling.

The rapid takeover of GMO crops in the U.S., from their quiet introduction to dominating over 90% of certain harvests in less than a decade.

Why Europe bans or strictly controls GMOs under the “precautionary principle” — and why the U.S. does the opposite, requiring proof of harm rather than proof of safety.

The glyphosate connection — and the staggering increases in allowable residues on soy, corn, wheat, and even animal feed (including a 2,000-fold increase on alfalfa).

How altered protein patterns in gene-edited plants and animals could confuse the immune system, potentially leading to chronic inflammation, autoimmune issues, and other long-term health risks.

Examples already in circulation: non-browning mushrooms, disease-resistant bananas, slick-coated cattle, faster-growing salmon, and more.

The labeling loophole: why most gene-edited products don’t have to be labeled in the U.S., and how companies use terms like “bioengineered” or QR codes instead of clear wording.

The eerie historical parallels with cigarettes and opioids — early warning signs ignored, public assurances of safety, and decades before the truth came out.

I also share practical, actionable steps you can take now to reduce your exposure, including how to identify higher-risk foods, what to look for on labels, and why “100% organic” is a very different standard from “organic.”

This isn’t fearmongering — it’s about being informed and proactive before the “monster” grows too big to contain.

If you want to reclaim your energy, optimize your hormones, and build a lean, strong body in midlife and beyond, now is the time to join the ever-popular Mastering Midlife program.

Live from September 14 – October 25, 2025, this year’s program is bigger and better than ever, with a brand-new pacing designed for busy lives:

11 live coaching calls over five weeks (3 weeks on, 1 week off to catch up, then 2 final weeks)

Expert-led sessions on the six hormones that shift in midlife, how to adapt your training, how to fine-tune your nutrition, plus deep dives into HRT, TRT, peptides, biohacks, skin and muscle health, and more

Structured meal plans, targeted workouts, and supplement guidance included

The chance to connect with a motivated, like-minded community — men and women welcome

Only runs once per year in the live format — payment plan available

Reserve your spot at www.midlifemonth.com and step into the healthiest, strongest version of yourself.

If you’ve ever left Starbucks feeling bloated, sluggish, or… ahem… blocked up for days, you’re not imagining things.

I also explain why even if you don’t think you’re lactose intolerant, you might still react to certain dairy proteins — and how a simple milk swap could make a world of difference.

This topic comes straight out of my Tight28 program’s dairy module, so if you’ve been struggling with gut discomfort, unexplained puffiness, or sluggish digestion, you’ll definitely want to listen in.

☕ The Coffee Factor

Why Starbucks uses very dark roasted beans — and how this affects bitterness, bile release, and gut motility.

How ultra-high volume roasting and older beans can increase oxidized oils — and why oxidized oils = gut irritation.

Why your local café’s medium roast and fresher beans are usually gentler on digestion.

🥛 The Dairy Factor

The difference between regular pasteurization and ultra-pasteurization — and how extreme heat denatures milk proteins like casein.

Why casein (especially A1 beta-casein) is already hard to digest — and how ultra-pasteurization makes it worse.

Why large latte servings = large dairy hits that can trigger bloating and constipation.

🌱 The Milk Alternative Trap

Why Starbucks oat, almond, and soy milks are highly processed and full of gums and emulsifiers.

How gums/emulsifiers can damage gut lining, worsen leaky gut, and trigger bloating or sluggish digestion.

Why oat milk’s beta-glucans and residual enzymes can ferment in the gut and cause discomfort.

🐄 A1 vs A2 Milk Explained

A1 milk (common in U.S. dairy from Holstein cows) contains a beta-casein variant that releases BCM-7 during digestion.

BCM-7 slows gut motility, irritates the gut lining, and can trigger histamine release → bloating, puffiness, water retention.

A2 milk (from Jersey/Guernsey cows, goats, sheep, buffalo) produces minimal BCM-7 — often eliminating symptoms entirely.

Why switching to A2 can be a game-changer for digestion, even if you’re not lactose intolerant.

Starbucks’ combination of dark roast bitterness, ultra-pasteurized A1 milk, and/or processed plant milks can be a “perfect storm” for gut issues.

If you want to keep enjoying coffee without the digestive misery:

Switch to medium roast, freshly ground beans.

Use A2 dairy or goat/sheep/buffalo milk.

Skip processed plant milks with gums/emulsifiers.

Try smaller coffee sizes or Americano-style drinks instead of milk-heavy lattes.

Gut irritation isn’t just about discomfort — it can contribute to systemic inflammation, histamine buildup, and even changes in body composition.

This episode barely scratches the surface of what I teach in Tight28, my 28-day program designed to uncover hidden food sensitivities, calm inflammation, and get your digestion — and your body composition — working in your favor.

Check it out here: www.jlcstrong.com

5-Amino-1MQ: www.5amino.com

My upcoming SLU-PP-332 release — stay tuned!

Email me anytime with questions: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s still wondering why their Starbucks habit might be causing their gut drama.

If you’ve hit a plateau with your workouts… if you're gaining fat despite training hard… or if you're feeling constantly tired and inflamed, your bloodwork might have the answers.

In this episode, we dive into:

What the DHEA-to-cortisol ratio really tells you about stress, recovery, and resilience

The exact numbers you want to see (with examples)

Key blood markers like CK, AST, LDH, CRP, and what they reveal about muscle breakdown

How to interpret patterns that signal overtraining or burnout

Because you don’t build muscle in the gym—you build it when you're recovering properly. Let's make sure you're set up to build, not break down.

DHEA-S 150 / Cortisol 10 = 15:1 ✅

DHEA-S 90 / Cortisol 18 = 5:1 ⚠️

DHEA-S 40 / Cortisol 22 = 1.8:1 ❌

Overtraining or lack of deloads

Low-carb or low-calorie diets

Emotional stress and poor sleep

Hormonal changes (especially in midlife)

Poor gut health or chronic inflammation

These markers give you insight into whether your training is building your body—or breaking it down.

💊 Now Available: 5-Amino-1MQ

🧪 Coming Late August: SLU-PP-332

Midlife Mayhem Podcast – Episode Title: "Midlife Thermostat: Why You're Sweating, Freezing, and Waking Up at 3 A.M."

Hosted by: Joanne Lee Cornish

In this packed episode, Joanne tackles one of the most frustrating but misunderstood midlife symptoms: temperature dysregulation. Whether you're a woman waking up drenched in sweat or a man with freezing hands and sleepless nights, your body's thermostat might be working against you. Joanne breaks down how hormonal shifts during perimenopause and andropause disrupt thermoregulation—and what you can do to reset the balance.

She also shares the latest on red light therapy, the impact of stress on your nervous system, and how both men and women can support better sleep and energy by working with—not against—their biology.

What the hypothalamus does and how it controls your internal thermostat

Why women experience hot flashes and sudden chills during perimenopause

How declining testosterone affects men's ability to regulate temperature

The narrowing thermoneutral zone in midlife and why that matters

Blood sugar crashes, cortisol spikes, and 2–4 a.m. wakeups

How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence your sleep architecture

The nervous system’s role: sympathetic vs. parasympathetic dominance

Breathwork to calm the nervous system and aid sleep

Red light therapy for increasing melatonin and promoting restful sleep

Small protein-fat bedtime snacks to reduce blood sugar crashes

Supplements that support hormonal balance:

Women: DIM, calcium D-glucarate, magnesium (watch for B6 sensitivity)

Men: Citrulline, beet powder, magnesium, zinc

Why warm socks + cooling bedding may be your best bedtime combo

Grounding sheets, sleep hygiene, and stress management techniques

How resistance training and lowering belly fat helps support testosterone

5-Amino-1MQ – Learn more or order at: www.5amino.com

Shrink Shop Sleep Formula – Natural, effective, non-habit forming sleep support: www.shrinkshopsleep.com

Peak Personalized Healthcare is offering DEXA scans for $75 through the end of July. This includes body composition and bone density. Great value!

Joanne teases the upcoming release of SLU-PP-332, a compound known for mimicking muscle contraction and supporting fat oxidation. She's working to offer this at a reasonable price—watch this space.

Email Joanne at [email protected] to join the mailing list and stay informed about upcoming programs like Mastering Midlife.

Follow Joanne on YouTube (Joanne Lee Cornish) for detailed videos on 5-Amino-1MQ, SLU-PP-332, and more.

Sleep quality, body temperature, and hormone health are deeply connected. Midlife is not the time to ignore these cues—it’s the time to understand them and respond with strategy. Whether you're burning up or freezing out, your body is speaking to you.

I have been meaning to do this podcast for months!

And although I am talking about men and testosterone, ladies please pay attention. Too many men are suffering in silence as their version of menopause (Andropause) is sneaky and subtle and often dismissed.

Testosterone isn't just about muscle or libido — it's the foundation of a man’s vitality, strength, confidence, and health. But what happens when it starts to decline… and how can men fight back?

In this cutting-edge episode of Midlife Mayhem, Joanne dives deep into the misunderstood world of male hormones, unpacking why testosterone declines with age, what “normal” actually means, and how lifestyle, labs, and even peptides are helping men take control.

If you're a man over 40 (or you care about one), this is essential listening.

✅ Why testosterone declines with age — and how it’s not just aging

Key labs to test: Total T, Free T, SHBG, Estradiol, DHT, Hematocrit

Supplements: Zinc, Boron, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Tongkat Ali, DIM, Ashwagandha

Peptides: Kisspeptin-10, HCG, CJC-1295/Ipamorelin, BPC-157

Training focus: Resistance training & HIIT over chronic cardio

Optimization tip: Leaner body = better testosterone balance

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Amazon Music

Podbean

@joanneleecornish

📧 Got questions? Email Joanne directly: @joanneleecornish

Website: www.jlcstrong.com

🔥 JULY 4TH FLASH DEAL – ENDS MONDAY!

This episode is bold, necessary, and deeply personal.

We’re diving into the truth about HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and HGH (Human Growth Hormone), what women actually need, and why most of what you're told is incomplete, underdosed, or simply outdated.

👀 If you’ve ever been told “your labs are normal” while feeling exhausted, anxious, and like a stranger in your own body—this episode is for you.

The real difference between HRT and HGH

Why most doctors underprescribe (and what to do about it)

What bloodwork matters—and what it’s NOT telling you

Why testosterone is essential for women (yes, really)

What happens when your progesterone disappears

The risks and rewards of HGH (and how to do it safely)

Why peptides like CJC, Ipamorelin, and 5-Amino-1MQ might be the smarter option

Why information alone doesn’t create results—but coaching support does

Tight28 is my LIVE 28-day program to identify food sensitivities without extreme elimination diets.

No gluten, no dairy, no soy, no added sugar—just clean, powerful results.

🚫 No fluff. No detox gimmicks.

⚠️ This live version won’t return until 2027 as I roll out two other programs.

A premium membership that includes:

This will not be open to everyone—only to those serious about growth, community, and results.

🔬 Learn more about 5-Amino-1MQ:

This 28-day program is all about reclaiming food quality, reducing inflammation, and resetting your understanding of nourishment. It’s soy-, dairy-, gluten-, and added sugar–free. Learn more at www.tight28.com

In this episode, Joanne breaks down the two dominant eating models:

Homeostatic Eating: eating driven by biological hunger cues

Hedonic Eating: eating driven by pleasure, emotions, and dopamine hits

And then layers in how the rise of weight-loss medications, engineered food, and cultural shifts are shaping the future of our health—one dopamine snack at a time.

1. Hedonic vs. Homeostatic Eating

Why most of us are eating for pleasure, not hunger

How the food industry hijacks flavor, texture, sound, and smell to keep us eating

The engineering of hyper-palatable foods that override satiety

2. GLP-1 Medications and Hunger Suppression

Appetite suppression vs. metabolic impact

Can your metabolism still slow down if you’re not hungry? (Spoiler: yes)

3. Cultural Shifts in Movement

Two generations ago: movement was built into life

Now: drive-thrus, delivery, and gym opt-outs

Gen Z: 37% would rather take a pill than move

4. Parental Modeling and the Generational Impact

Kids of inactive parents are 5–6x more likely to be sedentary

The ripple effect: kids never seeing parents exercise means habits disappear entirely

5. The Blue Zone Model

No macros. No medications. Just movement, consistency, and unprocessed food

Rice, legumes, bread, wine, and olive oil—not low carb, just real food

A strong reminder of what health actually looks like

6. What the Food Industry Is Doing (It’s Wild):

Flavor layering and bliss point engineering

Sound design: louder crunch = more satisfaction

Emulsifiers, salt crystal tech, and texture manipulation

Micro-snacks designed specifically for medicated, low-appetite users

Marketing “protein bars” and “health snacks” that are actually dopamine bombs

7. The Leptin and Metabolism Connection

Losing fat lowers leptin, which tells the brain to slow your metabolism

Even if meds suppress appetite, the body still conserves energy

Long-term consequences of rapid weight loss without preserving muscle

8. Generational Futures: What Happens Next?

If hunger is “bad” and satiety comes from a pill, how do we teach nourishment?

If kids never see activity, how will they know it’s vital?

What if inflammation becomes the new “normal”?

60%+ of U.S. calories now come from ultra-processed foods

1960s men ate 3,000+ calories daily and were leaner—because it was real food

A 2015 study showed fiber alone created weight loss equal to full diet plans

A 2020 review: polyphenol-rich foods reduce fat without changing calorie intake

37% of Gen Z plan to skip the gym and use weight-loss drugs instead

We’re not demonizing medication. We’re calling for awareness.

Hunger is “bad”

Exercise is forgotten

Health is just a number on the scale

And food is nothing but chemically enhanced pleasure

Ready to reset?

🎙️ Midlife Mayhem Show Notes: Zonulin & Leaky Gut — Why You Can’t Not Be Affected

📆 Tight28 starts July 6–August 2!

In today’s episode, we’re getting real about zonulin—what it is, what it does, and why it might be quietly wrecking your health (yes, even if you feel “fine”).

Unlike a food sensitivity (which affects some), zonulin affects everyone. It’s not subjective. It’s not up for debate. And it might just be turning your digestive system into a fishnet factory.

What is zonulin?

Cheesecloth vs. Fishnet Stockings Analogy

The Origin Story

Why It’s a Universal Problem

Enter LPS (Lipopolysaccharides)

Zonulin Triggers

Gluten (especially gliadin)

Bacterial overgrowth (E. coli, salmonella, SIBO)

Toxins & inflammation

Why the Body Even Makes Zonulin

Kevin’s Case Study

Yes.

Stool Test (GI Map, Doctor’s Data): Measures zonulin in the gut

Blood Test (Serum Zonulin): Measures zonulin that’s leaked into the bloodstream—often high in autoimmune or chronically inflamed individuals

Zonulin ≠ Sensitivity.

Gluten increases zonulin. Period.

This is reversible.

Join me for Tight28 (July 6–August 2)

Food reactivity

Histamine & inflammation

Gut-brain-skin connections

How to feel actually better—without going full-on monk mode

👉 Tight28.com

If you eat gluten regularly and think you're unaffected—you're not.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Question Everything.

🔗 Tight28.com | Starts July 6