If you've ever woken up at 3 a.m. for no reason, walked into a room and completely blanked on why, or felt like your brain was wrapped in cotton wool... this episode is for you. These are not random complaints. They are among the most common early signs of perimenopause, and most women have no idea that's what's happening.
I took a perimenopause symptom assessment through my Oura Ring recently and my results came back as mild across the cognitive and sleep categories. My first thought was, "mild doesn't sound that bad." Then I read what actually falls under "mild," and I recognized myself immediately. That was enough to make me sit down with our naturopathic physician, Dr. Desiree Caruso, ND, and record this episode.
Dr. Desiree breaks down exactly what is happening in the brain and body during perimenopause, why the symptoms are real and measurable, and what the research says about how functional mushrooms can support women through this transition. We cover lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, maitake, and tremella, and I share why all five of them ended up in Eversio's Five Mushroom Blend.
If you have a woman in your life who is in her late 30s, 40s, or early 50s, this episode is worth a listen even if perimenopause isn't on your own radar yet.
What You'll Learn:
What perimenopause actually is (and the clinical definition that finally makes it clear), and why it is not a disease or a dysfunction
Why the brain feels hormonal fluctuation so directly, including which brain regions have estrogen receptors and what that means for memory and decision-making
How lion's mane supports the same nerve growth factor pathway that estrogen was protecting, through a completely different mechanism that does not require estrogen
The research behind lion's mane and cognition, including a placebo-controlled study done specifically in menopausal women showing improved focus and reduced anxiety after four weeks
Why reishi does not sedate you the way a pharmaceutical does, and how it works through the gut-brain axis to support your body's own melatonin production
The GABA connection: how declining progesterone disrupts sleep and how reishi's triterpene compounds appear to support that same calming pathway
What cordyceps does for energy and adrenal function during perimenopause, and why adrenal health becomes increasingly important as the ovaries step back
How maitake supports metabolic health and glucose regulation as estrogen declines, and why that matters more than most women realize
Why tremella earned its place in the blend, and how its polysaccharides support skin hydration from within as estrogen drops
What "standardized to 35% beta-D-glucans" actually means and why that number on the label makes a real difference in whether a mushroom product works
How Dr. Desiree thinks about functional mushrooms in relation to other perimenopause support options, including hormone replacement therapy, with an honest look at what the research does and does not yet show
Resources Mentioned:
Eversio Five Mushroom Blend: https://www.eversiowellness.com/products/5-mushroom-blend-organic-extracts?variant=45340200599751
Oura Ring perimenopause symptom assessment feature: https://ouraring.com/womens-health
Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Your Next Steps:
Shop Eversio Wellness: https://www.eversiowellness.com/collections/all-products
Follow Eversio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eversiowellness/
Try the Eversio Five Mushroom Blend: https://www.eversiowellness.com/products/5-mushroom-blend-organic-extracts?variant=45340200599751 -- use code PODCAST15 at checkout for 15% off your entire order