Three questions. Three women in very different places. One on HRT and dealing with acne and hair loss she did not sign up for. One who tried MOTS-c and felt absolutely nothing. One whose LDL went up after starting hormones and whose doctor is already talking about a statin.

Tanya answers all three, and each one points toward something the standard conversation is missing.

On the HRT question, she breaks down why acne and hair loss from testosterone are almost always a DHT conversion issue, how a DUTCH test can show exactly how aggressively a woman is converting, and which natural 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, spearmint tea, nettle root, and zinc, can reduce that side effect burden. She also covers why the SRD5A1 genetic variant matters here and why the foundational work before starting any hormone protocol changes everything.

On MOTS-c, she explains what it is actually doing, why some women feel nothing when they try it, and what the research suggests about sequencing SS31 first when mitochondrial damage may be part of the picture.

On the LDL question, she covers why the form and delivery of hormones matters for the lipid picture, how phase two liver detoxification connects to rising LDL on HRT, and what it means when the liver is not equipped to handle everything it is being given.

This is a standalone Q&A episode and the first of the month. The September series on HRT starts next week.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Research Peptide Vendor (Research Use Only): For those interested in exploring the peptides discussed in this episode for research purposes only. Please consult a qualified practitioner before starting anything new. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] for 30% off every order, use code: NOURISH2THRIVE

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about doing the deeper root cause work, including comprehensive lab testing and DNA analysis, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

This final episode in the August cholesterol series is where knowledge meets action, and Tanya covers the specific diet, lifestyle, supplement, and research interventions that are actually worth your attention, and explains which to prioritize based on what your particular pattern is showing.

Tanya covers the dietary shifts that move lipid markers most directly, including why reducing refined carbs and sugar is the primary lever, why soluble fiber and broccoli sprouts deserve more attention than they typically get, and how to think about dietary fat through the lens of oxidation rather than cholesterol content.

She walks through the lifestyle interventions with the most consistent evidence, addresses alcohol directly, goes supplement by supplement with dosing, explains why red yeast rice concerns her despite its natural reputation, and closes with a look at three peptides from the July series that intersect with the cholesterol conversation on the research side.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Supplements Referenced in This Episode: Tanya compiled all the supplements covered today into one link so you can find them easily. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

Broccoli Sprouting Kit: The kit Tanya uses at home to sprout her own broccoli seeds. No soil, no light, just seeds and water. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

Femmenessence Pro (Harmony, Peri, and Post): When estrogen is better supported, so is your liver's ability to clear LDL. Reach out to Tanya on Instagram if you need help choosing the right version. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

Research Peptide Vendor (Research Use Only): For those interested in exploring the peptides discussed in this episode for research purposes only. Please consult a qualified practitioner before starting anything new. 🔗 [CLICK HERE] for 30% off every order, use code: NOURISH2THRIVE

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about doing the deeper root cause work, including comprehensive lab testing and DNA analysis, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

Your doctor ran a lipid panel. But several of the markers that would give you the clearest picture of your actual cardiovascular risk were not on it.

In this episode, Tanya covers the distinction between reference ranges and optimal ranges, walks through the markers she actually uses when reading labs for the women she works with, and explains what each one is telling you that a standard lipid panel cannot.

This is the second episode of a three-part August series on cholesterol and women in midlife. Start with episode one if you haven't listened yet. Next week's final episode covers what actually moves the needle.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about understanding your own cholesterol picture at a deeper level, including how your DNA influences your lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens in early 2027. 🔗 [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

Your LDL went up at your last appointment. You eat well, you exercise, nothing in your lifestyle changed, and yet your doctor is already talking about a statin. Before you agree to anything, there is a piece of this conversation that is almost certainly missing.

In this episode, Tanya reframes the cholesterol conversation from the ground up, starting with the fact that your body produces 75 to 80 percent of its own cholesterol and does so deliberately. She covers why cholesterol is essential for hormone production, cell membrane integrity, bile production, and sex drive.

She then goes into why estrogen decline in perimenopause and menopause directly reduces the liver's LDL clearance mechanism, the cortisol-cholesterol connection and how chronic stress drives cholesterol production through the pregnenolone steal, and why cutting out eggs and switching to low-fat everything is rarely the lever women think it is.

This is the first episode in a three-part August series on cholesterol as it pertains to women in midlife. The next episode goes deep on the specific lab markers that give you the full picture. The final episode of the series gets into what actually moves the needle.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Femmenessence Pro (Harmony, Peri, and Post): When estrogen is better supported, so is your liver's ability to clear LDL. Reach out to Tanya on Instagram if you need help choosing the right one. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking about the root cause picture in your own body, including how your DNA shapes your response to cholesterol, hormones, and metabolic health, this is the work inside the academy. Enrollment opens in early 2027. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

Your LDL went up in perimenopause even though you eat well and exercise. Your blood pressure started creeping up even though nothing changed in your lifestyle. Your workouts are harder to recover from than they used to be. These are three of the most common patterns Tanya hears from women in midlife, and in every case, the answer goes much deeper than what most doctors are offering.

In this episode, Tanya answers three listener questions:

• The hormonal reason your LDL rises in perimenopause and what to ask before agreeing to a statin
• Why blood pressure creeps up without lifestyle changes and the genetic piece most doctors miss
• Why hard workouts feel harder to recover from and how to train with your hormones instead of against them

This is also the opening conversation to what is coming for the rest of August. If the cholesterol question resonated with you, come back next week because Tanya is dedicating the remaining episodes of August to a full deep dive on cholesterol as it pertains to women in midlife.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy: Tanya's 12-week program combining functional lab work and DNA testing to identify the root cause of weight loss resistance, hormonal imbalance, and more. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

If you have been here all month, this final episode is the one Tanya has been building toward, the honest, bigger-picture conversation that ties the whole series together.

In this series finale, Tanya covers Thymosin Alpha-1, an immune support peptide that works at a completely different level than everything covered in the previous three episodes, and NAD+, NMN, and NR, including why oral NAD+ has poor bioavailability, what NMN and NR actually do differently, and the three routes available from oral supplements to subcutaneous injections to IV infusions.

She then steps back for the broader conversation she has been building toward all month: where the functional medicine community's enthusiasm around peptides is genuinely well-placed, where it has moved into influencer and MLM territory that warrants real discernment, the specific health circumstances where a GLP-1 may actually make sense, what to prioritize if you are on one, and where she feels most aligned across the full peptide landscape.

This is the final episode in the four-part July peptide series. Episode 55 covered the GLP-1 class. Episode 56 went into the growth hormone peptides. Episode 57 covered the healing and repair peptides. This episode closes the series with the two remaining categories and the honest, bigger-picture conversation Tanya has been saving for last.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Tru Niagen: An NR (nicotinamide riboside) supplement and one of the most well-researched NR products on the market, with published human clinical trials on their actual formulation. This is the one Tanya reaches for with women dealing with energy and mental clarity that have quietly declined and can't be fully explained. Use my link for a discount. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy Waitlist: If this series has you thinking seriously about what the root cause picture in your body actually looks like, get on the waitlist. Enrollment opens early 2027, but being on the list gets you information in the meantime and puts you first in line. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

If you have been dealing with an injury that won't fully resolve, gut inflammation that doesn't respond to the foundational work, or skin and hair changes that feel like they're accelerating faster than expected, this episode was built for that. These peptides don't suppress appetite or signal your pituitary — they work at the tissue level, amplifying what your body was already trying to do.

In this episode, Tanya breaks down BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, GHK-Cu (the copper peptide), and the combination known as the Wolverine Stack. She covers the mechanism behind each one, the difference between injectable and oral forms and when each is appropriate, how BPC-157 and KPV address gut dysfunction from two complementary angles, and what the copper peptide does for collagen, hair, and cellular repair that goes well beyond typical skincare products.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 (Oral Standalone): A liposomal nanoemulsion BPC-157 product that helps the peptide survive digestion and absorb more effectively. A good starting point for women dealing with unresolved gut issues before going the injectable route. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 + KPV — The Gut Repair Stack: A nanoemulsion formula combining BPC-157 and KPV for women dealing specifically with gut inflammation. BPC-157 repairs the gut lining while KPV suppresses the inflammatory signaling driving the damage. Think of one as putting out the fire and the other as rebuilding what the fire damaged. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

Quicksilver Scientific BPC-157 + TB-500 — The Wolverine Stack (Oral Version): A nanoemulsion formula combining BPC-157 and TB-500 for a more accessible oral option for those wanting the Wolverine Stack benefits. If you are dealing with a nagging injury, recovering from surgery, or looking to support your body's repair process between training sessions, this one brings both local and systemic healing into one formula. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

Quicksilver Scientific Copper Peptide Facial Serum: A topical copper peptide serum for women whose primary focus is skin elasticity, texture, and collagen support. A great entry point. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal Copper Peptide: The liposomal version of the copper peptide for more systemic effects on collagen, hair follicle health, antioxidant activity, and nerve regeneration. Use my link for 10% off. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

Most conversations about peptides start and end with Ozempic. But there is an entire category of peptides that work completely differently, and if you are a woman in midlife who is doing everything right and still not getting the results you expect from your body, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Tanya covers the growth hormone releasing peptides, what they are, how they work, and why they are a fundamentally different conversation from last week's GLP-1 discussion. She breaks down the key peptides in this category including ipamorelin, CJC-1295 without DAC, Sermorelin, and Tesamorelin, explains the difference between supporting your body's own hormone production and overriding it, and shares her honest take on MK-677 and the trade-off most people skip over.

This is episode two of a four-part July series called Peptides: What You Need to Know. Next week in Episode 57, Tanya moves into the healing and repair peptides including BPC-157, TB-500, and GHK-Cu, the copper peptide.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy: Tanya's 12-week program using functional lab work and DNA testing to identify the root cause of weight loss resistance and hormonal imbalance. Enrollment opens early 2027. 🔗: [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

You have probably watched someone in your life lose significant weight in the last year or two. And when you asked how, the answer was probably a peptide. Then you found yourself asking, "Should I be looking into this for myself?" That question is exactly what this episode is for.

In this episode, Tanya breaks down the GLP-1 class of peptides, what they are, how they work, and what most conversations about them leave out. She covers the full medication landscape including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide, the real concerns around gut motility and muscle loss, what research shows about weight regain after stopping, and her honest position on when these tools may be appropriate and what they do not address.

This is episode one of a four-part July series called Peptides: What You Need to Know. Next week in Episode 56, Tanya moves into a completely different part of the peptide world: the growth hormone releasing peptides that work by supporting the body's own production rather than overriding appetite.

Mentioned in This Episode

Digestive Enzymes: Tanya's go-to digestive enzyme recommendation for women on GLP-1 peptides. 

🔗 [CLICK HERE]

DNA Reset for Fat Loss Academy: Tanya's 12-week program using functional lab work and DNA testing to identify the root cause of weight loss resistance and hormonal imbalance. Enrollment opens early 2027. 

🔗 [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.

You sent in questions, and the same four kept coming up again and again. Which tells Tanya that for every woman who wrote in, there are many more quietly asking the same things, wondering about the medications flooding their feeds, the fasting approach that might be working against them, and the lab results that say normal when nothing about how they feel is normal.

In this episode, Tanya answers her community's most-asked questions, covering GLP-1 receptor agonists and the trade-offs most conversations leave out, the one supplement she recommends for women in perimenopause and menopause, why intermittent fasting without the right foundation can increase cortisol burden in women with shifting hormones, and what is missing from the standard lab panel when results say normal and the body says otherwise.

This is the first Q&A episode on the Nourish to Thrive podcast and a bridge into an in-depth July series on peptides. If these questions have been circling in your mind, this is a grounding place to start.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Femmenessence Pro by Symphony Natural Health: Tanya's top supplement recommendation for women in perimenopause and menopause. The collection includes three formulas based on where you are in your hormonal transition. Use her link to shop the collection and receive 10% off your order. 

🔗 [CLICK HERE]

🫶🏼 Let’s Stay Connected
📸 @tanya.pennington.miller on Instagram
💻 nourishtothrive.com

And don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.

ROOTED IN FAITH. BACKED BY SCIENCE.