Menopause is one of those things no one really prepares you for, right? The sleepless nights, the cravings, the mood swings—it can feel like your body is running the show. That’s why I sat down with two brilliant women, Cynthia Thurlow, a Functional Nutrition expert with over 15 million views on her TEDx talk about intermittent fasting, and Dani Williamson, a powerhouse in Integrative Medicine specializing in gut, thyroid, and hormone health, to talk about real, practical ways to make this phase of life not just manageable but empowering. From hormones to heart health to inflammation, they’re sharing the stuff every woman needs to know to feel like herself again—maybe even better.

 

We chat about everything from creating a distraction-free sleep sanctuary to tackling inflammation and dialing in your hormones. These simple changes can make a huge difference, and you don’t have to go through it alone—we’re figuring it out together.

 

Cynthia breaks down the numbers every woman should know to protect her heart health (yes, it’s about more than cholesterol), while Dani talks about the surprising ways stress wreaks havoc on your hormones. We’re also getting into the hidden role of inflammation in menopause and how your diet and lifestyle choices can either fuel the fire or calm things down. Plus, there’s an eye-opening conversation about setting boundaries to create space for what really matters—your health and happiness. Trust me, you’ll leave this episode feeling inspired and ready to take charge!

 

If you’re ready to feel your best, let’s do this together! My Keto-Green 16 Challenge is coming up, and it’s designed to help you reset after the holidays. Whether it’s cravings, stress, or just needing a fresh start, this 16-day journey can boost your energy, mood, and more. Head over to dranna.com/challenge to join me—we’re in this together!

 

 

Key Timestamps:

[00:02:00] World Menopause Day series.

[00:07:07] Inflammation and hormone imbalance.

[00:10:22] Diet will heal or kill.

[00:11:34] Alcohol as a sleep disruptor.

[00:14:14] Bedroom sanctuary for menopause.

[00:19:24] Menopause and its liberation.

[00:21:48] EMF exposure and health risks.

[00:26:34] The happiness hormone: pregnenolone.

[00:30:10] Automate, eliminate, and delegate.

[00:34:38] Women's heart health and menopause.

[00:39:14] Insulin and triglyceride levels.

[00:46:27] Lipid changes post-menopause.

[00:51:48] Coronary artery calcification assessment.

[00:53:39] Statins and heart health testing.

[01:02:14] Low hormones and heart health.

[01:03:17] Holiday heart and stroke risk.

[01:06:18] Transforming your health journey.

 

 

Memorable Quotes:

"Your diet will heal you or kill you. It is as simple as that. There is no in-between. And when you take the emotion out of food—which is what I have learned—you've just got to take the emotion out of it, and you've got to eat to live, not live to eat." [00:10:15] – Dani Williamson

"Statistically, women are most likely to die from heart disease. That's why this conversation is so important. And certainly, we live longer than men... but if we don't take care of ourselves—you know, we are the caretakers for everyone else—if we are not taking care of ourselves, we are going to end up having a lower quality of life as we get older." [00:37:56] – Cynthia Thurlow

 

 

Links Mentioned:

Keto-Green 16 Challenge: https://dranna.com/challenge

Prevencio Tests: https://prevenciomed.com/

 

Connect with Dani Williamson:

Website: https://daniwilliamson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniwilliamsonwellness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniWilliamson

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaniWilliamsonWellness

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniwilliamsonwellness

 

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow:

Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thurlow_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHTWellness

X/Twitter: https://x.com/_CynthiaThurlow

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cynthia_thurlow_

Apple Podcast: Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow

Spotify Podcast: Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow

 

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca

 

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com