Navigating Perimenopause: Hormones and Gut Health

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be a powerful tool, but it’s just one piece of the perimenopause puzzle.

In this episode, Erin is talking to renowned nutrition scientist and functional medicine expert Dr. Deanna Minich to challenge the “HRT or bust” narrative, diving into the deeper systems involved (like your gut, liver, and brain!) and how they shape your hormonal experience.

Dr. Minich introduces a root-cause framework that prioritizes the health of the entire endocrine system, not just hormone levels in isolation. You’ll learn about the five pillars of hormone processing (synthesis, transport, activation, metabolism, and excretion), the emerging role of endocrine disruptors, and why starting with gut health and detox pathways is essential before jumping into hormone therapy.

If you’re hormone-curious, this conversation will expand your understanding, AND your options.

In this episode:

• Why jumping straight into hormone replacement therapy might bypass the real issues, like a dysfunctional endocrine system
• The critical role of the HPTA-GLOA Axis and how it regulates your mood, your metabolism, detoxification, and inflammation
• How to support the full hormone cascade (not just estrogen/progesterone)
• A bold parallel between today’s HRT marketing and the diet fads of the '90s
• How maca supports hormonal balance, especially when symptoms don’t require or respond to HRT