Intro

This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers and Cozy Earth.

As women enter their late 30s and beyond, many start experiencing symptoms like insomnia, brain fog, weight gain, and irritability—yet far too often, these changes are brushed off or misdiagnosed. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Today, on The Dhru Purohit Show, we’re bringing back one of our most impactful conversations with Dr. Sara Gottfried—physician, hormone expert, and bestselling author—for a powerful look at what’s really happening in women’s bodies during perimenopause and menopause.

Dr. Gottfried breaks down the science behind common symptoms, the key hormone shifts driving them, and the tests every woman should know about. She also shares actionable strategies to help women rebalance their hormones, reclaim their energy, and feel like themselves again—all while laying the foundation for long-term health and vitality.

Dr. Sara Gottfried is a Harvard- and MIT-trained physician and bestselling author specializing in precision, integrative, and Functional Medicine. She’s a Clinical Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University and Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute. Her latest book is The Autoimmune Cure, focused on healing trauma and other triggers behind autoimmune disease.

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Gottfried dive into:

• The metabolic crisis that women in their 40s go through and the hope that Dr. Gottfried offers on a different way to be and live (00:11)

• How conventional medicine often dismisses the symptoms that women feel and makes them feel it's a normal part of aging (5:35)

• The top misconceptions or misunderstandings about the interplay between hormones, including how long before menopause symptoms can start (10:44)

• Women with high cortisol levels in their 40s had decreased brain volume and memory (16:25)

• Common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause as they relate to aging: mood swings, depression, insomnia, and loss of libido (17:54)

• The environmental and lifestyle factors that impact women’s hormones, including stress, ultra-processed foods, and exposure to endocrine disruptors (26:30)

• The top 3 hormones to balance and correct: cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid (37:50)

• The importance of testosterone as the most abundant hormone in women’s bodies (41:00)

• How Dr. Gottfried started her hormonal journey by testing her cortisol and how prioritizing meditation and yoga reduced her stress response (48:17)

• Dealing with insomnia during perimenopause, when it’s especially critical to prioritize sleep and how progesterone can help (58:50)

• Testing thyroid levels at least once a year and the connection between thyroid and autoimmune disease (1:12:00)

• Bringing hormones into harmony by increasing protein, reducing ultra-processed foods, increasing fiber, and eating quality fat (1:17:55)

• The key to feeling better in menopause is measuring and addressing your glucose levels (1:29:02)

• What drives belly fat, and the relationship between belly fat and cortisol (1:43:30)

• Micronutrients, including vitamin D and copper, and how they impact thyroid levels (1:46:36)

• The role of post-traumatic stress and the use of psychedelics (1:50:06)Helping women over 40 and the importance of healing states of consciousness (2:03:21)

• Dr. Gottfried’s message of how it doesn’t have to be this way (2:08:44)

Also mentioned:

• Full episode with Dr. Sara Gottfried

For more on Dr. Sara Gottfried, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and through her Website.

This episode is brought to you by Bioptimizers and Cozy Earth.

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