Fasting's Impact on Women's Cycles

It's a controversial topic, fasting, especially for women. Dr. Mindy Pelz was teaching women to fast primarily because they wanted to lose weight, but what she was witnessing was women saying things like, "I lost weight, but my hair's falling out. I don't have a period anymore.

I sat down with Dr. Mindy Pelz, New York Times bestselling author of Age Like a Girl, hormone expert, and the voice redefining fasting for women - because doing it wrong can wreck your health. We explore why fasting affects women differently, how ketones can restore brain function during menopause, and why understanding your hormonal cycle is critical for metabolic health, cognitive performance, and longevity.

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TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro

01:50 What put Dr. Mindy Pelz on the map

03:14 The truth about fasting vs intermittent fasting

05:13 How the brain uses glucose vs ketones

07:25 Why the brain "eats itself" during menopause

10:14 What is mitophagy and cellular autophagy

13:11 Why autophagy is the body's repair system

15:24 The 12-hour vs 17-hour vs 72-hour fast

17:23 Why women's cycles are disrupted by fasting

19:59 The fasting cycle for women

21:05 Lactate as a fuel source for the brain

23:01 Hemoglobin A1C and insulin resistance

27:36 Understanding CGM data correctly

30:13 Where women should start at 48

32:01 HRT: personal decision or necessity?

34:15 The nervous system shift during perimenopause

38:48 The grandmother hypothesis and evolutionary sensitivity

41:09 The "menopause divorce" phenomenon

44:18 Dementia, Alzheimer's, and women46:17 Dopamine, novelty, and neuroplasticity47:23 Cold water immersion and trauma rewiring51:19 Cold water and cortisol for women53:51 Exercise, BDNF, and brain health55:21 Serotonin, light exposure, and sleep58:00 Glycine, bone broth, and longevity01:02:26 Preparing for perimenopause and menopause

01:04:24 Acetylcholine, storytelling, and memory

01:08:38 Why eggs and cholesterol matter for the brain

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I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_

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