The Rich Roll Podcast Dr. Mindy Pelz On Women's Hormonal Health, Cyclical Fasting, Health As A Verb, Reclaiming Your Body's Intelligence & Transforming Menopause Into Empowerment
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Jul 31, 2025 
Dr. Mindy Pelz, a functional medicine expert and bestselling author of "Fast Like a Girl," dives deep into women's hormonal health. She discusses how modern life disrupts women's natural cycles and why fasting must be personalized. Mindy advocates for viewing menopause as an empowering transformation rather than a decline. She challenges traditional health narratives, emphasizing self-discovery, metabolic health, and the importance of aligning with one’s biology for optimal wellness. It's a compelling call for women to reclaim their health and trust their bodies.
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Female Hormonal Priority
- Women have a distinct secondary priority besides survival: reproduction.
- The female reproductive system shuts down if the environment signals stress or poor quality input.
Cycle-based Insulin Sensitivity
- Women’s insulin sensitivity varies with their menstrual cycle phases.
- Avoid fasting the week before period as insulin resistance naturally rises then.
Fasting Aligned with Cycle
- Fasting works best for women in the first 20 days of their cycle when estrogen is building.
- Avoid fasting in the last week before the period to support progesterone needs.
