Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Health, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 509 We’ve Been Ignoring This Vital Sign – The Most Powerful Tool to Track Hormonal Health with Dr. Mariza Snyder

Oct 15, 2025

Dr. Mariza Snyder, a practitioner and author focused on women's hormonal health, sheds light on the pressing challenges women face in midlife. She argues that the menstrual cycle should be regarded as a fifth vital sign and highlights cultural myths that induce shame around aging. Dr. Mariza discusses the importance of body composition over scale weight and explains how tracking metabolic health markers can empower women. With insights on strength training, hormonal shifts, and non-negotiables for wellness, she encourages taking charge of health during the perimenopause-to-menopause transition.

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INSIGHT

Hormones Drive Midlife Changes

Perimenopause symptoms are often misattributed to aging instead of hormonal shifts.
Declining hormones accelerate changes in bones, muscles, brain, heart, and gut microbiome.

ADVICE

Treat The Cycle As A Report Card

Use your menstrual cycle as a monthly report card to track overall health.
Track energy, stress, sleep, and symptoms to spot lifestyle impacts before they escalate.

ANECDOTE

Personal Period History And Depo Experience

Dr. Mariza Snyder described growing up hiding her period and disliking menstruation because of family stigma.
She later avoided hormonal birth control after a bad Depo-Provera experience that took a year to recover from.

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Today, I am thrilled to reconnect with a friend and colleague, Dr. Mariza Snyder, to discuss her new book, The Perimenopause Revolution.

In our conversation, we explore some of the most pressing challenges around aging, including shame in a youth-obsessed culture, the lack of research on women’s health, and the physical toll of the aging process. We explain why the menstrual cycle should be considered a fifth vital sign, and what happens when metabolic health begins to decline in midlife, highlighting the value of apps and technology in empowering women to track their cycles. Dr. Mariza clarifies why biometrics, VO₂ Max, DEXA scans, and grip strength matter. She also shares her core pillars of metabolic health and the non-negotiables she believes make the most difference for women navigating the perimenopause-to-menopause transition.

I truly enjoyed Dr. Mariza’s book, and I know it will be a powerful resource for women who want to take charge of their metabolic health during perimenopause and beyond.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How hormonal shifts in midlife can alter energy, mood, and metabolism in unexpected ways
Changes that ripple through sleep, stress, and cognition during perimenopause
Why, in perimenopause, old diet and exercise strategies often stop working the way they used to
How cultural messages around aging fuel shame and confusion for women
How DEXA scans reveal much more about your body composition than weighing yourself does
What lab work can reveal about hidden risks
Why you should consider doing bone and muscle scans early in life
The benefits of daily strength training for maintaining vitality and independence
How regular movement stabilizes energy and glucose levels
Why food choices become a critical foundation during midlife transitions

Bio:

Dr. Mariza Snyder is a powerhouse advocate for midlife women, leveraging 17+ years as a practitioner, author, and speaker to spark a massive movement for women in perimenopause and beyond. With her top-rated Energized with Dr. Mariza podcast (13 million downloads) and a passionate social media audience with over 400K and 8 million monthly views, she’s a trusted guide—offering science-backed solutions for perimenopause and metabolic health.

Her upcoming book, The Perimenopause Revolution (Hay House, October 2025), is the ultimate resource for women ready to take charge of their health and embrace perimenopause with resilience and confidence.

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