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.
Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+: https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page
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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.
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