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

Today, I am honored to connect with Kevin Ellis, the Bone Coach.Kevin Ellis, better known as Bone Coach™, is a certified Integrative Nutrition health coach, podcaster, Youtuber, bone health advocate, and the founder of BoneCoach.com. After an osteoporosis diagnosis in his early 30s, he realized just how challenging it can be for the average person to make sense of what needs to be done to improve and how to move forward confidently with a stronger bone plan.So many women struggle with osteopenia and osteoporosis throughout their lifetimes. In this episode, Kevin and I dive into his background and interest in osteoporosis and celiac disease. We discuss bone health, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and the various contributors to bone health. We get into conventional treatments for osteoporosis, explain why they are problematic, and discuss proactive ways to address osteoporosis. We also speak about the role of the gut microbiome in bone health, a study on how blood pressure accelerates bone aging, and the impact of insulin resistance. I hope you will enjoy listening to today’s discussion as much as I did recording it!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Kevin talks about his background and explains how he developed an interest in bone physiology and bone coaching. How osteopenia differs from osteoporosis. How to find out if you have osteoporosis. How to find out if you are actively losing bone. Some common lifestyle factors that negatively impact bone health. Causes of bone loss and osteoporosis in men and younger women. How sugar damages bone. Problems with the conventional approach to osteopenia and osteoporosis. The importance of addressing osteoporosis proactively. Why we should always look at diet and nutrition before considering supplements.  How melatonin promotes bone health. How chronic stress negatively impacts bone health. The connection between gut health and bone health. Kevin shares his top three recommendations for bone health. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Kevin EllisOn his websiteOn Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedInKevin’s free Stronger Bones Masterclass 

Today I am honored to connect with my friend and colleague, Dr. Joan Rosenberg! She is a highly-regarded psychologist, master clinician, trainer, consultant, cutting-edge psychologist, and the author of the book 90 Seconds to a Life You Love.Joan is a dear friend who is absolutely brilliant and very wise! She has a broad range of experience, both as a clinician and as a professor. As a clinical psychologist, she is known for her concept of working through uncomfortable feelings. In this episode, we dive into how our childhoods impact our ability to express ourselves and the understanding that if we have the capacity to think, we can change. We discuss uncomfortable feelings, triggers, awareness, and reframing. We speak about experiences versus disconnection, resilience, and the benefits of facing our pain. We also get into the goals of communication, incongruent thoughts and actions, growth, generosity, compliments, and humility. This conversation is one of my recent favorites! I hope you will love it, too!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How our capacity to think allows us to learn new things and change, regulate our feelings and emotions, and express what we are experiencing. How our childhood impacts our ability to express ourselves and talk about our feelings. Why do we need to develop the skills to express ourselves and regulate our emotions? Why do we want to distract ourselves from unpleasant feelings? How do feelings relate to our experience of aliveness? We have the capacity to shift and change throughout our lifetime. Dr. Joan discusses eight unpleasant feeling states to which most of us can relate. How Dr. Joan helps her patients reframe vulnerability. What helps us build confidence and resilience? What can we do to improve our communication skills? How to deal with incongruence between words and behavior. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Joan Rosenberg On her website On Instagram Find Dr. Joan under Dr. Joan Rosenberg on social media Dr. Joan’s Book90 Seconds to a Life You Love

I have the honor of connecting with Dr. Jeffry Gerber today! He is a board-certified family physician, speaker, author, conference organizer, husband, father, and owner of a medical practice in Colorado, where he is known as “Denver’s Diet Doctor”. He is very savvy regarding low-carb, high-fat, ancestral health, paleo, primal, intermittent fasting, and whole foods. He gets frustrated with spiraling healthcare costs related to treating conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others.Dr. Gerber has been a doctor since 1990. Even though many of his family members were overweight, he knew very little about nutrition for the first ten years and struggled with his patients not having any results. He has always been an independent thinker. So when some of his patients told him they intended to try non-standard diets, like the Atkins or the Suzanne Somers Diet, he supported them. Then he saw that they lost weight, and their metabolic markers improved.In this episode, he and I dive into his background, how he became interested in looking at metabolic health, the impact of our modern-day lifestyles, and the toxic food environment. We speak about deprivation versus mindfulness, common challenges in the current medical system, the role of mitochondria in longevity, and the impact of altitude on our metabolism, carbohydrates, and other macros. We also discuss perimenopause, menopause, andropause, weight loss resistance, the differences between insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance, therapeutic fasting, deep prescribing, and assessing cardiovascular risk. Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Dr. Gerber evolved from running a family practice to becoming Denver’s Diet Doctor. Dr. Gerber dives into our toxic food environment and explains where things went wrong. The problem with the traditional approach to nutrition. What does shifting the focus from deprivation to mindfulness mean? Why keeping things simple is the best way to eat. Why do we need to avoid fructose and seed oils? How the mitochondria work. What can we do to avoid oxidative stress and improve our mitochondrial health? How does altitude affect metabolism? Some of the common metabolic challenges Dr. Gerber sees in his middle-aged patients. The difference between insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. Dr. Gerber shares his perspective on heart health. Bio:Dr. Jeffry N. Gerber, MD, FAAFP is a board-certified family physician, speaker, author, conference organizer, husband, father, and owner of South Suburban Family Medicine in Littleton, Colorado, where he is known as “Denver’s Diet Doctor”. He has been providing personalized healthcare since 1990 and continues that tradition with an emphasis on longevity, wellness, and prevention.Nutrition and its effects on health are areas of interest for Dr. Gerber. Frustrated with spiraling healthcare costs related to the treatment of conditions like overweight, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart disease just to name a few, Dr. Gerber has been focusing on prevention and treatment programs using low-carb high fat (LCHF), Ancestral, Paleo, Primal, Intermittent Fasting and Whole Foods diets along with a healthy lifestyle to treat and prevent these chronic conditions. Redefining healthy nutrition is a goal. Dr. Gerber speaks frequently about these important topics to patients, the community, and other healthcare professionals. Whether connecting one-on-one or with much larger audiences his passion and legacy is nutrition education.Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Jeffry Gerber Low Carb Conferences website Denver's Diet Doctor website On Facebook or @LowCarbConferences (Group) Instagram: @JeffryGerberMD or @LowCarbConferences  

I have the honor of reconnecting with Dr. Mindy Pelz today. She was with me before on podcasts 113 and 184.Dr. Mindy Pelz, D.C is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and nutrition and functional health expert who has spent over two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. She is a recognized leader in the alternative health field and a pioneer in the fasting movement, teaching the principles of a fasting lifestyle, diet variation, detox, hormones, and more. Her popular YouTube channel (which just celebrated 23 million lifetime views) regularly updates followers on the latest science-backed tools and techniques to help them reset their health. She is the host of one of the leading science podcasts, The Resetter Podcast, and the author of three best-selling books; The Menopause Reset, The Reset Factor, and The Reset Kitchen, and her current book published with Hay House, Fast Like a Girl, is available for pre-order. Dr. Mindy has appeared on national shows like Extra TV and The Doctors and has been featured in Muscle & Fitness, Well + Good, SHEknows, Healthline, and more. For this episode, I have a new format of ask me anything questions and answers. Dr. Mindy and I answer many of the questions women have sent in about nutrition, navigating fasting, electrolytes, and estrogen and progesterone-promoting foods. We discuss perimenopause, PMDD and hormonal fluctuations, carbohydrates, hormesis, the parasympathetic nervous system, and magnesium. We get into the impact of fasting on the liver, changes in our cycle, and the need for liver and gallbladder support. We also answer several questions about troubleshooting and talk about Dr. Mindy’s new book, Fast Like a Girl. I hope you enjoy our new format and listening to today’s discussion with Dr. Mindy Pelz.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Should fermented foods (sauerkraut) be eaten first or at the end of a meal? When indulging in something sweet from time to time, is it better to use organic sugar or honey than agave? Or is pure stevia preferable? Which foods are beneficial for progesterone production? Is there a way to prevent cravings for salty or sweet snacks after dinner? Some tips to make losing five to ten pounds a bit easier. Are products with zero carbs and zero sugars suitable for fasting if they have a sweet taste? Some simple ways to relieve the symptoms of PMDD (Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder). When is the best time for a perimenopausal woman who suffers from anxiety and irritability before getting her period to use progesterone cream? Should a woman in perimenopause keep a twelve-hour fasting window until her period starts, even when her cycle is unpredictable? What happens if she skips a cycle? Dr. Mindy and I share our opinions on Ozempic (Semaglutide). What nutritional information should people look at if they have high cholesterol that cannot be explained? How can lifestyle changes allow people to avoid having to take statins? What should you do if you become fatigued when fasting? What does it mean if you start losing your hair when you fast? Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on TwitterInstagramLinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Mindy Pelz On her website Instagram YouTube Facebook Get your copy of Dr. Mindy Pelz’s new book, Fast Like a Girl. Previous Episodes Mentioned:Episode 113- How to Survive the Ups and Downs of MenopauseEpisode 184 – Hormonal Symptoms Don’t Have To Be a Result of Aging

I am delighted to connect with Shawn Stevenson for the first show of 2023! Shawn is the host of the prolific Model Health Show. He is also a Nutritional Scientist, an author, and a father.Shawn was a top-tier athlete when he was in high school. At fifteen, his hip broke while running a 200-meter time trial. He had some standard of care, but nobody ever asked how an apparently healthy kid broke his hip while running. Two years later, he went to college. Soon after that, he got diagnosed with degenerative disc disease.   In this episode, we get into how his background influenced his career path. We discuss fast food economies, ultra-processed food, the impact of subsidized food on our health, the gut microbiome, and the danger of seed oils. We dive into metabolic switching, the vagus nerve, and how it impacts food absorption and leaky gut. We talk about brain health and how the brain gets influenced by the food we eat, the interrelationship between the brain and metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and the impact of inflammation on the brain. We also speak about the importance of hydration and electrolytes, and more.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Shawn developed his passion for talking about nutrition and synthesizing research and got to where he is today. How changing his thinking changed his life. What are ultra-processed foods? How ultra-processed foods impact the health of the average American citizen. Why so many Americans are obese today. Why we need to understand the connection between the brain and the gut. What is the relationship between our immune system and our gut microbiome? An unusual benefit of extra-virgin olive oil. What can you do to have a healthier brain? The critical importance of high-quality sodium for cognitive function. Why Omega-3s are vital for our brains. Bio:Shawn Stevenson is the author of the USA Today National bestseller Eat Smarter, and the international bestselling book Sleep Smarter. He’s also the creator of The Model Health Show, featured as the number #1 health podcast in the U.S. with millions of listener downloads each year. A graduate of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Shawn studied business, biology, and nutritional science and became the cofounder of Advanced Integrative Health Alliance. Shawn has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, Muscle & Fitness, ABC News, ESPN, and many other major media outlets.Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Shawn StevensonOn his websiteThe Model Health ShowOn Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TwitterShawn’s books are available on Amazon or at bookstores.

I’m delighted to reconnect with Dr. Eric Balcavage today! He is the owner and founder of Rejuvagen, a functional medicine clinic in Pennsylvania. He is also a nationally recognized speaker and educator on various health-related topics, including thyroid physiology, detoxification, methylation, and chronic illness.Dr. Eric Balcavage joins me for the third time today to discuss his new book, The Thyroid Debacle, co-authored with Dr. Kelly Halderman. We dive into his motivation for writing his book, discuss cellular hypothyroidism and its triggers, and get into the impact of chronic low-grade inflammation on our mitochondrial health. We go into why hypothyroidism is a spectrum, the role of bile in thyroid functioning, and the impact of hypothyroidism on our sex hormones. We also discuss the incidence of Hashimoto’s, why iodine is so controversial, labs we want to look at more closely with thyroid issues, and supplements and nutrition.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Eric explains why clinicians are failing their patients concerning thyroid management and diagnosis. A better clinical approach to thyroid issues. Dr. Eric unpacks cellular hypothyroidism. Why weight loss is a lot more complicated than simply counting calories and fasting. What bile does, apart from breaking down and emulsifying fat. Problems that might occur after having the gallbladder removed. The impact of hypothyroidism on the sex hormones. How a broader approach could ultimately result in more effective treatment strategies. Dr. Eric shares his view on what triggers the development of goiters.  Is iodine supplementation necessary? Dr. Eric shares his thoughts on nutrition for thyroid health. The best supplements for reducing inflammation. BioDr. Eric Balcavage is the owner and founder of Rejuvagen, a functional medicine clinic in Chadds Ford, PA. He is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on various health-related topics including thyroid physiology, bile physiology, detoxification, oxidative stress, methylation, and chronic illness. Dr. Balcavage is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (C.N.S.), a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Board Certified in Integrative Medicine, along with being a licensed Chiropractor in Pennsylvania. Dr. Balcavage is the co-host of the Thyroid Answers Podcast. The podcast focuses on answering the pressing questions those suffering from chronic hypothyroid symptoms can’t get answered elsewhere. You can find his educational Thyroid Thursday videos on Vimeo and Youtube.Dr. Balcavage has made it his mission to change the way medicine looks at hypothyroidism. He is the co-author of the book, The Thyroid Debacle. The book, co-written by Dr. Kelly Halderman, addresses the problems with current allopathic and functional medicine approaches to hypothyroidism as well as the solutions to restoring thyroid physiology.Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Eric BalcavageOn his websiteOn InstagramDr. Balcavage’s book, The Thyroid Debacle, is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Balboa Press, or online.Listen to episodes 105 and 166 with Dr. Eric Balcavage

Today I have the honor of connecting with the renowned speaker and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté! Dr. Maté is highly sought-after for his expertise on various topics, including addiction, trauma, stress, and childhood development. He recently wrote a New York Times bestselling book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.For many of us, the concept of trauma is controversial and largely misunderstood. In today’s discussion with Dr. Maté, I am transparent, honest, and open about how I grew up and how my childhood experiences have influenced me throughout my lifetime. We get into the definition of trauma, why trauma is so widespread and misunderstood, the differences between habit and addiction, the impact of a toxic culture and materialism, and the epidemic of loneliness. We discuss the impact of the pandemic, a loss of control, why women are at greater risk of developing autoimmune disorders, and the impact of adverse childhood events. We also speak about what negatively impacts healthy childhood development, multigenerational trauma, and healing through compassionate inquiry.  I hope you will find great value in listening to today’s thought-provoking and insightful podcast!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Maté discusses and defines trauma. The difference between a habit and an addiction. How do various addictions ( drugs, work, shopping, attention, etc.) differ? How the loneliness and isolation from childhood trauma get carried into adult life and could lead to illness. How the social isolation of the pandemic brought some families closer together and drove others further apart. How materialism ties into trauma, addiction, and the current epidemic of loneliness. How many of the problems clinicians deal with today result from trauma and disconnection What studies show about women and autoimmune diseases. Why do we need to acknowledge the impact of the disparity within our modern-day materialist culture? What can we do to ensure that our young children develop in a healthy way? Healing from multigenerational trauma. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow• Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn• Check out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Gabor Maté On his website On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube  Dr. Maté’s book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, and all his other books are available online and from most bookstores.Books mentioned:Hold Onto Your Kids by Dr. Gabor Maté and Gordon NeufeldDr. Maté’s book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, is available from most bookstores

I am honored to connect with Dr. Amy Killen today! She is a leading longevity and regenerative physician specializing in “Sex and Skin.” She is also an international speaker, author, educator, mother of three, a should-be rapper, and founder of the Human Optimization Project (HOP).Having had three kids within two years while also getting up at 3 am to be on time for her 4 am ER shifts made Dr. Killen’s life sleep-deprived, crazy, and stressed. Then, she noticed that many ER patients were coming in with acute problems related to issues similar to her own and realized that she needed to learn a whole new set of tricks and tools if she wanted to help them and herself.Dr. Killen has positioned herself as the female expert on biohacking, sexual health, and skin health. In this episode, we dive into her medical background and her transition into a longevity and sexual health guru. We discuss longevity, functional and regenerative medicine, ovarian aging, the impact of lifestyle on our sexual health, de-stigmatizing women’s sexual needs and health, microdosing, supplements, and addressing changes in our skin and hair in perimenopause and menopause.I hope you enjoy listening to my conversation with Dr. Killen as much as I did recording it!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Dr. Killen shifted from being an ER doctor to doing what she does today. Dr. Killen explains why she believes menopause is a disease unto itself. How the Women’s Health Initiative created fear around taking or prescribing hormones. Only one in five mammals go through menopause, so why does it happen to humans? How do diet and lifestyle impact the aging process? The serious ramifications of environmental toxins. The importance of de-stigmatizing sex. The role nitric oxide plays in sexual health. Dr. Killen discusses various regenerative therapy options for women. The pros and cons of some new and novel medications and supplements for weight loss and longevity.  Dr. Killen discusses her recently-launched longevity product, HopBox.  Some of the modalities Dr. Killen uses to help middle-aged women improve their skin and hair. Bio:Dr. Amy B Killen is a leading longevity and regenerative physician specializing in “Sex and Skin.” In her Utah-based practices, she combines stem cell injections with photobiomodulation, shockwave therapy, bioidentical hormones, peptides, and an old-fashioned healthy lifestyle to give patients unparalleled synergistic regenerative effects for skin, hair, and sexual systems. Dr. Killen is an international speaker, author, educator, mother of three, a should-be rapper, and founder of the Human Optimization Project (HOP). Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Amy KillenOn her websites: www.dramykillen.com, www.hopbox.life, or www.docereclinics.comOn Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

I am delighted to have Scott Emmens and Kara Lazauskas joining me on the podcast today! Scott is the President of MD Logic, and Kara is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a graduate degree in Molecular Muscle Exercise Physiology and a background in Sports Medicine.Scott’s fascination with fitness began when he was sixteen. He had asthma, and it confused him to see kids more out of shape than he was performing better than him. So he started working out. When he went to college, he developed an obsession with how the human body worked and became an amateur bodybuilder.Kara is a total badass! Even though she lost her left lung to a benign tumor when she was just three-and-a-half years old, she became a Titan Games competitor. She is also an MMA fighter.In this episode, Kara, Scott, and I dive into supplements in the sports and performance fields, the rigors of the FDA GMP (Good Manufacturing Process), and the need for quality supplementation. We discuss the value of Creatine Monohydrate, its benefits, some common misconceptions, and age-related changes that impact metabolic health. We discuss how brain metabolism can be supported with Creatine, gender-related differences, how estrogen influences Creatine, and how Creatine can be helpful in reducing the risk of depression and influencing BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). We also get into the unmatched safety and security standards of MD Logic, my reasons for aligning with them in creating Creatine Monohydrate, and some upcoming discounts for Creatine and melatonin during the holidays.I sincerely hope you will enjoy listening to today's conversation as much as I did recording it!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Kara got to where she is today.   How Scott got into using Creatine to biohack his fitness and health and started MD Logic. Scott shares some of his concerns about the supplement industry. Why is Creatine Monohydrate such an important supplement for muscle and brain health? The benefits of taking a daily dose of Creatine Monohydrate. How Creatine helps us have better quality sleep and perform better on lower energy. Why do we need to actively support our musculature throughout our lifetime?   How Creatine helps to prevent sarcopenia and dementia as we age. How not supplementing with Creatine can impact mood disorders in women. How Creatine assists in reducing the risk of depression and influencing BDNF. How being physically active improves brain health and insulin sensitivity and contributes to metabolic health. What makes the Creatine Monohydrate created through MD Logic different and unique? Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on  Twitter,  Instagram &  LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s  website  Connect with Scott Emmens on LinkedIn  Connect with Kara Lazauskas on LinkedIn

I’m happy to have Dr. Shawn Tassone joining me again today! He was one of our original guests on the podcast back in 2018. (Episode 4) Dr. Tassone is the author of The Hormone Balance Bible, a book I often recommend. Dr. Tassone is one of my favorite gynecologists! I love following him on social media because he shares information in a very straightforward manner. In this episode, we dive into the impact of the Women’s Health Initiative, the differences between bio-identical and synthetic hormone replacement therapy, contraceptive options for perimenopausal women, and the Essure sterilization procedure. We discuss why so many OB-GYNs and medical professionals get burned out, various options for thyroid health, the basis for The Hormone Balance Bible, and the SHINE protocol. We also get into some of Dr. Tassone’s favorite supplements and those he feels get overused. I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast with Dr. Tassone as much as I did recording it! Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: The changes Dr. Tassone had to navigate after the Women’s Health Initiative. How synthetic hormone replacement therapy differs from bio-identical. Why do synthetic hormones have a higher cancer risk? The benefits of testosterone for women. Contraceptive options available for perimenopausal women. Dr. Tassone’s experiences as a clinician with the Essure sterilization procedure. Why do so many healthcare professionals get burned out? The type of thyroid medication Dr. Tassone prefers to prescribe for his patients. What inspired Dr. Tassone to write his new book, The Hormone Balance Bible? When do hormone imbalances become a problem? Dr. Tassone’s favorite supplements. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Shawn Tassone On his website On Instagram (Appointments: drshawntassone) Call Dr. Tassone’s office: 512 956029 On Facebook Documentary mentioned:The Bleeding EdgeBooks mentioned:Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, by Andrew Weil The Hormone Balance Bible on Amazon