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

Today, I am delighted and honored to be talking to Dr. Philip Ovadia. He is a board-certified Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon and Founder of Ovadia Heart Health. His mission is to help people stay off his operating table by optimizing their metabolic health to lower the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.  In this episode, we take a deep dive into clinical medicine. We explain how it is possible to reverse conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and become healthy without taking any medications. Dr. Ovadia defines metabolic health, talks about his journey from being morbidly obese to losing more than 100 pounds, discusses Gary Taubes’s influence on his health journey, and his seven principles for health and wellness. We also get into metabolic health markers, the hyper-palatability of processed food, metabolic syndrome, and the metabolic inflexibility of most Americans. Dr. Ovadia’s approach to nutrition is all about bio-individuality and having enough protein in your diet to ensure satiety. I really enjoy connecting with other western medicine-trained health care professionals who have pivoted towards optimizing metabolic health and flexibility! Stay tuned for more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Problems that exist within the medical system. Dr. Ovadia shares his health journey and talks about his mission. Why much of Dr. Ovadia’s current education is coming from non-physicians. Dr. Ovadia talks about metabolic health. The physical effects of eating hyper-palatable processed foods versus eating nutrient-dense whole foods. Take control of what you eat rather than letting food control you. What metabolic syndrome is all about. The benefits of using a continuous glucose monitor. Why no one diet will serve everyone. Using metabolic health as a system to guide you to good health. The benefits of pushing for nutrient density to feel satiated. Bio:Dr. Philip Ovadia is a board-certified Cardiac Surgeon and founder of Ovadia Heart Health. His mission is to optimize the public’s metabolic health and help people stay off his operating table. As a heart surgeon who used to be morbidly obese, Dr. Ovadia has seen firsthand the failures of mainstream diets and medicine. He realized that what helped him lose over 100 pounds was the same solution that could have prevented most of the thousands of open-heart surgeries he has performed—metabolic health.In Stay off My Operating Table: A Heart Surgeon’s Metabolic Health Guide to Lose Weight, Prevent Disease, and Feel Your Best Every Day, Dr. Ovadia shares the complete metabolic health system to prevent disease.Dr. Ovadia grew up in New York and graduated from the accelerated Pre-Med/Med program at the Pennsylvania State University and Jefferson Medical College. This was followed by a residency in General Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey and a Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Tufts-New England Medical School.Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Philip OvadiaOn his website At The Stronger Heart Society On Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,   and TwitterA simple calculator for metabolic syndrome Dr. Ovadio’s book, Stay Off My Operating TableBooks mentioned:The Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O’Brien    The Case for Keto by Gary TaubesSalt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss

Links and Resources:Hex FermentsGut Health podcast with Dr. Uma NaidooThe Drive Podcast with Paul OffitBook Preorder Link

I am delighted to have Dr. Tracy Gapin joining me today! Dr. Gapin is a board-certified urologist, world-renowned men’s health expert, best-selling author, and professional speaker. Almost every day during his twenty years as a urologist, Dr. Gapin saw men grappling with issues of brain fog, difficulty in focusing, problems with physical performance, and remaining engaged and present as fathers. That inspired him to help men become the best husbands, fathers, and leaders they can be. Now, Dr. Gapin considers himself a recovering urologist because earlier this year, he formally exited traditional Western medicine to focus on men’s health.  In this episode, Dr. Gapin discusses his background and talks about what sparked his interest in integrative approaches to urologic problems and men’s health issues, the contributing factors to low testosterone, and why there is a growing low testosterone pandemic with men. We also discuss hormone replacement therapy that goes beyond just testosterone, the role of peptides, SARMs (Selected Androgen Receptor Modulators), biohacking, libido, erectile dysfunction, and more. You won’t want to miss this conversation, so be sure to tune in!  IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Dr. Gapin developed a passionate interest in male hormones. The story of Dr. Gapin's vasectomy. Contributing factors to the escalating issues with low levels of testosterone. The factors that could hamper a detoxification process. How insulin resistance can drive testosterone levels down. Why it is vital to approach your health systematically. The optimal range for testosterone. Non-prescription treatments to improve testosterone levels versus prescription treatments. Lifestyle and nutritional factors that could negatively impact testosterone levels. Optimizing growth hormone levels. Some possible causes of erectile dysfunction. Are there benefits to using red light therapy for low testosterone? Common reasons for using peptide therapy. Dr. Gapin shares his thoughts about SARMs. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Tracy GapinOn his websiteGet your free copy of Dr. Gapin’s book, Male 2.0, here

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I am thrilled to have Trina Felber back on the show today! Trina was with me in episode 153, where she spoke about the mouth microbiome and reversing tooth decay naturally. She is joining me today to tell us the truth about skincare. Trina is the Founder and Creator of Primal Life Organics. She is a wife, mother of three, dental health and natural skincare expert, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Yogi, Paleo advocate, and educator. Trina loves creating products that heal, soothe, mend and repair the body and soul.The personal care product industry is worth seventy-one billion dollars, and it is severely under-regulated. The media has been telling us so many things about skincare for so long that most of us don’t know who and what to believe anymore. There are also many aspects of skincare that many women tend to take for granted.The first episode with Trina was extremely popular, and this one is just as illuminating, helpful, and mindblowing! You will learn about the physiology of the skin, how the unhealthy ingredients in skincare products affect your body, and what you can do to protect your skin. Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How under-regulated the personal care industry is. The hidden toxins and synthetic hormones in tap water. The negative ways in which unhealthy chemicals and other ingredients in skin care products can affect women. Why the skin is such a vital organ, and how our skin speaks to us. The permanent imprint that some chemicals in skincare products and Botox injections leave in your body. How to protect your skin. How the skin changes when women go through the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause. Trina discusses the plant-based ingredients that stimulate collagen and elastin production to keep your skin firm. How to put together a routine to keep your skin healthy and looking great. How to avoid getting skin problems from wearing a mask. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Trina FelberOn her websiteOn Instagram and Facebook

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I am happy to have Dr. Kyrin Dunston back on the show today! Dr. Kyrin was with me before in Episode 119: Master Midlife and Stop the Menopause Madness. I invited her to join me once again today to take a deeper dive into the topic of testosterone in women.Dr. Kyrin Dunston is a leading OBGYN & Functional Medicine Expert. She has been featured on numerous podcasts and summits on NBC, Fox, Great Day Washington, Reader’s Digest, The Huffington Post, Best Self, and more. She is the host of Her Brilliant Health Revolution Podcast and Her Brilliant Health Secrets YouTube channel, which gives women the knowledge, tools, and support they need to take control of their health and not only heal but to thrive in life.In this episode, we discuss the role of testosterone in women. Dr. Kyrin explains why there is so much ambiguity around testosterone and why it is a controlled substance. She talks about where testosterone is produced in the body, how we test for it, the signs of low testosterone, and how to treat it. She also talks about hormonal illiteracy in traditional allopathically-trained providers, explains how to advocate for your hormonal health, and shares some information about women who have had their ovaries removed in conjunction with a hysterectomy. Testosterone is a misunderstood sex hormone that is intricately related to almost every system in the body. Tune in today to learn all you need to know about testosterone in women and find out why it is vital for you to advocate for your health when navigating midlife. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: What does testosterone do in the body? How medical gaslighting happens with women. Why you can no longer allow your health care provider to have all the control of your hormonal health. Why is there so much ambiguity and misinformation around testosterone for women? Some of the more common signs of low testosterone levels. Why a good sex life is vital for a woman’s health. The function of the ovaries. What happens to women who have had their ovaries removed in conjunction with their uterus? Why there is no shame in women taking hormone replacement therapy. Is there any benefit to women ten years into menopause taking hormone replacement therapy? The pros and cons of various forms of testosterone supplement administration. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Kyrin DunstonOn her websiteOn Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterBook mentioned:The XX Brain by Dr. Lisa Mosconi 

I am delighted to have Chris Irvin joining me today! Chris is a health researcher, writer, and coach. He has his Master’s degree in exercise and nutrition science, where he studied the effects of low carb diets on human performance and therapeutics. Chris is the education manager at Perfect Keto and is the author of Keto Answers. When finishing his Master’s degree at the University of Tampa four or five years ago, Chris was unsure whether he wanted to pursue a Ph.D. or go out and become an entrepreneur in the exercise and nutrition industry. While doing an internship at the University of Southern Florida, however, he realized that following the Ph.D. route was not for him. He had also started studying keto in grad school, and it frustrated him that all the research information was locked away in journals that were either inaccessible or hard-to-interpret. So he decided to make all the information about the ketogenic diet more accessible to the general population. In this episode, Chris goes into the history of the ketogenic diet and explains how it evolved. He also talks about carbohydrates, reducing food cravings, and moving towards better metabolic health. Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Chris pivoted into becoming the Ketologist. The history and evolution of the ketogenic diet. Much has changed, and there has been a lot of misinformation about keto products over the last few years. Why a poor keto diet could be better than the standard American diet. Navigating the correct threshold for carbohydrates. Chris unpacks net carbs versus total carbs. Some of the contributors to obesity and metabolic inflexibility. Two things you can do to move towards better metabolic health. Things that happen in your body when you eat less frequently. How a low-carb or ketogenic diet help to reduce food cravings. Some common mistakes people tend to make with a ketogenic diet. Chris has written a book called Keto Answers. What you need to look for to find a good quality MCT oil. Products and supplements that can boost autophagy and ketosis. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Chris IrvinOn his websiteOn Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterRecommended books:Why We Get Sick by Dr. Benjamin BikmanKeto Answers by Chris Irvin and Anthony Gustin

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I am happy to have a good friend and an incredible pediatric advocate joining me today! Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a mental health trailblazer! She is the founder of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health, and a media expert, who is changing how we view and treat children’s mental health. Her work has helped thousands reverse the most challenging conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, Lyme Disease, and PANS/PANDAS, using proven holistic therapies. Dr. Roseann has often been featured on dozens of media outlets. The impact of the pandemic is undeniable. It has brought about a lot of change globally and has created many new challenges for everyone. Parents are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and the landscape for children has altered considerably over the last fifteen or sixteen months. Children have been impacted from an academic, social, and even a psychological perspective. As a result, we are experiencing a surge in mental health problems across America in children of all ages. In this episode, Dr. Roseann talks about how stress is affecting us as parents and explains what we can do to support our children. She also shares some stats and explains what parents need to look out for regarding anxiety, depression, and suicide in young people. Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Some signs of chronic stress or anxiety in our children that we, as parents, need to look out for. Things you can do to benefit your children’s mental health. Maternal mental health is the number one predictor of children’s mental health. Dr. Roseann explains how to help your kids create the inner confidence and resilience they need to succeed in life. Using stress to develop resilience. Teaching your kids coping skills and stress tolerance. There are benefits to experiencing failure. Dr. Roseann talks about neurofeedback and biofeedback and explains what they do for our brains. How to limit your kids’ screen-time during the pandemic. Some signs and symptoms of long-term effects of COVID. Dr. Roseann's Bio:Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a trailblazing Psychologist, Pediatric Mental Health Expert, and the founder and director of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann and Associates. Her Connecticut-based center has helped thousands of children and adults reverse the most challenging conditions such as ADHD, Autism, anxiety, depression, concussion, learning disability, Lyme Disease, and PANS/PANDAS. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Roseann Capanna-HodgeDr. Roseann’s website Dr. Roseann on YouTubeDr. Roseann on TiktokGet Dr. Roseann’s book here