Longevity Optimization with Kayla Barnes-Lentz

Women are often told that painful periods, irregular cycles, bloating, mood changes, fatigue, brain fog, postpartum symptoms, and hormonal shifts are “normal.”
But common does not mean something should be ignored.
In this episode, Dr. Jolene Brighten, ND joins me for a practical deep dive into female-specific conditions that are too often missed, minimized, or treated in isolation, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMDD, PCOS/PMOS, fibroids, postpartum thyroid changes, and the gut-hormone connection.
Dr. Brighten explains why endometriosis is not just a reproductive condition, how adenomyosis differs from endometriosis, why PMDD is not simply “bad PMS,” how histamine may play a role in cyclical symptoms, and why PCOS is now being reframed as a broader metabolic and endocrine condition.
Join the most comprehensive female-specific community for health and longevity optimization. After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-community
This episode is sponsored by Zen Basil. Their certified edible basil seeds are designed for human nutrition, deliver 15g of fiber per serving, and are batch-tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides. 
Use the code KAYLA20 for 20% off.
https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbag
In this conversation:
-Why endometriosis is a full-body inflammatory condition

-The difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis

-The three types of endometriosis and why imaging matters

-Why painful periods, ovulation pain, gut symptoms, and fatigue deserve investigation

-The connection between histamine, estrogen, progesterone, and cyclical symptoms

-Why PCOS is now being reframed as PMOS
-Insulin resistance, GLP-1s, estrogen metabolism, and inflammation

Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com

Connect with Dr Jolene:
Website: https://drbrighten.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoleneBrighten   
Order Her New Book: https://drbrighten.com/adhd-in-women/

Less than 25% of people with IBS get real relief from conventional medicine. That number tells you everything about how the current approach is failing.
Most people with IBS have been told it is stress, told to take medication, and sent home. But irritable bowel syndrome is not one condition, it is a label applied to a cluster of symptoms that can have 20 to 40 completely different root causes. And left unaddressed, it is one of the most reliable predictors of autoimmune disease down the line.
In this episode I sit down with Dr. Izabella Wentz, clinical pharmacist, functional medicine expert, and NYT bestselling author known as the Thyroid Pharmacist. After her own IBS diagnosis in pharmacy school preceded her Hashimoto's diagnosis by six years, she has spent over a decade connecting the dots between gut dysfunction and autoimmunity for hundreds of thousands of people.
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member

If you’re already paying attention to food, sleep, and overall health, cleaning products are another place where exposure adds up quickly. Branch Basics is a simple way to clean your home with fewer unnecessary ingredients and less clutter under the sink.
https://branchbasics.com/KAYLA15
Code: KAYLA15
We explore:
-Why IBS precedes autoimmune disease by 5 to 10 years
-The three conditions that must all be present for autoimmunity to manifest
-Why women are twice as likely to have IBS during their reproductive years and the specific hormonal and lifestyle drivers
-The functional medicine testing approach versus what most GI doctors actually look at
-Why gluten particles cross-react with thyroid tissue and what that means for anyone with Hashimoto's
-How to actually get mold out of the body and why it disrupts the gut microbiome so severely
-The gut healing protocol that got Dr. Izabella's husband into remission from ulcerative colitis in two months
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr Izabella:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izabellawentzpharmd/
Website: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ThyroidPharmacist
#guthealth #IBS #irritablebowelsyndrome #leakygut #autoimmune #hashimotos #thyroidhealth #womenshealth #femalelongevity #longevity #gutmicrobiome #functionalhealth #functionalmedicine #rootcause #parasites #SIBO #foodsensitivities #guthealing #healthoptimization #preventivemedicine

There is a state where the body gets locked in sympathetic activation and mitochondrial dysfunction at the same time and no matter what supplements you take, no matter what protocols you run, nothing actually works. Dr. Scott Sherr calls it the sympathetic spiral of doom, and in this episode we break down exactly what it is, why so many people are stuck in it without knowing it, and the right sequence to actually get out.
Dr. Scott is a board certified internal medicine physician, certified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy and health optimization medicine, and the chief medical officer of One Base Health, the company behind the hyperbaric chamber you see in every episode. He advises me personally on my hyperbaric protocols, including the ovarian longevity protocol I have been running, and this conversation goes deep into the science behind why that protocol makes sense and what we are actually trying to achieve.
This episode is sponsored by Zen Basil. Their certified edible basil seeds are designed for human nutrition, deliver 15g of fiber per serving, and are batch-tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides. Use the code KAYLA20 for 20% off.
⁠https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbag⁠
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-community
Explore Troscriptions’ mitochondrial, immune, and nervous system support products. Use code KAYLA10 at checkout for 10% off.
https://troscriptions.com
In This Conversation:
- Why Autoimmunity Risk Rises In Women During Perimenopause
- Why The Body Can’t Heal When Stuck In Stress Mode
- How Chronic Stress And Social Media Can Reduce Recovery Capacity
- What Methylene Blue Does
- Why The Gaba System Matters
- When Hyperbaric Therapy Helps
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn more about Dr. Scott Sherr and his work:
Websites:
drscottsherr.com
homehope.org
onebasehealth.comTroscriptions.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
https://www.instagram.com/drscottsherr/
https://www.instagram.com/onebasehealth/
https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@troscriptions
https://www.youtube.com/@drscottsherr
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsherr/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/troscriptions/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/onebasehealth/

Most women have had bloodwork done. What most women haven't had is the right bloodwork. 
In this episode, Dr. Poonam Desai, double board certified in lifestyle and emergency medicine, NAM certified in menopause care, and founder of Longevity Place and Her Longevity, breaks down the five labs she runs on every female patient, the optimal values most physicians aren't targeting, and why the standard panel tells you almost nothing about long-term cardiovascular risk, metabolic health, or inflammation. This is one of the most practical longevity conversations I've had for women who want to know where they actually stand.
We also go deep on the three female life phases medicine consistently underserves, how women's cardiac symptoms are still being dismissed in clinical settings, and what a real foundational protocol looks like before any advanced intervention enters the picture. The perimenopause section is worth your full attention, what is shifting hormonally and metabolically, why those symptoms should not be pushed through, and why the window for acting is earlier than most women are told.
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/checkout/become-a-member
If you’re already paying attention to food, sleep, and overall health, cleaning products are another place where exposure adds up quickly. Branch Basics is a simple way to clean your home with fewer unnecessary ingredients and less clutter under the sink.
https://branchbasics.com/KAYLA15
Code: KAYLA15
In This Conversation:
-Why women need a different longevity lens than men
-The cardiovascular markers Dr. Desai wants women tracking early
-Why blood pressure, resting heart rate, HRV, and snoring matter more than people think-
How to use bowel movements as a simple gut-health signal
-Why she starts with fiber before protein
-The overlooked role of toxins, plastics, and hormone disruptors
-What women should not ignore in perimenopause
-Why knowing your numbers early changes everything
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com

Learn more about Dr. Poonam Desai:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpoonamdesai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-poonam-desai/
Website: https://www.drpoonamdesai.com/
Her Substack: https://drpoonamdesai.substack.com/

Most women are not thinking about their bones until a fracture happens or a scan comes back alarmingly. By then, the window for the most impactful intervention has often been narrowing for decades. Bone density peaks around age 18, not 30 as widely believed and the slow decline that follows is largely silent until it isn't.
Professor Belinda Beck, PhD has spent more than two decades studying exactly what it takes to stop and reverse that decline. She is a professor at Griffith University, founder of the Bloom Clinic in Brisbane, and the principal investigator behind the LIFTMORE trials, a body of research that changed the scientific consensus on what is actually possible for women with osteoporosis and osteopenia. 
Her findings showed that heavy resistance and impact training twice weekly can safely grow bone mineral density in the spine and hip, even in women already diagnosed with very low bone mass and prior osteoporotic fractures. This was not what the medical establishment expected. And it fundamentally changed how serious practitioners now think about bone.
This episode is sponsored by Zen Basil. Their certified edible basil seeds are designed for human nutrition, deliver 15g of fiber per serving, and are batch-tested for glyphosate and over 400 pesticides. Use the code KAYLA20 for 20% off.
https://zenbasil.com/shopzenbasil/zenbasilseedbag
Join the most comprehensive *female-specific community for health and longevity optimization.* After over a decade dedicated to human performance and women’s health, I created this space to share everything you need to know to optimize health and lifespan. Inside, you’ll get access to exclusive protocols, live Q&As, the latest female longevity science, and a private, supportive community of like-minded women.
https://kayla-barnes-lentz.circle.so/female-longevity-community
In this conversation we explore:
- Why bone density peaks at 18 and what that means for every stage of life after
- The LIFTMORE trial: what they did, who the participants were, and what the results showed
- Why heavy lifting is the key variable and why conventional low-intensity exercise recommendations failed
- What estrogen does to bone and why menopause causes such rapid loss
- The truth about weighted vests, calcium supplements, and other popular bone health interventions
- What GLP-1 drugs are doing to bone and muscle and what to do about it
- Age-specific recommendations for women in their 20s to 30s, 40s to 50s, and postmenopause
Connect with Kayla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylabarnes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@femalelongevity
Twitter:https://x.com/femalelongevity
Website:https://www.kaylabarnes.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4OLWWn22RGB0argbRPvAaQ?si=8e91b3c9e0ce4054
Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longevity-optimization-with-kayla-barnes-lentz/id1591130227
Follow Her Female Protocol: https://www.protocol.kaylabarnes.com
Learn More About Prof. Belinda Beck and Her Work:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bone-clinic/ 
ONERO® locations map:  https://onero.academy/locations/
ONERO® Academy:  https://onero.academy/
The Bone Clinic website:  https://theboneclinic.com.au/

#bonehealth #bonedensity #osteoporosis #osteopenia #femalelongevity #womenshealth #heavylifting #strengthtraining #weighttraining #perimenopause #menopause #longevity #DEXA #LIFTMOREtrial #bonelosss #resistancetraining #healthoptimization #womenslongevity #exercisescience #preventivemedicine