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

We have another short-form, live YouTube episode today, where I dive into questions from listeners.

Recently, the most frequently asked questions have been about cholesterol, likely because I often reference my podcast series with Dr. Tom Dayspring, a renowned lipidologist and menopause expert.

Join me today to clear away some more of the confusion surrounding cholesterol.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


Why comprehensive lipid testing rather than standard testing is essential, post-menopause


How menopause impacts women’s lipid and triglyceride levels


The roles APO B and Lp(a) play in assessing cardiac risk


How the cardiac risk of women increases as estrogen declines


The cardiac health benefits of monitoring lipids and considering HRT within the first six years of menopause


What research studies reveal about how menopause influences cardiovascular risk

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website


Submit your questions to [email protected]


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow 


Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Episodes with Dr. Thomas Dayspring:

Episode 336: Lipid Masterclass: An Introduction to Lipids and Cholesterol with Dr. Thomas Dayspring

Episode 344: Lipid Masterclass: A Deep Dive into Our Cardiovascular Needs with Thomas Dayspring

Episode 352: Lipid Masterclass: Apo-B, Labs and Women's Heart Health with Thomas Dayspring

Episode 495: Are You At Risk for Dementia? – The Most Overlooked Cholesterol Marker You Need to Know with Dr. Thomas Dayspring

I am honored to connect with Dr. Neil Nathan today. Dr. Nathan has been practicing medicine for over 50 years. He is board-certified in family medicine and pain management, a founding diplomat of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, and a founding member of the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness. He is also a published author and has recently released an updated and expanded version of his book, Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness.

In our discussion, we explore various complex medical illnesses and the effects of mold, chronic inflammation, immunosenescence, and genetics on the immune system, vagus nerve, and limbic system. We discuss mold exposure and colonization, and what that means for midlife women, along with MCAS, Lyme disease, and mast cell degranulation, and we examine Epstein-Barr as a symptom rather than a primary driver. We also cover limbic and vagal retraining, and Dr. Nathan shares his systematic approach to supporting the adrenal glands and to detoxification efforts in treatment.

This episode with the renowned Dr. Neil Nathan is like a mini masterclass on complex medical illnesses. I found his book super-informative and probably the most systematic source I’ve ever read on mold, Lyme, and complex medical problems.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• How our current medical system fails to support complex patients

• How limited appointment times prevent root-cause investigation

• What mold colonization means and why its location in the body matters

• Why leaving a moldy environment does not always resolve symptoms

• How Epstein-Barr often signals immune dysfunction rather than causing it

• Why limbic retraining is essential in today’s world

• Dr. Nathan shares his systematic approach to adrenal support 

• Practical steps to support liver, gut, kidney, and lymphatic detoxification

• Why addressing mold and Candida must precede SIBO treatment

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website


Submit your questions to [email protected]


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow) 


Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Neil Nathan

On his website

I am excited to connect with Dr. Lara Briden today! She is one of my favorite naturopathic doctors and the author of the bestselling books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. She has 25 years of experience in women's health, and she currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.

Dr. Briden is a wealth of information! She brings a fresh perspective and a positive voice to the health and wellness space, and I often recommend her book, Hormone Repair Manual, to my clients and patients. 

Today, she and I dive into her background as an evolutionary biologist and discuss how she became passionate about supporting and advocating for women throughout their lives. We talk about perspectives on aging, what the second puberty (perimenopause) is, and the impact of histamine, mass-cell granulation, and estrogen. We discuss fat redistribution in middle age and the loss of insulin sensitivity. We speak about how using alcohol impacts brain health, sleep, the gut microbiome, appetite, cravings, and hinders estrogen metabolism. We also touch on ways to address dysfunctional uterine bleeding in middle age, explain how to advocate for your health, how middle age impacts the nervous system, and the role of inflammatory foods, including dairy. 

I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did! Stay tuned for more!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:


Dr. Briden discusses her background as an evolutionary biologist and how she changed her career to become an advocate for women’s health.


Many women fear the aging process. Dr. Briden and I discuss women’s mindsets and perspectives on aging. 


Why is there so little awareness about perimenopause?


Dr. Briden defines menopause and discusses the timeframe in which some women experience perimenopause symptoms.


How can ongoing hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause, or second puberty, increase the likelihood of women having issues with a histamine response?


Dr. Briden talks about fat redistribution in middle age and explains why women need to stay on top of it from a metabolic perspective.


How can our modern-day lifestyle make the metabolic shift women experience in menopause even more challenging?


Dr. Briden talks about natural treatments and hormone therapies to lighten the flow of the extremely heavy periods that some women experience during perimenopause.


Dr. Briden discusses the connection between cow dairy and an inflammatory reaction in some people.


Women need to understand what happens in their bodies when they have either a partial or a full hysterectomy.


Dr. Briden talks about estrogen and brain health.


How does alcohol affect the body?


What are the best options with the fewest side effects for hormone therapy for women?

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website


Submit your questions to [email protected]


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow) 


Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden


On her ⁠website⁠  


⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/LaraBriden⁠ 


Dr. Briden’s ⁠blog⁠ 


Dr. Briden’s ⁠podcast⁠

Books mentioned:

⁠Period Repair Manual ⁠(for women in their 20s and 30s) by Dr. Lara Briden

⁠Hormone Repair Manual⁠ (for women of 40-plus) by Dr. Lara Briden

Free ⁠download⁠ of the first two chapters of both Dr. Lara Briden’s books

⁠The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease⁠ by Lisa Mosconi, PhD

Today, I’m honored to connect with Jerry Wise, a leading voice in family systems and self-differentiation. With over 45 years of experience healing adults from narcissistic, dysfunctional, and emotionally immature family systems, Jerry’s work guides people out of lifelong patterns of guilt, shame, and emotional enmeshment so they can finally live as their true selves.

This episode is not about telling anyone what they should do with their family relationships. It’s about understanding patterns, reclaiming choice, and recognizing that protecting your nervous system is essential for your wellness. We dive into narcissism, personality disorders, and the spectrum within which Jerry believes narcissism falls. We explore low, middle, and high-anxiety family systems, clarify why self-differentiation is critically important, and how long-term nervous system dysregulation often occurs when we grow up in narcissistic homes. We also cover trauma bonding, the impact of avoidance, the role of boundaries, and cultural myths around honoring our parents, and I answer some rapid-fire questions tailored explicitly to Jerry’s expertise.

I have wanted to interview Jerry for the podcast for a long time, and this is one of those truly impactful and deeply personal episodes.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


How narcissistic parents differ from other types of parents


The developmental switches that get turned off in those growing up with narcissistic parents


Intergenerational trauma and how it impacts nervous system regulation and emotional health


How self-differentiation can help individuals manage their emotional systems


Challenges of setting boundaries with narcissistic parents


Why internal boundaries are essential


How avoidance can become a coping mechanism for dealing with uncomfortable feelings


The importance of maintaining reality and not giving up on your true self to honor your parents and/or meet their expectations


Strategies for managing family dynamics and reducing chronic anxiety

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website


Submit your questions to [email protected]


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow 


Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Jerry Wise


On his website 


Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube

Today, we have another episode in the YouTube series where I answer listeners’ questions from the Everyday Wellness Podcast and my private free Facebook group, The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.

We’re continuing the conversation around hair loss today. In the last episode, we covered some common causes of hair loss. In this episode, we discuss how nutrition can either positively or negatively affect it. Some familiar themes come up again, but they’re hard to avoid because in midlife, nutrition is not optional. It’s essential!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


Why a protein-centric diet is vital in middle age 


How over-fasting can exacerbate hair loss


Why iron is essential for hair growth


Foods that are beneficial for their polyphenols and antioxidants


Why metabolic health is critical for hair follicle protection


How stress and disrupted sleep affect hair loss


The value of weight training and maintaining muscle mass 


The role of iodine, selenium, and red blood cell magnesium in hair growth and the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website


Submit your questions to [email protected]


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow 


Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line