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

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute episode.

We’re focusing on the importance of having good mental health today. Statistics show that women are experiencing increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even suicidal thoughts during midlife, yet the stigma around mental health remains surprisingly strong.

Join me as I explore the science behind this, why it’s happening, and the importance of empowering yourself to demand better care.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


The issues that contribute to the midlife mental health challenges women are experiencing


How sleep disruptions in perimenopause increase anxiety, depression, and irritability


The metabolic and endocrine factors that can compound mood instability in midlife


Why perimenopause is a neurological as well as reproductive transition


The evidence-based benefits of HRT for supporting mental health


The role of estrogen in brain function and emotional regulation


Why HRT is especially important for women experiencing abrupt or early menopause


Some practical guidance for using HRT to support mental health

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

References:

Effects of Estradiol Withdrawal on Mood in Women With Past Perimenopausal Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2298235) 

Efficacy of Estradiol in Perimenopausal Depression: So Much Promise and So Few Answers (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.22391)

Effects of Hormone Therapy on Cognition and Mood (https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)00178-2/fulltext)

Does Menopause Hormone Therapy Improve Symptoms of Depression? Findings From a Specialized Menopause Clinic 

A Meta-analysis of the Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy upon Depressed Mood (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453096000340?via%3Dihub)

The Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Cognition and Mood (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cen.14856)

We’re back with Episode 2 of our Bone Health Masterclass series—and this one is a powerhouse mashup featuring orthopedic surgeon Vonda Wright, magnesium expert Carolyn Dean, researcher Barrie Tan, and bone coach Kevin Ellis.

In this dynamic conversation, we break down what really happens to women’s bones during menopause—and what you can do about it. You’ll learn how strength training, grip strength, and smart fueling directly influence bone density, and finally understand the truth about osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and the constant remodeling happening inside your skeleton.

We also go deep on the nutrients that matter most, especially magnesium, the surprising role of melatonin, how chronic stress and gut health impact your bones, and why building bone is about far more than just calcium. Plus, we unpack the science behind OsteoStrong and how targeted loading can stimulate stronger bones at any age.

If you care about staying strong, active, and fracture-free for decades to come, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


Why bone loss accelerates during menopause 


How tocotrienols effectively doubled the bone growth-to-loss ratio in osteopenic adults in a clinical trial


How relative calorie deficiency, menstrual disruption, and excessive leanness in athletes and non-athletes alike are major, yet underrecognized, risk factors for early osteoporosis


Why bone breakdown accelerates when estrogen drops, and how that can be countered


How women’s bone health has been misunderstood for decades, with an excessive focus on calcium 


The critical importance of magnesium, which allows bones to be strong, flexible, and fracture-resistant 


The value of melatonin for supporting bone remodeling, promoting osteoblast activity, and protecting bone cells from oxidative stress and inflammation


How elevated cortisol from chronic stress directly impairs bone health 


Why gut health is foundational to bone health 

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. Barrie Tan


On his website


Instagram


Facebook


LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Vonda Wright


On her website


Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn


Leave a message on VIP Phone Number 407-232-2334

Connect with Dr. Carolyn Dean


On her website (For educational resources)


RnA ReSet Store website


Podcast 

Magnesium: The Missing Link to Total Health by Dr. Carolyn Dean is available on Amazon 

Connect with Kevin Ellis


On his website


Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn


Kevin’s free Stronger Bones Masterclass 

Ep. 234 Metabolic Longevity and Vitamin E with Dr. Barrie Tan

Ep. 386 Muscle Strength in Menopause: Key Tests & Lifestyle Measures with Dr. Vonda Wright

Ep. 366 Magnesium Masterclass: Unveiling Its Role in Metabolic Function with Dr. Carolyn Dean

Ep. 252 How To Optimize Your Bone Health with Bone Coach Kevin Ellis

Today, I am excited to share the first class in a series of lipid masterclasses with the amazing Dr. Thomas Dayspring!

Dr. Dayspring is certified in internal medicine and clinical epidemiology and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association. He was previously the Educational Director of a nonprofit organization and has served as the Chief Academic Advisor for two major cardiovascular labs. 

Given the in-depth nature of my discussions with Dr. Dayspring over several sessions, each lasting nearly six hours, it seemed logical to present these masterclasses in segments to make them easier to understand.

In our first class today, we dive into the fundamentals, exploring what lipids are and how lipids and fatty acids are classified. We cover the physiology and transport of cholesterol and the roles of apoptosis, apo-proteins, and apo-lipoproteins; we unravel the differences between HDL, LDL, IDL, and VLDL; and we explain how to calculate LDL and triglycerides to assess metabolic health. Dr. Dayspring also shares his preferences regarding lab values and indicators that help him assess the early risk of cardiovascular disease.

We cover some detailed aspects of physical chemistry in this episode, so I highlight the main clinical points throughout our conversation to make it easier to follow.

Be sure to join Dr. Dayspring and me for our next episode in the lipid masterclass series.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:


What are lipids, and why are they important?


Dr. Dayspring explains what triglycerides are.


How lipids get absorbed and transported throughout the body


What lipoproteins are, and how they get classified


How cholesterols get calculated


The impact of triglycerides on cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health


How high triglyceride levels can indicate early insulin resistance or increased ASCVD risk


What is the role of HDL particles?


How metabolic syndrome impacts cardiovascular health

Bio:

Thomas Dayspring MD is a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association and is certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology. After practicing in New Jersey for 37 years, he moved to Virginia in 2012. He served as an educational director for a nonprofit cardiovascular foundation and, until mid-2019, as a Chief Academic Advisor for two major CV laboratories. Since then, he has served as a virtual cardiovascular / lipidology educator. Career-wise he has given over 4000 domestic (in all 50 states) and several international lectures, including over 600 CME programs on atherothrombosis, lipids/lipoproteins (and their treatment), vascular biology, biomarker testing, and women’s cardiovascular issues. He has authored several manuscripts and lipid textbook chapters and performed several podcasts. For several years, he was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. He was the recipient of the 2011 National Lipid Association’s Presidents Award for services to clinical lipidology and the 2023 Foundation of NLA Clinician/Educator Award. He has over 34K followers on his educational Twitter (X) feed (@Drlipid). He has Gold Heart Member status as a professional member of the American Heart Association and serves as a Social Media Ambassador for the European Atherosclerosis Society and the National Lipid Association.

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. Thomas Dayspring


⁠Twitter⁠ (@DrLipid)


⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Books written by Gary Taubes⁠

I am excited to welcome Dr. Jayne Morgan as my guest today. She is a cardiologist and the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, specializing in women's health and cardiovascular research.

In our conversation, we look at the gaps in clinicians’ training around perimenopause and menopause, also discussing gender neutral training, and how men and women are treated differently in the medical system. Dr. Morgan shares her preferred areas of focus when educating middle-aged women about hormone replacement therapy and clusters of diagnoses, which include diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and weight-loss resistance. We examine how myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) tend to manifest differently in women, often with microvascular disease, atypical chest pain, and less obvious symptom patterns. We also explore screening recommendations, such as EKGs, Lp(a) assessments, and mammography for microcalcifications, which might indicate an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease.

This fun and lively conversation with Dr. Morgan offers valuable, practical insights into women’s heart health. I look forward to recording future podcast episodes with her.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


One-size-fits-all treatment of women during medical training in the ’90s and early 2000s


Speaking up in the exam room when something doesn’t feel right


When hormone therapy was labeled dangerous, and the fallout that followed


Medicine’s uncomfortable truth: clinicians must keep learning or fall behind


Gender-neutral cardiology and the women it left behind


The midlife risk-factor pileup no one prepared women for 


Why not taking blood pressure or cholesterol medications is risky rather than healthy


Heart attacks often mistaken for anxiety, especially in women


Slow change, real progress in women’s cardiology care

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. Jayne Morgan


On Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn

Today, I’ll be unpacking some of the research and science surrounding digestive rest and intermittent fasting. 

In this episode, I am transparent about the fact that what works for me now may not be what worked five or ten years ago. I explain what happens in your body when you’re not eating, explore ways to approach intermittent fasting, and highlight why your goals, life stage, and metabolic health should guide your choices.

Whether you’re focused on building muscle, improving metabolic flexibility, or supporting fat loss, I hope that you walk away with a clearer understanding of how long you should go without eating, while honoring your current stage of life.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


How everything changed after 10 years of intermittent fasting


How digestive rest differs from intermittent fasting


Why intermittent fasting works better as a metabolic strategy


How digestive rest supports healing


The metabolic value of intermittent fasting  


How perimenopause and menopause impact the gut microbiome


How to determine whether digestive rest or intermittent fasting is more appropriate in different life stages

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