Today, I’m joined by the insightful Cynthia Thurlow, a leading voice in women’s health and the acclaimed author of The Menopause Gut. In this episode, Cynthia Thurlow gets real about the chaos of perimenopause—a time when so many women look in the mirror and ask, “Who is this?” She opens up about why this transition, often dismissed or misunderstood, is actually a powerful wake-up call and a pivotal moment to reclaim our well-being.

Cynthia Thurlow’s NEW book: The Menopause Gut

Episode Timestamps:

Podcast introduction and longevity themes ... 00:00:00

Cost of unaddressed perimenopause for women and communities ... 00:05:10

Hormonal chaos and clarity: How midlife prompts self-reinvention ... 00:06:11

Medical care gaps and the need for better menopause support ... 00:09:00

Estrogen decline, immune changes, and inflammation ... 00:17:25

Gut health, leaky gut, and links to autoimmunity in midlife ... 00:19:33

The gut-brain connection: Leaky gut and cognitive changes ... 00:25:05

Why "do less" resonates for high-achieving women in perimenopause ... 00:27:42

The role and controversy of GLP-1 medications ... 00:33:15

Gut microbiome, the estrobolome, and estrogen detoxification ... 00:44:21

Bacterial translocation and systemic impact of gut issues ... 00:49:34

Estrogen’s role in maintaining gut microbial diversity ... 00:53:31

The gut-ovarian axis, stress, trauma, and early menopause ... 01:00:06

The profound impact of stress on gut and hormones ... 01:08:31

Reframing menopause as opportunity and thriving post-transition ... 01:09:06

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#432: Midlife Wake-Up Call: Why Doing Less Is Important During The Peri- and Menopausal Transition With Cynthia Thurlow