Podcast Summary

Podcast: Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown
Episode: Part Two: Functional Health Expert Dr. Mindy Pelz on How Fasting Heals Hormones, Burns Belly Fat & Increases Sex Drive
Air Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Mayim Bialik (with Jonathan Cohen)
Guest: Dr. Mindy Pelz

Overview

In this engaging and candid episode, Mayim Bialik and co-host Jonathan Cohen conclude their two-part conversation with Dr. Mindy Pelz, a functional health expert and author specializing in women’s metabolic and hormonal health. The discussion dives into practical strategies for detoxing the body (especially via fasting), current policy issues affecting public health, the realities of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and vital lifestyle changes for women—especially around menopause. Dr. Pelz's no-nonsense approach and insider knowledge provide clarity on complex topics, empowering listeners to take charge of their health without being overwhelmed.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Toxic Burden: Living in a Chemical World

• Dr. Pelz explains we live in the most toxic time in history, with harmful chemicals present in the air, food, and everyday products ([01:33]).
• Detoxing with Fasting: Fasting for at least 17 hours activates autophagy, the body’s cellular “clean up” process that helps eliminate many toxins (except heavy metals).
• Glyphosate—the “Worst Toxin”: Dr. Pelz identifies glyphosate, a common pesticide (sold as Roundup), as the most detrimental and pervasive toxin affecting Americans today ([03:57]).
  • Glyphosate not only harms directly but also drives other toxins, like plastics and heavy metals, deeper into body tissues.

“The worst toxin that we are exposed to is glyphosate. Glyphosate is sprayed on all of our foods... Where there's lead, there's glyphosate. I don't care about red dyes. I care about what is happening systemically to us all.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [05:19]

2. Policy, Politics, and Health Confusion

• Policy Rollbacks: Recent political decisions have relaxed environmental safety regulations, particularly those regarding pesticides, compounding public health challenges ([04:35]-[06:23]).
• Health Messaging Chaos: Mayim expresses the confusion felt by the public viewing contradictory media messages—e.g., articles arguing Roundup is safe ([03:57]-[06:51]).
• Simplicity Amidst Complexity:
  • Dr. Pelz distills the advice: “Eat real food... If you have the funds to eat organic, eat it organic. If you don’t have the funds, follow Clean15 Dirty Dozen… and start tacking on 15 hours of fasting every day.” ([08:03])

3. Fasting as an Accessible Public Health Tool

• Accessibility for All: Dr. Pelz advocates fasting as an intervention accessible to everyone, regardless of income or time constraints, even for busy single parents ([11:26]).
• Detox Pathways: To enhance detoxification, she recommends:
  • Regular movement/sweating
  • Adequate sleep (for brain detoxification)
  • Daily bowel movements

Memorable Example:

“I realized in that moment that it’s become so complicated that a tool like fasting is such a beautiful answer that everybody can take the calling on.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [14:42]

4. Rethinking Menopause and Hormone Replacement

• Evolutionary Perspective: Dr. Pelz explains menopause is an adaptive process where the brain rewires itself to prepare older women for leadership roles—a concept rooted in the “grandmother hypothesis” ([15:29]-[19:14]).
• Common Menopause Myths: Mayim humorously challenges the “glorious wisdom” narrative and addresses the all-too-common, unpleasant symptoms of perimenopause ([19:14]-[20:27]).
• HRT: Not a Magic Bullet:
  • HRT can be valuable but must be paired with lifestyle changes (diet, fasting, movement); otherwise, women set themselves up for recurring problems ([21:57]-[24:32]).
  • The system’s complexity (choosing among patches, pills, pellets) leads to confusion and frustration.

“Hormone replacement therapy without lifestyle changes sets you up for failure over and over and over again. The two need to be in combination.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [23:51]

5. The Real Root of Sugar Addiction and Cravings

• Cravings Are Trained: Both brain chemistry and gut microbiota adapt to the foods we eat, increasing cravings for sugar and ultra-processed foods ([28:41]-[29:44]).
• Fasting & Habit Change: Dr. Pelz argues fasting, unlike diets or exercise routines, gets easier as the body adapts and cravings diminish.
• Gut Health & Candida: Specific microbes (e.g., candida) drive sugar cravings, but shifting away from processed foods starves them out over time ([29:33]-[30:49]).

“Fasting is the only weight loss tool that... gets easier with time... People don’t need motivation with their health. They need momentum.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [28:41], [31:10]

6. The Real Hormonal Disruptors and How to Fix Metabolism

• Biggest Offenders: Artificial colors and flavorings act as estrogen mimickers, disrupting hormonal balance for both men and women ([31:34]-[32:22]).
• Rising Conditions: There’s an observed surge in hormone-related issues such as endometriosis, PCOS, and infertility—largely linked to toxins and diet ([32:22]-[33:24]).
• Three Key Foods for Perimenopause:
  • Tubers (sweet potatoes, jicama, sunchokes)—rich in magnesium, necessary for hormone synthesis and low-glycemic
  • Fiber (salads, fibrous veggies)—feeds beneficial gut bacteria that process estrogen
  • Protein (preferably grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, or plant-based legumes)—amino acids form the building blocks for hormone production ([33:31]-[35:32])

7. Empowerment and Practical Next Steps

• Eating Rules: Eat real, minimally processed food—ideally with the sun (i.e., during daylight hours), and consider gentle fasting ([38:44]-[39:41]).
• Lifelong Learning: Dr. Pelz encourages listeners to find her books & YouTube channel for empowering, science-backed health education ([35:32]-[36:22]).
• Self-Compassion: Don't give up on yourself—tune out the chaos and focus on what works for your unique body ([36:53]-[37:13]).

“Just don’t give up on yourself… Start to discover what works for you and block the rest out.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [36:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bucking the System:

  • “You don’t get a free lifestyle pass because you do a drug of any kind. You don’t. Ozempic’s the same thing... you’re gonna gain the weight back. If you get off the HRT and you didn’t fix your lifestyle, all those symptoms are gonna come back.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [26:09]

• On Medical Confusion:

  • “No one has ever said this on our podcast. No one has ever been that clear and explicit...” — Mayim Bialik [27:38]

• Mayim’s Humor on Menopause:

  • “What am I leading besides a gang of other unhappy, exhausted, shriveled vagina women? That’s what I’m leading everybody. Follow me.” — Mayim Bialik [20:15]

• On Understanding Cravings:

  • “Cravings are trained... A great example is Candida... That fungus, as it grows, sends a signal up to your brain and says, give me more beer, pizza and sugar.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [29:44]

Timestamps by Topic

• Fasting and Detoxification: [01:17]–[03:57]
• Glyphosate and Environmental Toxins: [03:57]–[06:23]
• Food Policies and Simplicity: [06:24]–[09:01]
• Making Fasting Accessible to Everyone: [11:26]–[14:46]
• Menopause and Brain Rewiring: [15:29]–[19:14], [20:27]–[24:32]
• Realities of HRT and Medical System Failures: [21:39]–[27:38]
• Momentum, Motivation, and Sugar Addiction: [28:06]–[31:24]
• Artificial Hormonal Disruptors & Fixing Metabolism: [31:34]–[33:31]
• Three Foods to Add During Perimenopause: [33:31]–[35:32]
• Dr. Pelz’s Resources and Final Message: [35:32]–[36:53]
• Closing Reflection & Podcast Banter: [37:21]–[43:13]

Additional Memorable Banter

• Jonathan's Honest Fasting Struggles: [39:35]–[41:20]

  • His attempt at fasting leads to eating leftover turkey bolognese for “pre-breakfast” at 8:30 am, sparking humorous commentary from Mayim.

• Ketones and Science Fun: [42:15]–[43:00]

  • Mayim muses about the chemistry of ketones and the intriguing connections between basic science and fasting.

Final Takeaways

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s appearance on Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown offers hope, clarity, and actionable guidance amid the dietary and hormonal “noise” of modern life:

• Simplicity and consistency—through fasting, whole foods, and movement—matter more than chasing the next miracle drug or fad.
• For midlife women, especially, managing metabolic health and approaching menopause as a natural shift (not a pathology) is empowering.
• The intersection of policy, environment, and personal wellness underscores the urgency for both systemic change and individual action.

“You gotta bet on yourself.” — Dr. Mindy Pelz [36:53]