Energized with Dr. Mariza

How often do you think about the connection between what you eat and how you feel—not just in the moment, but the next day, or even years down the line?

As women, especially in midlife, our relationship with food and our bodies is constantly evolving.

But what if you could harness that evolution to feel better than ever?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Mindy Pelz, best-selling author of Eat Like a Girl, as we uncover the secrets to transforming your relationship with food so that it works for you—not against you.

Dr. Mindy shares her personal journey with fasting, emotional eating, and how she learned to truly nourish her body in midlife for lasting energy, metabolic flexibility, and vibrant health.

Together, we break down the myths about "eating perfectly.”

And why SO many women unknowingly sabotage their metabolism.

You’ll walk away with simple, powerful strategies that you can start using today to finally break free from that cycle—for good.

Tune in if you’re ready to enjoy every bite while unlocking better energy, hormones, and resilience!

IN THIS EPISODE

How fasting and metabolic flexibility can shift your relationship with food and your body

Why blood sugar is more important than counting calories for hormonal and metabolic health

How to support your gut microbiome (or “tummy friends”) and why it’s critical for cravings and energy

What to do when you hit an afternoon slump, and how to avoid relying on snacks or sugar

The role of emotional eating and how to recognize when food is being used as comfort

Using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to personalize your food choices and regain control of your health

Simple swaps and habits that can transform how you feel day to day

QUOTES

"Your blood sugar is the ultimate biomarker of your cellular energy and metabolism. Regulating it changes everything—from your hormones to your mental clarity."

"We’ve all done things like grabbing a snack to ‘push through’ the afternoon slump, but there are better ways to reset your energy—movement, hydration, or just a quick 10-minute walk."

"When we stop treating food as the enemy and start understanding what our body needs, we begin to thrive, even in midlife."

"Women’s bodies are always evolving. Learning to nourish yourself based on your current needs is how we cultivate true energy and resilience."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

http://drmariza.com/book

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s new book: Eat Like a Girl

https://amzn.to/3YhhkF9

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s website

LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix – Dr. Mariza’s favorite way to stay hydrated, energized, and balanced

http://drinklmnt.com/DrMarizaSnyder

RELATED EPISODES

595: How to Master Your Metabolism and Reverse Cellular Aging in Midlife + My Best Tips to Thrive with Dr. Mariza

#551: How to Know if You Have a Sluggish Metabolism and How It Impacts Your Weight, Hormones, and Cellular Energy

#601: The Food You Eat Will Impact Your Menopause Journey + Foods to Ease Menopause and Promote Longevity with Dr. Federica Amati

You’re dependable. Capable. Successful. The one everyone calls because they know you’ll handle it.

But somewhere along the way, did you learn to leave yourself behind?

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with former couples therapist and women’s identity coach Hilary Silver to explore self-abandonment: the subtle ways women silence their needs, overfunction, people-please, carry everyone else’s load, and become whoever they believe they need to be to keep the peace.

They unpack why these patterns often begin long before adulthood, how they become intertwined with identity and self-worth, and why simply taking a vacation, delegating, or setting a few boundaries may not create lasting change if the underlying beliefs remain intact.

Hilary shares how women can begin questioning the “I have to” and “I should” stories running their lives, consciously choose a different identity, reclaim their time, and stop measuring their worth by how much they can carry.

Because midlife may be the moment you finally ask:

What do I actually want?

HILARY SILVER

Hilary Silver is a former couples therapist, coach, and founder of Ready for Love and Ready for More.

Her work focuses on helping high-achieving women transform their relationship with themselves, identify the beliefs and patterns driving overfunctioning and self-abandonment, and consciously create a life that reflects who they actually want to become.

In this conversation, Hilary brings more than two decades of experience working with women and relationships to a deeper discussion about identity, boundaries, self-worth, and putting yourself back at the center of your own life.

IN THIS EPISODE

What self-abandonment actually looks like in everyday life

Why people-pleasing and shape-shifting often begin in childhood

How high-achieving women can tie their worth to being indispensable

Why boundaries and delegation alone may not change deeply rooted patterns

How identity drives overfunctioning, rushing, and constantly carrying the load

Why midlife can become a powerful moment for questioning what you’re no longer willing to carry

How to challenge beliefs that feel like facts but may simply be old conditioning

Why Hilary reframes repetition as devotion rather than discipline

The question that can help you start putting yourself back at the center of your life

QUOTES

“Our beliefs are not fact.”

“It’s not vigilance and discipline, it’s devotion.”

“Doing nothing is doing something.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

https://drmariza.com/trial

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

https://www.mitoq.com/energized%C2%A0

Hilary Silver Website

https://hilarysilver.com/

Hilary Silver Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1739660144

Hilary Silver Instagram

Hilary Silver Facebook

Hilary Silver Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

777: What We Know Now: The Midlife Lessons No One Taught Us with Jenn Pike

760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman

699: Managing Anxiety and Identity in Midlife + Why You Need Community More Than Supplements with Rosie Acosta

170: Saying NO to People Pleasing and Establishing Effective Boundaries with Amy Smith

You’re eating more protein, taking your supplements, prioritizing sleep, working out, and managing your stress. Maybe you’ve even started HRT. And yet you’re still exhausted, your brain feels foggy, and none of it is making the difference you hoped for.

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Jessica Kane Berman, Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer of BodyBio, to look past your hormone levels to the cells those hormones are trying to reach.

Jessica explains that hormones are messengers, and their message lands on the cell membrane. When that membrane is disrupted, even the right hormones, or the right HRT, can fall flat. And as women head toward menopause, they lose some of their ability to make the phospholipids that build those membranes from food.

They unpack what “leaky cells” are and how microplastics, heavy metals, and environmental toxins get inside, why the brain and the lining of the gut both depend on phosphatidylcholine (PC), and why so few women get enough phospholipids from their diet.

They also explore why fish oil may not be the answer it’s sold as, why a supplement’s quality and form decide whether it ever reaches your cells, the simple foundation Jessica would start with, and how the liver and bile flow fit in. Dr. Mariza also shares why BodyBio has been part of her own protocol since back-to-back concussions left her fighting to get her brain back.

Listen now to learn what your cells may be missing, and how to build a foundation that helps everything else you do for your hormones actually work.

JESSICA KANE BERMAN

Jessica Kane Berman is Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer of BodyBio, the third-generation, family-owned cellular health company founded by her grandfather, Ed Kane. She leads BodyBio’s brand strategy, education, and global growth, translating the science of cell membranes, phospholipids, and mitochondrial health into practical steps people can use to feel their best.

BodyBio’s approach starts at the cell membrane, with phospholipids, essential fatty acids, and minerals that support how cells communicate, make energy, and clear toxins. Its products are trusted by more than 40,000 healthcare providers across the U.S. and U.K., and the company supports ongoing clinical research with institutions including the NIH.

In this conversation, Jessica shares her own hormonal history, from polycystic ovaries and being told she’d need Clomid and metformin to get pregnant, to three healthy babies and the shift she felt after her last pregnancy, and why she now looks at her hormones and her cells together.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why the health of your cells matters as much as your hormone levels

How a hormone’s message lands on the cell membrane, and why a disrupted membrane can leave HRT falling flat

Why women lose some of their ability to make phospholipids from food as they head toward menopause

What “leaky cells” are, and how microplastics, heavy metals, and environmental toxins get in

Why phosphatidylcholine (PC) matters for brain health, mom brain, and the lining of your gut

Why fish oil may not be giving your cells the fats they need, and better ways to get DHA

How a supplement’s quality and form decide whether it ever reaches your cells

The foundation Jessica would start with: healthy fats, minerals, and B vitamins

How the liver, bile flow, and TUDCA help your body process hormones and clear toxins

QUOTES

“Hormones are messengers, essentially. And the message lands on the cell membrane.”

“Everything ties back into how it functions on a cellular level.”

“They’re not supplements. These are essential nutrients that we need.”

RESOURCES MENTIONEDUse code DRMARIZA for 20% off BodyBio Hormone Essentials: The Hormone Health Stack

https://bodybio.com/DRMARIZA

Find inspiration, connection, and meaningful reads. Join the Book Club now!

https://drmariza.com/bookclub

BodyBio Website

https://bodybio.com/

Jessica Kane Berman Instagram

BodyBio Instagram

BodyBio TikTok

BodyBio Facebook

RELATED EPISODES

779: How Did We Get Hormones So Wrong? The HRT Story Every Woman Should Know with Dr. Louise Newson

755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry

750: The Underlying Cellular Cause of Midlife Fatigue, Brain Fog & Low Motivation with Andrew Salzman

736: Why Women Over 40 Feel So Drained (The Mineral Deficiency No One Talks About) with Caroline Alan

If you've started to feel blindsided [and totally frustrated!] by energy crashes, brain fog, or mood swings in midlife, you're not alone.

But here’s what no one’s talking about… this isn’t something to ignore or just power through. Perimenopause in midlife is a MASSIVE transition.

And the choices you make right NOW will determine your health for the next 40+ years.

In this episode, I’m sharing some science-backed strategies straight from my new book, The Perimenopause Revolution, to help you reclaim your energy, feel more like yourself again, and confidently navigate this powerful midlife transition.

We’re diving into the surprising connections between your current symptoms and your long-term health, why consistency matters more than perfection, and how to future-proof your body with smart, supportive habits.

Don't let another day go by accepting less than you deserve. Listen here for all my tips and join the thousands of women who are already transforming their midlife experience with my perimenopause Freebies!

IN THIS EPISODE



The drastic changes we go through during perimenopause



The knowledge gap in women’s health research



How your choices now impact the quality of the rest of your life



How your hormones can bottom out during perimenopause



Essential biomarkers to monitor in perimenopause and beyond



Non-negotiable lifestyle strategies for optimal health



How to Pre-order The Menopause Revolution book and get tons of FREE bonuses!

QUOTES

“Once you understand what's happening in your body during this profound transition… You can transform perimenopause from something that happens to you to something you navigate with power, knowledge, and most importantly, the right support.”

“8 out of 10 of the most common perimenopausal symptoms are brain-related. We're talking sleep issues, brain fog, rage, mood swings, irritability, night sweats, zero stress tolerance, mental fatigue, anxiety, hot flashes…”

“It's everything you need to get the results that you deserve. Perimenopause isn't the beginning of your decline. It's your wake-up call to step into the most vibrant, confident, unapologetic version of yourself for the next 40+ years.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

http://drmariza.com/book

Thriving in Perimenopause FREE Survival Guide

https://go.drmariza.com/lp/perimenopause-survival-guide/

Melani Sanders We Do No Care Club on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/discover/melani-sanders-we-do-not-care

Dr. Mariza on Facebook

RELATED EPISODES

#648: This Changes Everything: The Perimenopause Revolution Every Woman Needs Now

#646: The Number One Exercise Hack I’m Doing Daily In Peri To Burn Fat, Build Lean Muscle and Boost Energy & Mental Clarity

#576: How to Build Bone, Muscle, Tendon, and Metabolic Resilience in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Vonda Wright

What happens when the version of you who could always push harder suddenly isn’t available anymore?

For Mona Sharma, perimenopause arrived in a way she never expected. After navigating mold exposure, long COVID, gut issues, disrupted sleep, hair loss, and an experience with testosterone pellet therapy, an unexpected frozen shoulder became one of the clues that made her finally consider declining estrogen and perimenopause.

But this conversation goes much deeper than hormones.

Mona and Dr. Mariza explore the emotional reckoning that can happen when your old capacity changes, the routines that once worked stop working, and the high-functioning woman you’ve known for decades starts asking for a completely different way of living.

They talk about HRT, stress, gut health, morning rituals, embodiment, intuition, sisterhood, aging, self-criticism, and the grief that can come with letting go of an earlier version of yourself.

Most importantly, Mona reframes perimenopause as a metamorphosis: a season that asks for more grace, deeper self-trust, and the courage to come home to the body you’re in now.

MONA SHARMA

Mona Sharma is a nutritionist, wellness practitioner, entrepreneur, and host of the Rooted in Wellness podcast.

Her approach blends nutrition and lifestyle practices with mindfulness, embodiment, Eastern traditions, and a deeply personalized approach to healing.

In this conversation, Mona shares her own experience navigating perimenopause while raising children, growing businesses, supporting aging parents, healing her gut, managing significant stress, and learning how to listen to a body that no longer responds the way it once did.

IN THIS EPISODE

The unexpected symptoms that first made Mona realize she might be in perimenopause

What her experience with testosterone pellet therapy taught her about individualized hormone care

Why HRT is not a cookie-cutter solution and may require patience, experimentation, and self-awareness

How chronic stress and gut health can complicate the way you feel during perimenopause

Why protecting one grounding ritual can matter more than creating a perfect wellness routine

How to approach prevention from possibility and purpose instead of fear

Why embodiment and intuition can become powerful tools when your mind feels scattered or overwhelmed

The grief of letting go of the high-capacity woman you used to be

How perimenopause can become a rite of passage into deeper wisdom, self-trust, and a new identity

QUOTES

“Finding the practice or the ritual every day that brings you home to your body is key.”

“This transition is metamorphosis.”

“It’s okay to drift, it’s part of life, but you always have to remember how to anchor yourself home in your body.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

https://drmariza.com/trial

Mona Sharma Website

https://www.monasharma.com/

Rooted in Wellness Podcast

https://www.monasharma.com/podcast

Join Rooted Academy with Mona Sharma

https://www.monasharma.com/rooted-academy

Mona Sharma Instagram

RELATED EPISODES

777: What We Know Now: The Midlife Lessons No One Taught Us with Jenn Pike

776: What Changes When Your Body Can’t Keep Pushing Like It Used To? with Dr. Taz Bhatia

774: Training for Your Grandma Self: How to Build a Body That Lasts with Dr. Stephanie Estima

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause