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

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

Welcome to Part 1 of our special bone health mini-series, featuring Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, personal trainer Debra Atkinson, and PhD researcher Dr. Darren Candow.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of contraceptive use on bone health, especially in young women, and explore how underfueling and relative energy deficiency can contribute to serious bone health issues early in life. We highlight the strong connection between thyroid health and bone health, and clarify how frequently, how much, and how intensely we should strength train to best support our bones. We examine the potential long-term benefits of vibration plates, address concerns with current osteoporosis screening guidelines, and explain why assessing women’s bone health earlier is crucial. Finally, we review the latest research on creatine monohydrate and its promising impact on bone health.

I sincerely hope you enjoy Part 1 of this mini-series, which sets the stage for understanding lifelong bone health.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


How underfueling, overtraining, and oral contraceptives can limit bone development 


The value of strength training and impact-based exercise for preserving bone density, supporting metabolic health, and reducing fracture risk


How even a few minutes of impact exercise per day can stimulate bone strength 


How vibration plates can complement strength and impact training


Why declining estrogen during perimenopause and menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures as women age


The benefits of weight training, resistance exercises, Pilates, and water aerobics for improving bone density and maintaining muscle strength


How creatine supplementation combined with resistance training or structured exercise can help preserve bone strength in postmenopausal women


How creatine alone, without physical activity, shows no meaningful benefit

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. Jocelyn Wittstein


On the Duke Health website


On Instagram

The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, co-authored by Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, and Sydney Nitzkorski, MS, RD, is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble, and from most bookstores.

Connect with Debra Atkinson


On her website


The Flipping 50 Podcast


On Social Media: @flipping50tv

Connect with Dr. Jessica Shepherd


Sanctum Med and Wellness


On Instagram: Jessica Shepherd or Modern Meno

Dr. Shepherd’s new book, Generation M, is available in-store or online from Barnes and Noble or on Amazon.

Connect with Dr. Darren Candow


On Instagram


On X


University of Regina

Featured Episodes

Ep. 467 Bone & Joint Health Tips for Women 40+ with Jocelyn Wittstein                             

Ep. 321 Muscle, Bone & Joint Health in Menopause with Debra Atkinson                   

Ep. 424 Menopause 101: Symptoms, HRT, and a Bio-Individual Approach with Dr. Jessica Shepherd

Ep. 301 Creatine: The Best Supplement for Better Bones & Brain Health with Dr. Darren Candow

Today, I have the privilege of connecting with Dr. Sara Gottfried! Dr. Sara is a board-certified physician who graduated from Harvard and MIT. She practices evidence-based, integrative, precision, and functional medicine. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University and Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health. She has written four New York Times bestselling books, including her latest, Women, Food and Hormones. 

Dr. Sara is one of my favorite doctors in integrative medicine and GYN! In this episode, we dive into the infodemic, how stress impacts hormones, the impact of age-related changes on hormonal regulation, alcohol, and gender differences with ketogenic lifestyles. We discuss some lesser-known hormones, including growth hormone, and how to support them properly. We touch on disordered eating, how trauma influences our relationship with food, epigenetics, and the role of a lifetime relationship with food. We also look at methylation, glutathione, detox reactions, supporting physical detoxification, and our toxic diet culture.

I hope you benefit as much from this episode as I did! 

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:


Dr. Sara explains what an infodemic is and how it has affected how she communicates with her patients. 


What happens to our hormones as we age?


The impact of stress on hormone regulation.


Dr. Sara busts the myth that testosterone is a male hormone and discusses what testosterone means for women.


How does alcohol consumption impact women’s hormones?


Why do men tend to have an easier time with the ketogenic diet than women?


The dramatic changes that occur in women’s bodies as they transition from perimenopause to menopause.


Looking at the interrelationship between trauma, stress, and autoimmunity.


The changes that occur with growth hormones as we age.


How trauma affects the genes.


How disordered eating impacts metabolism.


How to support physical detoxification naturally, without going to extremes.


How to address weight-loss plateaus.

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. Sara Gottfried


On her ⁠website⁠


⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

Dr. Sara’s books are available on https://www.saragottfriedmd.com/ and ⁠Amazon.⁠