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

I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Catherine Clinton today. She’s a licensed naturopathic physician, author, and the Founder and Chair of the Quantum Biology Health Institute. With over 18 years of clinical and educational experience, she helps wellness seekers and healthcare practitioners understand health through a systems-based, quantum biology lens. Her work is dedicated to expanding our understanding of health by honoring the body’s intelligence and its relationship with light, water, and the environment.

In today’s conversation, Dr. Clinton explains what quantum biology is and how light shapes circadian rhythms and hormone balance. We discuss the emerging science of structured water, grounding, fascia, mitochondrial health, and the gut's energetic environment, also exploring practical ways to support your health by paying attention to your body's relationship with its surroundings.

Join us for a truly fascinating discussion on how light, water, energy, and environment can influence our health in ways we have never even considered.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


How quantum biology differs from conventional biology


Why is natural morning light so important for our bodies?


The disruptive effects of LED lighting


Dr. Clinton explains what structured water is and the important role it may play in cellular function.


How healthy mitochondria support cellular energy production, hydration, overall health, and longevity


In addition to producing ATP, how the mitochondria can contribute to cellular hydration


How the minerals in drinking water can help the water move into and around cells


The value of grounding to support the electrical systems within the body


Why fascia is increasingly viewed as an active communication network within the body

Bio:  Dr. Catherine Clinton

Dr. Catherine Clinton, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician, author, and the Founder and Chair of the Quantum Biology Health Institute. With more than 18 years of clinical and educational experience, she helps wellness seekers and healthcare practitioners understand health through a systems-based, quantum biology lens.

While in naturopathic medical school, her diagnosis of two autoimmune conditions and Lyme disease reshaped her understanding of healing and led her beyond conventional models.

Dr. Clinton has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, teaches internationally, and maintains a small clinical practice in Eugene, Oregon. Her work is dedicated to expanding our understanding of health by honoring the body’s intelligence and its relationship with light, water, and the environment.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website.


Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Catherine Clinton


On her website


Order a copy of Dr. Clinton’s book, Optimize, and get free bonuses

Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, we’re exploring the benefits of creatine monohydrate, essential aminos, grass-fed beef liver, and Yolked (fortotropin). I explain how these products work together, the importance of resistance training and hormone optimization as foundational factors in midlife, and how supplements fit in.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


The benefits of using creatine monohydrate when training


The value of essential aminos for muscle protein synthesis and reducing protein breakdown


The nutrients provided by grass-fed beef liver


What research suggests about how Yolked may relate to myostatin modulation, muscle hypertrophy pathways, and growth factor signaling


Why I recommend using creatine, essential aminos, beef liver, and Yolked together as a stacked approach


Why resistance exercise remains the primary signal for muscle growth


The importance of hormone optimization for energy, muscle building, executive function, motivation, and recovery

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website.


Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Resources: 

Kion Aminos: Use the code CYNTHIA for 20% off

Yolked: Use the code CYNTHIA for 20% off

Ancestral Supplements: Use the affiliate code CYNTHIA

Today, I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein, a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician specializing in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, including POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

In our discussion, we discuss the invisible illness problem and complex medical illnesses, and Dr. Bluestein shares how being diagnosed with EDS in her 40s prompted her to pivot her career to focus on what is missing in medicine regarding those complex illnesses. We explore different types of hypermobility conditions and why women are disproportionately more affected by those conditions than men. We clarify what hypermobility means, the cluster of EDS, POTS, and MCAS, what to do when you have unexplained multi-system symptoms, and how AI can be beneficial. We also examine pain science, hypermobility, sympathetic overdrive, kinesiophobia, anesthesia considerations in connective tissue disorders, and the impact of midlife transitions, HRT, medical gaslighting, nervous system regulation, movement, nutrition, and validation and hope for patients with complex medical illnesses.

I am delighted to share this informative conversation with Dr. Linda Bluestein with the Everyday Wellness community, and look forward to having Dr. Bluestein back to explore this topic further.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


How patients with complex symptoms often go from specialist to specialist, yet none of them connect the dots.


How patients tend to be blamed when treatments fail


How POTS diagnosis is often based on heart rate changes, even though it’s not primarily a heart rate condition


How dysautonomia affects multiple body systems


How, apart from joint flexibility, hypermobility can also involve skin, tissues, organs, and multiple body systems.


How EDS, POTS, and MCAS can overlap


The value of AI tools for helping patients organize complex symptom histories


How sympathetic overdrive and kinesiophobia can worsen chronic pain


The impact of medical gaslighting

Bio:  Dr. Linda Bluestein

Dr. Linda Bluestein is a board-certified anesthesiologist and integrative pain medicine physician who specializes in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and related conditions, such as POTS, mast cell activation, and chronic pain.

She is the founder of Hypermobility MD and the host of the internationally recognized Bendy Bodies Podcast, where she bridges the gap between patients and clinicians by unpacking complex medicine through a pattern-based, whole-person lens. Dr. Bluestein is also an EDS patient herself, bringing both clinical expertise and lived experience to conversations about diagnostic delays, medical gaslighting, and compassionate, effective care.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website.


Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein


Bendy Bodies Podcast


Dysautonomia Support Network

I am delighted to have the privilege of reconnecting with Dr. Deb Matthew today. She joined me once before on Episode 259. She is a distinguished best-selling author, international speaker, and dedicated educator known as the Happy Hormone Doctor. 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing one of every 3.2 deaths among women annually. In our conversation today, Dr. Matthew and I delve into the realm of cardiovascular disease, exploring the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, essential laboratory testing, medications, and the neurocognitive changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause. We also focus on lifestyle, gut testing, and the all-time favorite topic: weight-loss resistance. 

Stay tuned for today’s engaging, enriching, and enlightening discussion with Dr. Deb Matthew.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:


How HRT reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease 


How long-term use of estrogen can reduce the risk of heart disease over time


Why you should do a hormone panel before starting HRT


How cortisol levels impact cardiovascular health


How the coronary calcium score helps to predict heart attack risk


Cholesterol markers and their significance in cardiovascular risk assessment


Managing cholesterol levels in perimenopausal women


The importance of addressing underlying hormonal imbalances in women to mitigate cognitive decline and lipid disorders


The connection between gut health and brain fog


How women’s testosterone levels impact their cognition and motivation


Hormone imbalance and weight loss resistance in women 

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website.


Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Deb Matthew


On her ⁠website⁠


⁠Facebook⁠


⁠Instagram⁠

Dr. Deb Matthew’s book This is Not Normal on Amazon⁠ 

Previous Episode featuring Dr. Matthew

⁠Ep. 295: HRT’s Impact on Women’s Health Through Time with Dr. Deb Matthew⁠

I am honored to connect with Dr. Navaz Habib today. He is the Vagus Nerve Doc, a bestselling author, and host of the Health Upgrade podcast.

In our discussion today, we look at what it takes to upgrade the vagus nerve, exploring how it is regulated, the role of vagal tone, and how it can be damaged with chronic stress. We examine the impact of allostatic load and dysregulation, and how midlife physiology compels us to proactively address our vagal tone. We cover the impact of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters, and why key nutrients like choline and omega-3s are necessary for proper vagal tone, and we dive into hormetic stressors and safety, how HRV and vagal tone are assessed, and targeted strategies to enhance vagus nerve performance. Dr. Habib also discusses his Vagus Program, which provides tools to improve vagal tone.

Stay tuned for this informative conversation with Dr. Habib. I look forward to inviting him back to continue the discussion.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


Dr. Habib describes the vagus nerve as the brake system of the autonomic nervous system, and explains how it connects to most major organs, working as a central communication highway


What vagal tone is 


Dr. Habib frames allostatic load in the context of a combined stress burden


How “little t” trauma influences vagus nerve function and creates stress response patterns later in life


Why midlife can be a period of increased stress sensitivity and autonomic dysregulation


The key biochemical drivers of vagus nerve signaling and immune regulation


How diaphragmatic breathing can directly influence vagus nerve activity


What HRV actually measures, and how to interpret it correctly


A practical framework of small interventions to build long-term autonomic flexibility

Bio:  Dr. Navaz Habib

Dr. Navaz Habib, aka "The Vagus Nerve Doc," is a best-selling author of 2 books - “Activate Your Vagus Nerve” and “Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve” and host of The Health Upgrade Podcast.

After using functional medicine to overcome his own health challenges, Dr. Habib built Health Upgraded, an online health program implementing his VAGUS protocol, to guide parents and professionals to enhance their health by unlocking the healing power of the Vagus nerve to reduce the effects of stress and inflammation.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


Check out Cynthia’s website.


Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com 


Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

Connect with Dr. Navaz Habib

On Instagram

The Vagus Nerve Doc on YouTube


Learn more about Dr. Habib’s Vagus Protocol and become part of the online community.

Dr. Habib’s books: Activate Your Vagus Nerve and Upgrade Your Vagus Nerve