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

I am thrilled to have Gary Taubes back on the show today. (He was with me before on episode 137. Gary is an investigative science and health journalist whose work has been pivotal in catalyzing the low-carb keto movement. He has written many books, including his most recent, Rethinking Diabetes, and his articles are in many of the best anthologies. He has also received many science awards.

Today's discussion is particularly significant, given the recent report from the American Diabetes Association revealing that the annual cost of diabetes in the United States reached a staggering $412.9 billion in 2022, with individuals diagnosed with diabetes now representing one in every four dollars spent on healthcare.

In our discussion today, we dive into the history of diabetes, pertinent statistics, the prevailing standard of care, and the transformative influence of insulin on diabetes management and reactive hypoglycemia. Gary provides insights into his reactions to GLP-1s, the integration of medical and nutritional science into medicine, and the influence of organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, AHA, USDA, and NIH. Our discussion also extends to the effects of pharmaceuticals, the shortcomings of our approach to diabetes management and of existing models, and the challenges the low-carb community faces.

Stay tuned for today's eye-opening conversation, where we shed light on the complexities of diabetes care and explain how simple lifestyle changes can tremendously improve quality of life.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Rethinking Diabetes is a groundbreaking exploration of diabetes diagnosis, management, and treatment

Gary discusses the evolution of evidence-based medicine

Why the traditional medical approach to treating diabetes is inadequate

How the guidelines of the American Diabetes Association were based on outdated assumptions

How medical treatments compare with lifestyle changes for managing diabetes

Controversies surrounding how the pharmaceutical industry has influenced the way medical associations have shaped their diabetes management policies

How medical guidelines and dietary advice have evolved

What constitutes a healthy diet?

How patients often have trouble following diet recommendations, despite their best intentions

Is obesity a hormonal disorder or caused by overeating?

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Check out the Everyday Podcast on Instagram! www.instagram.com/everydaywellnesspodcast

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

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 Gary Taubes

On his ⁠website⁠

⁠Twitter⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

Previous Episode Mentioned

⁠Ep. 137 – High Blood Sugar Levels and Long-Term Damage with Gary Taubes⁠

Book Mentioned:

Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments is available from most bookstores or on ⁠Amazon⁠.

Today, I’m honored to reconnect with Dr. Jolene Brighten. She’s an award-winning, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, nutrition scientist, and leading voice in women’s health. She’s the author of Beyond the Pill, Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth, and her latest book, ADHD and Women: A Guide to Optimizing Your Hormones and Thriving with ADHD, which represents an expansion of her core thesis that women’s symptoms get chronically misattributed when the hormone piece is left out of the picture, which she now applies to ADHD. She also hosts The Dr. Brighten Show.

In today’s conversation, we look at why ADHD symptoms surface or worsen at hormonal transitions, the mental health effects of oral contraceptives and synthetic hormones, and the gut-brain connection to ADHD. We explore how gut dysbiosis dysregulates vagal nerve signaling; how butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids influence it; what endobelly is and how it affects histamine and mast cell degranulation; and emerging research on GLP-1s and endometriosis. We also discuss rejection sensitivity disorder and masking, nutritional and o lifestyle recommendations for improving symptomatology, and how key supplements like cytochrome and saffron can improve memory and mitochondrial health.

Stay tuned for a truly insightful conversation with Dr. Jolene Brighten and a deeper look at ADHD and Women.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How perimenopause can amplify ADHD symptoms

Why ADHD in some women remains unidentified until midlife

How gut dysbiosis can influence vagal nerve signaling in the ADHD brain

Why butyrate and resistant starches may be important for the ADHD brain

The connection between endometriosis, ADHD, and the gut

How Dr. Brighten guides neurodivergent women through HRT conversations

How rejection sensitivity dysphoria can affect women with ADHD

Dr. Brighten shares lifestyle recommendations for women with ADHD

Bio:

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and founder of Dr. Brighten Essentials. Board-certified in naturopathic endocrinology, a certified menopause specialist, and sex counselor, she is the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal?, and the forthcoming ADHD and Women. She is dedicated to helping women optimize their hormone, brain, and sexual health through evidence-based education.

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Check out Cynthia’s website.

Check out the Everyday Podcast on Instagram! www.instagram.com/everydaywellnesspodcast

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn

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. Jolene Brighten

Website

Pre-order bonuses for ADHD and Women (Meal plans to help optimize hormones and a PMDD workshop)

On Social Media: @DrJoleneBrighten

The Dr. Brighten Show

Welcome to this week’s Midlife Minute!

Today, I examine partial and full hysterectomies and what we know about their potential long-term effects, clarifying what the research tells us about bone, brain, and cardiovascular health, and what women should discuss with their healthcare providers before and after surgery.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How a partial hysterectomy differs from a full hysterectomy, and the abrupt estrogen changes ovarian removal can produce

Why having a hysterectomy before ages 40-45 can have a greater impact than having surgery closer to natural menopausal age.

How a hysterectomy can impact women’s bone health

What the research reveals about the connection between surgical menopause at a younger age, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s pathology

How a hysterectomy can affect women’s cardiovascular health

Why starting HRT early after an early-age hysterectomy could be important for your long-term health

Why younger women who experience surgical menopause may require higher estradiol doses than the standard menopausal regimens

The importance of advocating for yourself, understanding your personal risk, and talking with your clinician about estrogen and other hormone therapy before undergoing surgery

Quotes:

“Start those conversations early- before you ever have surgery.”

“If you are having these surgeries done before 45, before 40, you need HRT!”

“We have to manage our stress.”

“We have to get enough sleep.”

“We should be strength training.”

“We should be physically active.”

“We should be eating an anti-inflammatory diet.”

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

Research:

Increased Risk of Osteoporosis With Hysterectomy: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study Using a National Sample Cohort. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019. Choi HG, Jung YJ, Lee SW.

Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020. El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al.

Cardiovascular Disease After Hysterectomy in the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025. Thao V, Borah B, Stewart EA, et al.

Treatment of Women After Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy Performed Prior to Natural Menopause. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2021. Kaunitz AM, Kapoor E, Faubion S.

Hysterectomy, Oophorectomy, and Bone Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Endocrinology. 2025. Shariful Islam M, Tuesley KM, Wilson LF, et al.

Risk of Osteoporosis and Fracture After Hysterectomies Without Oophorectomies: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis. Osteoporosis International. 2022. Xu W, Wu W, Yang S, et al.

Hysterectomies Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Osteoporosis and Bone Fracture: A Population-Based Cohort Study. PloS One. 2020. Yeh YT, Li PC, Wu KC, et al.

Age at Surgical Menopause Influences Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer Pathology in Older Women. Neurology. 2014. Bove R, Secor E, Chibnik LB, et al.

Reproductive Period and Risk of Dementia in a Diverse Cohort of Health Care Members. Neurology. 2019. Gilsanz P, Lee C, Corrada MM, et al.

Examining the Association of Hysterectomy With and Without Oophorectomy on Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause, Cardiovascular or Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024. Chen Y, Li F, Liang L, et al.

Association of Premature Natural and Surgical Menopause With Incident Cardiovascular Disease. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2019. Honigberg MC, Zekavat SM, Aragam K, et al

Optimizing Health After Early Menopause. Lancet. 2024. Mishra GD, Davies MC, Hillman S, et al.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women Previously Treated for Endometrial Cancer. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018. Edey KA, Rundle S, Hickey M.

Today, I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Erin Kinney. She’s a naturopathic medicine doctor and the founder of the Kinney Clinic, which focuses on hormone replacement therapy, nutrition, adrenal health, thyroid, and lymphatic system issues. Dr. Kinney is also the stress reset expert and author of The Cortisol Cure.

In our conversation, we explore cortisol debt, how to recognize it through self-assessment, and why Dr. Kinney believes we need to change the narrative around stress. We discuss ways to modulate the autonomic nervous system, specifically the parasympathetic, the true drivers of low cortisol, including sleep and circadian rhythm disruption, overtraining without adequate recovery, nutrient depletion, chronic or stealth infections, and unresolved trauma. Dr. Kinney explains how Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus, and mold and mycotoxin exposure can contribute to more pronounced stress responses, and we examine the influence of caffeine, alcohol, and stimulants; calming supplements for stress and sleep; the gut-brain axis and gut immune dysfunction. Dr. Kinney also shares her preferred strategies to regulate cortisol easily and effectively.

Stay tuned for a truly enjoyable conversation with the delightful Dr. Kinney. Her book, The Cortisol Cure, is a great resource for anyone suffering from multiple stress-related issues.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

What “cortisol debt” means

The value of short, intentional periods of rest for training the “relaxed muscle”

How low cortisol can involve both external and internal stressors

How early trauma can train the nervous system to stay activated

Why alcohol may lead to disrupted sleep and anxiety

How caffeine and stimulants can increase your energy debt

Why supplements cannot replace foundational practices that support stress-response regulation

Dr. Kinney’s preferred supplements for calming the autonomic nervous system

How a poorly functioning gut can impact immune cells, thyroid-hormone conversion, and the body’s immune response

Dr. Kinney shares three repeatable practices to begin regulating cortisol

Bio:

Dr. Erin Kinney is a naturopathic doctor, author, and speaker specializing in hormonal health and the effects of chronic stress. She is the creator of the “Cortisol Bank Account” framework, the foundation of her book The Cortisol Cure, which breaks down complex stress and hormone science into a simple, accessible approach that helps readers understand what’s happening in their bodies and how to start feeling better. She founded The Kinney Clinic in Annapolis, Maryland, where she helps high-functioning men and women get to the root of fatigue, hormone imbalance, and chronic health issues so they can reset their stress response, boost their energy, and feel better than ever.

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. Erin Kinney

The Kinney Clinic

On Instagram

The Dr. Kinney Show

This episode is sponsored by Life Extension.

I am delighted to have Dr. Crystal Gossard, the Manager of Education at Life Extension, joining me today. Dr. Gossard is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition with over 15 years of experience in nutrition, fitness, dietary supplements, and integrative functional medicine.

In our conversation today, Dr. Gossard and I discuss uncommon heart health testing, including gaps in care for women in perimenopause and menopause, and clarify the critical importance of a bioindividual personalized approach. We dive into specifics on labs, including ApoB as a direct measurement, the influence of glycation, insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, LP(a), and high-sensitivity CRP as both a marker of systemic inflammation and a targeted inflammatory profile marker. We also cover oxidized LDL, inflammation and oxidative stress, the importance of CoQ10, and screening modalities like coronary artery calcium scoring, CCTA, CT angio, and Cleerly, and minerals, including magnesium and its role in over 600 enzymatic reactions in the body.

***Try Life Extension https://www.lifeextension.com/Cynthia10labs @LifeExtensionWelleness and save $10 on orders of $50 or more, plus free shipping, with code: Cynthia10

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

The importance of advanced lab testing for cardiovascular and metabolic health in women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause

What ApoB reveals about cardiovascular risk

Why Dr. Gossard considers LP(a) a one-and-done test

How elevated high-sensitivity CRP can indicate inflammation “simmering” in the background

How to manage inflammation through nutrition

How Dr. Gossard explains oxidized LDL

The value of CoQ10 for oxidized LDL

When should someone move beyond lab work to cardiovascular screening?

What magnesium testing can reveal

How magnesium supports the body

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. Crystal Gossard

Life Extension

Instagram

LinkedIn

Live Foreverish Podcast

Try Life Extension and save $10 on orders of $50 or more, plus free shipping, with code: CYNTHIA10.