Episode 445

Why It’s So Hard to Lose Weight for Women 40+ and How to Optimize Hormones During Perimenopause and Menopause

With Dr. Sara Gottfried
Listen on Apple Podcast
Listen On

Download MP3

As women approach their mid to late thirties, they often suffer symptoms that are ignored or dismissed by conventional medicine. Insomnia, weight gain, irritability, reduced memory, and brain fog are all symptoms that can drastically change the quality of life for women. Today’s guest is here to show us that there is hope and that it doesn’t have to be this way. 

Today on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Dr. Sara Gottfried for a deep dive into women’s health, specifically the changes that occur in perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Gottfried shares the symptoms women in these categories face and the science behind why they occur. She shows us the critical tests that need to be addressed, offers practical tips women can implement to address these changes and balance key hormones, and inspires women to empower themselves on their road to longevity.

Dr. Sara Gottfried 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. Her three New York Times bestselling books include The Hormone Cure, The Hormone Reset Diet, and Younger. Her latest book is Women, Food, and Hormones.

Also mentioned in this episode:

This episode is brought to you by JOOVV, LMNT, and Armra Colostrum. 

Right now, Joovv is offering an exclusive offer on your first order. Head over to Joovv.com/dhru and apply my code DHRU.

Right now, LMNT is offering my listeners a free sample pack with any purchase. Head over to DrinkLMNT.com/dhru today.

Receive 15% off your first order of Armra Colostrum at tryarmra.com/DHRU, or enter DHRU to get 15% off your first order.

I hope you enjoyed this conversation as much as I did.
Wishing you health and happiness.
Dhru Purohit

In this Episode, you will learn

  1. The metabolic crisis that women in their 40s go through and the hope that Dr. Gottfried offers on a different way to be and live
    (2:30)
  2. How conventional medicine often dismisses the symptoms that women feel and makes them feel it's a normal part of aging
    (10:18)
  3. The top misconceptions or misunderstandings about the interplay between hormones, including how long before menopause symptoms can start
    (16:12)
  4. Women with high cortisol levels in their 40s had decreased brain volume and memory
    (20:20)
  5. Common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause as they relate to aging: mood swings, depression, insomnia, and loss of libido
    (22:05)
  6. The environmental and lifestyle factors that impact women’s hormones including stress, ultra-processed foods, and exposure to endocrine disrupters
    (31:40)
  7. The top 3 hormones to balance and correct: cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid
    (41:38)
  8. The importance of testosterone as the most abundant hormone in women’s bodies
    (45:05)
  9. How Dr. Gottfried started her hormonal journey by testing her cortisol and how prioritizing meditation and yoga reduced her stress response
    (51:10)
  10. Dealing with insomnia during perimenopause when it’s especially critical to prioritize sleep and how progesterone can help
    (1:03:20)
  11. Testing thyroid levels at least once a year and the connection between thyroid and autoimmune disease
    (1:16:00)
  12. Bringing hormones in harmony by increasing protein, reducing ultra-processed foods, increasing fiber, and quality fat
    (1:22:00)
  13. The key to feeling better in menopause is measuring and addressing your glucose levels
    (1:33:00)
  14. What drives belly fat and the relationship between belly fat and cortisol
    (1:47:35)
  15. Micronutrients, including Vitamin D and copper, and how they impact thyroid levels
    (1:50:51)
  16. The role of post-traumatic stress and the use of psychedelics
    (1:54:15)
  17. Helping women over 40 and the importance of healing states of consciousness
    (2:07:26)
  18. Dr. Gottfried’s message of how it doesn’t have to be this way
    (2:12:30)

Guest

 
Dhru Purohit

Dhru is the host of the Dhru Purohit Show, a top 30 health podcast with over 30 million downloads. His interviews focus on the inner workings of the brain and the body and feature the brightest minds in wellness, medicine, and mindset.

Dhru Purohit is also a serial entrepreneur and investor in the health and wellness industry.

Learn More
Follow
 
Dr. Sara Gottfried

Dr. Sara Gottfried 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. Her three New York Times bestselling books include The Hormone Cure, The Hormone Reset Diet, and Younger. Her latest book is Women, Food, and Hormones.

Learn More
Follow
Send this to a friend