Today I’m talking about why I chose hormone pellets as my own form of hormone replacement for estradiol and testosterone, as well as the pros and cons of other delivery options. Pellets, patches, creams, troches or other options are all available, but which one is best for you? I”ll be discussing all of those options and sharing some tips about how to find a provider, and what to ask them when you go to your appointment!
Apr 06, 2023•31 min
Today I'm sharing some interesting facts about testosterone for women, including the surprising fact that we actually produce more than five times more testosterone than estradiol throughout our lives. Around menopause, testosterone (along with estradiol) drop to levels close to zero- and not coincidentally a number of health conditions begin to increase. I'm sharing exciting data supporting the fact that replacing testosterone significantly decreases the incidence of breast cancer, as well as o...
Mar 29, 2023•24 min
The Empowering Midlife Wellness retreat is right around the corner! Before you know it May 5-8th will be here! Join me, an array of incredible hosts (Dominique Sachse, Elaine Turner, Elizabeth Irvine and more), as well as 30 like-minded women for a beautiful transformative weekend of connection and celebration of midlife at Miraval Austin Resort & Spa! Keep watching to hear the details from each host on what they will be offering at the retreat. Once you're confirmed to attend, my team will ...
Mar 21, 2023•14 min
I’ve been talking a lot lately about menopause, but the years immediately before menopause are probably the most difficult ones to manage for both patient and provider, since they are characterized by highly fluctuating hormone levels, and frequently associated with lots of nasty side effects. Today I’ll be focusing on those years before menopause that we call “peri-menopause” - when we are still producing ovarian hormones, but in levels that are fluctuating and unpredictable, and sometimes make...
Mar 09, 2023•43 min
Every week I receive so many questions about whether it’s safe to take hormones after age 60, if it’s safe to start them more than 10 years after menopause, or when I have a family history of breast cancer, amongst others. Today I’ll be answering some of the most common questions regarding timing of hormone replacement and the science behind statements that we should stop them at a certain age, and similar recommendations that are still made by many physicians. Also, don’t forget if you want an ...
Mar 02, 2023•20 min
Today I’m back with my dear friend Meg Ellis, conscious life coach, and founder of Phoenix 8 consulting. I’m talking with Meg about what conscious life coaching involves, and her three pillars for transformation; including the Enneagram personality test, bringing consciousness to our thought patterns and stories, and the “law of attraction.” I’ll be sharing some real stories about how this coaching system has transformed my own life and how it could do the same for you!Meg Ellis: https://www.pho...
Feb 22, 2023•43 min
The menopause world (and midlife women) have been buzzing this week about a recent New York Times article by Susan Dominus entitled “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause.” This is a truly brilliant article which brings to light a number of incredibly important issues about the lack of menopause education for both physicians and patients. Dominus digs into the details of exactly why we were fed so much misinformation after the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study was stopped prematurely due to ...
Feb 16, 2023•52 min
I frequently hear about the counter -cultural idea that some men want sex more than their female partners. In fact, being rejected by our heterosexual partner is one of the most painful forms of rejection that we can experience. Naturally we feel it’s our fault….but it’s NOT! There is nothing wrong with you and the problem lies with him. Today I will discuss some of the most common reasons for male lack of sexual desire, and hopefully ease your pain about the shame and rejection that can cripple...
Feb 01, 2023•31 min
We still have a few spots left for Empowering Midlife Wellness retreat, and some of you have understandably wondered exactly what it’s going to be like before you make your decision! This weekend I had the opportunity to visit Miraval Austin Spa & Resort, and today I’ll explain all the details about the retreat as well as all of the amazing goodies that are included, so that you can picture exactly what you will experience for this magical weekend! We can’t wait to see you there. It’s going ...
Jan 25, 2023•33 min
I’m so excited to announce that we now have Morpheus8 radio frequency skin tightening technology in our office! Following my normal policy, I never offer anything that I haven’t had done myself - and having had this procedure several times I can personally tell you that it does make a significant difference for those annoying areas of wrinkly skin, especially under the chin, over the knees, and really just about anywhere! Today I’ll be talking about how Morpheus8 works and what to expect when yo...
Jan 19, 2023•18 min
Bone loss accelerates around the time of menopause, which makes it so important to understand if we are at risk for developing significant bone loss or osteoporosis, which increases our risk of serious fractures. Today I’m talking about how to assess our bone health, as well as what interventions we can take to reduce our risk of bone loss and prevent osteoporosis, as well as how to treat osteoporosis if it’s already present.
Jan 11, 2023•35 min
With New Year’s resolutions in the air, most of us are actively thinking about ways to move towards the best version of ourselves. Just like Aristotle describe the inevitability of an acorn becoming an oak tree with the right nutrition, I believe that we are destined to become the best version of ourselves if we surround ourselves with the right people and things to help us to move in that direction. Perhaps we could be less aggressive about resolutions and instead allow ourselves to move in a p...
Jan 04, 2023•14 min
I always love sharing good news from patient success stories, and this amazing patient not only lost 56 pounds this year, but no longer has diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and other health issues! After 2 failed bariatric surgeries she had given up hope that anything would work, but at 72 years old she is now healthier than she’s been in the past 30 years. This program truly can work for any patient, and hearing this story you will be inspired not to give up your dream of getting to you...
Dec 20, 2022•20 min
The holidays can be a scary and confusing time when we are trying to stick to a healthy eating or weight loss plan. Today I’m back with Functional Medicine doctor Nashat Latib who will share 7 easy tips for enjoying holiday meals without blowing your nutrition plan. Simple substitutions like switching canola oil to avocado oil, or using gluten-free flour will allow you to enjoy the foods you love without the harmful consequences! Scout & Cellar wines - https://scoutandcellar.com/ NuNaturals ...
Dec 15, 2022•21 min
When it comes to assessing hormone replacement, the terminology can be incredibly confusing. Terms like natural, synthetic, plant-based, bio-identical, compounded, or FDA approved are used regularly (mostly as marketing terms) and often don’t have much real meaning. Today I’ll do my best to make sense of all of that terminology and simplify it for you, and let you know what is important and what isn’t!
Dec 09, 2022•14 min
In recent years, medicine has seen an incredible increase in understanding of the importance of a healthy gut for prevention of countless diseases, and less than optimal well-being. Today I’m talking with functional medicine doctor Nashat Latib about the importance of a healthy gut biome, as well as how to test for and treat gut dysbiosis, including leaky gut syndrome and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.) This is incredibly important information to understand, since it affects almost...
Dec 01, 2022•30 min
Many of us struggle with comparing Thanksgivings of the past, missing family members who are no longer here or otherwise wishing things to be different. Meanwhile, is there a way to find happiness in whatever situation we find ourselves, as “imperfect” as it may seem? Today I’m chatting with conscious life coach Meg Ellis about dedicating a day to gratitude, no matter what our situation. Phoenix 8 consulting - www.letscreateyourfate.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letscreateyourfate Fac...
Nov 23, 2022•18 min
Peptide science is on the cutting edge of anti-aging and longevity medicine, and today I will share some basic information about what peptides are, as well as digging into one particular popular combination called Ipamorelin/CJC-1295. Is this really the fountain of youth that some people claim or just another hoax? I’ll share what the science says about this popular peptide combination, as well as my own experience with using it for the past 30 days!
Nov 16, 2022•25 min
All of us know the feeling of having harmful patterns of behavior that seem to repeat over and over again, seemingly out of our control. Perhaps especially in midlife when transition is almost characteristic of every part of our lives, learning how to break these destructive habits is more important than ever. In doing so, we can finally live a life that is peaceful and within our control, and move towards living as the best version of ourselves. Today I’m talking about an incredibly helpful psy...
Nov 09, 2022•26 min
So frequently when our female patients start feeling better with hormone balance their male partners tell me they need some of what she has! Today I’m talking about options for testosterone replacement for men, including the pros and cons of different delivery methods. I’ll also be getting into details about how hormone pellets are delivered in male patients, including the risks and of course the many benefits!
Nov 02, 2022•19 min
Today I’m celebrating by reviewing some basics but often misunderstood facts about menopause, and giving you my four most important tips for not just surviving, but thriving in midlife and beyond! Oura ring - https://ouraring.com/ Sexually Woke book - https://www.amazon.com/Sexually-Woke-Awaken-Secrets-Midlife/dp/1950934446 No Bad Parts book - https://www.amazon.com/No-Bad-Parts-Restoring-Wholeness/dp/1683646681
Oct 18, 2022•18 min
There’s so much science these days about how important it is to have a healthy gut biome (bacterial population) for optimal health, and real science about how many diseases are caused by dysbiosis (having an unhealthy gut bacterial population). Today I am digging into some common terms that many of us don’t understand, including “pre-biotics” and “probiotics” and whether we need to take them, or if we can find them in our diet. Most importantly, what does the science say about whether these actu...
Oct 12, 2022•18 min
Traditional medical approaches are generally very adamant against taking any form of hormone replacement when we have had breast cancer. Today I am discussing the pros and cons of this very important decision, and offering food for thought that it should ultimately be YOUR decision, not one that is made for you. I’ll be discussing the pros and cons of taking anti-estrogen medications after a diagnosis of early stage breast cancer, as well as offering options to improve quality of life- even incl...
Oct 05, 2022•27 min
Omega-3 supplements have been claimed to help prevent almost every imaginable ailment, from cancer to ADHD, heart attack/stroke, pregnancy problems and countless more. But what does science really support about taking Omega-3 supplements, and what’s the best source and dose if we do take them? I’ll be sharing all of that and more today to help get to the bottom of what’s fact and fiction regarding this popular supplement!
Sep 29, 2022•20 min
We all know that some people struggle more with weight loss than others, and losing weight is certainly not as easy as just dieting and exercising. Hormones including leptin, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptides and others control our brain's desire to eat or to feel full. And while we may have a genetic predisposition to have certain levels of these hormones, there are things we can do to modify them in a positive way. Other emerging science suggests that the bacterial makeup of our gut can also det...
Sep 21, 2022•16 min
We spend about 1/3 of our lives asleep, yet most of us (including me, until recently) don’t give it nearly enough attention. Today I’ll remind you not only about the multiple health benefits of sleep, but I'll also discuss how to track it, and what to do if sleep doesn’t come easily. Sometimes, right when we finally have the space to sleep well, menopausal hormone changes throw another major sleep challenge at us, but there’s a solution to that, too. As a seasoned insomniac who is now sleeping 7...
Sep 14, 2022•21 min
Lowering our “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and elevating our “good” cholesterol (HDL) is something most of us know is important for heart health. But most of us are taught that the best way to do this is with cholesterol lowering medications called statins, which are strong chemicals with lots of potentially nasty side effects. Today I’m talking about scientifically proven ways to improve your lipid panel with nutrition and plant-based supplements, so you can have a healthy heart without the drugs!
Sep 07, 2022•18 min
It’s the end of August and most of our kids are back in school and college, and many of us in midlife are watching our children become independent adults and leave home. The so-called “empty nest syndrome” can be experienced as a huge range of emotions- from joy, relief and pride; to grief, lack of purpose and depression. Today I’m talking about my own ongoing experience with becoming an empty nester, as well as sharing what I’ve learned from talking to thousands of women in our age group, and n...
Aug 31, 2022•32 min
Today I’m continuing the conversation about the importance of optimal thyroid function, so make sure you check out part one from last week! This episode delves into the optimal values for important labs that you should make sure that your provider checks, as well as looking at the details of all the different treatment options!
Aug 24, 2022•25 min
Our thyroid gland is one of the most important and under-appreciated organs in our body, controlling our metabolism and vital for every cell to function optimally! Today is Part 1 of a 2-part series, where I"ll be talking about how our thyroid works, what it needs to function optimally, why low thyroid is so frequently misdiagnosed and under treated, and what labs to request to advocate for your own thyroid optimization. Tune in next week to hear more about optimal lab values and different treat...
Aug 17, 2022•26 min
