Tag Archives | estrogen

776: What Changes When Your Body Can’t Keep Pushing Like It Used To? With Dr. Taz Bhatia

September 24, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

What if perimenopause isn’t simply changing your hormones, but revealing everything your body has been compensating for for years?

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with integrative medicine physician and women’s health expert Dr. Taz Bhatia for an incredibly personal conversation about what happens when the strategies that helped high-functioning women push through for decades suddenly stop working.

Dr. Taz shares how her own perimenopause began with incredibly heavy periods, fatigue, anemia, hair loss, mood changes, and unexpected weight gain.

But one of her biggest surprises came later: as progesterone and estrogen declined, her blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, A1C, and liver enzymes began creeping upward, revealing just how interconnected hormones and metabolic health really are.

They also explore the emotional transformation of midlife: letting go of people-pleasing, protecting your energy, releasing the need to be the “good girl,” and becoming clearer about who you are and what deserves your attention.

Listen now to rethink perimenopause as an opportunity to understand your body, protect your health, and step powerfully into what comes next.

DR. TAZ BHATIA

Dr. Taz Bhatia is a board-certified integrative medicine physician, women’s health expert, and bestselling author of several books, including The Hormone Shift. Her work explores the connections between hormones, metabolism, stress, nutrition, and whole-body health.

Through her Whole Plus clinics and podcast, Dr. Taz advocates for a more collaborative approach to women’s health that looks beyond symptoms to cognitive, metabolic, cardiovascular, bone, mental, and hormonal health.

IN THIS EPISODE

How extremely heavy periods became Dr. Taz’s first undeniable sign of perimenopause
Why weight gain in midlife isn’t necessarily something women simply have to accept
How estrogen and progesterone shifts can intersect with blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, and visceral fat
Why the “silent” cardiometabolic changes of menopause deserve more attention
Why your body may stop tolerating the stress, sleep debt, and depletion you once pushed through
How perimenopause helped Dr. Taz stop people-pleasing and build stronger boundaries
Why knowing your own patterns and tracking changes can help you advocate for yourself
How midlife can become an opportunity to redefine your identity, purpose, and power

QUOTES

Perimenopause is really where women come into their own.”

“These are not my battles. This is not my fight.”

“We gotta redefine what fine is.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Find inspiration, connection, and meaningful reads. Join my Soulful Shelf Book Club (no cost) here!

Join my brand new Substack: for the woman everyone depends on who is wondering why everything feels harder in midlife >>

The Hormone Shift by Dr. Taz Bhatia

The Superwoman Rx by Dr. Taz Bhatia

Dr. Taz Website

Dr. Taz Instagram

Hol+ Wellness Podcast

RELATED EPISODES

775: Wide Awake at 3 A.M.? What’s Really Disrupting Your Sleep in Midlife with Morgan Adams

774: Training for Your Grandma Self: How to Build a Body That Lasts

771: Beyond Hot Flashes: The 103 Symptoms of Perimenopause No One Talks About with Andrea Donsky

769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza

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773: What’s Really Driving How Fast You Age? The Science of Biological Aging with Nikolina Lauc

September 15, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

What if perimenopause isn’t only changing your hormones, but also changing how your body is aging underneath the surface?

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Nikolina Lauc, CEO and co-founder of GlycanAge, to explore emerging research on immune aging, chronic low-grade inflammation, and the menopause transition.

Nikolina shares research showing just how dramatically markers of “inflammaging” can shift when estrogen declines. In one hormone-blocking study, women gained 9.1 years on GlycanAge markers within six months, while research following twins found the rate of immune aging accelerated during the transition from perimenopause to menopause.

They unpack why this inflammation may be happening even when your traditional labs look normal, what glycans can reveal about how your immune system is functioning, and why biological age is more complex than a single number.

They also explore the research around HRT, exercise, weight loss, fasting, GLP-1 medications, nutrition, and why the same intervention doesn’t work the same way for every woman.

Listen now to discover what may be happening beneath the surface in perimenopause and how better data could help you become more proactive about how you age.

NIKOLINA LAUC

Nikolina Lauc is the CEO and co-founder of GlycanAge, a longevity biotechnology company focused on glycans, immune aging, chronic inflammation, and biological age.

GlycanAge’s research focuses specifically on “inflammaging,” the chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation associated with aging. Its work examines glycan structures on antibodies to better understand whether the immune system is behaving in a more pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory way.

IN THIS EPISODE

What biological age actually means and why there isn’t one universal biological-age number
How chronic low-grade inflammation can develop without obvious symptoms
Why immune-aging markers may accelerate during the menopause transition
How declining estrogen influences inflammation and immune function
Why your hormone and traditional inflammatory labs can look normal while something is shifting
What glycans can reveal about your immune system and inflammaging
What the research suggests about HRT, exercise, weight loss, fasting, and GLP-1s
Why interventions for healthy aging need to be personalized

QUOTES

“There’s never going to be one biological age.”

“Not everybody experiences perimenopause in the same way.”

“There’s no universal diet.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use Code ENERGIZED and Get 10% Off on your GlycanAge Single Order or Subscription

GlycanAge Website

GlycanAge Instagram

GlycanAge LinkedIn

RELATED EPISODES

771: Beyond Hot Flashes: The 103 Symptoms of Perimenopause No One Talks About with Andrea Donsky

770: The Heart Disease Risk Factor Most Women Aren’t Watching: What Your Blood Sugar and Insulin Can Reveal with Dr. Philip Ovadia

769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza

750: The Underlying Cellular Cause of Midlife Fatigue, Brain Fog & Low Motivation with Andrew Salzman

Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!

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741: Estrogen, Gut Health, Mitochondria, and Cardiovascular Health: What Changes In Perimenopause with Dr. Siobhan Mitchel

April 28, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 1

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Episode Summary

“Why does your body stop responding… even when you’re doing everything right?”

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Siobhan Mitchell to unpack the true metabolic and cellular shifts happening in perimenopause and menopause.

So many women feel like their body has suddenly turned against them—weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, and rising inflammation—despite doing all the right things. But this isn’t a failure of effort. It’s a biological inflection point driven by declining estrogen and its impact on metabolism, mitochondria, and vascular health.

Together, they break down how estrogen loss reshapes everything from blood sugar control to fat storage, mitochondrial function, and long-term cardiovascular risk—while also exploring the emerging role of gut health and phytoestrogens like S-equol as targeted support.

If you’ve been working harder than ever with fewer results, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do instead.

Be sure to tune in!

SIOBHAN MITCHEL

Dr. Siobhan Mitchel, PhD, is a neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at MitoQ. Her work focuses on mitochondrial health, cellular energy, and the role of oxidative stress in aging—particularly in women navigating perimenopause and menopause. She is passionate about advancing research that supports women’s long-term health, metabolism, and resilience at the cellular level.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why your body stops responding the same way in perimenopause
How estrogen loss impacts metabolism, fat storage, and blood sugar
The role of mitochondria in energy, brain function, and weight changes
Why visceral belly fat increases—and why it’s more dangerous
The connection between gut health, estrogen metabolism, and inflammation
How phytoestrogens (like S-equol) support metabolism and hormone signaling
Why midlife is a metabolic and vascular inflection point—not just hormonal

QUOTES

“This isn’t a failure of effort—it’s a biological shift happening beneath the surface.”

“When estrogen declines, you don’t just lose hormones—you lose metabolic protection.”

“If you support your mitochondria, you support your energy, your metabolism, and your long-term health.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off MitoQ

MitoQ Instagram

MitoQ Facebook

MitoQ Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

693: The Cellular Shift in Perimenopause: Mitochondria, Metabolism, and Energy

728: Why Brain Fog Isn’t Random: The Hormone Shift Behind It

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

705: The Metabolic Shift No One Warned You About in Midlife

Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!

Download the free Energy-Boosting Cheat Sheet now to learn how to unlock abundant health and energy that lasts—in only seconds every day!

723: Estrogen, Insulin & Heart Disease: Why Your Risk Rises in Midlife

February 24, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

For most of the past century, more women than men have died from cardiovascular disease. Yet, heart disease is still widely perceived as a male problem.

That’s why in this episode, we dive into why cardiovascular and metabolic health are essential for women, especially in midlife, and why education is your greatest tool.

You’ll gain the confidence to advocate for yourself and make informed decisions about your long-term health. I’ll also be sharing my favorite simple habits to kickstart your metabolism, protect your heart, and boost your everyday energy.

Remember, it never has to be perfect—consistency builds momentum, and that’s where real change begins.

Tune in here to gain key insight and prioritize yourself and your longevity!

IN THIS EPISODE

Recognizing the warning signs of cardiovascular disease
Labs and markers you should be asking your physician for
Why lifestyle medicine matters SO much in midlife
How to build metabolically healthy plates for each meal
Setting simple movement goals for optimal heart health
The massive benefits of sleep, mindfulness, and breath work
Supplements to support your cardiovascular and metabolic health
The pros of appropriately timed hormone replacement therapy

QUOTES

“Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. Not breast cancer, not ovarian cancer. All cancers combined. And what’s even more alarming for most women, the warning signs begin years- sometimes decades- before a heart attack or stroke ever happens.”

“Research shows that insulin resistance is a primary driver of cardio metabolic disease in women, especially after menopause.”

“You do not need perfection. You need 7,000 steps per day, walking after meals, fewer long sitting stretches. Get up and move your butt, even if it means walking around your house or going around the block. Start building your life around movement. This is one of the most powerful yet underestimated tools for heart health and for your resilience.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution HERE!

Order your Berkeley Life Nitric Oxide Support Supplement HERE!

RELATED EPISODES

716: Midlife, Hormones & Heart Health: The Critical Connection You’re Not Hearing About with Cathy Eason

711: Estrogen, Inflammation, and Your Heart Health: What Every Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

686: Your Second Puberty Explained: What’s Really Happening to Your Body in Perimenopause

Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!

Download the free Energy-Boosting Cheat Sheet now to learn how to unlock abundant health and energy that lasts—in only seconds every day!

711: Estrogen, Inflammation, and Your Heart Health: What Every Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj

January 13, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

Believe it or not, but there is as much cardiovascular risk associated with smoking as there is with the drop in estrogen in perimenopause and menopause.

But don’t worry– I’ve brought the hilarious, talented, and brilliant Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj onto the podcast to dive into why midlife is a uniquely important—and often overlooked—window for cardiometabolic health, and what you can do about it.

In this entertaining episode, Dr. Bhojraj breaks down why the drop in estrogen matters just as much as traditional risk factors and why so many women’s concerns are missed in conventional care.

We also reframe hormone therapy not as symptom management, but as a powerful tool for optimization, longevity, and long-term heart and metabolic health.

With humor and clarity, this conversation reminds you that you don’t need to overhaul your entire life —small, strategic changes truly add up.

Tune in here to learn how to simply and efficiently boost your health, starting with your heart!

Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj

Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is an interventional cardiologist and Institute for Functional Medicine–certified physician who bridges conventional cardiology with functional and lifestyle medicine. He spent 20 years treating disease with procedures and medications, but then shifted his focus toward uncovering root causes to help patients reverse chronic cardiometabolic conditions through food, sleep, stress optimization, and lifestyle change. Dr. Sanjay is the founder of the Well12 program and host of The Curious Cardiologist podcast, where he explores the science of longevity, inflammation, and human performance. His passion is helping people reclaim their health through simple, lasting changes.

IN THIS EPISODE

How Dr. Bhojraj moved into functional cardiac medicine
What age to start paying closer attention to cardiovascular health
Advocating for yourself and what labs you should be asking for
Why taking care of your cardiovascular health is crucial during midlife hormonal changes
Looking at your metabolic health before starting HRT
Metabolic markers to pay attention to in midlife
Non-negotiable small tweaks to improve your heart health
How bringing joy to your life can be the best tool for your health

QUOTES

“We need to talk about sleep, we need to have an intelligent discussion about diet and what that means. And we need to think about hormones too, because hormonal health is so central to cardiovascular health, and that is just not something that we talk about in cardiovascular training.”

“It’s like contributing to your 401k in your twenties, right? Like $200 doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you’re 65, you’re now retiring a millionaire– depending on how well you invest, because you made those small, little, little habits, those little changes. So that decade of the forties becomes super important, particularly because in women, that’s when perimenopause starts to happen, right?”

“The point is that I think first of all, start with something that you can do, right? Again, it’s 1% shifts. You don’t have to change a thousand different things.”