Tag Archives | hormone

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

September 1, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

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Episode Summary

Is this perimenopause… or is something else going on?

It’s one of the most common questions Dr. Mariza hears from women in their late 30s and early 40s, especially when their periods are still regular and they’ve never experienced a hot flash.

In this solo episode, Dr. Mariza breaks down why early perimenopause can be so difficult to recognize and the less obvious signs that often appear first, including exhaustion, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, sleep changes, worsening PMS, migraines, and changes in stress tolerance.

She shares three important clues for identifying a possible perimenopause pattern: looking for clusters of symptoms, noticing changes from your normal baseline, and tracking how symptoms change throughout your cycle.

But hormones aren’t always the entire story. Dr. Mariza also explains why thyroid dysfunction, low iron, metabolic issues, nutrient deficiencies, sleep problems, and other conditions deserve investigation, even when perimenopause is part of the picture.

Plus, you’ll learn how to track your symptoms and walk into your next healthcare appointment prepared to ask better questions.

🎧 Listen now to connect the dots, understand what your body is telling you, and get clearer on your next steps.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women over 35 aren’t sure whether they’re in perimenopause
The early perimenopause symptoms women often mistake for stress or burnout
Why you can be in perimenopause while still having regular periods
The three clues Dr. Mariza uses to recognize a perimenopause pattern
Why tracking changes from your personal baseline matters
How your menstrual cycle can reveal patterns in mood, sleep, migraines, and energy
What else to investigate, including thyroid, iron, metabolic health, and sleep
How to advocate for yourself when your labs look “normal” but you don’t feel like yourself

QUOTES

“Stop looking at the one symptom that proves you’re in perimenopause. Start looking at the collection of clues and patterns that your body is exposing.”

“Perimenopause doesn’t usually show up with a giant flashing sign.”

“Hormones may be a huge part of the picture without being the entire picture.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Comprehensive Perimenopause Lab Guide

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

RELATED EPISODES

768: Why Your Period Gets So Weird in Perimenopause + What Actually Helps with Kaya and Yasmin Purohit

764: Why Your Nervous System Feels Dysregulated (Even When You’re Doing Everything Right) with Roseann Capanna-Hodge

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

650: Unlock Your Health: The Ultimate Biomarker & Lab Blueprint to Thrive in Midlife and Beyond

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!

757: The Hidden Emotional Shift of Perimenopause (No One Prepared Us For) with Dr. Melinda Ring

June 23, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

Why do so many women enter perimenopause feeling like the rug has been pulled out from under them?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with integrative medicine physician and menopause expert Dr. Melinda Ring to explore why perimenopause often feels so destabilizing and why so many women feel blindsided by symptoms they were never warned about.

Together, they unpack the profound neuroendocrine changes happening during the perimenopause transition and why symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, stress sensitivity, and feeling “not like yourself” often become some of the earliest signs that something is shifting.

Dr. Ring explains the critical connection between hormones, the stress response system, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and long-term health outcomes. They also discuss why traditional medical approaches have historically fallen short for women, the growing role of hormone replacement therapy, and why individualized care matters more than ever.

The conversation dives deep into HPA axis dysfunction, trauma, chronic stress, self-compassion, resilience, and the importance of helping women feel safe in their bodies during a time of tremendous change.

If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re experiencing is normal—or if you’ve found yourself saying, “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—this episode offers both validation and practical guidance.

Dr. Melinda Ring

Dr. Melinda Ring is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine expert, educator, and internationally recognized leader in women’s health and menopause care. She serves as Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health and is passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through evidence-based, whole-person care that addresses hormones, lifestyle, stress, sleep, and long-term health optimization.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why perimenopause often feels so overwhelming and unexpected
The connection between sleep disruption, hormones, and brain health
Why many women feel like they “don’t feel like themselves” anymore
The role of HPA axis dysfunction and chronic stress during midlife
How trauma and long-term stress influence the menopause transition
The evolving conversation around hormone replacement therapy
Why individualized hormone care matters more than one-size-fits-all protocols
How women can build resilience, safety, and self-compassion during perimenopause

QUOTES

“Sleep is the force multiplier.”

“You can’t heal in survival mode.”

“The brain is reorganizing, not just the ovaries.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order

Dr. Melinda Website

Dr. Melinda Instagram

Dr. Melinda Facebook

Dr. Melinda Tiktok

Dr. Melinda Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza

755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry

754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago

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

751: Bloating, Brain Fog & Hormone Chaos? Your Gut May Be the Root Cause with Dr. Cassie Smith

June 2, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

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Episode Summary

“What if your bloating, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, stubborn weight gain, and hormone symptoms are actually starting in your gut?”

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith — dual board-certified endocrinologist, founder of Modern Endocrine, and author of Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones — to unpack the powerful connection between gut health, hormone balance, stress, metabolism, inflammation, and reproductive health.

Together, they dive into how chronic stress, poor gut health, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation, and lifestyle overload silently impact everything from cortisol and insulin to estrogen, progesterone, thyroid function, and fertility.

Dr. Cassie explains why so many women are told their labs are “normal” while still feeling exhausted, bloated, anxious, inflamed, and disconnected from their bodies — and why gut dysfunction is often the missing piece conventional medicine overlooks.

They also explore the growing metabolic and hormonal crisis happening in younger women, the connection between PCOS, insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, and birth control, and why many women are struggling to restore healthy cycles and fertility later in life.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that hormones do not work in isolation. Your gut, nervous system, metabolism, sleep, stress resilience, and hormones are all deeply interconnected.

If you’ve been feeling like your body is trying to tell you something but nobody has connected the dots yet, this episode will help you understand where healing truly begins.

DR. CASSIE SMITH

Dr. Cassie Smith is a dual board-certified endocrinologist and the founder of Modern Endocrine. After becoming frustrated with the limitations of conventional medicine, she built a practice focused on uncovering the root causes behind hormone dysfunction, metabolic issues, fertility struggles, and gut-related symptoms. She is also the author of the book Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why chronic stress has such a powerful impact on gut health and hormones
How gut dysfunction contributes to fatigue, brain fog, bloating, anxiety, and weight resistance
The connection between estrogen decline, microbiome diversity, and inflammation
Why insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction are rising in younger women
The hidden relationship between PCOS, gut health, cortisol, and fertility
Why birth control is often used as a Band-Aid instead of addressing root causes
The foundational lifestyle habits that support gut and hormone healing
Why slowing down, resting, and reducing nervous system overload matters for recovery

QUOTES

“Your hormones are doing the best they can in the environment you give them.”

“It doesn’t matter how many supplements or hormones we throw at you if the foundations aren’t in place.”

“Your gut is where all healing begins.”

“Your body cannot heal in survival mode.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Get your “Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones” Book by Dr. Cassie Smith

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Modern Endocrine Website

Modern Endocrine Instagram

Modern Endocrine Facebook

Modern Endocrine Tiktok

Modern Endocrine Youtube

Hormones, Metabolism and You Podcast

The Menopause Gut Book by Cynthia Thurlow

RELATED EPISODES

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

743: Why Your Heart Risk Changes in Menopause (And What You Can Do About It) with Dr. Jayne Morgan

738: The Hidden Link Between Inflammation, Hormones & Fertility with Dr. Natalie Crawford

740: Why You’re Bloated, Gaining Weight & Feeling Off in Menopause (It Starts in Your Gut) with Cynthia Thurlow

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!

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

March 12, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

Or, listen on your favorite app: iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Stitcher | Spotify | Pocketcasts

Episode Summary

Feeling like even the smallest things are suddenly overwhelming you?

This is actually part of a much bigger hormonal and neurological shift happening beneath the surface.

In today’s episode, I’m covering one of the most common—and least talked about—midlife experiences: the brain-related changes that come with perimenopause.

Even women who experience few classic symptoms like hot flashes are still undergoing silent physiological changes affecting the brain, bones, muscles, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.

We explore why perimenopause can be a destabilizing but deeply transformative recalibration where everything from hormones to lifestyle habits comes up for review.

So I’m breaking down simple daily habits you can start right away to support your brain, stabilize your energy, and reduce overwhelm without adding more to your already full plate.

Ready to clear the fog and feel like yourself again in midlife? Tune in here for the science-backed tools to start today. 🧠

IN THIS EPISODE

The massive neuroendocrine shift happening in midlife
What’s actually happening to the brain during perimenopause
Managing midlife inflammation and your immune system
The benefits of balancing your blood sugar and metabolism
How short bursts of activity can help you reclaim your energy
Honoring your circadian rhythm and prioritizing sleep
Why building strength and resilience in midlife is so important
Managing your nervous system and avoiding cortisol spikes
How to join my FREE 7-day reset challenge to reignite your energy and metabolism!

QUOTES

“Over 70% of women in perimenopause experience brain-related symptoms: mood changes, sleep disruptions, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, irritability, cognitive shifts, memory lapses, and low stress resilience. Eight out of the 10 most common symptoms in perimenopause are brain-related.”

“This is metabolic neuroscience, and this is exactly why we cannot just push through the brain fog. We need to stabilize glucose. We need to lower insulin spikes. We need a calm cortisol. We need to reduce the inflammatory load.”

“These are the signals that we get to listen to, and that’s why I created something to help you decode those signals and give your body back what it has been asking for.”