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.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Gottfried dive into:
-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
-How conventional medicine often dismisses the symptoms that women feel and makes them feel it’s a normal part of aging
-The top misconceptions or misunderstandings about the interplay between hormones, including how long before menopause symptoms can start
-Women with high cortisol levels in their 40s had decreased brain volume and memory
-Common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause as they relate to aging: mood swings, depression, insomnia, and loss of libido
-The environmental and lifestyle factors that impact women’s hormones including stress, ultra-processed foods, and exposure to endocrine disrupters
-The top 3 hormones to balance and correct: cortisol, estrogen, and thyroid
-The importance of testosterone as the most abundant hormone in women’s bodies
-How Dr. Gottfried started her hormonal journey by testing her cortisol and how prioritizing meditation and yoga reduced her stress response
-Dealing with insomnia during perimenopause when it’s especially critical to prioritize sleep and how progesterone can help
-Testing thyroid levels at least once a year and the connection between thyroid and autoimmune disease
-Bringing hormones in harmony by increasing protein, reducing ultra-processed foods, increasing fiber, and quality fat
-The key to feeling better in menopause is measuring and addressing your glucose levels
-What drives belly fat and the relationship between belly fat and cortisol
-Micronutrients, including Vitamin D and copper, and how they impact thyroid levels
-The role of post-traumatic stress and the use of psychedelics
-Helping women over 40 and the importance of healing states of consciousness
-Dr. Gottfried’s message of how it doesn’t have to be this way
Also mentioned in this episode:
-The Charlie’s Angels of Hormones graphic:
-Levels:
-Dr. Gottfried’s book Women, Food, and Hormones:
-Dr. Gottfried’s book The Hormone Cure:
For more on Dr. Sara Gottfried:
-Instagram @saragottfriedmd
-Facebook @drgottfried
-Twitter @DrGottfried
-YouTube @drgottfried
-Website:
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Thank you Dr. Gottfried for a thorough discussion.
She got a Hysterectomy and then she is also Perimenopausal, how can that be possible?
Doctors don't care above being normal
I do get why fat is distributed around hips, bum etc in your 20/30s but what's the biological reason for this to change to your tummy when you are older? Is there any benefit evolutionary?
That study she referenced, 2002, 2003…has been 90 percent debunked!!
Better take no fiber, that is bullsshit en you get constipation and heameroids
I'm going to be the odd person here. I'm s 46 years old man. Weighted at approaching 225 pounds. Said f that when on low carb and now am entering the 180's. It's not rocket science. Stop eating shit
When struggling with really bad driving anxiety not knowing the cause of it when I went to My Acupuncture as she told me I have a dream of fatigue and this all happened at the age of the right 45 also I went to my naturopath he said you're very stressed in your cortisol is very high he said it must be from your job but now we're listening to this podcast it all makes sense it's all coming from my perimenopausal hormones nothing to do with the stress in my life as I don't really have stress in my life but it's more of a hormonal change thanks to this great podcast
Fiber was the reason I suffered with IBS with severe constipation. When I eliminated fiber, it went completely away.
Finally, in my 60s, I go every day and it passes with ease. Does it make sense to add more cars to a traffic jam? Hemorrhoids, bloating, and gas is gone as well.
57:39 thoughtful ❤
I actually felt the best whe i created my own personal diet, looking at what a womans body needs and what can stop inflammation from even starting. Grass fed beef, rice, onions, blueberries. I feel the best with these foods. I wish i could stick to this…
I really need to start it again.
The reasons i chose these foods is because its low "allergenic" foods, there is levels to everyfood and plants, that rabbit hole was enlightening.
I am 41, definitely in perimenopause, even though 2 different doctors say I'm to young. There is a study saying having children pushes back when you get menopause…
That doesn't apply to me, lol
I went carnivore and gained fat and my skin got clogged and a year later still dealing with clogged enlaeged pores.
Ive started weight training and feeling so strong. I also take beef organ supplements which has had many positive changes for me, I'm starting ashwaganda and berberine. I need to increase my protein, i noticed positive changes in my body. Now to stick with everything will be the real test
What about tetesterone!! Women need it
Discover how to lose fat, reduce stress, and stay young after 40+ with proven lifestyle habits that boost energy, balance hormones, and support longevity. 💪🌿 #HealthyAging #StressRelief #FatLoss
For more uplifting insights on personal growth and positive living, you’re welcome to visit my channel dedicated to self-development and building a healthier, happier mindset. ✨🌸
I'm sorry although informative this doesn't help women like myself who are lower income not great health coverage being able to ask for these blood panels she mentions – if my Doctor doesn't agree do you know how hard it is to just switch doctors because they either don't agree or won't do the blood panels she requests ? I was so hopeful to get an answers I do appreciate what she does but Pilates c'mon was all of this for well to do women because have you seen the cost to join Pilates ???? I'm struggling horribly with menopause my Doctor did try adjusting my hrt – I will suggest pill form but I fear the cost could be more than the patch that I currently take – I do agree about the Cortisol issue I'll definitely try finding the herbs mentioned praying that helps me
I am 62 years old woman and 116 lbs. Because I try hard. If you try hard, you can do it. I have metabolic problems. Get sun bathing and detox, don't eat after 7 pm. Join the gym. Pay attention to food. I eat plan based food. Eat less carb, and smok pot. No processed food. When being a woman my younger days I worked 7days a week and taking care of every body. Now I get time for myself, I lost 35 lbs. Because I took time for me now. And take coconut cell charcoal. They soak up all the infection in your body and poof it out. I don't need Dr.'s help after that. I don't need a hormon. All the things I do it help on my hormon. Not too m 11:09 any people are strong minded like me. I was taking blood pressure med diabetic med and cholesterol med. Now drug free. Some country if you have metabolic problems they join the clinic and teach you how to eat. When you leave the clinic they educateed about food and that will definitely help. I tried stay 125lbs so I don't need take any med. If I gain up to 120 lbs it will go up all the number and have to take med. So there if you trid u can do it. My Doc wants me to gain weight but I feel good at 115lbs.
I dont have this I am 41 my body same like 30
Some organic foods have more than ten ingredients and some of them are unnecessary
As a female I'm going to say food is problem and viruses/diseases new going around and unclean environment
this hit me hard, i’m 32 and was doing everything “right” but still gaining weight + exhausted all the time 😩 finally ran a full hormone panel through vital test hub (i’m in the US with no insurance) and found out cortisol and estrogen were outta balance. changed everything once i knew what was going on
The reason why functional medicine saw a huge increase for people with Hashimoto’s disease is because as soon as Obamacare was installed, a lot of specialist either left their practices were overloaded and could not get appointments.
I don’t doubt that there’s an increase in it, but that was a big factor in what was happening with that. There are still problems remaining today because of what Obamacare did.
Great information! I recently went to my doctor and asked to get my hormones checked and I was told that there is no need to do that because she already knows what they are because I am in menopause.
You lost me at the gendered crap.
Her voice is so low energy it feels like she is about to die or something
I’m 3/4 of the way through and have found practically ZERO that’s immediately useful. What’s actionable RIGHT NOW? We know how we feel and how we dissociate and how we cope. What can we ACTUALLY DO or stop doing RIGHT NOW? Are there not any general and fairly simple guidelines that fit most people at least? Does everyone still need to hire their own personal scientist even after listening to this for two hours? I’m still left guessing here.
Yes I found that too with my g.p. too.
I like her
This is the time of our lives where we HAVE to live a healthier lifestyle and educate ourselves on it or we just live the rest of our lives in a unhealthy mental and physical state the rest of our days. Might as well do it right and live with more energy. You think you cannot do it bc you’re too tired?? Think again, once you start eating better with more Whole Foods like protein, complex carbs and healthy fats, your mind and energy shifts and you are happier and feel amazing just by eating healthier to begin with! So if you don’t know where to start, start with eating a good combination of healthy proteins like fish, chicken, turkey, eggs etc… leafy greens with sweet potato, rice, quinoa. One gram of protein per desired weight if you are over weight or your current normal weight. You can do it! Here’s to a healthier mind to get you in that path!
My God!!!!!!! Vocal fries aaarrrghhhh
I was told just yesterday by my doctor, that there was nothing I could do about menopause! We'll see what happens when his beautiful wife hits menopause, gains 100 lbs and starts to look like a freaking hag.. then let's see what he does about menopause! Yup I said it, IDFC!
This was so good UNTIL I heard “I WAS a Vegan…” UGH. This is so frustrating. Just because you chose to get your protein from animal products- it’s absolutely false that you can’t get adequate protein on a plant based diet. I’m so sick of “ ex-vegans” peddling this bullshit.
hum. Wish this was helpful…just wasnt
how are we suppose to drink safe water if it all comes in plastic or the tap is contaminated? So many experts say don't drink from plastic bottles, but it's confusing because even if I pour it into a stainless steal bottle the water has been sitting in the platsiyabsorbing the chemicals before we pour it out? Can anyone clarify this or give me ideas of how to avoid drinking water from plastic bottles?