5 Hormones That Matter, Whether You're 40 or 80 with Kate Wells

“We may be coming to the end of our reproductive cycles and our function as reproducers, but we still have brains, we still have bodies, we still have metabolism to maintain.” –Kate WellsWho’s seeing changes throughout their body as they go through perimenopause or enter menopause? I got so much out of this conversation with Kate Wells, owner of Parlor Games, a company focused on products and education to support women in menopause and perimenopause. Kate was a  teacher in her previous life, and I learned so much from her.Kate introduces us to 5 hormones we need to be paying attention to at this stage of life: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol. We talk about the role of each and what we can do to promote health around each.Perimenopause and menopause can be confusing. Let’s shed some light on it.We talk about: Why stress can impact us so much at this time of lifeWhat causes symptoms like bloating and breast tendernessThe reason you are ready to fly off the handle for the littlest thingWhat’s natural and normal — and why that may not be optimalHow many things hormones like estrogen and progesterone do in our bodiesWhy it’s so hard to find a provider who knows about perimenopauseABOUT KATEKate Wells is a hormone expert and true biochem nerd who has been educating practitioners about hormones for many years. Starting out as a High School science teacher, and then pivoting to the business world, Kate knew she wanted to combine her passions for science and business and found the perfect match in leadership roles at labs specializing in hormone testing and hormone formulation. Kate is the author of A Forecast for Health: Understanding Your Potential for Lifelong Wellness and is the CEO and co-founder of Parlor Games LLC. Kate holds a BS, MBA, and has completed a Fellowship in Herbal Medicine. Kate and her team at Parlor Games are on a mission to save the world one vagina at a time by continuing to educate women and health practitioners on the role of hormones in optimal longevity.LINKSWebsite: https://www.parlor-games.com/Social Media:https://www.instagram.com/parlorgamesfun/https://www.facebook.com/myparlorgameshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/parlor-games/https://www.linkedin.com/in/katewellsmba/DOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Action is where change happens.Even though we want big change, it’s really little things done over and over that make the difference. So pick a doable thing. Put it in your calendar. Weave it through your days for a week and then move on to the next one. It will have a snowball effect.Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:KNOW YOUR HORMONES. Learn about the various hormones that are shifting in perimenopause and the effects they have. Too often we just hear about estrogen, but you also want to know about progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol.LEARN ABOUT HORMONE THERAPY. Not all health providers understand current beliefs about the safety of hormone therapy. Take some time to educate yourself about the benefits and risks.PUSH BACK ON NATURAL AND NORMAL. Just because something is natural and normal, doesn’t mean it is optimal. Many things we are told we just have to accept and deal with as women could be better. Start by identifying what’s different in your body that isn’t working for you.