Sleep Optimization, Recovery, & Performance with Dr. Kirk Parsley

Dr. Kirk Parsley has a remarkable background, joining the Navy SEALs straight out of high school at just 17 years old. During his SEALs tenure, he spent a decade living at the pinnacle of physical and mental health. Later, he pursued a medical career, graduating in 2004 and interning in obstetrics and gynecology, followed by a Navy residency in hyperbarics and diving medicine. In this episode, Dr. Parsley explores the profound impact of sleep on various aspects of our lives. They discuss its influence on exercise performance, appetite, food choices, cardiovascular health, and insulin resistance. The conversation also delves into menopause, perimenopausal sleep-related changes, and hormonal considerations. Dr. Parsley and Dr. Stephanie share their thoughts on the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and discuss key hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogens. Additionally, the episode explores common sleep remedies and Dr. Parsley's natural supplementation solutions found at https://docparsley.com/stephanie-estima/ Bio: Kirk is certified in Hyperbaric Medicine, Anti-Aging Medicine, Hormone Replacement Therapy, and is currently pursuing national certification in Psychedelic Medicine Therapies. He dedicates a significant portion of his time to advising non-profit organizations that support the SEAL community and providing healthcare guidance and treatment to veterans. Operating his practice and supplement business from Austin, Texas, Kirk is an avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast. When he's not working or working out, you can usually find him in nature, continuously enhancing his medical skills. Resources mentioned: Website: https://docparsley.com Free Stressless Sleep Guide: https://docparsley.com/stephanie-estima/ https://www.instagram.com/kirkparsley/ https://www.instagram.com/sleepremedy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/docparsley/ https://www.facebook.com/DocParsley/ https://www.youtube.com/@docparsley418/ Episode Overview: 0:00 Intro 0:04:13 Dr. Parsley's expertise in sleep physiology 0:07:17 Sleep as repair and preparation for the body 0:12:58 Lack of sleep affects cognition, emotions, and mental health 0:17:12 The fight or flight response and its effects 0:25:33 Regulating appetite hormones and fuel partitioning 0:26:29 Sleep cycle: repair, transformation, and memory consolidation 0:35:35 The impact of an overactive amygdala 0:43:21 Evening rituals for better sleep 0:47:18 Components of sleep rituals: light, GABA, and temperature 0:51:11 Creating a to-do and to-worry list before bed 0:54:37 Sleep changes and menopause 0:59:02 Insulin and blood glucose: impact on hunger and stress 1:02:09 Interactions between hormones and the complexity of hormone replacement therapy 1:08:07 The WHI's impact on women's health and hormone replacement therapy 1:16:24 The impact of muscle mass on sleep 1:23:07 The drawbacks of Z-drugs for insomnia treatment 1:26:07 The dangers of using sleep drugs like Ambien and alcohol 1:29:27 The negative effects of sleep drugs on sleep quality 1:31:34 From SEAL doctor to sleep expert 1:35:02 Ambien and the discovery of sleep issues 1:38:42 Creating a sleep supplement for the SEAL teams 1:42:28 Tea vs. capsules: absorption and dosage We'd like to thank our sponsors: MELLO MAGNESIUM ​Want to grab my absolute fave magnesium supplement at 15% off? Go to https://glnk.io/lq6q/4 COLLAGENIUS Better skin, a sharper brain and chocolate?! Sign me up. Head over to https://nootopia.com/bettergenius and use code BETTER during checkout to save 10% off any order. **************************** P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you: Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife. Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.