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.comFree 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 Intro0:04:13 Dr. Parsley's expertise in sleep physiology0:07:17 Sleep as repair and preparation for the body0:12:58 Lack of sleep affects cognition, emotions, and mental health0:17:12 The fight or flight response and its effects0:25:33 Regulating appetite hormones and fuel partitioning0:26:29 Sleep cycle: repair, transformation, and memory consolidation0:35:35 The impact of an overactive amygdala0:43:21 Evening rituals for better sleep0:47:18 Components of sleep rituals: light, GABA, and temperature0:51:11 Creating a to-do and to-worry list before bed0:54:37 Sleep changes and menopause0:59:02 Insulin and blood glucose: impact on hunger and stress1:02:09 Interactions between hormones and the complexity of hormone replacement therapy1:08:07 The WHI's impact on women's health and hormone replacement therapy1:16:24 The impact of muscle mass on sleep1:23:07 The drawbacks of Z-drugs for insomnia treatment1:26:07 The dangers of using sleep drugs like Ambien and alcohol1:29:27 The negative effects of sleep drugs on sleep quality1:31:34 From SEAL doctor to sleep expert1:35:02 Ambien and the discovery of sleep issues1:38:42 Creating a sleep supplement for the SEAL teams1:42:28 Tea vs. capsules: absorption and dosageWe'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/4COLLAGENIUSBetter 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.