"What is the Estrobolome?" with Cynthia Thurlow, NP

Nurse practitioner, intermittent fasting expert, and TEDx speaker Cynthia Thurlow (15M+ views on her talk "Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique") sits down with Almost Forever hosts Renee and Melanie to explore the overlooked connection between gut health, hormones, and aging. Drawing from her new book The Menopause Gut, Cynthia reveals that your ovaries are the most mitochondrial-dense organ in your body and the "pacemaker of aging" — not just a fertility organ. She introduces the estrobolome, the collection of gut bacteria that metabolize estrogen, and explains why estrogen is the "mortar" holding your gut lining together. She also shares why she revised her intermittent fasting recommendations to 12–13 hours of digestive rest, discusses HRT and why every woman should know about vaginal estrogen, and reveals how adverse childhood events can shape your gut health decades later.In our Mailbag: intermittent fasting vs. Prolon's 5-day Fasting Mimicking Diet for perimenopausal women, the removal of the black box warning on HRT, and whether chronic stress from 20 years ago can still be reversed.Myth or Method: Should you track your poop? What your bowel movements and urine actually tell you about your health.🕐 Chapters:0:00 "Our ovaries set the pacemaker of aging in our bodies, full stop."0:18 Myth or Method: Should you be tracking your poop?9:53 Meet Cynthia Thurlow — NP, TEDx speaker, author of The Menopause Gut11:06 The longevity hill: sleep — the unsexy hack no one's selling22:42 Adverse childhood events (ACEs) and how childhood trauma shapes gut health31:21 Why she wrote The Menopause Gut — the missing link in perimenopause41:43 Ovaries as the pacemaker of aging — and the estrobolome explained44:11 HRT, vaginal estrogen, and why every woman deserves this conversation51:54 Revised intermittent fasting: 12–13 hours, not 16+ for women1:01:42 Mailbag: IF vs. Prolon's 5-day FMD for perimenopausal women1:05:55 Mailbag: The black box warning was removed from HRT — should I try it?1:13:22 Mailbag: Can I fix chronic stress from 20 years ago?Guest Bio: Cynthia Thurlow, NP, is a board-certified nurse practitioner, TEDx speaker, host of the Everyday Wellness Podcast (500+ episodes), and author of Intermittent Fasting Transformation and The Menopause Gut. Her second TEDx talk on intermittent fasting has over 15 million views. She is the CEO and founder of the Everyday Wellness Project, dedicated to empowering women to optimize their health in perimenopause and beyond.Listen to the Everyday Wellness Podcast. Read The Menopause Gut by Cynthia Thurlow.Have a longevity question? DM us @prolon on Instagram and you might make it into our mailbag!Learn more about Prolon's 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet and longevity lifestyle products  at prolonlife.com. Almost Forever is brought to you by Prolon, powered by L-Nutra, the longevity technology company. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare services. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, supplement, or health routine. Guest views are their own and may not reflect those of Prolon or its parent company L-Nutra.