Why Your Gut Changes During Menopause (And What To Do About It) | Cynthia Thurlow

One of the things that hasn't gotten a lot of attention in the menopause space is the gut. It's one of those symptoms that you may have not even thought was related to this stage in life. You may find that you have diarrhea, constipation, and less tolerance with certain foods. Or like my guest Cynthia Thurlow, one bout of food poisoning can turn your gut upside down and have lasting effects for years.Cynthia is a nurse practitioner and metabolic health expert who explains why the gut matters in midlife and also gives us education on what is actually going on. How estrogen and progesterone directly impact your gut bacteria, motility, and inflammation. And while there are many modalities to treating it, some with good intentions moving from pharmaceutical drugs to vitamins isn't really giving the relief that many women are looking for.We get into the gut-brain connection, why fiber might be causing bloating, and how to start with the basics to getting your gut health on a good path.HighlightsThe gut microbiome contains 40 trillion bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. There are actually more cells in your microbiome than in your entire body.Most of the communication on the gut-brain axis goes from gut to brain, not the other way around. What happens in your gut directly affects your brain and mood.Ninety-five percent of patients don't eat enough protein. That's problem number one before worrying about fiber or any other intervention.Sitting down to eat and taking four to five deep breaths before meals shifts you out of sympathetic and into parasympathetic mode. This alone can improve digestion.There's a direct connection between gut microbiome health and vaginal microbiome health. They're not separate systems.Screening for adverse childhood events and trauma changes how you approach treatment because it rewires the autonomic nervous system and affects gut health.If you're experiencing digestive changes during perimenopause or menopause, this episode is for you. Understanding your gut is the first step to feeling better. If you found this helpful, please subscribe so you don't miss future conversations about what real midlife health looks like.Note: We experienced some audio technical difficulties during this recording. We've worked to enhance the sound quality as much as possible. Thank you for your patience and for listening.Get in tough with Cynthia:WebsiteBookInstagramFacebookTwitter/XYoutubePodcastSubstackGet in Touch with Me:WebsiteInstagramYoutubeSubstack