AMA Round 2: Muscle Building, Creatine Supplementation,and Perimenopause with Dr. Mindy Pelz

The single biggest lie women have been told about perimenopause? That it's a gynecological problem. Dr. Heather Hirsch — board-certified internist, Harvard faculty, and founder of one of the first hospital-based menopause clinics in the US — is done with that framing. In this episode, Dr. Hirsch joins Stephanie to dismantle the assumption that perimenopause begins and ends with a reproductive doctor. This is a cardiometabolic transition. Full stop. Estrogen isn't just a period hormone — it's a vasodilator, a bone protector, an insulin sensitizer, and a vessel guardian for your brain and heart. When it starts to shift, so does everything else. This conversation goes deep on what's actually happening in your body during perimenopause — and what to do about it before the downstream consequences become irreversible. Episode Overview: (0:00) Intro/Teaser (1:13) Full intro + guest bio (4:19) The biggest lie about perimenopause (5:30) Early signs to watch for (7:39) Brain fog vs. hot flashes (10:26) HRT as a diagnostic tool (16:16) The cardiometabolic case (22:39) What the WHI actually shows (30:47) Why doctors resist HRT (38:13) HRT at 60, 70+ (40:36) Bone health and the DEXA gap (50:54) Weight gain is hormonal (56:38) Dr. Hirsch's personal inventory (1:03:43) The menopause types framework (1:09:51) Why postmenopause can be the best chapter (1:12:55) After Party: Dr. Stephanie's takeaways Resources mentioned in this episode: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep468 We are grateful to our sponsors: KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more about Kenetik and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off your purchase. QUALIA CREATINE+ - If you want to feel stronger, sharper, and more resilient, Qualia’s Creatine+ is my recommendation.Go to https://qualialife.com/better  and use code BETTER to save up to 50%, plus an additional 15% off.  OXFORD HEALTHSPAN PRIMEADINE - Support memory, hormones, and hair growth. Save 15% at https://OxfordHealthspan.com/DrStephanie with code DrStephanie15. LMNT  - Stay hydrated without the sugar, food dye, and other dodgy ingredients found in popular electrolyte and sports drinks. Receive a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order when you make a purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/Better INCREDIWEAR - Whether you're an athlete, dealing with chronic joint pain, or just someone who wants to feel better in your body — this is worth trying. Head to https://drstephanieestima.com/incrediwear and use code DRSTEPH20 for 20% off your 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.

If you've written creatine off as a supplement for guys at the gym, Dr. Dan Pardi, sleep researcher, neuroscientist, and Chief Health Officer at Qualia Life, will change your mind. Dan has spent decades studying what creatine actually does in the body — and what the research reveals for midlife women is genuinely surprising. It's not about muscle. It's about energy. And energy is foundational to everything. Try Qualia Creatine+: https://qualialife.com/better — use code BETTER for 15% off. Episode Overview: 0:00 Introduction — Who Is Dan Pardi? 5:29 Creatine 101: From Olympic Track to Every Body 8:11 Myths Busted: Bloating, Bulking, and What's Actually Happening 14:51 The Kidney and Hair Loss Myths 21:49 Where Does Creatine Go? (The Concrete Slope Analogy) 29:58 How Creatine Buffers Energy: The ATP Mechanism 51:55 Women, Hormones, and Creatine Deficiency 57:57 When and How to Take It 1:04:45 Formulations: Monohydrate vs. Everything Else 1:17:29 How to Start, What to Track, and Dan's Full Supplement Stack 1:35:23 After Party — Dr. Stephanie's Takeaways Resources mentioned in this episode: http://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep467/ We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: TROSCRIPTIONS - There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give it a try at https://troscriptions.com/BETTER or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order. TIMELINE   - Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself. PIQUE - Designed to deeply hydrate, enhance skin elasticity & firmness and support sustained energy—exactly what we need during this stage of life. Start your daily ritual today with 20% off for life—plus a free gift to elevate your routine. Head to https://piquelife.com/drestima. COZY EARTH  - Give yourself the kind of comfort that lives with you all day — not just the moment you get home. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. ****************************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.

Your gut doesn't lie — and in perimenopause, it's sending distress signals most doctors completely ignore. Nurse practitioner, two-time TEDx speaker, and Everyday Wellness podcast host Cynthia Thurlow joins Dr. Stephanie for a conversation that starts in Morocco (food poisoning, a hospitalization, and a perimenopause wake-up call nobody saw coming) and ends with a clear-eyed framework for supporting your gut, your bones, your immune system, and your sleep through the hormonal chaos of midlife. Episode Overview: (0:00) Intro/Teaser (7:00) How a Parasite Became a Perimenopause Wake-Up Call (11:00) Why Women Resist the Word “Perimenopause” (16:00) The Gut-Hormone Connection Nobody’s Talking About (21:00) The Medical System Was Never Built for Middle-Aged Women (30:00) Body Composition, the Scale, and the Comments That Stick (34:00) The ACE Study: How Childhood Trauma Rewires the Gut and Immune System (41:00) Oral Contraceptives, Antibiotics, and the Developing Microbiome (48:00) The Estrobolome (53:00) The 6–12 Window (56:00) Sleep, Stress, and Nutrition — The Three Biggest Levers in Perimenopause (1:02:00) Advice for Mothers of Daughters (1:05:00) Cynthia’s Personal Daily Protocol (1:13:00) The Menopause Gut: Elevator Pitch and Where to Find It (1:15:00) After Party — Dr. Stephanie’s Key Takeaways Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep466/ We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: ONESKIN - With age, skin becomes thinner, produces less collagen, proliferates at a slower rate, and accumulates damage. Fight back and save 15% at https://oneskin.co/better with code BETTER. BIOPTIMIZERS - Magnesium Breakthrough contains multiple types of magnesium plus cofactors like B6 to enhance absorption. Visit https://bioptimizers.com/better and use code BETTER to save 15%. JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself. LMNT  - Stay hydrated without the sugar, food dye, and other dodgy ingredients found in popular electrolyte and sports drinks. Receive a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order when you make a purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/Better COZY EARTH  - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. ****************************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.

What if your sexual health was as important as your heart rate? What if understanding your sexuality was the final frontier of truly knowing yourself? In this groundbreaking conversation, Dr. Juliana Hauser—sex therapist, author of A New Position on Sex, and expert in sexual agency—challenges everything we've been taught about sexuality, pleasure, and desire. Dr. Hauser explains why sexual wellness isn't something you add to your to-do list (if you're breathing, you're already a sexual being), and why the real work is about developing sexual agency: the skill of knowing your yeses and nos, listening to your body, and showing up authentically in all your relationships. Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (4:00) Why Sexual Wellness Is a Vital Sign for Women’s Health (8:00) If You’re Breathing, You’re Sexual: Reframing Sexuality (9:00) Sexuality as the Final Frontier of Self-Development (21:00) Sensuality & Self-Discovery: Learning Your Yucks and Yums (25:00) Why Knowing Your Anatomy Is Essential for Sexual Health (32:00) Genital Show and Tell: Celebrating Anatomical Diversity (35:00) Labiaplasty & Cosmetic Surgery (44:00) The Arousal Cycle & Why the Standard Model Is Flawed (50:00) Menopause & Sexuality: What Changes (57:00) Aging Vulvas & Why We Need Better Education (59:00) UTIs, Sepsis & Sexual Health: The Hidden Mortality Risk (1:07:00) After Party: Dr. Stephanie’s Reflections on Sexual Wellness Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep465 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: OXFORD HEALTHSPAN PRIMEADINE - A whole-food spermidine supplement that supports cell renewal and healthy aging. Save 20% at https://OxfordHealthspan.com/DrStephanie with code DrStephanie. COZY EARTH  - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. TIMELINE   - Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $79, when you go to https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. APOLLO  - The Apollo wearable supports energy, focus, relaxation, and sleep by syncing with your rhythms. Go to https://ApolloNeuro.com/BETTER to get $99 off Apollo with Smart Vibes AI. PIQUE LIFE - If you want to redefine your evening ritual and still feel like yourself the next day, you can get 10% off for life. Yes, for life at https://piquelife.com/better ****************************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.

Leslie Kenny was told in her 30s that she had five years to live. Diagnosed simultaneously with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — and told to give up her dream of having children — she did what true Betties do: she refused the prognosis, threw everything she had at it, and got to work. Now 60 years old, Leslie reports a biological age of 21. She is autoimmune disease-free. And she naturally conceived a child at 43. Her recovery journey led her to collaborate with University of Oxford scientists and to discover spermidine — a naturally occurring, food-derived longevity compound that was hiding in plain sight. It’s been in our food for millennia, it’s in breast milk, and it’s in every plant on earth. And it addresses 9 of the 12 hallmarks of ageing identified by science as the root causes of why we get older. For 20% off Primeadine, go to: https://www.oxfordhealthspan.com/DRSTEPHANIE  Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (4:00) What Is Spermidine and Why Do We Lose It? (8:00) Autophagy, Hair, Nails & the Biological Dashboard (17:00) The 12 Hallmarks of Ageing, Explained for Real Life (23:00) mTOR, Muscle Loss, and Why Spermidine Is Different (27:00) Food Sources, Dosage & Lifestyle Levers (38:00) Leslie's Story: The Diagnosis, the Prognosis, the Refusal (55:00) IVIG, Trauma Therapy & the Surprise Pregnancy at 43 (1:18:00) Femspan, Future Research & Where to Find Leslie (1:22:00) The After-Party Thoughts with Dr. Stephani Resources mentioned in the Episode can be found at: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep464  We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself. BON CHARGE - Achieve glowing skin, gain more energy, and uplevel your recovery practice with a suite of red light products. Get 15% off at https://boncharge.com/better with code BETTER. HIGHER DOSE - If you’re noticing thinning, shedding, or simply want to support scalp and hair health proactively, this is a powerful addition to your routine. Get 15% off the Red Light Hat at https://higherdose.com with code BETTER at checkout. KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more about Kenetik and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off QUALIA LIFE - Boost energy, DNA health, and cellular protection. Save 15% at https://qualialife.com/better with code BETTER. ****************************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.

You've been lied to. Not by your body — by the system that profits from you believing it's broken. Dr. Stephanie names the real villain behind decades of failed diets, shrinking goals, and body distrust: the wellness industrial complex that told you skinny equals healthy. You're not broken - you were just given the wrong map. Here is the right one! Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (2:00) The Villain: Diet Culture & the Wellness Industrial Complex (7:00) What Chronic Under-Eating Does to Your Body (9:00) Debunking the Bulky & Toned Myths (15:00) The Psychology of Shrinking (17:00) Your Body Didn’t Betray You. It Protected You (21:00) How to Rebuild: Strength, Recovery & Mobility (26:00) Fuel the Build: Eating for the Body You Want (34:00) You’re Building a 40-Year Asset Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep463 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: TIMELINE  - As perimenopausal women, we know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance. Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price. Mitopure now starts at $79 when you go to https://timeline.com/BETTER YOUNG GOOSE  - More resilient. More hydrated. More responsive. This is skin quality skincare. Go to https://younggoose.com/better and use code BETTER for 10% off your first purchase PIQUE LIFE - If you want to redefine your evening ritual and still feel like yourself the next day, you can get 10% off for life. Yes, for life at https://piquelife.com/better COZY EARTH  - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. TROSCRIPTIONS - There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give it a try at https://troscriptions.com/BETTER or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first 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.

If you've ever sat in a doctor's office describing brain fog, mood swings, terrible sleep, and a body that no longer responds to anything you try — only to be sent home with a shrug and maybe an antidepressant — this one's for you. Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Board-Certified OBGYN and Certified Menopause Specialist, is back for round two, and she came prepared.  In this episode, she breaks down the hormonal wildfire she calls 'The Zone of Chaos,' explains why perimenopause looks nothing like what your doctor was trained to treat, and gives you the actual language to walk into your next appointment and finally get some answers. Buckle up. Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (5:00) The Zone of Chaos (9:00) How Do You Know You're in Perimenopause? (13:00) "I Don't Feel Like Myself" - The Universal Symptom (15:00) 10 Doctors, Polypharmacy & a Hysterectomy (17:00) How to Get Answers (19:00) Your Brain on Perimenopause (23:00) The ADHD Connection (26:00) Bone Density & Muscle Mass (29:00) Calming the Chaos, Not Replacing What's Lost (44:00) What Mary Claire Actually Does (53:00) Fasting, Menowashing & Your Bull$h!t Radar (56:00) A Letter to My 35-Year-Old Self (1:00:00) After Party: Dr. Stephanie's Takeaways Resources mentioned in this episode: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep462/ We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: ONESKIN  - Harness the power of peptides for fuller hair and glowing skin. Save 15% at https://oneskin.co/better with code BETTER. APOLLO - The Apollo wearable supports energy, focus, relaxation, and sleep by syncing with your rhythms. Go to https://ApolloNeuro.com/BETTER to get $99 off Apollo with Smart Vibes AI. LMNT - Stay hydrated without the sugar, food dye, and other dodgy ingredients found in popular electrolyte and sports drinks. Receive a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order when you make a purchase at https://DrinkLMNT.com/Better BIOPTIMIZERS - Magnesium Breakthrough contains multiple types of magnesium plus cofactors like B6 to enhance absorption. Visit https://bioptimizers.com/better and use code BETTER to save 15%. ****************************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.

This episode is essential for millions of women who’ve been on antidepressants for years or even decades. Dr. Mark Horowitz https://www.outro.com/about/outro, a British-Australian psychiatry researcher, neuroscientist, and lead author of clinical deprescribing guidelines, offers an honest conversation about the science, marketing myths, and long-term effects of antidepressants, including emotional numbing, weight gain, disrupted sleep, and cognitive changes. Dr. Horowitz explains the difference between addiction and physical dependence, why withdrawal symptoms are often mistaken for relapse, and the evidence-based method of hyperbolic tapering. Whether you’ve been on an antidepressant for two years or twenty, you’ll leave with smart questions for your prescriber, a clear sense of your own readiness, and reassurance that tapering off slowly and carefully has a success rate of over 90%. Episode Overview: (0:00) Intro/Teaser (6:00) Midlife Misdiagnosis (11:00) How Life Events Became Medicalized and Why That Matters (18:00) Long-Term Side Effects (27:00) The Serotonin Hypothesis (31:00) Addiction vs. Physical Dependence (39:00) Withdrawal vs. Relapse: How to Tell the Difference (49:00) Hyperbolic Tapering Explained (57:00) How to Know if You're Ready to Come Off Your Antidepressant (1:10:00) What to Say to Your Doctor (1:17:00) The After-Party with Dr. Stephanie Resources mentioned: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep461 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: HIGHER DOSE - If you’re noticing thinning, shedding, or simply want to support scalp and hair health proactively, this is a powerful addition to your routine. Get 15% off at https://higherdose.com with code BETTER at checkout. LMNT - Rehydrate with the perfect mix of sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Get a free sample pack at https://drinklmnt.com/drestima TIMELINE  - We know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance, plus our recovery needs are greater. That's why you save 20% at https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off. ****************************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.

Neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood breaks down what it actually takes to keep your brain sharp as you age. Drawing from his new book The Stimulated Mind, Tommy makes the case that movement is non-negotiable for brain health — and that even small amounts make a meaningful difference. From walking and resistance training to dancing and pickleball, different types of exercise protect different parts of the brain in ways that compound over time. The bottom line? You don't need a perfect plan. You just need to start. Episode Overview: (0:00) Intro/Teaser (7:00) The Exercise Framework: From Snacks to Sprints (11:00) The Norwegian 4x4 Study (14:00) Lactate, BDNF & Why HIIT Is Good for Your Brain (15:00) Resistance Training, White Matter & Decision-Making Speed (17:00) Why Pickleball Beats the Recumbent Bike (24:00) Stress, Cortisol & Inflammation (31:00) Muscle as a Proxy for Brain Health (40:00) Nutrition for Brain Health (53:00) The Female Brain (1:09:00) Brain Training: Languages, Video Games & the Power of Failing (1:23:00) The After-Party with Dr. Stephanie Resources mentioned in this episode: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep460 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: PIQUE - Designed to deeply hydrate, enhance skin elasticity & firmness and support sustained energy—exactly what we need during this stage of life. Start your daily ritual today with 20% off for life—plus a free gift to elevate your routine. Head to https://piquelife.com/drestima. COZY EARTH  - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more about Kenetik and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off your purchase. HIGHER DOSE - If you’re noticing thinning, shedding, or simply want to support scalp and hair health proactively, this is a powerful addition to your routine. Get 15% off the Red Light Hat at https://higherdose.com with code BETTER at checkout. MINI PAUSE - Join my weekly roundup of the BEST actionable steps for women 40+ who want to gain control of their hormones during perimenopause and menopause. Head over to https://drstephanieestima.com/newsletter/ to sign up now! ****************************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.

You can't watch a single sporting event without being hit with an Ozempic commercial — but did you know that those GLP-1s everyone's talking about are actually peptides? Kyal Van Der Leest — nutritionist, naturopath, and the formulator behind LvLUp Health — breaks down which peptides actually work, which ones are all hype, and why the Swiss Army knife of peptides (BPC-157) might be exactly what your gut, your joints, and your brain have been begging for. Kyal gets into the oral vs. injectable debate (Kyal sells oral peptides and still admits most oral ones don't work — gotta respect that), why your midlife body composition changes aren't just about willpower, the mould exposure conversation that'll make you side-eye your hotel room forever, and whether microdosing GLP-1s is the smarter play. If you're a Betty navigating perimenopause or menopause and want real, science-backed options beyond "just take Ozempic," this episode is your new best friend. Go to https://lvluphealth.com/DRSTEPHANIE and use code DRSTEPHANIE for 15% off. Episode Overview:0:00 Teaser/Intro6:30 Oral vs. Injectable Peptides11:22 The Cost, Convenience & Travel Factor15:47 BPC-157: The Swiss Army Knife of Peptides21:10 Arthritis, Autoimmunity & the Gut Connection27:28 GHK-Copper: Skin From Within & Longevity Genes35:54 Body Composition Changes in Perimenopause & Menopause43:24 Microdosing GLP-1s49:47 Mould: The Hidden Wrecker of Hormones, Gut & Brain58:49 How to Cycle Peptides (And Why You Should)1:02:38 Level Up Health: Where to Find These Products1:09:29 The After Party: Dr. Stephanie's Honest Take Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep459 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: TIMELINE  - As perimenopausal women, we know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance, plus our recovery needs are greater. That's why you save 20% at https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself. BON CHARGE - Achieve glowing skin, gain more energy, and uplevel your recovery practice with a suite of red light products. Get 15% off at https://boncharge.com/better with code BETTER. AGZ - If you’re ready to turn down the stress and focus on the rest, head to https://drinkag1.com/STEPHANIE to get a FREE Frother with your first purchase of AGZ. EQUIP COLLAGEN - Support bones, joints, gut, and skin with Equip Collagen. Get 20% off at https://equipfoods.com/better with code BETTER. ****************************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.