The Menopause Gut: What Hormone Loss Is Really Doing to Digestion, Inflammation, and Weight with Cynthia Thurlow

In this episode, I sit down with Cynthia Thurlow, nurse practitioner, TEDx speaker, and author of The Menopause Gut, to unpack what is really happening inside the body during this transition. We get into why so many women suddenly feel bloated, constipated, reactive to foods, inflamed, and resistant to weight loss, even when they are eating well and doing all the "right" things. Cynthia breaks down the gut-hormone connection in a way that is smart, practical, and incredibly eye-opening.

We also go deeper into leaky gut, digestive enzymes, bile, hydrochloric acid, short-chain fatty acids, fiber, stress, trauma, mitochondria, and why simply putting a woman on HRT is sometimes not enough. This is one of those conversations that makes you realize menopause is not just about your ovaries. It is a full-body shift, and the gut is right in the middle of it.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the gut is one of the most overlooked systems affected by menopause
• How declining estrogen and progesterone impact digestion and motility
• Why women often experience more bloating, constipation, and food sensitivities in midlife
• The connection between gut health, inflammation, immune changes, and weight loss resistance
• Why digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile production can all become compromised
• What leaky gut is and why it may become more common during perimenopause and menopause
• How stress, trauma, and the nervous system can worsen gut and hormone symptoms
• Why fiber still matters, even if your gut is struggling
• The role of mitochondria, sleep, movement, and lifestyle foundations in gut recovery
• Why HRT can help, but often is not the whole story

Visit Cynthia's website here.

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Your host:

Karen Martel

Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert

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