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

One of the things that hasn't gotten much attention in the menopause space is the gut. You might experience diarrhea, constipation, or lose tolerance for foods you used to eat fine. Or like Cynthia Thurlow, one bout of food poisoning can affect your gut for years. Cynthia is a nurse practitioner and metabolic health expert who explains why the gut matters in midlife. Estrogen and progesterone directly impact your gut bacteria, motility, and inflammation. We discuss the gut-brain connection, why fiber might be causing bloating, and how to start with the basics. 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. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ■ How estrogen and progesterone impact your gut bacteria and digestion ■ Why the gut-brain connection matters for mood and mental health ■ The role of protein in gut health ■ Simple practices that improve digestion ■ Why fiber might be causing bloating during menopause ■ The connection between gut health and vaginal microbiome health 00:00 Intro 02:15 Cynthia's Background in Metabolic Health 05:30 What Happens to Your Gut During Menopause 09:00 How Estrogen and Progesterone Impact Digestion 13:30 Understanding Your Gut Microbiome 17:00 The Gut-Brain Connection 21:00 Protein and Digestive Health 24:30 Why Fiber Might Be Causing Bloating 28:00 Practical Strategies for Better Digestion 32:15 Breathwork and Eating Practices 35:45 The Gut-Vaginal Microbiome Connection 39:00 Trauma and the Autonomic Nervous System 42:30 Common Mistakes Women Make 45:15 Moving Forward With Gut Health 48:00 Outro If you're experiencing digestive changes during perimenopause or menopause, understanding your gut is the first step to feeling better. Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations about what real midlife health looks like. Connect with Cynthia: Website - https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/ Book - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thu... Facebook -   / chtwellness   Twitter/X - https://x.com/_CynthiaThurlow Youtube -    / cynthiathurlow   Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Substack - https://cynthiathurlownp.substack.com/ Connect with Dr. Rahman: Website - https://www.thegsmcollective.com/abou... Instagram -   / gynogirl   Youtube -    / @drchollkim   Substack - https://gynogirl.substack.com/p/welco...