Podcasts · The Simplicity Sessions
The Menopause Gut with Cynthia Thurlow
· 1 h 14 min · S1 E576
Episode The Menopause Gut with Cynthia Thurlow
If you've been feeling like your body has stopped cooperating in midlife — even when you feel like you're doing everything right — this episode is for you.
In this episode, we go deep on something that doesn't get nearly enough attention: the connection between your gut health, your hormones, and how you feel as you move through perimenopause and beyond.
Key Topics:
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Why Cynthia wrote The Menopause Gut — and what no one else is talking about when it comes to midlife gut changes
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The gut microbiome explained simply: what it is, where it lives, and why it intersects with every system in your body
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The four lifestyle foundations that either support or sabotage your gut health — and why doing less is often the answer in midlife
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Why the "double down and work harder" approach backfires for so many women (and what to do instead)
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Sleep as the non-negotiable #1 priority — Cynthia's exact words: "If you are not sleeping through the night, I cannot get you to lose weight"
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The hyperlink between chronic stress, cortisol, leaky gut, and autoimmune risk — women are 4–5x more likely to develop autoimmune conditions in perimenopause and menopause
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Why the inability to sit still or slow down is often a trauma response, not a personality trait
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Estrogen as a people-pleasing hormone — and how declining hormones can actually help you find your voice
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The three big gut changes happening in perimenopause: loss of digestive fire, changes in motility, and the estrobolome (your body's estrogen-processing plant in the gut)
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What to look for on stool testing, and why Cynthia does the lifestyle foundations first before running labs
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The gut-brain connection via the vagus nerve, and how gut inflammation drives anxiety, depression, brain fog, and joint pain
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Histamine, mast cell degranulation, and why your wine reaction at 38 might have been your first perimenopause symptom (this one hit home for me personally!)
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The supplement overwhelm problem — why Cynthia is intentional and evidence-based before recommending probiotics
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What "digestive fire" means and the practical role of enzymes, bitters, and TUDCA
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Elimination diets as a starting point — and when to escalate to GI diagnostic testing
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The rise in colorectal cancer in younger people, and why we cannot afford to ignore bowel changes
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Cynthia's take on HRT: why she prefers to dial in lifestyle and gut health first, and what happens when women go straight to hormones without the foundation in place
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Thin phenotype PCOS (teaser for part two — this conversation is happening!)
Let's dive in!
Thank you for joining us today. If you could rate, review & subscribe, it would mean the world to me! While you're at it, take a screenshot and tag me @jennpike to share on Instagram – I'll re-share that baby out to the community & once a month I'll be doing a draw from those re-shares and send the winner something special!
Click here to listen:
Apple Podcasts – CLICK HERESpotify – CLICK HERE
Connect with Guest -
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Instagram | @cynthia_thurlow_
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Facebook | @CHTWellness
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YouTube | @cynthiathurlow
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Twitter/X | @_CynthiaThurlow
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Podcast | LISTEN HERE
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Substack | SUBSCRIBE HERE
This episode is sponsored by:
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withinUs | Use the code JENNPIKE20 at withinus.ca for a limited time to save 20% off your first order and 20% off your first subscription order
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St. Francis | Go to stfrancisherbfarm.com and save 15% off your all your orders with code JENNPIKE15
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Eversio Wellness | Go to eversiowellness.com/discount/jennpike15 and save 15% off every order with code JENNPIKE15 /// not available for "subscribe & save" option
Free Resources:
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Free Perimenopause Support Guide | jennpike.com/perimenopausesupport
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Free Blood Work Guide | jennpike.com/bloodworkguide
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The Simplicity Sessions Podcast | jennpike.com/podcast
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Get 20% on thewalkingpad.com using code "JENNPIKE20"
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Metabolic Guide | jennpike.com/metabolic-guide
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Get…
Links in the notes 13
- https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-simplicity-sessions/id1437109535
- https://open.spotify.com/show/36lOzU28YMIGpnpVeCeTOg?si=ZdQTphb0Ss6vAahgnorLgw
- https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thurlow_/?hl=en
- https://www.facebook.com/CHTWellness
- https://www.youtube.com/cynthiathurlow
- https://x.com/_CynthiaThurlow
- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and/id1435214303
- https://cynthiathurlownp.substack.com/
- https://jennpike.com/ignite
- https://jennpike.com/work-with-jenn/
- https://www.instagram.com/jennpike
- https://www.facebook.com/thesimplicityproject
- https://www.youtube.com/@JennPike
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