loader from loading.io

The 3 Tests You Should Do Before Considering BHRT

The Flipping 50 Show

Release Date: 05/02/2025

Stress Isn’t All Bad? Use Stress to Thrive show art Stress Isn’t All Bad? Use Stress to Thrive

The Flipping 50 Show

No, stress isn’t all bad.  “Stress” is generally seen as negative and harmful.  How can you use stress to thrive and live longer? In this episode, learn how to create good stress for bursts of happiness and live longer. Our guest will tell us more on The Stress Paradox and share the 5 key good stressors to use stress to thrive. Understand it here, stress isn’t all bad.   My Guest: Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, MD, is an award-winning physician, healthcare leader, and visionary researcher renowned for a science-based approach to applying lifestyle as medicine. She has...

info_outline
Save Your Knees and Shoulders Without Surgery show art Save Your Knees and Shoulders Without Surgery

The Flipping 50 Show

Save your knees and shoulders from the little discomfort doing usual activities or some swelling and inflammation. If you aren’t sure whether you need physical therapy, you should get a referral, just need a massage or to lay off for a few days, this is your episode.  I’m no stranger to physical therapy, but I am a foreigner in seeking support for any issues I’ve got. Mine have all come from some acute trauma or injury. I knew it and the answer was obvious, maybe for you too — to save your knees and shoulders without surgery!   My Guest: Dr. David Middaugh is a specialist...

info_outline
Clean Eating, Fasting and Eating Disorders in Menopause show art Clean Eating, Fasting and Eating Disorders in Menopause

The Flipping 50 Show

This episode may be for you even if you never identified with eating disorders in menopause or at any age. Eat clean? Read labels twice? Following “rules” about food yet find it backfiring on you?  One could shift from wanting to “eat clean” to turning into orthorexia, influenced by social media, intermittent fasting and use of Smart Scales. Do you think you have an eating disorder in menopause, or maybe a loved one? Tune in to this episode!   My Guest: Amy Goldsmith, RDN, LDN, is the founder of Kindred Nutrition & Kinetics, a private practice that provides evidence-based...

info_outline
Cortisol and Exercise in Menopause show art Cortisol and Exercise in Menopause

The Flipping 50 Show

I’m going to review the cortisol and exercise connection or confusion… and offer some solutions. Feeling exhausted, frustrated and fat? Got stubborn belly fat you want to lose? You’re exercising but tired all the time? Sleep or don’t, and you’re still never rested?  Sound familiar or been there? This episode is PACKED with solutions on cortisol and exercise in menopause. Don’t miss it.   What is Cortisol? Your body's primary stress hormone, but it’s also your energy hormone. Regulates metabolism, immune response, and stress. Mental and emotional response to stress. ...

info_outline
Midlife Women's Makeover: Radiate Confidence. Reclaim Your Power. show art Midlife Women's Makeover: Radiate Confidence. Reclaim Your Power.

The Flipping 50 Show

How would you like a midlife women’s makeover?  What do you need to look good in order to feel good? Discover how a midlife women’s makeover can boost your confidence — from the outside when you actually put on makeup. My Guest: With over 30 years in the beauty industry, Jennifer Kyser is passionate about helping women--especially in midlife, look and feel radiant. Known for her work in TV, print, fashion, and an occasional movie, she blends expert techniques with heart, empowering women to embrace their beauty, reclaim their power, and shine from the inside out. Questions We...

info_outline
How to Bounce Back Boldly After You Blew Your Diet show art How to Bounce Back Boldly After You Blew Your Diet

The Flipping 50 Show

Where’s the next step after you blew your diet? If you've done that before you know, it’s a hard spot.  Are you feeling frustrated after blowing your diet again? It's time to Bounce Back Boldly and stop the shame spiral!  In this episode, we’ll uncover the science behind why we overeat and how you can regain control. Know the powerful strategies to turn things around. Let’s dive into how you can bounce back with confidence and ease—because it's never too late to Bounce Back Boldly!   My Guest: Connie Bennett is a former sugar and carbs-addicted journalist and author of...

info_outline
Exercise and Hot Flashes and Other Menopause Symptoms show art Exercise and Hot Flashes and Other Menopause Symptoms

The Flipping 50 Show

Even if you don’t have hot flashes, stay with me on this because this episode is on exercise and hot flashes. We’re going to dissect the science and eradicate “science says” as a cry for validity by influencers.  Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. I’ll talk about the relationship between exercise and hot flashes along with other menopause symptoms like muscle loss or fat increase.   In previous podcast episodes and books, I’ve shared researcher comments about whether exercise could mitigate menopause symptoms. The answer, “Yes, provided it’s...

info_outline
How and Why to Consider Meditation in Menopause show art How and Why to Consider Meditation in Menopause

The Flipping 50 Show

Hearing about meditation every direction you turn? Meditation in menopause can be a simple, free, and almost effortless tool for supporting your nervous system.  If your rest and digest part of life needs to flex and be able to squelch your fight or flight, aka your watch says RELAX REMINDER more than you’d like… this is your episode. My Guest: Kelly Smith is a global yoga and meditation teacher, author, E-RYT 500/ YACEP, founder of Yoga For You and the host of the iTunes chart topping podcasts Mindful in Minutes and Meditation Mama. Kelly believes that there is not a...

info_outline
Protein for Menopause Hormone Support show art Protein for Menopause Hormone Support

The Flipping 50 Show

Let’s unpack something most midlife women are totally missing – protein for Menopause Hormone Support. Are you feeling moody, low-energy, or constantly craving carbs in midlife? It might not just be your hormones—it could be your protein intake… and its effect on your hormones.  In today’s episode, know how protein connects hormones and why your daily meals might be the hormonal tune-up you didn’t know you needed. Cortisol & Protein: The Stress-Balance Dance Cortisol levels increase in response to low blood sugar or stress, which are common when meals are high-carb and...

info_outline
Can We Just Stop the Self Sabotage to Feel Your Best Ever  show art Can We Just Stop the Self Sabotage to Feel Your Best Ever

The Flipping 50 Show

If you want to lose weight, get in shape, or keep a relationship, you may know the desire to stop the self sabotage all too well.  My guest and I talk about her weight loss, coming down from 200 lbs. Not achieving a skinny size 4, but an all important and often missing love for the body and the curves she has.  If you don’t need to lose weight but aren’t where you want to be in relationships, business or finance, stay tuned to know how to stop the self sabotage.   My Guest: Junie Moon, CEO of Midlife Love Out Loud, a Global Love Mentor, Best-selling Author, Women's...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

If you are considering BHRT, this is for you. Even if you’re currently on BHRT, you’ll learn or confirm something here.

If you’ve got daughters or DIL, in my case, there’s something here for you on that front too. If you’ve wondered why does cholesterol go up for so many women or why do autoimmune numbers increase in midlife? There’s a reason to be considering BHRT, and our guest explains why. 

 

My Guest:

Dr. Shilpa Sayana, MD is a Triple Board Certified in Internal, Obesity Medicine and Functional Medicine. She is recognized by her peers by receiving the “Most Humanistic Intern and Resident” award in all three years of her Internal Medicine Residency and celebrated by her patients by being presented the Best Doctors Women’s Choice Award.

She treats women in perimenopause and menopause, optimising their hormones, energy and weight, especially if they have been previously told that their labs are normal.

 

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

  • [00:07:54] What are natural ways to improve your hormones above 45?
  • [00:14:27] What tests do you recommend to a woman considering hormones?
  • [00:22:30] Do you have a unique opinion on starting both progesterone and estrogen at the same time or layer in one? 
  • [00:26:06] Do you advocate for women taking testosterone and what are the benefits and side effects of using TRT?
  • [00:30:21] Why do autoimmune markers increase in perimenopause and menopause? and what to do about it?
  • [00:32:04] What can help cholesterol and blood sugar levels? 



#1 Longevity Hormone Panel 

Purpose: To get a baseline of all key hormone levels

Includes:

  • Morning cortisol (before 10am)
  • DHEAS (hormone that makes cortisol)
  • TSH (thyroid)
  • Free T4 
  • Autoimmune Reverse 
  • T4 (Hashimoto’s)
  • Reverse T3 
  • Estrogen, Progesteron, Testosterone
  • Total Testosterone
  • Free Testosterone
  • Sex Binding Hormone Globulin 
  • ANA (antinuclear antibody or autoimmune antibody)
  • ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate to check inflammation rate for autoimmune)
  • CRP (C-reactive protein)
  • Ferritin 
  • Genetics
  • Vitamin B12 
  • Vitamin D

 

More Tests to Truly Know If You’re Ready Before Considering BHRT

 

#2 Gut Test

Purpose: To assess inflammation, microbiome health, and how well your body can process and eliminate hormones

 

#3 Toxin/Environmental Load Testing

Purpose: To detect environmental toxins that may be disrupting hormone production or metabolism

 

Track Your Hormones

Functional vs. Conventional medicine’s approach to lab results:

  • Functional Medicine
    • Focuses on what’s optimal, not just normal.
    • Listens to the whole person (hormone networks), not just the labs.
  • Conventional Medicine
    • Labs are often labeled "normal" if they fall within the wide reference range.
    • No action is taken unless results are severely out of range.

 

Connect with Shilpa:



Other Episodes You Might Like:



Resources: