What if symptoms dismissed as “just menopause” are connected to your gut? Dr. Amy Myers sits down with Cynthia Thurlow, NP, to explore the menopause-gut connection, the estrobolome, immune health, trauma, hormones, and bio-individual nutrition. Cynthia shares the health crisis that led to a 13-day hospitalization after a ruptured appendix, pancolitis, and complications that continued after she returned home. She later learned that Giardia had contributed to her prolonged illness, changing how she viewed the gut microbiome, declining estrogen, and the immune system. Dr. Amy and Cynthia discuss estrogen processing, bowel regularity, brain fog, mood, skin changes, weight resistance, the gut-brain and gut-ovarian axes, trauma, hormone testing, protein, fiber, and why strategies may need to change across menopause. What You’ll Learn What the estrobolome is and why it matters for estrogen processing How gut health, hormones, immune function, and brain health communicate How trauma and chronic stress may shape the menopause transition Why common midlife symptoms deserve a deeper look Why protein, fiber, nourishment, and bio-individuality matter About Cynthia Thurlow, NP Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, women’s health expert, and host of the Everyday Wellness podcast. She is the author of The Menopause Gut. Resources Cynthia Thurlow’s Official Website The Menopause Gut Everyday Wellness Podcast Purchase The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond by Cynthia Thurlow on Amazon. 🚨 Special Offer 🚨 Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer. 🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨 Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping. Use code Dr. Amy Myers. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and the menopause-gut connection 02:34 Cynthia’s travel illness and health crisis 04:21 Hospitalization, ruptured appendix, pancolitis, and complications 06:31 Giardia, weight loss, and declining estrogen 08:09 Why the gut microbiome matters in midlife 10:14 What the estrobolome does 11:31 Constipation, estrogen processing, and the Goldilocks effect 13:44 Estrogen metabolites, detox pathways, and exposures 16:29 Diet, stress, and the estrobolome 17:10 Estrogen recirculation and menopause symptoms 18:32 The gut-brain connection and neurotransmitters 20:22 Food poisoning, inflammation, and brain fog 22:52 Infection, microbiome disruption, and mood changes 25:09 Bio-individuality and healing the gut 26:36 Bloating, brain fog, and weight resistance 29:19 Trauma and the gut-ovarian axis 32:16 ACE scores, stress, and perimenopause 34:16 Earlier menopause and high-stress professions 36:31 Why women were taught to suffer in silence 38:23 WHI data and hormone replacement 40:35 Transdermal versus oral hormones 41:26 Why estrogen affects more than bones 42:35 Progesterone, testosterone, and cognition 45:43 Testing hormones in context 46:31 Finding a qualified practitioner 49:09 Hormone delivery methods and dosing 53:37 Digestive rest, protein, and fasting 54:35 Bio-individual protein and carbohydrates 55:02 When intermittent fasting works—and when it does not 56:15 Protein, carbohydrates, sleep, and performance 58:37 Changing your approach as your body changes 59:21 Cynthia’s three ways to take back your health 01:00:05 Fiber, estrogen elimination, and bone health 01:00:24 Healthy boundaries and peace of mind 01:01:24 Where to find Cynthia 01:02:08 Closing conversation