The Better Yoo Project: Optimizing Health, Hormones and Aesthetics.

Lexi Yoo NP
  • 4.8 (38)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semimonthly

The Better Yoo Project Podcast is a weekly series covering the topics of functional medicine, case studies from her practice, nutrition of all varieties (Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Pegan, Macros, Low Fod Map, Cardiometabolic) etc, the role of the nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, hormones optimization, injectables and aesthetics, fitness and recovery, nutragenomics and supplement use! The host is Lexi Yoo NP, wife -mom-small business owner- nurse practitioner, hormone balancer, gut guru, thyroid investigator, fitness fanatic, and health hacker out of the Hoosier State.

  1. 1d ago

    116. Aging Strong: What Women Should Be Doing Now for Better Health Later with Zora Benhamou

    Zora Benhamou is a gerontologist, menopause educator, biohacker, and host of the Hack My Age podcast. She holds a Master’s degree in Gerontology from USC and has dedicated her work to helping women better understand the changes that come with perimenopause, menopause, and aging. Through her podcast and educational platform, Zora explores the science behind hormones, longevity, metabolic health, exercise, nutrition, and emerging health technologies—turning complex research into practical strategies women can use to improve their healthspan and quality of life. Today, we’re excited to dive into her perspective on navigating midlife, optimizing health, and aging well. In this episode, Zora makes the case that the decisions we make in our 40s are already writing the story of who we get to be at 80. She has spent years stopping women on the street around the world to ask them five questions about menopause, and the answers keep landing the same way no matter the country. We also get into something that most of us are never warned about: that bone loss moves fastest during the transition into menopause, and that the DEXA scan women finally get at 65 is much too late. Zora pushes back on the age cutoff women hear when they ask about hormone therapy, and she has a warning about what most bone supplements are actually delivering. Topics discussed in this episode include: What women around the world reveal when asked about menopause. Why social media portrayals leave younger women terrified of the transition. How decisions made at 40 shape what an 80-year-old body can do. Why muscle acts as a glucose sponge and a signal for bone building. What vaginal estrogen addresses that never improves on its own with age. Why age alone is not a valid reason to deny hormone therapy. How transdermal delivery changes the risk picture compared with oral estrogen. What separates micronized progesterone from synthetic progestins in the research. Why rapid bone loss makes a first DEXA scan at 65 too late. Why fracture risk matters more than the number on a scan report. How many fragility fractures happen without any osteoporosis diagnosis at all. How REMS scanning captures bone quality that density scores miss entirely. A nursing home dairy study that lowered falls without adding exercise. The MK-4 versus MK-7 debate hiding inside most bone supplements. How blood flow restriction training is useful adults who cannot lift heavy. What seven decades of Harvard research identified as the strongest longevity predictor.   Hack My Age website: https://hackmyage.com    Hack My Age : Menopause Upgrade podcast: https://hackmyage.com/podcast    Zora on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HackMyAge    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  2. Aug 31

    115. Everything You Were Told About Perimenopause Is Incomplete with Dr. Carrie Jones

    Carrie Jones, ND, FABNE, MPH, MSCP is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, author and educator on women's health and hormones with over 20 years in the industry. Dubbed the “Queen of Hormones,” Dr. Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who completed a two-year residency focused on women's health and endocrinology. She earned her Master of Public Health (MPH), became one of the first to be board certified through the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE), and is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). She was the first Medical Director for Precision Analytical (the DUTCH Test), the first Head of Medical Education at Rupa Health (a Fullscript Company) and served on Under Armour’s Human Performance Council. In this episode we go straight into the hormone chaos so many of us feel, but rarely understand. Dr Jones walks us through why progesterone drops before estrogen, how that shift shows up in real life, and what we can actually do about it. From chaste tree and evening primrose oil, to knowing when it’s time to stop trying to “out‑herbal” our age and consider hormone therapy, Dr. Jones reveals it all. We get into the myths that keep us stuck, like waiting a full year without a period before starting estrogen, or assuming “normal” labs mean everything is fine. She explains why FSH trends matter, how cortisol isn’t the villain it’s made out to be, and why testosterone affects more than libido (including brain function and muscle). Topics discussed in this episode include: The education gap leaving women unaware of basic hormone function. How so many women are white-knuckling their perimenopause symptoms. Why progesterone declines before estrogen during early perimenopause. How weak ovulation leads to low progesterone despite regular cycles. What lifestyle factors like thyroid and prolactin do to progesterone. How chaste tree supports ovarian communication in early transition. Why herbal support fails in late perimenopause follicle depletion. The myth requiring 365 days before starting estrogen therapy. How early estrogen loss affects your brain and body systems. Why standard lab panels miss cardiometabolic risk changes. What optimal insulin and inflammatory markers reveal beyond ranges. How follicle stimulating hormone rises years before menopause. Why FSH above 30 correlates with metabolic and bone shifts. What testosterone influences beyond libido including cognition and muscle. Why cortisol rhythm matters more than single elevated readings. The overwhelm created by extreme perimenopause lifestyle expectations.    Dr. Jones’ website: https://www.drcarriejones.com    Dr. Jones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carriejones   Dr. Jones on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drcarriejones    Dr. Jones on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarriejones    Hello Hormones on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0QMOu9ma6Xljf5omizAhNz?si=4dbaaf83a8cf4508    Hello Hormones on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hello-hormones-with-dr-carrie-jones/id1813934931    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  3. Aug 17

    114. ADHD, PMOS, Hormones & Women's Health: The Missing Connections Across a Woman's Lifespan with Dr. Jolene Brighten

    Dr. Jolene Brighten is an internationally recognized hormone expert, nutrition scientist, and founder of Dr. Brighten Essentials, a supplement company creating science-backed solutions for women’s health. Board-certified in naturopathic endocrinology, a certified menopause specialist, and sex counselor, she’s the bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal, and the forthcoming ADHD and Women—empowering women to optimize their hormones and enhance sexual wellness. In this episode, Dr. Brighten takes us into the intersections of hormones, brain health, and the diagnoses many of us receive without the full story. We explore how birth control can mask conditions like endometriosis and PMDD for years, and what happens when those symptoms resurface later as infertility or mood changes. We also unpack the recent shift from PCOS to PMOS and what that name change reveals about metabolic and systemic health. From dopamine and cortisol patterns to supplement strategies like saffron and NAC, we cover ground that connects reproductive health with executive function in ways many of us have never been taught. Topics discussed in this episode include: How painful periods and gut symptoms can signal undiagnosed endometriosis. Why birth control frequently masks PMDD, PMOS, and endometriosis symptoms. What secondary infertility can reveal about years of untreated hormonal conditions. The pattern of PMDD mood shifts intensifying during the luteal phase. How progesterone sensitivity links to neuroplasticity and GABA receptor changes. The emerging theory that neuroinflammation drives persistent PMDD symptoms. Why ADHD in women presents differently than stereotypical male patterns. How excess androgens in PMOS influence impulsivity and earlier ADHD recognition. What emotional dysregulation and time blindness reveal about executive dysfunction. Why stimulant medications shift in effectiveness across menstrual cycle phases. The relationship between estrogen, dopamine, and luteal phase symptom escalation. How chronic cortisol elevation contributes to burnout in high achieving women. Why saffron, bacopa, and NAC show promise in ADHD support research. How the redefinition of PCOS to PMOS highlights systemic metabolic dysfunction. How insulin resistance and inflammation shape ovarian hormone imbalance. The connection between maternal metabolic health and offspring neurodevelopment risk.     ADHD and Women: A Guide to Optimizing Your Hormones and Thriving with ADHD (releasing on October 6, 2026): https://drbrighten.com/adhd-in-women    Dr. Brighten on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjolenebrighten    The Dr. Brighten Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5VWcYWJFzi3OnwidT25IXi   The Dr. Brighten Show on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-brighten-show/id1786362161    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  4. Aug 3

    113. Tryptophan: The Missing Link Between Gut, Mood, and Post-COVID Recovery with Dr. Cynthia Keller

    Dr Cynthia Keller is a triple-boarded physician (Pediatrics, Integrative Medicine, and Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine), who owns and runs Centered in Wellness, a multidisciplinary wellness center in the Seattle region. She believes that the origins of disease and disability can be traced back to long before adulthood, and that her understanding of children’s health and normal development gives her a unique view for promoting health as we age. In this episode, we’re going deep into the biochemical tug of war happening inside all of us. We explore how tryptophan gets “stolen” during inflammation, especially for those who have suffered through COVID, and why that shift can leave us anxious, flat, or exhausted. Dr. Keller explains how the kynurenine pathway diverts resources away from serotonin and dopamine, how cofactors like B6 and folate quietly influence neurotransmitters, and why some patients feel worse before they feel better when undergoing treatment. Later, Dr. Keller shares clinical stories that connect cellular biochemistry to real-life struggles, offering a decision-making framework that challenges us to rethink depression, burnout, and recovery through a metabolic lens.   Topics discussed in this episode include: How inflammation harmfully redirects tryptophan away from serotonin production. What the kynurenine pathway does during infection and stress states. Why the liver’s demand for NAD increases tryptophan diversion. How immune activation upregulates IDO1 and alters brain chemistry. What quinolinic acid does to neurons and neuroinflammation levels. The limited transport of tryptophan across the blood brain barrier. How microglia amplify neurotransmitter depletion during chronic inflammation. Why tryptophan differs from 5-HTP in clinical applications. The importance of cofactors like P5P and folate in neurotransmitter synthesis. How repeated COVID exposures may create cumulative nutrient depletion. What subtle mood shifts can reveal about serotonin and dopamine balance. The connection between catecholamine depletion and unexplained weight gain. How leptin resistance can follow prolonged neurotransmitter imbalance. The role of antidiuretic hormone and zinc in urinary symptoms. How mast cell stability relates to catecholamine availability. Why some patients worsen immediately when tryptophan fuels inflammation. How restoring nutrients can reignite joy, motivation, and resilience.   Centered in Wellness: https://www.centeredinwellness.com    Dr. Keller on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiakellermd    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  5. Jul 24

    112. The Future of Peptide Medicine: What the PCAC Vote Really Means with Dr. Greg Jones

    Dr. Greg Jones is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor and earned his degree in Naturopathic Medicine with honors from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) in Tempe Arizona. Dr. Jones has received extensive training in regenerative injection therapy, IV nutritional therapy, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and peptide therapy. Dr. Jones is here to unpack all the major movement around peptide regulation and what it could mean for your practice. We walk through the recent committee vote that recommends several well-known peptides be reconsidered for compounding, and Dr. Jones explains why this moment matters far beyond just a headline. He breaks down what happened when peptides were moved to a restricted category, how that shift fueled growth of the grey market, and why physician oversight and pharmacy quality control are central to patient safety. We also hear his take on BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, and MOTS-c, including where he has seen them used in practice and why certain delivery methods could return if approvals move forward. We also examine what this vote does not do, why the FDA still holds final authority, and how this step could open doors for more formal research in the future. Topics discussed in this episode include: Breaking news from the recent Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) meeting. A background on the 2023 FDA decision to move 19 peptides to Category 2. How that restriction abruptly limited compounding pharmacy access nationwide. The grey market expansion as patients seek alternative peptide sources. Why lack of published safety data fueled regulatory concern. Why the vote recommends reconsideration for pharmacy compounding pathways. What the recommendation means for 503A bulk substance consideration. The importance of physician oversight in peptide prescribing decisions. How quality control testing differs between compounding pharmacies and online suppliers. Why harm reduction will become central to the regulatory conversation. The potential return of multiple peptide delivery methods, including topical and oral forms. Why BPC-157 is such a versatile clinical tool, and the role of MOTS-c in mitochondrial and metabolic support strategies. Why over-the-counter injectable peptide access remains unrealistic under current law. Plans for future peptide reviews scheduled in upcoming regulatory sessions.   We are running a flash special for the YDH Training Academy. Buy peptide module, get the Scaling Your Practice with Peptide Therapy for Free! Use code YAYFDA   Dr. Jones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorjones_doctorjones    Dr. Jones on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drgregjonesnmd    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  6. Jul 20

    111. Autoimmunity, Perimenopause & Tools to Take Back your Health with Dr. Amy Myers

    Dr. Amy Myers is a medical doctor, a two-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally acclaimed functional medicine physician who specializes in empowering those with autoimmune, thyroid, SIBO, Candida, and gut issues to reverse their conditions and take back their health. Dr. Myers spent more than two decades working as a physician, including founding her own clinic, before she launched Amy Myers MD®, an e-commerce wellness brand that reaches millions of people in more than 140 countries around the world with over 75 products she personally formulated and a variety of programs. In this conversation, we follow Dr. Amy Myers through the health crisis that changed how she thinks about autoimmune disease, thyroid care, and the work needed before symptoms become diagnoses. She brings us into the gap between being told something is “solved” and realizing the body may still be sending warnings. We hear why she looks beyond labels like Graves’ or Hashimoto’s and instead asks what pushed the immune system there in the first place. She explains why food, gut permeability, toxins, infections, stress, and trauma matter, and why removing gluten and dairy is not just a trend in her approach. We also get into the role of hormone shifts during perimenopause, the labs she considers, and tools that may support the gut, thyroid, and immune system. Topics discussed in this episode include: How Graves’ disease leads into a search for autoimmunity root causes.Why thyroid ablation becomes part of the guest’s health story.What the autoimmune spectrum means before diagnosis ever appears.The connection between antibodies, symptoms, and future autoimmune risk.How food, leaky gut, toxins, infections, stress, and trauma interact.Why gluten may trigger immune confusion around thyroid tissue.What molecular mimicry reveals about gluten, casein, oats, and corn.The reason grains, legumes, eggs, and nightshades leave protocol plans.How body feedback can outweigh food sensitivity testing results.The role hormone shifts play during childbirth, perimenopause, and menopause.How autoimmune symptoms can overlap with fatigue, brain fog, and hot flashes.What thyroid labs help separate Hashimoto’s patterns from Graves’ patterns.How children often notice symptom changes after abstinence of certain foods.What low dose naltrexone and thymosin alpha one add to the conversation.Why zonulin blockers raise questions about removing leaky gut triggers.    Get 15% off AMMD supplements and protocols using code THEBETTERYOO: https://www.amymyersmd.com/THEBETTERYOO    Dr. Myers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramymyers/    The Autoimmune Solution (book) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Autoimmune-Solution-Spectrum-Inflammatory-Symptoms/dp/0062347489    Dr. Myers’ podcast, Take Back Your Health: https://www.amymyersmd.com/pages/podcast    Lexi on Dr. Isabella Wentz’ podcast “Reversing Hashimoto’s? The Unconventional Tools You Haven’t Tried Yet”: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ep-60/    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  7. Jul 6

    110. The NeuroReset: Restoring Autonomic Balance at the Biological Root with Dr. Jonathann Kuo

    Dr. Jonathann Kuo, MD is a double board-certified physician in anesthesiology and pain management, and one of New York's most respected interventional specialists. While Dr. Kuo built his reputation as an elite pain management specialist, his research into the sympathetic nervous system opened an entirely new frontier. His work on the sympathetic nervous system helped pave the way for interventional mental health to gain widespread recognition as a highly effective approach for treatment-resistant conditions. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jonathann Kuo to explore how resetting the autonomic nervous system can change the way we experience stress, sleep, mood, and even chronic illness. He walks us through his journey from anesthesiology and interventional pain management into what he calls interventional longevity, where procedures are used to shift physiology at the root level. We dive into his NeuroReset protocol, including dual sympathetic nerve blocks, vagus nerve hydrodissection, and ketamine infusions, and he explains the mechanisms behind each step. He shares data on PTSD, anxiety, long COVID, POTS, and vasomotor symptoms, along with what he has seen in thousands of patients. We also hear about investigational approaches like liposomal anesthetics, pulsed radiofrequency, and even Botox to the sympathetic chain. Topics discussed in this episode include: What NeuroReset aims to change inside fight-or-flight physiology.How stress patterns can still appear despite normal labs and testing.Why PTSD patterns often involve sympathetic overdrive and emotional reactivity.How NeuroReset combines sympathetic calming with vagus nerve support.What ketamine may add for mood, plasticity, and deeper resetting.Why chronic stress can strengthen fear signaling inside the brain.How a stellate ganglion block may lower fear-center dominance.What vagus nerve hydrodissection can do for compression and function.Why dextrose, peptides, and exosomes have entered the nerve-repair conversation.How investigational add-ons raise questions about response, safety, and duration.Why Botox and pulsed radiofrequency are explored for lasting results.What patients may notice during treatment, including calm and grounding.How the best responses often show changes in sleep, HRV, and reactivity.How repeated sessions may support symptoms that return over time.Why nervous system care still requires sleep, movement, and recovery habits.What chronic stress may do to metabolism, immunity, aging, and mood.  Dr. Kuo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.kuo  Extension Health: https://extension.health  Extension Health on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extension.health  Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

  8. Jun 22

    109. Metabolism, Fasting, Perimenopause, and The Menopause Gut with Cynthia Thurlow

    Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, host of the Everyday Wellness podcast, author and international speaker, with over 15 million views for her second TEDx talk (Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique). With over 25 years of experience in health and wellness, Cynthia is a globally recognized expert in perimenopause/menopause and intermittent fasting, and her mission is to help empower women to live their most optimal lives in perimenopause and beyond. In her new book, The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond (Avery, on sale April 28, 2026), Thurlow offers a roadmap to reclaim balance and immune resilience after menopause. We’re welcoming Cynthia in this episode to explore how women’s health shifts in midlife and why the gut may be the missing piece to massively better health. We hear why she emphasizes “digestive rest” over aggressive fasting, especially for women who struggle to build muscle or meet protein needs. She explains how perimenopause alters the microbiome, how the “microgenderome” evolves across puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, and why hormone replacement therapy can reshape the gut in meaningful ways. We also dig into hidden gut disruptors like alcohol, ultra-processed foods, antibiotics, and unresolved stress, along with the gut-brain connection, brain fog, and mitochondrial health. Cynthia challenges us to rethink restriction, prioritize muscle and sleep, and finally factor the gut into every hormone discussion.   Topics discussed in this episode include: Who Cynthia’s upcoming book is meant to help.Why digestive rest is replacing aggressive fasting strategies.The risk of sarcopenia during extended fasting windows.How inadequate protein intake limits muscle preservation.Why muscle mass plays a huge role in determining long term metabolic independence.The influence of insulin resistance on fasting recommendations.What follicular and luteal phases signal about stress tolerance.Why perimenopause represents hormonal volatility before menopause stability.The importance of aligning fasting with stress and sleep status.Why estradiol modulates immune resilience and inflammation.The role of antibiotics, alcohol, and other irritants of microbiome health.The connection between unresolved trauma and gut dysfunction.How vagus nerve signaling links gut and brain health.Why hydration and electrolyte balance support performance.The necessity of sleep rituals for nervous system regulation.A very common yet overlooked source of fatigue that can be fixed today.  Cynthia’s website (get The Menopause Gut here): https://www.cynthiathurlow.com    Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexiyoonp or visit us at https://www.yoodirecthealth.com

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4.8
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About

The Better Yoo Project Podcast is a weekly series covering the topics of functional medicine, case studies from her practice, nutrition of all varieties (Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Pegan, Macros, Low Fod Map, Cardiometabolic) etc, the role of the nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, hormones optimization, injectables and aesthetics, fitness and recovery, nutragenomics and supplement use! The host is Lexi Yoo NP, wife -mom-small business owner- nurse practitioner, hormone balancer, gut guru, thyroid investigator, fitness fanatic, and health hacker out of the Hoosier State.

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