Are You There, Midlife? It’s Me, Monica. | Balance Hormones Naturally in Perimenopause, Menopause for Women Over 40 Monica Topete | Holistic Health Coach | Perimenopause Educator | Hormone Imbalance Survivor

Hey friend,
In today’s episode, we’re continuing a vital conversation about the efficacy and safety of supplements.
Supplements can be a real game-changer when it comes to our hormonal health, especially for those of us who want to balance our hormones without HRT or hormonal birth control....Or who don’t want to take prescription medication like sleeping pills, SSRIs, or anti-depressants to help ease certain perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
But there’s a dark side to supplements because they can be dangerous–fatal even.
Of the estimated 4,000 supplement manufacturers worldwide, the vast majority test for zero contaminants such as mercury, heavy metals, mold, bacteria, steroids, and even prescription drugs! And a recent Harvard study published in the Journal of American Medical Association found that two-thirds of all FDA-recalled dietary supplements analyzed still contained banned substances at least 6 months after being recalled!!
So how do you really know what's in your supplements and vitamins?In today’s episode, I’m sharing 6 warning signs your supplement may be a scam, including:
-  The hidden dangers of proprietary blend supplements
-  Quality control issues with gummies vitamins
-  Checks and balances of 3rd party testing
-  Social proof or scam?: Positive supplement reviews
-  "Pretty" toxins in vitamins
-  And supplement purity standards
Plus, you'll learn three things to look for to ensure you are taking quality supplements and what you need to know about 3rd party testing of supplement brands by the USP United States Pharmacopeia, NSF National Sanitation Foundation, and Consumer Labs Reviews.








If you or anyone in your family take vitamins, probiotics, or herbal supplements (that includes gummies, too), don’t miss this episode!
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Next Steps:
Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessment
EP 8 | Do Hormone Balancing Supplements Work? (Part 1) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-you-there-midlife-its-me-monica-balance-hor mones/id1736009810
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements and Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741):https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
Third-Party Supplement Testing Resources:
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
https://www.quality-supplements.org/usp_verified_products
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
https://info.nsf.org/Certified/dietary/
Consumer Lab
https://www.consumerlab.com/join/?cltrkid=HomepageHero
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast:
https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
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*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Hey friend,
Do you take supplements? If so, do you know what’s in your supplements? And how do you know if your supplements are actually helping rather than hurting your health?
In today’s episode, I pull back the curtain on the 37-billion supplement industry and share the good, the bad and the dangerous side of diet supplementation.
In this episode you will learn:
Do we really need supplements to balance our hormones and maintain proper nutrition?
Are supplements regulated by the FDA and does that matter?
Why aren’t all vitamins tested and what happens with a supplement recall?
Why are women in midlife BIG money (and huge targets) for supplement manufacturers?
Three factors to consider when shopping for supplements
If you're questioning whether supplements are a waste of money or whether your supplements may even worsening your existing hormone imbalance symptoms, you won’t want to miss this episode.
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Next Steps:
Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessment 
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements & Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741): https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife
Become an AYTML Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/
Book a 30-minute Hormone Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/hormonecall
Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Hey friend,
Today’s episode kicks off a special “Love & Hormones” His-and-Her’s Day Spring Series, with new episodes every other Thursday throughout April, May and June.
Join me and my partner of 26 years, Rick, as we spill the tea on how perimenopause and menopause have affected our marriage, including my personal story of hormonal imbalance, the challenges I faced, and the toll it took on our relationship. From miscommunication to emotional turbulence, we tackle it ALL!
In this episode you will learn:

The divorce rate among couples over 55 and its connection to hormonal changes


My journey through perimenopause and how it affected my relationship and our social life


The importance of effective communication and understanding between partners during hormonal shifts


Practical tips for couples to navigate difficult conversations and support each other emotionally


Insights from Rick on how husbands can empathize and connect with their partners during perimenopause

Tip: Ladies, listen to this episode all the way through. Then grab YOUR man--and your favorite beverage--and listen to it a second time, together. 
If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and it's impacting your marriage, this series is a must-listen! 
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Next Steps:
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife
Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessment
Become an AYTML Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/
Book a 30-minute Hormone Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/hormonecall
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements & Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741): https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Hey friend,
In today’s episode, I’m going to unpack one of the most misunderstood byproducts of hormone imbalance in perimenopause and menopause: food sensitivities.
Understanding what foods may be exacerbating an underlying hormonal imbalance and causing issues like stomach pain, eczema, constipation, headaches, inflammation in your joints, brain fog or even unwanted weight gain can be life-changing! In today’s episode, I’ll begin to unravel the mysteries of food and its effect on our hormones by sharing:
    - What is the root cause of food sensitivity?
     - 3 signs of food sensitivity
     - Can hormone imbalance cause food sensitivities?
     - What foods affect hormones the most
     - What foods flare up thyroid?
     - What foods are hard on adrenal glands?
     - Which foods increase estrogen levels?
     - Plus, 10 foods to avoid that cause hormonal chaos
 
Also in this episode, I share a special announcement about a new series I’m launching this week that you’re not going to want to miss!
—This episode’s “Thump on the Head”:
“Food is information, telling your body what to do. Every bite you eat affects your hormones, brain chemistry, and metabolism.”–Functional medicine doctor and 15x New York Best-selling author, Dr. Mark Hyman
 
Are you listening to your body, ladies? It’s time to get back on speaking terms.:>
 
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Next Steps:
 
Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessment
 
Become an AYTML Podcast Insider:https://areyoutheremidlife.com/
 
Book a 30-minute Hormone Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/hormonecall
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife
 
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements & Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741):https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
 
Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
 
*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

Hey friend,
 
In today’s episode I’m going to answer a question I get asked all the time: Should you bother getting your hormone levels checked and is there a way to check your hormone levels yourself?
 
Understanding what’s going on with your hormones and what imbalance (or imbalances) you may have is the crucial first step in solving your hormonal puzzle and feeling like you again.
 
And it’s really a non-negotiable because if you don’t do anything about your hormone symptoms: 1.) They’re not going to go away by themselves, and 2.) They're not going to get any better. (In fact, not to be an alarmist or anything, but they’re probably going to get worse!)
 
In this episode you will learn:
    - The 4 types of hormone level tests 
     - The problem with hormone levels in blood tests
     - What’s a hormone saliva test and what hormones does it test?
     - The difference between a hormone urine test and a DUTCH test for hormones
     - Hormone Synptom Profiling and hormone fluctuations
     - What method I chose to identify my hormone imbalance symptoms and why
 
I hope this episode clears up a lot of confusion you may have about hormone testing and gives you back some of your power when it comes to your health and your body. 
—This episode’s “Thump on the Head”:“We need to move from a disease-care model to a “health-based model”...[which involves] teaching patients how to be their own clinician.”
 
–Functional medicine doctor and renowned hormone expert, Dr. Sara Gottfried.

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Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessment
 
EP 2 | Why Does My Blood Test For Hormones Keep Coming Back “Normal”?https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-you-there-midlife-its-me-monica-balance-hormones/id1736009810?i=1000649528656
 
Become an AYTML Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/
 
Book a 30-minute Hormone Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/hormonecall
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife
 
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements & Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741):https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
 
Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
 
*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.
 

Hey beautiful!
Today, I’m going to spill the tea on a taboo topic: How much do our doctors really know about perimenopause–and share 6 reasons why your doctor may be dismissing your symptoms.
This episode was inspired by Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry’s recent confession that her doctor mistook her vaginal dryness–a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause–as ‘the worst case of herpes he had ever seen.”What the hell-o-menopause?!?In this episode you will learn:   
- What should I do if my doctor doesn’t take my perimenopause symptoms seriously?
- Are there certain biases or misconceptions about perimenopause that could be         influencing my doctor’s dismissal of my symptoms?
- What role does gender bias play in the dismissal of perimenopause symptoms by doctors?
- Is it possible that my doctor is dismissing my perimenopause symptoms because they’re not familiar with the latest research or guidelines?
- Can hormone tests or other diagnostic tools help convince my doctor of the validity of my perimenopause symptoms?
I hope this episode informs you, inspires you, or makes you laugh a little (unless laughing makes you pee.:)—This episode’s “Thump on the Head”:I had decided I “was going to skip” perimenopause altogether. [I thought] “I’m in great shape. I’m healthy. I managed to get myself off of insulin and manage my diabetes since I was 20 years old. So that makes one think, ‘Oh, I can handle menopause. I’m going to skip that whole thing.’ I was so uneducated about it at that time.”
–Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, Age 57
 
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Next steps:
Become an AYTML Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/
 
Take my FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/HormoneSelfAssessmentz
 
Book a 30-minute Hormone Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/hormonecall
 
Record a Question to be Answered on the Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife
 
Shop my Favorite Hormone Balancing Supplements & Save 5% or More on Every Order (Enter promo code EUQ1741):https://www.iherb.com/me/HormoneBalance
 
Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
 
*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.