Episode 234: The Keto Green Way to Optimize Hormones ... · cheese diet, which is technically, you...

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Copyright © 2019 Wellness Mama · All Rights Reserved 1 Episode 234: The Keto Green Way to Optimize Hormones & Libido With Dr. Anna Cabeca

Transcript of Episode 234: The Keto Green Way to Optimize Hormones ... · cheese diet, which is technically, you...

Page 1: Episode 234: The Keto Green Way to Optimize Hormones ... · cheese diet, which is technically, you can get in ketosis, I guess, that way, but I feel like that's a dangerous thing

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Episode234:TheKetoGreenWaytoOptimizeHormones&LibidoWithDr.AnnaCabeca

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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyReady,Set,Food!anewcompanyrevolutionizingfoodallergypreventioninchildren.Weallknowthatthisproblemisontherise,andinfact,mostofusknowsomeonewhohasachildwithfoodallergies,orhavehadthisexperienceourselves.Therearemanytheoriesforthisandcertainlymanyproblemsthatneedtobeaddressedlikeguthealthandimmunesupport.Ready,Set,Food!istakingthecuttingedgeresearchandscienceandusingitinapracticalwaytohelpbabiesandchildrenavoidfoodallergiesinthefirstplace.Here’show.Themostuptodatestudiesareshowingthatcarefullycalculatedearlyexposureintherightamountscanstopmanycasesoffoodallergies!Ready,Set,Food!makesthiseasywithasimplesystemthatcanbeaddedtobreastmilk,formulaorbaby’sfirstfoodstogiveincrementalandcalculatedexposuretothetopallergenslikepeanuts,eggandmilk.Whenusedasdirected,thiscanreducethechanceofallergiesbyupto80%anditisrecommendedandoverseenbymanyofthenation’stoppediatricians.Learnmoreaboutthisevidencebasedapproachatreadysetfood.com/wellnessmama

ThispodcastissponsoredbyThriveMarket-acompanyI’velovedforyears,andthatjustcontinuestogetbetterandbetter.IusetheirfreeappallthetimetoordermypantrystaplesfromcompaniesIlove,andalwaysturntotheirThriveMarketbrandforevenbetterdiscounts.Here’satip:usetheapplikeyouwouldashoppinglist.Addthingstocartasyouthinkofthem,orasyourunout,orasyoumealplan.Then,onceyouhitthethresholdforfreeshipping,yourorderwillbereadytogo.Here’sanothersecret-Thriveoftenrunsfreegiftwithpurchaseoffersjustformembersasathankyou,sokeepaneyeoutforthose!IusuallychoosetoorderondayswhenthereisagiftIloveandhavegottensomeawesomefreeproductsovertheyearsbydoingthis.Findoutmoreaboutalloftheseandgetanextradiscountonyourfirstorderatthrivemarket.com/katie

Katie:Hello,andwelcometo"TheWellnessMamaPodcast."I'mKatiefromwellnessmama.comandI'mheretodaywithDr.AnnaCabeca,whoisatripleboardcertifieddoctorandafellowofgynecologyandobstetrics,integrativemedicine,andantiagingandregenerativemedicine.Tosaysheisqualifiedisanunderstatement.Shehasspecialcertificationsinfunctionalmedicine,sexualhealth,bioidenticalhormonereplacementtherapy.She'salsoknownforherworkusingnaturalalternativesandbringingtraditionalhealingmodalitiesformanagingmenopausesuccessfully.Sheisthecreatorofthehighlyacclaimedvirtualtransformationprograms:Women'sRestorativeHealth,SexualCPR,andMagicMenopause.Alsothecreatorofalkalinesuperfooddrink,MightyMacaPlus,andthevulvarantiagingcreamcalledJulva.Shehasbeeninterviewedbyallmajortelevisionnetworksandbeenfeaturedonprettymucheverymajorwebsiteaswell.ShelivesonSt.SimonsIslandinGeorgiawithherfourdaughters,andherdog,Sandy.AndIcan'twaittojumpintoallofthesetopicsbecauseIgetsomanyquestionsfromyouguys.Dr.Anna,welcomeandthanksforbeinghere.

Dr.Anna:Oh,it'spleasuretobehereasalwayswithyou,Katie.Thanksforhavingme.

Katie:Ofcourse.AndIlovesomuchaboutyourworkthatyouareobviouslyextremelyqualifiedinthemedicalworld.Beingtripleboardcertifiedisnotaneasyfeat,andveryfewdoctorsevenachievethat.Butyoualsoaresoopentotheresearchandtheanecdotalsideofthenaturalremediesaswell.AndIfeellikesofewdoctors

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cancombinethosethingsasseamlesslyandeffectivelytoactuallygetresultsespeciallywithwomen.Ilovetheworkthatyoudo.AndIknowthatyou'vealsorecentlybeendoingalotofresearchandworkandevenwrittenabookdelvingintomoretheketodietsideforwomenwhichissotimelybecauseIgetquestionsallthetimeaboutifketoissafeforwomen,ifitneedstobedonedifferentlyforwomen,andwhatitactuallymeans.Becausecertainly,Ithinkthere'slike94differentversionsofwhatpeoplethinkareketo.Sotostartoff,howdoyoudefineketofromyourresearchandyourexperiencewithpatients?

Dr.Anna:Yeah,Ithinkthat's...you'reexactlyright.Therearesomanydifferentversionsanditcanbedoneinsomanydifferentways.Andthisisoneofthethings,Katie,likesomanyofusknow,have…atleastwe'vetriedmorethanonediet,right?Andthereasonisbecause99%ofdietsfail.Andweknowthatfromtheresearch,right?Andsothat'swhat'sreallyfrustrating.ButwhatIreallytriedtohonedownwithmyKetoGreenWayandclarifiedinmybookishowyouuncoverwhatreallyworksforyoubecauseit'sonlyabout25%aboutwhatweeat,75%isalifestyle.Whenareweeating?Howareweeating?What'sourmindsetthatwebringtoit?Whatarewedealingwith?Whattoxinsareweexposedto?Andallofthosefactorshavetobeteasedoutsowecanreallyobtainoptimalhealth.Soforme,liketheketodietisreallytheemphasisonketosis,gettingourbodytouseketonesforfuelversusglucoseonaregularbasisasmuchaspossible.Andthat'sthekey.

Katie:Andwhatdoyousee,especiallyforwomenasfarasanyhormonalchanges,andaretheypositiveornegative?Becausethat'sthemostcommoncritiqueIhearis,youknow,womenshouldn'tdoketobecauseoftheirhormones.

Dr.Anna:Right,right.Andthat'sexactlywhathappenedtome.And,youknow,likewetalkabout,whyamItripleboardcertified?Itellyou,Idonotdiscriminateonhealingmodalitiesiftheywork,right?Andsothat'swhatI'mtryingtofigureout.I'vebeentryingtofigureout.SowhenItriedketointhepastformeormyperimenopausalpatients,theywouldalwayscomplainofirritabilityandmoodiness,and,youknow,significantmoodswings.AndIwouldsayformyself,Icalledthatgoingketocrazy,youknow,andyoucannotbethat,notasamomwithkids,youknowthatverywell,right?Andallyourlistenersdo.Likebeingamomwithkids,you'vegottabeclear,nobrainfog,noirritability,youhavetobeabletorespondversusreact.Sogettingyourhormonephysiologyincheckisimportant.

SoIwasperplexedbecauseIknewthebenefitsofketoforbrainhealth,forseizuredisorders,Parkinson's,aswellasweightloss,butitwasn'tworkingformeormypatients.SoIstartedtestingtheurinetofigureoutwhatdoIneedtodo?Likewhat'shappening?Sobecauseweknowthatalkalineurineisassociatedwith,youknow,betterhealth,lowerriskofmetabolicsyndrome,lowerriskofheartdisease,lowerriskofcancerandalsojustkindofthatcenter,thatpeacefulfeeling.SoIstartedtestingandIwasconsistentlyacidicaswellasmyclientswhentheystartedtryingtorestrictcarbs.SoIflippedbecauseofthehormoneimbalancesymptomsthattheyweregettingnotjustourhormones:estrogen,progesterone,andtestosterone,butourneurotransmitters:serotonin,dopamine,gabapentin.Soallofthosecould…youknow,wereaffected.Andsobydoingthat,byincorporatingmorelowcarbohydratealkalizinggreens,hencemyKetoGreenWay,wewereabletoimprovetheurinarypH,getintoketosisthen,andreallyexperienceclarity,hormonebalanceandweightlossifthat'swhatwewereseeking.

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Katie:Yeah,Ithinkthat'sanimportantkey.I'veseentoomanyversionsofketothatlooklikeabaconandcheesediet,whichistechnically,youcangetinketosis,Iguess,thatway,butIfeellikethat'sadangerousthingwhenyou'refocusingonjusthittingametricofacertainnumberofgramsofamacrolikethat.You'renotactuallylookingatyourbody.Andweallknownow,thankstorecentresearch,ourgutsaresodifferent,ourgenesaresodifferent.Sowhilethatmayworkforsomepeople,anditcertainlyseemstoworkbetterforsomeguys,I'vetalkedtoyou,thatmaynotalwaysbethebestforwomen.AndespeciallyIthink,andIthinkyouwouldagree,thissourcingoneverythingmatterssomuch,especiallyforwomenandwithhormones,buthowdoyoulookattheindividualaspectsofthatdietdifferently?Likewhatwouldyourecommendtoawomanwhowastryingto,youknow,balanceherbloodsugar,andbalanceherhormones,andgetintoketosiswithout,youknow,drinkingcoconutoilforbreakfast?

Dr.Anna:Yeah,that'sagreatpoint.AndIdobelievethisiswheremenandwomenaredifferent,right?Forsure,oneoftheotherways,butmencandoketogenic,andeventhecarnivoreketo,butIdon'trecommendit,buttheycandoit.Womenknow,notsomuch.Again,somuchofourphysiologyisdrivenbyourhormonesandalso,youknow,respondingtowhatwe'reexperiencinginourenvironment.Soit's,again,whatwefoundwithdoingevenmyKetoGreenWay,it'salsonotjustaboutwhatweeatthatcanmakeoururinarypHmoreacidic,it'smoresoifwe'restressedoutandwe'relike,youknow,pedaltothemetal,we'reeatingontherunandallofthosethingscan…evenifwe'reeatingperfectly,we'regonnabehavingacidicurinarypHifwe'renotsleeping,ifwe'reworriedaboutsomething,allofthosethingscanreallyaffectus.Again,youknow,there'ssomanyissuesthatIreallyclarifyinmybookthatyoucanjustcheckoffifyou'renotgettinganalkalineurinaryPh.Butthat'swhat'sdifferent.Youhaveto...everywomanisdifferenttoo,weknowthat,right?Wecanseethat,butyetwethinkthis,youknow,onesizefitsall.

Andsofiguringoutwhatworksforeachpersonisdifferent.AndIthinkthat'swheremyphilosophyhasshifted,it'slikeyou'vegottatest,don'tguess,you'vegottafigureoutwhatworksforyouversuswhat'sworkingforyourhusband,what'sworkingforyour20-year-olddaughter,youknow,it'sgoingtobedifferent.Andsothatstemsfromtheportionsizesonyourplatetothequalityoftheingredients,andhandsdown,wewantthehighestqualityorganicingredientsaspossibleaswellas,youknow,freerange,wildcaught,allofthosegoodthingswhenwe'reusingourfoodchoicesandthatdoesmakeadifference.Two,whenwe'rejustlookingatthefoodcomponent,butforme,likeifIwastosayaketogreenplate,whatdoesthatlooklikeforawoman?Youknow,it'sagoodthree-fourthsofyourplateingreens.Justthinkof,youknow,sautéedspinach,orarugula,youknow,somelovelyalkalinizinglowcarbveggies.We'reinthesouthso,youknow,collardgreens,Swisschard,allofthoseareexcellent,youknow,andthenahealthyprotein.Soifit'sbreakfast,maybe,youknow,it'sanegg,oneortwoeggsdependingonyoursize,yourmetabolism,andyourbody'sneedsanddrizzledwitholiveoilandmaybesprinkledwithsomesesameseeds.Sothat'satypicalketogreen.Wewannathinkhealthyfat,healthyprotein,andlowcarbgreens.

Katie:Yeah.And,Imean,IcertainlyIfeellikethat's…thegreensareonethingthatprettymucheveryhealthexpertI'veevertalkedto,largelycanagreeon,shortof,youknow,carnivoredietinthatweneedgreens.Likenobody'sarguingaboutthefactthatweneedgreensandsleep.SoIlovethatthat'sacorepartofitandifI'mrememberingcorrectly,youcanprobablyexplainthisbetterthanIcan.Butespeciallyforwomen,greenshaveacooluniquesideeffect,whichisthattheydosomethingtobindtoextraestrogencompoundsorestrogenmimickingcompoundsinthebody,atleastfromwhatI'veread.AmIrightonthat?

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Dr.Anna:Yeah,absolutely.Thelignansfiber,youknow,helpstobindandhelpdetoxifyestrogen.Sothat'sbeneficial.

Katie:WhichmakessenseandIknowestrogengetsabadrapandit'stiedtothingslikebellyfatsothatcanbegreatforwomenplusbyvolume,you'restilleatingplentyoffoods,youfeelreallyfull,andyou'regettingsomanymicronutrientsbecausegreensarerichinsomanyamazingthings.AndIloveyourversionofketoforthatreason,becauseIthinkalotofketodiets,it'seasytofallintothetrapofnotgettingenoughvegetablesingeneral,andprobablysomepeoplelisteninghavehadthatexperiencewherethey'vegottenintoketosisandthey'vebeenketo,butyoukindofgetthat…Imean,youcanalmostfeelthatlikeacidic,likekindofickyfeelingwhenyoudothatfortoolong.Becausethebodyreallydoesneedvegetablesanddoesneedthosemicronutrients.AndIlovethatyoualsotalkabouttheotherfactorsrelatedtofood.I'dlovetogoalittledeeperonthat,likethetimingyoumentioned,andyourmentalstate,and,youknow,notbeingontherunwhenyou'reeating.Sowhataresometipsthatyouwouldgivetowomenformakingsurethefoodenvironmentisoptimized?

Dr.Anna:Yeah,that'sagreat…youknow,Ilovetalkingaboutthat,again,becauseit'snotjustaboutwhatweeat.Butonethingtoowhenwe'reapproachingdiets,wedon'tjustwannalookwell,right?Wedon'tjustwannalookwell,wewannafeelwell.Andaswefeelwellandthat'swhatIreallyworktoincorporateintomyprogrambecausefeelingwellgivesusbetterwillpower,right?Whenwe'restressed,whenourbodyisstarvingforthemicronutrientsbecausewe'vecarbohydraterestrictedtoomuchandourbody'sstarving,thewillpowerisphysiologic.We'renotgonnahavethewillpower,we'remorelikelytobreakourdiet,breakourrules,andgooffprogram,andfeelfrustratedwithourselvesandfeellikeafailureandit'snotthatatall.It'sjustthatwedisadvantagedourphysiology.Sowehavetothink,okay,well,Iwannafeelwellandthelookwellwillcomefromthat.Wewilllookhealthier,wewilllookfitter,wewillwanttoexercisemore,wewillbeabletosaynotounhealthyfoodchoices.Andthatallmakesadifference.That'slikethequalityoflifethat,youknow,atanystageofourlife,butespeciallyaswe'regettingolder,wereallywannarelish,right?Wereallywannarelishfreedom,sothatmeanswecan'tbeboundanylongertofoodcravings,topoorhabits,toanythingthatcontinuestodefeatus.

SoIjustwantedtoemphasizethatbecausethat'sahugepartofwhatIreallywantwomentodiscern,again,whatworksforthemandversuswhatdoesn'tworkforthem.Andthescalewillfollowsuit.Sothat'swhy,youknow,again,testingtheurinarypHtogetalkalineurinarypHreallydoeshelpyoufigureoutwhat'sworkingforyouandwhat'snotworkingforyou.AndsowhenIthinkaboutjust,again,approachingwhatweeat,we'relookingataketogreenplate,butcreatingahealthyeatingenvironmentsobe,youknow,sittingdown,feelingchill,sayinggraceorgratitudeoveryourfoodbeforeyoueat.Weknowthatimprovesourdigestiveenzymesandourdigestivejuices.Soevenjustthatlittlechangeofsayinggraceorgivinggratitudeforthefoodyou'reabouttoeatcanresetyourphysiology.

Katie:That'ssofascinating.AndIknowsomepeoplemaybewonderingandasafollowuptothat,sowhenitcomestothealkalinityside,IthinkI'dlovetohearyoumakethedistinctionbetweenurinepHandbloodpH.AndIknowtherewasalotofbuzzawhilebackabouttheacidalkalinedietwhichIneversupportedforvariousreasons.Butlikeforinstance,weknowbloodpHdoesn'treallychangemuch,infact,asadoctor,youcouldexplainifitchangesdrastically,you'reintroubleonewayortheother.Socanyouexplainwhatthat

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differenceisandwhyurinepHismoreagoodindicatorwhereasyoureallywouldn'twannamesswithyourbloodpH?

Dr.Anna:Yeah,100%.OurbloodpH,wemaintainourbloodpHandhomeostasisatapproximately7.4.Andifitgoesalittlebitaboveoralittlebitbelow,we'reinacriticalsituation.Soinordertomaintain…andthat'sslightlyalkaline,sevenisneutral.Anythingabovesevenisalkaline.SoourbloodpHisalkaline.Youknow,what'sinterestingtoo,Katie,isthatouramnioticfluidisreally,reallyalkaline.Youknow,itisnutrientrich,it'samazing,sotheamnioticfluid,youknow,thefluidthatthebabyswimsininouruterusiscompletelyalkaline.Alwaysthinkofthat.It'sjustamazinghowthose,youknow,littlepHshiftsindicatehealthordisease.SobloodpHstays,maintainsitself,andinordertomaintainahealthybloodpHwithallthechemicalreactionsthataregoing,themillionsofchemicalreactionsthataregoingoninyourbody,ithastohaveappropriateminerals.Youknow,potassium,magnesium,sodium,chloride,andthelistgoeson.WeneedhealthymembraneshiftsinordertomaintainthatslightlyalkalinebloodpH.Wheredoyougetthosemineralsifyou'renotgettingthemthroughthenourishment?Yougetthemfromyourbone,fromyourskeleton,fromyourmuscle,youknow,ourbodywillcatabolizeitself,youknow,tomaintainthatbloodpHsocritically.

Andweasasurgeon,whenwe'recheckingaclientintheOR,andwewannacheckfortheiroxygenationotherthanapulseox,ifwe'rereallyconcernedwehaveacriticalsituation,wecheckonarterialgasbloodpH.Sothat'sarterial,it'snotevenvenousbloodpH,we'retalkingarterialbloodpH.Sothat'sveryactive,highpressure,youknow,that'scirculatingrightfromourheart.Sowereallylookatthatarterialbloodgasandthat'swhatwe'relookingatthere.Whenwe'relookingattheurinarypH,really,okay,what'sgoingonwithourbody?What'sgoingon?What'stheoutcomeofournourishmentandhowisthatflow,youknow,howisthatrespondingthroughourkidneys?Andwhatweknowisthattheurineisagreat...Imean,urine'snotsterile,right?Weknowthatwithintheurine,wehavealotofmetabolites.Imean,wecheckurineforhowwelldoesourKrebscyclework?Howwellisourmitochondriaworking?Whyisitasurprisethatoururinetellsussomuch?Arewehealthyorareweunhealthy?

Andresearch,manyresearchpapershavelookedaturinarypHandassociateditwith,youknow,ahighlyacidicurinarypHissignificantlyassociatedwithosteoporosis.Soifthere'sonethingthatwomencandotodecreasetheriskofosteoporosis,it'stochecktheirurinarypHandmakesureit'salkaline.Again,samething,becauseifwe'renotsupportingourbodywiththerightnourishment,orwe'reusingthatnourishmentuptoofastfromstress,fromanxiety,fromsleeplessness,andourbody'sinaninflamedstatewithhighglucose,ourmicrobiomeisnotwell-balanced,right?We'vegotovergrowth,orwe'vebeenonantibiotics,orthere'syeast,orsomethinglikethat,that'sgonnashowupas,youknow,withsymptomsofalowurinarypHaswellasalltheinflammatorysymptoms:moodiness,irritability,achyjoints,hotflashes,moodswings.Imean,thelistgoeson.

Sothat'swhyIreallywannaclarify,we'retalkingabouturinepH,notbloodpH.Andthedifferenceisthatit'sanindicatorforeachofustodiscoververycheaply,likeforpennies,andthat'swhyIloveit,discoverwhatisworkingforus,foodandexperience-wise,andwhat'snot.Andalso,I'vehadvegansandvegetarianshaveahardtime,someofthemhaveahardtimegettingurinaryalkaline…analkalineurinarypHbecauseofstress,orbecauseoftoxinsintheirhome,orbecauseofmold,orbecauseofactuallyjuicingalotandhighbloodsugars.Soit'sfascinatingtofigurethatout.AndonceweswitchthattoalkalineurinarypHandgetintoketosisatthesametime,thecombination,it'slikethatenergizedenlightenment,iswhatIliketocallit.It'sthatfeelingof

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clarity,feelingofextraenergy,feelingof,Imean,willpower.Imean,it'sjustwillpower,determination.Joiedevivre,yougetthatpeacethatsurpassesallunderstandingasitexpressesintheBible.AndIthinkbecausewe'reusingthatjetfuel,ketonesforfuel,andaswell,we'vecalmeddownlayersofinflammation,we'veprovidedthebodywithnourishment,andwe'veimprovedthatalkalinitytoourbody,sowe'renothavingtoessentiallyrobPetertopayPaul.

Katie:Thatwasaperfectexplanation.Ilovethat.AndIthinktheotherdistinctionthat'simportantthatyoucouldspeaktosowellisthatyou'renottestingketonesintheurine,fromwhatIunderstandeitherbecausethatwas,Iknow,athingthatwaslike,somewhatcontroversialawhilebacktooislike,youknow,ketonesintheurinearen'taccurate,butyou'renotlookingattheketones,you'relookingatthealkalinitywhichisalsomuch,asyoumentioned,muchlessexpensivetotest.

Dr.Anna:Well,actually...

Katie:Doyoufindthatdifference,ormaybeI'mwrong?

Dr.Anna:Oh,no,actuallyIdobecauseIlookattheketonesintheurine,too,becausemostofusunlesswe'vebeeninketosisforalongtime.Now,again,bloodpHisthegoldstandard.IcheckbloodpHand,youknow,periodically,butonadailyinexpensivebasis,urinaryketonesisgreat.Becauseifthere'saFridaynight,andI'vehadtwoglassesofwine,andmaybe,youknow,highervolumedinnerorsomethingwithfriends,I'mgonnabeoutofketosisSaturdaymorning.SourinarypH…Imean,urinaryketonesisveryeasytotest,inexpensiveandlike,okay,letmegetbackintoketosis,andthenjustconfirmwithbloodpHtesting.Imean,bloodketonetesting.Again,soIfindurinaryketonesasagreatfirststep,asagreatguidewhenwe'reinitiallygettingintoketosistohelpusgetthereandit…youknow,liketheywillbeaccurateforatleasttwomonthsonastrictketogenictypediet.

Soatleastwhatwemeasurewithurinaryketonesaretheacetaldehydeversusbeta-hydroxybutyrate,whichwemeasureintheblood.Socertainly,afteranextendedtimeperiodofketoadaptation,andIwilltellyouthatI'venotgonepasttwomonths.Sourinaryketoneshavealwaysbeenaccurate,confirmedwithbloodketones,especiallywhenI'mnotseeingketonesjusttoconfirm.It'sbeenagreatway.Andagain,it'saneconomicalwaytokindoftailorandfigureout.SoIthinkbothhaveitsplaceand,again,itdepends,butifsomeone'sbeeninketosis,thenit'stypically…ifsomeone'sbeeninketosisforanextendedtimeperiod,theywillstopseeingurinaryketones.

Katie:Thatmakessense.Okay,sowhenthebodyadapts,thatstopsbeingasaccurateandthenyouwouldneedtolookatlikethebloodatthatpointifyouwerestilltryingtomeasure.Butuntilthatpoint….

Dr.Anna:Absolutely.Andevenitseemslikeonedayoffafteryou'vebeenketoadapted,you'rebacktomeasuringacetaldehydeintheurineagain.It'sfascinating.

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Katie:Thatisfascinatingbecausemymainexperiencewithmeasuringbothbloodandurineketonesisafterperiodsoffasting,whichIdo,theycertainlyhavehealthbenefitsaswell.ButIdoitlargelyforthelikementalandspiritualbenefitsatdifferenttimesoftheyear,andI'veseenmybloodketonesgetactuallyprettyhigh,andthenIfindthatI'mactuallyabletogetintoketosismoreeasilyafterthat.It'slikeithelpsthebodyadapt.Doyoulookatglucoseatallaswell,likebloodglucose?Becausethat'ssomethingI'vewrittenaboutquiteabitasjustasfarasifyouwantarelativelyinexpensivemeasureathomemetricofyourhealth,likeyoucantakeyourfastingbloodglucose,especiallyasweageandourhormoneschange,justtokindofkeepthatbaselineandmakesureit'snotgoingup.ButI'mcuriousifyoutestthatorrecommendtestingthat.

Dr.Anna:Yeah,Ithinkglucoseisavery…again,that'sagreatwaytoself-monitor.Now,onethingwithyou,I'vehadthesameexperienceasyou,Katie.SowhenIreallywannagetintomy,youknow,ketosisorgetketoalkalineveryquickly,I'mgoingtofirstboostupallmyalkalinizersandthenfast.Becausethatwillpushmeintoketosis.I'mgonnatellyouittakesadayandahalf.I'm52,itcantakeadayandahalftogetthoseketonestoshowupsometimes.Butthenyourbodyisworkingonburningthatfatandsotheketonesandyougetthespiritualbenefits,andyougetthedisciplines,andthepracticesthathelpyoustaythecourseandsomanyotherareasofyourlife.SoI'mwithyouonthatfastingandextendedfastingtoboostyou,butnotbefore,youknow,gettinghealthy.Analkalinityiskeyfordetoxificationaswell.Likecheckingtomakesurewe'regettingenoughnutrientsthatsupportphaseoneandphasetwodetoxifiersarereallyimportant.

Soforsomeonewho'sbeenmaybeonanunhealthydietoreatingoutover50%ofthetime,youprobablywannaworkonahealthydetoxdietbeforeyoupushgettingintoketosis,becauseourtoxinsarestoredinourfat,andwewannadothatsafely.Sothat'salsopartofthereasonwhymanywomenonaketogenicdietforanextendedperiodoftimehitawallandalso,youknow,hitaslumpintheirenergyandotherwise,whenthey'vebeendoingitwithoutthesupportofthemicronutrientsthatsupportphaseoneandphasetwodetoxification.Ireallyemphasizethatinmybookaswell.Ithinkglucoseisreallykey.ThereareactuallyfourmarkersthatItalkaboutinmybookthatIalsobelievethatwomen...Imean,thesearenumbersweshouldknow,likethenumbersonourscale.Glucoseislikeafifthmarker.Soknowingyourglucosenumber,yourfastingglucosenumber,Ithinkthat'sreally,reallycritical.ButIthinkeventhen,wecangobeyondthattoreallytailorourhealthandoptimizeitaspartofourongoingself-care.Reallybeingthephysician,beingourownphysicianortheCEOofourownhealth.Whichwehavetodobecausewecannotexpectinsurancecompaniesand,youknow,themedicalsystemtodoitforus.That'sourresponsibilityfirstandforemost.

Katie:Yeah,absolutely.Ithinkthataloneissuchakeyofjusttakingresponsibilityforourownhealth.Andyoumentionedthaturinehasalwaysbeenaneffectivemeasureforyou,becauseyouhaven'tgonelongerthantwomonthsinstrictketosis.I'mcurious,doyourecommendcyclingonpurposeorjustlikerealizingthere'stimesinlifethatyouwillwanttoenjoyfoodorenjoylifeandnotbeinstrictketosis?Isthereabenefittowomenforhavingadayortwooutofketosis,eatingsomesweetpotatoes,andthengoingback?

Dr.Anna:Ithinkmetabolicflexibilityisreally,reallyimportant.Now,wedonotyethavetheresearchtoverifythatinwomen.Mostoftheresearchinketogenicdietshavebeendoneinmen.Youknow,asfarasIknow,theonly…likemyprogram,myketoMagicMenopauseprogramhasbeentheonlyprogramlookingatmenopausalandpostmenopausalwomeninaketogenicdietlongtermandwe'veseentremendousresultsdecreasingfastingbloodglucose,decreasinghemoglobinA1C,decreasinginflammatorymarkers,improvingthyroidfunction.Sowehaveseenthisnowoverthepastfewcoupleyearsnow,since2015,inwomenthrough

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myprograms,sometabolicflexibilityandsomethingIdoencourageinmygroup,becausethere'stimesforfasting,there'stimesforfeasting,andthentherestofthetime,Isay,let'sbeketogreen,right?SoIintuitivelyfeelthroughtraditionalsocieties,traditionalwisdom,lookingatthebluezonesthatfeastingispartofit.Now,dowewannafeastonpizza?No,wedon'twannafeastonpizza.Wedon'twannafeastonanythingthatmakesusfeelsick,buthey,forsomeonewho'snotglutensensitive,notdairysensitive,andmaybea20-year-oldathleticmale,maybetheycandothat.ButIthinkthatmetabolicflexibilityishugelyimportant.

Katie:Gotit.Andwhataboutthethyroid?Becausethat'stheotherthingweoftenhearis,youknow,eatingtoolowcarbfortoolongforwomencanbeharmfulforthethyroid.Andyouobviously,I'msuretestthatinpatientsasanOBGYN.Sowhathaveyoufound?Doesithaveanegativeimpactonthethyroid?Oristhatjustlargelyspeculationbasedonlike,youknow,beinganythingfortoolongoranythingextremeseemstogetanegativereactionfromtheconventionalmedicine?

Dr.Anna:Right.AndIdon'tthinkit's...andI'velookedatthisresearchinandoutandthat'swhyI'velookedatthelabworks.Manyofmyclientsgetlabwork.Again,they'retheCEOsoftheirhealthandIencouragethattoseewhat'shappeningwiththeirthyroid.SowhatI'veseenclinicallyatleastwiththeKetoGreenWay,again,makingsureyou'rereallyfocusingongettinganalkalineurinarypHasweworkintoketosis.Again,wewannacreatestabilityandharmonywithinourbody.Soweneedtoknow,iswhatI'mdoingworkingforme?Sothatself-discoverypieceishugelyimportant.Sointhisinstance,whatwe'veseen:improvedfreeT3,improvedfreeT4,lowerTSH.Andso,that'sideal.AndIhavenotseenwhatI'veheardreportedonstrictketogenicdietswithincreasinghypothyroidismatallordecreasingthyroidfunction.Ihavenotseenthatatall,andnowI'vehadover1,000clients.Butthat'saperfectquestion.

Ithinkwehavetohavelowcarbalkalinizers.Wehavetohavehealthycarbsinourdiet.Wehavetogetnutrientsifwe'renotgetting...Ithinkit'sbettertosayinsteadoflowcarbrestrictediscausingthyroidissue,maybeit'sbettertosaymicronutrientrestrictedordeficientdietscausehormonalimbalance,hence,thyroidissues,nottomentionestrogendominance,youknow,chronicfatigueand,youknow,inflammatorysymptomsandthelistgoeson.

Katie:That'sagreatdistinction.Yeah,Iagree.Ithinkthemicronutrientsaresoimportantandthey'reoftenoverlooked.We'lljustwannafocusonmacrosallthetime.

ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyReady,Set,Food!anewcompanyrevolutionizingfoodallergypreventioninchildren.Weallknowthatthisproblemisontherise,andinfact,mostofusknowsomeonewhohasachildwithfoodallergies,orhavehadthisexperienceourselves.Therearemanytheoriesforthisandcertainlymanyproblemsthatneedtobeaddressedlikeguthealthandimmunesupport.Ready,Set,Food!istakingthecuttingedgeresearchandscienceandusingitinapracticalwaytohelpbabiesandchildrenavoidfoodallergiesinthefirstplace.Here’show.Themostuptodatestudiesareshowingthatcarefullycalculatedearlyexposureintherightamountscanstopmanycasesoffoodallergies.Ready,Set,Food!makesthiseasywithasimplesystemthatcanbeaddedtobreastmilk,formulaorbaby’sfirstfoodstogiveincrementalandcalculatedexposuretothetopallergenslikepeanuts,eggandmilk.Whenusedasdirected,thiscanreducethechanceofchildhoodallergiesbyupto80%anditisrecommendedandoverseenbymanyofthenation’s

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toppediatricians.Learnmoreaboutthisevidencebasedapproachandhowtointegrateitifyouhaveababyatreadysetfood.com/wellnessmama

ThispodcastissponsoredbyThriveMarket-acompanyI’velovedforyears,andthatjustcontinuestogetbetterandbetter.IusetheirfreeappallthetimetoordermypantrystaplesfromcompaniesIlove,andalwaysturntotheirThriveMarketbrandforevenbetterdiscounts.Here’satip:usetheapplikeyouwouldashoppinglist.Addthingstocartasyouthinkofthem,orasyourunout,orasyoumealplan.Then,onceyouhitthethresholdforfreeshipping,yourorderwillbereadytogo.Here’sanothersecret-Thriveoftenrunsfreegiftwithpurchaseoffersjustformembersasathankyou,sokeepaneyeoutforthose!IusuallychoosetoorderondayswhenthereisagiftIloveandhavegottensomeawesomefreeproductsovertheyearsbydoingthis.Findoutmoreaboutalloftheseandgetanextradiscountonyourfirstorderatthrivemarket.com/katie

Katie:Anotherlike,somewhatsmallfollowupquestionrelatedtothat.Iknowalotoflistenersandreadersespeciallythoseinthe,youknow,menopausetypesegment,reallylovebeingabletodosmoothiesorlikegreensmoothiesaspartoftheirlifestyle.Isthereawaytodothatwiththeketogreenside?Likecanyouusejust,youknow,actualgreens,notjustfruitjuicesanddoasmoothieordoyourecommendkeepingitwholefoodsonly?

Dr.Anna:Ahundredpercentketogreensmoothieinthemorningandthat'showIstartmyday.Ilovetostartmydaythatway,Iencourageifthere'sonethingthatourlistenerstodaycandotoreallyimprovehormonalbalance,it'sstartwithaketogreensmoothie.Andsoweneedtothink,okay,therearefourcomponentstothat.Weneedhealthyfat.Sothatcouldbe,youknow,atablespoonofMCToil,butitcouldbeaquarterofanavocadoplusitmakesittremendouslycreamywhenweputavocadoinourgreensmoothieandaddin...sohealthyfat,freshgreens,andespeciallymicrogreenslikebroccolisprouts.I'dlovetoaddahandfulofthoseoraquartertohalfacupofthoseintomygreensmoothieinthemorning.Sowewantfreshgreens,kale,wheneveryougotinthefridgehonestly.Havesomeceleryinthere,whatyougotinthere,right?Justthrowthatintoyoursmoothie.Sofreshgreen,sohealthyfats,freshgreens,andthensomefiber,soateaspoontoatablespoonofchiaseeds,and/orflaxseeds,perfect.Addinthere.Again,forthelignanstobindandhelpyourbodydetoxifyestrogen.

Andthenthefourthisprotein.Soahealthyprotein.Itcouldbeatablespoonofalmondbutter,itcanbeaproteinpowder.Iusemyketogreenproteinshakethat'snowchocolatebecauseIwasmissingthat,butzerogramsofsugar.Soyoureallywannalookatwhattheproteinsourceis,whichmineisseeds,nutsandpeaandrice,soit'saveganproteinsourceandzerogramsofsugar.Soyoureallywannalookatthoseforproteinpowder.Sothosefourcomponents,youcanmakeareallybeautifulsmoothie,youcanaddincoconutmilk,that'shealthyfat,too,aswellasalittleprotein.Sothat'sanothergreatthingtoaddinthere.Andjustblendthatupinthemorningandyou'vegotareallygoodketogreensmoothieinthemorningthatreallysetsahealthytoneforyourbodyfortherestoftheday.

Katie:Ilovethat.Andthat'sperfectbecausewomenaresobusybeingonthego,eventhoughyouwannaobviously,youknow,sayyourgratitudeoverit,takeadeepbreath.Butit'sgreatbecauseyoudon'thavetospendalongtimemakingandyoucanworkthatinanymorningroutine.I'dlovetoswitchgearsalittlebit,

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becauseIknowthere'sabigsegmentofmyaudiencethatismoreinthatperimenopausalormenopausalage,andit'ssomethingIobviouslyhaven'texperiencedyet.SoIdon'thavemuchpersonalexperiencetoshare.AndI'mnotadoctorsoIcan'tsharefromclientexperienceandyouhave,youknow,allthesepatientsthatyou'veworkedwithtogetthroughthat.SoI'dloveforyoutojustexplainsothatwecanspeaktothatsegmentoftheaudience.Whathappenswithourhormonesaswe'reagingandwherearethoselikesymptomscomingfrom,andwhatcanwedoatthosephasestoreallyhelpourbody?

Dr.Anna:Yeah,thankyou.Andit'sabigissuebecausethere'ssomuchmisinformationinthemediaandthere'ssomuchfearaboutgettingolder.AndIreallywanttodissolvethatfear,Ireallywannaremoveitcompletely.Becausewereallyhavetolookatthisjustlikethetimeperiodwhenwestartedourperiods,agreatamountofhormonalchangebutitheraldedinanothertime,right?Andthesamethingnow,whenwe'reendingourperiods,callthismenopause,12dayssincethelastperiodistechnicallyyourmenopause.Andthatheraldsintoanotherlevelofenlightenment.Imean,anotherhalfofourlifecanbelivedinthepostmenopause,assumingwegetto100typically,right?ButIjustwanttodissolvethatfear,becausethetransformation,therewiringthat'sgoingoninourbrainisreallyforahigherlevelofenlightenment,ahigherlevelofclarity,peace,understanding,andhopefullyleavingalegacythatbreedsthatforwardinourchildrenandtheirchildren.Sothat'sthefirstthingIwannasayabout,youknow,justnormaltransitiontimeswhenwehavethesehormonalchangesfromwhenwestartourperiodstowhenifwehavechildbirth,andthentowhereweendourperiods.

Solet'stakeawaythefear.Andyes,it'snormal,butwecandoitalotbetterthanwhatweseehappeningbecauseofsomuchdiseaseandour,youknow,inflammation,hormoneimbalanceinoursocietytoday.Sohormoneswillnaturallyshiftinourmid-30sasourovariesstartdecliningitsproductionoffertileeggs.Andsowehavealowerlevelofprogesterone.Andthatnormaldeclineisexpectedinourmid-30s.Sowhatweseewiththat,though,whatwe'reseeingnowis,youknow,withthatdecline,weseesomeofthemoodswings,irritability,hotflashes,breakthroughbleeding,irregularcycles,heavierthanusualcycles,sometimesskippingaperiod.Wecanseeallofthosethingsduringthistimeperiod.Now,Iwannasaythat,youknow,typically,youcancometoyourdoctorandthey'llsay,"Oh,well,here.Here,takesomebirthcontrolpills,andyourperiodswillberegular."Andthat'sstandardofcare,ifthat'strue,butwhathappens,theclientcontinuestohavethehormoneimbalancesymptomsthatareunderneaththisissuebecausewe'vejustputaBand-Aidonit.Sothere'sirritability,there'sPMS,moodswings.

Like,Ialwaystellmyclients,ifyouhateyourhusband,onlytwoweeksoutofthemonth,it'sprobablyyourhormonesandnotyourhusband.Sowhatwehavetofixthat.Butthestandardofcare's,here'sanantidepressant,orhere'sthelatestantidepressantbecausethelastfourhavefailedyou.Andthenwhathappensthen,theclientcomesbackstillwithdiscomfort,heavyperiods,breakingthroughonthebirthcontrolpill,feelingmiserable.Nosexdrive,again,thebirthcontrolpillwilldecreasethattooandwhathappensnext?We'llhear,"Letmedoanendometrialablationorhysterectomyandsinceyou'reover35,let'sjusttakeoutyourovarieswhileyouarethere."Sohenceaperson'softenprescribedintosurgicalmenopause.

Now,look,I'magynecologist.IwastrainedatEmory.Ihavedonethis,right?Ihavedonethis.AndsowhenIstartedworkingthroughmypatient'sneed,IwasaNationalHealthServicescholar,Katie,andthatbroughtmeheretoSoutheastGeorgia,whereIpracticedforseveralyearsinMackintoshCounty,whichisasmallshrimpingvillagealongwithmymainpracticenearthelocalhospital.AndsoIneededtofindeconomicalways

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tohelpwomenandnotjustthem,butmebecauseIwasstrugglingtoo.Runningafamily,runningtwobusinesses,Imean,that'salotofhormoneimbalance.Youknow,that'sasoupfor…youknow,it'sasetupforhormoneimbalance.SohowdidIfindeconomicalways?Andthatwastoempowertheclients'lifestyleandstartingusingbioidenticalhormones,andstartingtousemicronutrients,andadaptogenslikeMaca.Andsowiththat,Iwentfromdoingtwotothreesurgeriesaweektotwotothreeayear.

Andnotjustthat,patientsfeltbetterbecausesadly,whathappensafterthehysterectomyortheovariesareremoved,theclient'sstillnotfeelingwell,andthenwehavetosay,"Well,youknow,here'syourreferraltothepsychiatrist."Andbecauseofalltherelationaldiscord,etc.,andhere'sa,youknow,divorceattorneyIcanrecommend.Youknow,andIsaythattongueincheek,butit'sactual.There'salotofrealitytothat,sadly.Butwhenweempowerthebody,weusemicronutrients,wedetoxthebody,weapproachitfromafunctionalmedicine,likejustsayfunctionalgynecologyapproachandwerestorethishormonebalancethatIsetforthinmybook,"TheHormoneFix,"allofthosesymptomsgoawayandwetransitionlikeitwaseasy,aneasytransitionwithouthotflashes.I'vehadclientswhohavehotflasheseveryhour,theywilldiminish,theywillgoawaywithoutsurgery,withoutprescriptionmedsbecauseyou'venowdiscoveredwhatworksforyouandwhatworksagainstyou,andyou'reabletostaythecoursebecauseyourphysiologyisbalancedandallofasudden,you'vegotwillpower,anddetermination,andenergytodowhatyoureallywanttodoandwhatreallyservesyouandtakescareofyou.Solonganswerforthosenormalhormonalchanges,butit'sreallyimportanttounderstandthatwehavealotofpoweroverthisperiodofmenopause.

Katie:Thatwasbeautiful,anditmakesmethink…Imean,it'ssological,butitmakesmethinktooofmymomwhoIjokinglylaugh,"Ohgosh,I'mnotgonnagothroughmenopauseuntilI'mlikelate50s."Shewasinherlate50sbeforeshewentthroughmenopause,anditwaslike,nobigdeal.Shereallydidn'thavemanyhotflashes,shefeltgreat.Andherbackground,she'sFrench,andsoeverymeallikelunchanddinner,shestartswithahugesaladbecauseshelovesitandit'sgotlikeninedifferentvegetablesinit.Andshejustlikelovesprotein,loveshealthyfats,andshe'sneverreallycaredforprocessedfoods.Sosheprobablyiseatingverymuchketogreen,andshejustbreezedthroughit.Andshealsodidn'tgothroughitearly,whichIknowwe'rehearingofjustlikegirlsgoingthroughearlypuberty.Itseemslikealotofwomenarefacingmenopauseearlier,too.Isthatwhatyou'reseeingaswell?

Dr.Anna:Yes,absolutely.Yep,100%agreewiththat.And,again,processedfoods,theantibioticsinourfoods,theGMOs.The,youknow,mycotoxinsthatwe'refindingoutaboutareaffectingus,affectingourfertility,affectingourhormones,andsomanyotherthings.Butyeah,soundslikesheeatsveryketogreen,soIlovethat.

Katie:Andwhataboutanotherthingthatseemstogohandinhandormaybenotevenjustwiththat,butjustalotofwomenI'mhearingfromrightnowarereallystrugglingwithanxiety.Andthatseemstobe,atleastfromthecommentsI'mgetting,verymuchontherise.Doyouseethatasconnectedtohormones,ordoyouthinkthattheyare,Imean,obviously,I'msuremultifaceted?Butfromthepeoplethatyou'veworkedwith,whatareyourtheoriesonwheretheanxietyiscomingfromandwhatwomencandotohelpreducethat?

Dr.Anna:Yeah.Andit'smorethananxietytoo.I'mseeingincreaseindivorceandadiscontentinrelationships.Andthat'sinourlate30s,40s.We'restartingtoseethat.Sawthatalotwithanxiety,PMS,moodswings.And

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likeIsaid,again,ifwehateourhusbandonlytwoweeksoutofthemonth,that'sourhormones,notourhusband.Ofcourse,hehassomeblameinit.But,youknow,wehavetolookatthewholepicture.Thesameistruewithanxiety.Anxiety,whenwethinkofanxiety,wethinkof,youknow,essentiallytheneurotransmitter,serotonin.Soserotoninisverymuchanestrogendependentneurotransmitter.So,addin,youknow,hormonedisruptorsfromphthalates,fromdrinkingoutofplasticbottles,from,youknow,plasticwraps,from,youknow,bringingindrycleaningortouchingpaperreceipts,anychemicalsthataffectourestrogen,ourbody'sownnaturalproductionofhormones,isaffectingourmoodbecauseit'ssointerrelated.Andthat'swhywehavetolookatthebigpicture.

Sowhenweseethisincreasinganxiety,discontent,youknow,itgoesbeyondjusteverydaystress.Wehavetolookateverydaytoxinsandclarifythosewhenwedetox,whenwe,again,checkurinaryalkaline,getalkalineurinarypHifyouhaveanxietybecauseyouwillseeanimprovementasyoupersistentlydothingsthatcontributetoamorealkalineurinarypH.Again,it'snotjustaboutwhatweeat,it'sabouthowwethink,howwelive,howwerespondorreacttostress,andthelistgoeson.Socleaningthatup,improvingourinternalphysiologyimprovesourneurotransmitters,improvestheconnectionsthatourneurotransmittersaremakingthroughoutourbody.Improvestheneuroendocrinesystem,thehormonesastheyrespondandarepartofthisintricateweb-likenetworkofhormonesthatworktogether.

SooneofthethingsthatwhenIhaveaclientwithanxiety,numberone,youknow,likea21daydetox.Doingmy21dayketogreenplanthat'sinmybook,forinstance,andlookatthat,andreallytailorittoworkforyou.Andthat'sonething,butaddinginimprovementstoyoursleepisanother.Somagnesiumatbedtime,andifwe'reover35,progesterone.ProgesteroneisaneuroprotectivehormoneandIhighlyrecommenditwhenweneedit.Because,youknow,we'renotjustlivingoutintheAmazon.We'renotlivinginnature.We'renotlivingoff,youknow,freshherbsandvegetablesrightfromtheearth,atleastprobably,youknow,intheUnitedStates,atleast90%ofusaren'tandourbodyhastorespondthentosomanystressfuldemandswhichtaxourhormones.

Sowhenwearedealingwithanxiety,wehavetosay,okay,well,whatdoIneedtodotocalmdownmyphysiologyandimproveit?Somagnesium,gettingagoodnight'ssleep,somaybeit'scheckingoutthesunsetatnight,triggeringyourinnate,youknow,archaicresponsivesystemtosignalthatit'stimeforsleep.Maybeweaddmelatoninandmaybeweaddbioidenticalprogesteroneespeciallyifwe'rearoundtheperimenopausetimeperiodbecauseweknowthatwe'redeficientinthathormoneanditsneuroprotectiveanditalsohelpscontributetotheproductionofGABA,whichisourrelaxationandrestinghormoneaswell,andsoasprogesteroneisdeficientandestrogenbecomesdeficient,notonlyisserotoninanissue,butGABAisanissueaswell.Andsowehavetoenhancethatnaturally.Sogivingthemicronutrients,IlikemagnesiumL3andL8becauseitcrossesthebloodbrainbarrierandthenabioidenticaltransdermalprogesteronecreamorhaveyourdoctorprescribeyoubioidenticalprogesterone.

Andagain,whenIlearnedtodothatanddidthatwithmypatient,youknow,beyondgoingfromtwotothreesurgeriesaweektotwotothreeayear,myclientsfeltbetter,felthappier.I'llneverforgetoneofmyclients,Zandy,age37,shewasreallystrugglingandwithinsixweeks,shecameback,shegoes,"NotonlyamIfeelingbetter,butmydaughtercameuptomeandsaid,'Mommy,you'resmilingagain.'"Man,shedidthatwithoutmedication,right?Shedidthatherselfjustwiththesamethings,thesameprocessthatIputforthinmybook,"TheHormoneFix,"andsoIreallywannaemphasizethat.Wehavealotofcontroloverthis.

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Katie:Wow.AndIthinksomethingelsethatmaybegoeshandinhand,anditdefinitelytiesinwiththenotionofifyouonlyhateyourhusbandtwoweeksoutofthemonthiswhenitcomestoanykindofhormonefluctuationsorwhenwe'renotsupportingthebodyinagoodwayacrosstheboard,Ifeellikelibidooftensuffers.ButthisisatopicthatlargelyIdon'thearwomentalkingaboutthatmuch.Ifeellikeit'salmosttabooforustotalkaboutthat.ButIknowthatyou'renotafraidtotalkaboutit,andIknowthatmanywomenaresilentlysufferingwiththis.Soaswestarttowrapup,let'sgodeeponlibidoandhowatanyage,wecanbesupportingahealthylibido.

Dr.Anne:Yeah,and,youknow,you'reabsolutelyright.IdolovetalkingaboutthisbecauseitwascertainlysomethingIstruggledwithbeingabusymomandrunningabusinessandpractice,anddealingwitheverydaystress,youknow,aswellaspost-traumaticstress.ButI'veseen,youknow,asIlearnedtoasktherightquestions,Iwouldsay70%ofmypatientpopulationwerestrugglingwithittoo.AndIstartedtohearthesamethingsoverandoverasIstartedtoaskthequestion.Mypatientwouldsay,youknow,"Dr.Anna,IneverfeellikeIwanttoinitiatesex.Butoncewegetstarted,I'mokay."Andthat'sthefirstthingwomenneedtorealize.Becausethat'scalledasecondarysexualresponse.Andthatisabsolutelynormal.Thatishowwe'redesigned,sowecanthrowtheMastersJohnsonsexcurvediagramoutthewindowatthispoint,becauseweknowthatthere'sactually...wenaturallyhaveasecondarysexualresponse.Thatoneworkedformen,itdoesnotworkforwomen.Andsooncewegetstarted,wehavethisincreaseinoxytocin,themostpowerfulhormoneoflove,bonding,andconnection,andwegetthisincreasedandwe'relike,"Okay,thenI'mintoit,"right?AndIthinkI'veheardthatfromsomanywomentimeandtimeagain,andfirstofall,torecognize,okay,well,soIjusthavetobereceptive.

Now,receptiveisalsoahormonal...receptivityisalsohormonal,butoftenrecognizingtoo,justknowthatonceyougetstartedandyou'recommunicatingwhatyoulike,andwhatyoudon'tlike,andwhatfeelsgood,andwhatdoesn'tfeelgood,thatyou'regoingtoenjoyit,andyou'llbeglad,youknow,attheend.It'slikegoingtothegymessentially,right?Youneverreallywannagothere,butyou'resogladwhenyou'redone.Sothinkofsexthesameway.Notreally.But,youknow,let'sjustusethatasanexample.Andjusttothinkthatthat'sonething.Isnumberone,wehaveasecondarysexualresponseversusprimary,sothewholeconceptoflossoflibidoand,youknow,mypetpeeveis,Katie,isthat,youknow,notwantingtohavesexwithyourhusbandisconsideredadiagnosticcriteria,youknow,anissue,adiagnosticcode,wehaveactuallyadiagnosticcodeforlossoflibido.Sowe'vekindoflookeddeeperintothatandsay,"Okay,well,what'sgoingon?What'snormalandwhat'snotnormal?"

Soifit'snormal,thatoncewegetstartedwithforeplay,andwe'reenjoyingourselvesandtakingourtimebecauseittakestimetoalsoinactivatethe…Imean,reactivatethosehormonesthatwegetturnedonthenandwe'reintoit.That'sperfectlynormal,that'snot,youknow,alossoflibido.Now,that'soneaspect,butthereareotherissuesthataffectlibido.SowhatIfoundwithmanyclientsisthat,especiallyaswe'regettingolderandwe'reexperiencingvaginaldryness,lossofelasticityofthevaginaanddiscomfortaftersex,suchas,youknow,burning,vaginalburningorirritation,maybeurinarytractinfection,yeastinfection,odorafterintercourse,orwehaddiscomfortduringintercoursethatIwouldtellclients,"Look,ifyouhavepaineverytimeyoudosomething,whywouldyouwannadothat?"Soyou'renaturallygonnaloselibidofromthatperspective.Andthisiswheremanywomenwouldsay,"Youknow,IknowlikeIwannahavesexformyhusband,butforhim,butit'suncomfortable,it'swhatever,"andthat'sgoingdownthewrongroadbecauseallhewants…Imean,theprimarything,hewantsyoutobehappy,hewantsyoutohavepleasure.Andthat's

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typicallytheprimaryreasonwhy…youknow,thereasonwe'redesignedforintercourse,toincreaseintimacy,connection,andlongevityinourrelationships,letaloneinourlife.Sowehavetohavepleasurewithit.Sotofixthat,wehavetohealthevaginaldiscomfort,healthevaginaldryness,andwecandothatnow.Wehavenaturalwaystodothatandthesethingsdomakeadifference.Soimprovingourinternalphysiologytobalanceourhormonesandtoincreaseourreceptivenesssothatwecanincreaseourintimacywiththemanwelove,thepersonwelove.

Katie:That'sagreatexplanationandoverview.Thankyou.AndIcan'tbelievewe'vebreezedthroughourtimealready,butafewquestionsIlovetoasktowardtheendofaninterview.IknowthatyouyourselfhavewrittenmultiplebooksandI'llmakesuretheyarealllinkedintheshownotesandwecanrecapthoseinaminute.Butotherthanyourown,isthereabookornumberofbooksthathavereallyimpactedyourlife?Andifso,whataretheyandwhy?

Dr.Anna:Ilovethebookcalled"TheAlchemist,"byPauloCoelho,aBrazilianwriter.AndIlovethatbookbecause,youknow,itremindsmesomuchaboutthejourneyofourlife.Like,oftentimes,it'srightthereinfrontofus.Butwehavetoessentiallygoaroundtheworldtofindit.AndIjustthinkit'sasimplequickread,I'vegiventhatbookout,I'vegivenprobably100copiesofthatbookout.Andthatisabsolutely,youknow,myonefavoritebook.Andthenonadailybasis,Ihaveadailydevotionalthat'sbasedonSt.Ignatiusphilosophycalled"TheDailyExamine."Andit'sasmallbluebook,it'skindofabridgedversionofthatthatIlovetoreadonadailybasis.Sothoseareprobablytwoofmyfavoritebooks.

Katie:They'regreatsuggestions.Whatarefewareasthatyoufeelaremostmisunderstoodornotknownaboutyourspecificareaofexpertise?

Dr.Anna:Idefinitelythinkthat,youknow,women'ssexualhealthwhereit'ssuchatouchytopic,there'sverylimitedresearchandthere'ssomuchyettobepersonalizedaboutit.Soaswegetmoreintopersonalizedmedicineandpersonalizationmedicine,wereallyneedtolookatthatsexualhealthforwomen,butalsowithinarelationship,thephysiologyofrelationships.

Katie:Andlastly,ifthere'sonesinglepieceofadvicethatyoucouldpassfarandwidetootherwomen,whatwoulditbeandwhy?

Dr.Anna:Iwouldsayjustreallynevergiveuponyourself.Youknow,ifyoucanseeit,ifyoucanbelieveit,ifyoucan,youknow,putagoalforthforyourselfnomatterwhatyourage,youcanachieveit.SoIlovethesayingthatsays,"Shebelievedshecould,soshedid."That'soneofmymantrasbecausenotonlydidshebelieveit,butshetookaction,right?Sonotonlydowehavefaith,wehavefaithwithaction,andthatalwaysproducesresults.Andthere'snoagelimitonthat.

Katie:Absolutely.Dr.Anna,thankssomuchforbeinghere.ThishasbeensomuchfunandIthinksohelpfulforsomanywhoarelistening.

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Dr.Anna:Thankyousomuchforhavingme.

Katie:Andthankstoallofyouforsharingyourtimewithustoday,andIhopethatyouwilljoinmeagainonthenextepisodeof"TheWellnessMamaPodcast."

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.