The Perimenopause Nutrition Advice Women Actually Need

The Iron Deficiency MISTAKE Doctors Keep Missing in Women

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, yet countless women are still being told their iron levels are "normal" while struggling with fatigue, hair loss, brain fog, poor sleep and low energy. In this episode of All About You, Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with GP and iron deficiency expert Dr. Ebony Tosch to unpack one of the most overlooked health issues affecting women, particularly during perimenopause and midlife. Together they explore why ferritin is often a more meaningful marker than standard iron levels, how iron deficiency symptoms frequently overlap with menopause and thyroid conditions, and why many women spend years being reassured that their blood tests are "fine" when they're anything but. Dr. Ebony explains the real causes of iron deficiency, the most effective ways to improve iron stores, and when an iron infusion may be a better option than oral supplements. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why iron deficiency is commonly missed in women • The difference between iron, ferritin and anemia • Which blood tests you should ask your doctor to order • Common symptoms of low iron, including fatigue, hair loss and restless legs • Why heavy periods remain one of the biggest contributors to iron deficiency • How perimenopause can make iron deficiency harder to recognise • The truth about oral iron supplements and why many women struggle with them • How to improve iron absorption naturally • When an iron infusion may be the right next step • What to expect during an iron infusion • The risks, side effects and benefits of IV iron therapy • Why optimal iron levels matter more than simply being within the "normal range" • How iron deficiency can impact sleep, energy, mood and overall wellbeing If you've ever been told your blood tests are normal but you still don't feel like yourself, this conversation may provide some of the answers you've been looking for. Remember: informed health decisions start with understanding the numbers that matter. Follow All About You for more evidence-based conversations on women's health, perimenopause, menopause, hormones, nutrition and thriving through midlife. Follow Dr. Ebony Tosch https://www.healthhunter.au/practitioners/dr-ebony-tosh [https://www.healthhunter.au/practitioners/dr-ebony-tosh] https://www.drebonytosch.com/about ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts  https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. ----------------- Chapters 01:24 – The Iron Deficiency Problem Doctors Still Miss 02:32 – The Blood Test Every Woman Should Know About 04:45 – Why Ferritin Matters More Than Iron Levels 05:37 – Signs & Symptoms Of Low Iron 06:45 – Heavy Periods, Perimenopause & Iron Loss 10:22 – What Ferritin Levels Are Actually Too Low? 11:28 – Why Iron Supplements Often Fail 12:43 – How To Improve Iron Absorption Naturally 17:24 – When It's Time To Consider An Iron Infusion 18:29 – Iron Infusions Explained: Risks & Benefits 24:33 – Hair Loss, Fatigue & Low Iron Recovery 35:35 – Dr Ebony's Most Important Iron Deficiency Advice ----------------- Keywords iron deficiency in women low ferritin symptoms iron infusion ferritin levels women's health perimenopause fatigue iron deficiency anemia hair loss and iron deficiency fatigue in women women's iron levels iron supplements low iron treatment iron deficiency symptoms menopause fatigue restless legs syndrome women's health podcast Dr Ebony Tosch Dr Shauna Watts

What Every Woman in Her 50s, 60s & 70s NEEDS to Know About HRT

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/ For years, women were told menopause was simply something to “push through.” Hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, painful sex, brain fog, loss of motivation, all dismissed as normal aging. But what if much of that messaging was wrong? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with urologist, author, and menopause educator Dr. Kelly Casperson to unpack the modern evidence behind hormone therapy, the lasting impact of outdated research, and why so many women are finally questioning what they were told about HRT. Together, they explore the women who were left behind after the 2002 WHI study sparked fear around hormones and why many women in their 60s and 70s are now seeking answers decades later. Dr. Kelly also breaks down the growing conversation around testosterone for women, explaining why it’s about far more than libido alone. From motivation and mood to cognition, muscle health, and vitality, this episode challenges many of the assumptions women have carried for years about aging and hormones. This is an empowering, evidence-based conversation about informed choice, modern menopause care, and helping women feel like themselves again. What’s In This Episode: → Why an entire generation of women missed out on menopause support → What the WHI study actually showed and how it was misunderstood → Whether it’s ever “too late” to start hormone therapy → The truth about breast cancer risk and HRT → Why vaginal estrogen is still heavily misunderstood → The difference between oral synthetic hormones and transdermal estradiol → What women need to know about testosterone in midlife → Why libido is about more than sex drive → How hormones impact sleep, mood, cognition, joints, and motivation → The role of exercise and metabolic health in menopause care → Why women deserve individualized conversations about hormones If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who deserves better information about menopause and hormones. Follow All About You for more evidence-based conversations on midlife health, hormones, confidence, and thriving through every stage of life. ------------- Follow Dr. Kelly Casperson https://kellycaspersonmd.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd https://www.youtube.com/@kellycaspersonmd ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. ---------------- Chapters 03:12 - Why So Many Women Were Left Without Support 06:28 - The Truth About the WHI Study & HRT Fear 09:41 - Can Women Start HRT After 60 or 70? 12:58 - The Timing Hypothesis Explained Simply 16:10 - Why “It’s Just Aging” Is a Harmful Myth 19:22 - Breast Cancer Fear vs Modern Evidence 22:35 - The Truth About Vaginal Estrogen Safety 25:48 - Testosterone for Women: More Than Libido 28:56 - Why Libido Is Really About Brain Motivation 32:14 - Hair Loss, Hormones & What’s Actually Happening 35:27 - The Real Benefits of Testosterone in Midlife 38:40 - What Women Actually Need to Feel Like Themselves ----------------- Keywords Menopause hormone replacement therapy HRT myths menopause symptoms testosterone for women menopause podcast estrogen therapy women’s health Perimenopause menopause treatment menopause after 60 hormone therapy safety vaginal estrogen menopause education menopause support testosterone benefits women menopause and anxiety menopause and sleep women’s hormones breast cancer and HRT menopause myths debunked

The BIGGEST Menopause Misunderstanding of the Last 20 Years

For more than 20 years, women have been told that hormone therapy causes breast cancer but what if the science was misunderstood from the very beginning? The conversation around menopause and hormone replacement therapy has been shaped by fear for decades. In this episode, Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris unpack the study that changed women’s health forever and explain why many doctors, researchers and patients are now re-examining what we thought we knew about estrogen, breast cancer and HRT.T hey explored the lasting impact of the Women’s Health Initiative study, the difference between observational studies and randomized trials, and why so many women still struggle to access informed menopause care today. We also discuss the growing evidence around estrogen’s role in brain health, osteoporosis prevention, cognitive decline, cardiovascular health and quality of life during perimenopause and menopause. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too young” for HRT, that hormones are dangerous because of breast cancer, or that menopause is just something women should suffer through, this conversation will challenge a lot of assumptions. In this episode: ➡️ Why the fear around HRT and breast cancer became so widespread ➡️ The real findings behind the Women’s Health Initiative study ➡️ Whether estrogen actually increases breast cancer risk ➡️ Vaginal estrogen and why the science remains controversial ➡️ What the evidence says about HRT after breast cancer ➡️ Estrogen’s impact on brain health and cognitive decline ➡️ The connection between menopause, osteoporosis and fractures ➡️ Why menopause education is still missing in medical training ➡️ The psychology and stigma around taking hormone therapy ➡️ Why many women still struggle to find doctors informed about menopause This is a nuanced and evidence-based discussion about menopause, estrogen, and the future of women’s health care and why so many women are demanding better conversations around HRT. ------------- Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/ https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠ www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. ----------------- Chapters 00:00 – Why Vaginal Estrogen Is Misunderstood 00:40 – Does Vaginal Estrogen Really Enter the Bloodstream 01:17 – Family History of Breast Cancer: Does It Matter? 02:01 – BRCA1, Ovaries Removal, and Breast Cancer Risk Reduction 03:03 – Why Estrogen Doesn’t Increase Breast Cancer Risk (Evidence Explained) 04:07 – Why Women Feel Shut Down by Doctors on HRT 05:14 – When Hormone Questions Get Ignored in Medicine 06:19 – What Happens When Women Stop Tamoxifen to Get Pregnant 07:10 – Can Breast Cancer Survivors Safely Use Vaginal Estrogen? 08:20 – The Controversial Denmark Study on Vaginal Estrogen 10:19 – “Minuscule Absorption Makes No Sense” — The Core Debate on Vaginal Estrogen 11:32 – Why Randomized Controlled Trials Aren’t the Only Gold Standard 13:31 – The $1 Billion Women’s Health Initiative Study: What Went Wrong ----------------- Keywords Menopause hormone replacement therapy HRT estrogen and breast cancer menopause symptoms Perimenopause women’s health vaginal estrogen breast cancer risk hormone therapy menopause WHI study estrogen therapy menopause doctor menopause treatment cognitive decline menopause osteoporosis menopause menopause education estrogen brain health breast cancer myths menopause podcast menopause research hormone therapy safety women’s hormones menopause expert

The REAL Story Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy

What if one of the biggest fears women have about hormone therapy was built on misunderstanding, misinformation, and decades of outdated advice? In this episode, Dr. Shauna Watts is joined by medical oncologist Dr. Avrum Bluming and social psychologist Carol Tavris, co-authors of Estrogen Matters, for a conversation that challenges decades of fear surrounding hormone replacement therapy. Together, they unpack the lasting impact of the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, why so many doctors still hesitate to prescribe HRT, and what the research actually says about estrogen, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and women’s longevity. This episode explores not just the science, but the psychology behind why women have been taught to fear breast cancer more than the diseases statistically far more likely to kill them. If you’ve ever felt confused, dismissed, or anxious about hormone therapy, this conversation will leave you far more informed and far more empowered. In This Episode: ➡️ Why the fear around HRT exploded after 2002 ➡️ What the Women’s Health Initiative study actually found ➡️ The difference between estrogen alone and combined hormone therapy ➡️ Why heart disease remains the leading killer of women ➡️ The psychological impact of breast cancer fear ➡️ How estrogen affects the brain, bones, heart, skin, and overall longevity ➡️ Why so many women suffer unnecessarily during menopause ➡️ The truth about “lowest dose for the shortest time” ➡️ How misinformation continues to shape menopause care today ➡️ What women should discuss with their doctors about HRT Whether you’re in perimenopause, postmenopause, or simply trying to make informed decisions about your future health, this episode is essential listening. Follow Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris https://www.linkedin.com/in/avrum-bluming-64259a10/ https://tavris.socialpsychology.org/contact ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. ----------------- Chapters 01:20 - The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy 03:27 - Dr. Avrum Bluming’s Breast Cancer Story 05:33 - How Estrogen Became Central to Menopause Care 07:58 - Why Menopause Symptoms Are Often Dismissed 10:07 - The 2002 HRT Study That Changed Everything 13:30 - Does Estrogen Really Increase Breast Cancer Risk? 16:12 - Menopause, Heart Disease & The Missing Conversation 18:07 - Why Doctors Still Fear Prescribing HRT 22:16 - The “Lowest Dose, Shortest Time” Myth 26:25 - The Dramatic Impact Estrogen Can Have on Women 27:38 - Why Women Fear Breast Cancer More Than Heart Disease 31:59 - Should Women Without Symptoms Still Take HRT? ----------------- Keywords hormone replacement therapy HRT and breast cancer estrogen therapy menopause symptoms perimenopause health estrogen and heart disease menopause treatment women’s health initiative estrogen matters Dr Avrum Bluming Carol Tavris menopause podcast breast cancer myths hormone therapy safety menopause and estrogen women’s health after 40 menopause education HRT benefits osteoporosis prevention menopause menopause expert podcast

The Perimenopause Nutrition Advice Women Actually Need

Learn more about the Rediscover You Program here: https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/16-week-rediscover-you-program/ You can eat all the “healthy” food in the world, but if your body is stuck in stress mode, your hormones, digestion and energy will still struggle. In this episode, Dr Shauna Watts is joined again by functional practitioner, women’s hormone expert and author Dr. Mariza Snyder for a practical conversation about nutrition during perimenopause and why so many women feel overwhelmed trying to figure out what their bodies actually need. Together, they unpack the growing confusion around protein, the overlooked importance of fiber, how gut health shifts during midlife and why blood sugar regulation has such a profound impact on energy, mood, cravings and long-term metabolic health. This conversation moves beyond trendy nutrition advice and focuses on sustainable habits women can realistically implement in busy lives without perfection, restriction or guilt. What we cover in this episode: ➡️ Why the gut microbiome changes during perimenopause ➡️ The connection between gut health, estrogen and inflammation ➡️ Why fiber may be more important than most women realise ➡️ The truth about the current protein obsession ➡️ How ultra-processed “health foods” can worsen symptoms ➡️ Why blood sugar balance matters for hormones and energy ➡️ The impact of stress on digestion and nutrient absorption ➡️ Why eating slowly and intentionally changes how your body responds to food ➡️ The role of circadian rhythm in metabolism, sleep and recovery ➡️ Why women need muscle-supporting nutrition in midlife ➡️ How to create realistic healthy habits without overwhelm Dr Mariza also shares practical strategies for building balanced meals, supporting metabolic health and reconnecting with your body during a season where many women feel completely disconnected from themselves. This episode is a reminder that women do not need another impossible wellness overhaul. They need practical, evidence-based strategies that help them feel stronger, calmer and more energised in the body they live in every day. Follow Dr. Mariza Snyder https://www.instagram.com/drmariza/ https://drmariza.com/ https://www.facebook.com/drmarizasnyder/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmariza https://www.amazon.com/Perimenopause-Revolution-Reclaim-Hormones-Metabolism/dp/1401997406 ------------- Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social: Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatt https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247 Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. ----------------- Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 02:15 — What Happens to the Gut Microbiome During Perimenopause 04:08 — Blood Sugar, Protein & “No Naked Carbs” Explained 05:21 — Why Fiber Matters More Than Women Think 06:02 — The Hidden Impact of Stress on Digestion & Hormones 08:02 — The Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Women Make in Midlife 10:00 — Ultra-Processed Foods, Inflammation & Hormone Health 13:20 — Why Real Food Matters More Than Protein Trends 17:42 — How Much Protein Women Actually Need in Perimenopause 22:00 — Why Muscle Health Matters During Menopause 24:03 — Why Skipping Breakfast Worsens Energy & Hormones 31:02 — Feeling Disconnected From Yourself During Perimenopause 33:10 — Small Habit Changes That Actually Work For Women ----------------- Keywords perimenopause nutrition gut health menopause protein in perimenopause fiber for women over 40 women’s health podcast hormone health blood sugar balance menopause gut health inflammation and hormones Dr Mariza Snyder Dr Shauna Watts menopause nutrition tips midlife wellness