Discover the latest science behind fasting and innovative fasting alternatives in this episode with Dr. Chris Rhodes, nutritional biochemist. Learn about the anti-inflammatory and longevity benefits of a 36-hour fast, and how Mimio, a fasting supplement, can help you access fasting’s advantages without skipping meals. With special insights on women’s health—including hormones, muscle preservation, and metabolic changes—this is essential listening for anyone interested in optimizing wellness, especially women navigating midlife.

Curious to try Mimio for yourself? Visit https://drstephanieestima.com/mimio and use code ESTIMA for 20% off.

Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate):
(0:00) Intro/Teaser
(4:00) The Biology of Fasting: What's Actually Happening
(12:00) Fasting Timelines: 16:8 vs 24hr vs 36hr
(16:00) The 36-Hour Metabolic Signature
(21:00) NAD, Estrogen, and Women in Midlife
(26:00) Cortisol, HPA Axis, and Female Sensitivity
(30:00) Thyroid Suppression During Fasting
(34:00) Muscle and Bone Preservation Strategies
(43:00) The Four Fasting-Mimetic Molecules
(54:00) Fasting Benefits Without Fasting
(1:03:00) Clinical Study Results: 2.5 Years Younger
(1:07:00) Dosing and Best Practices
(1:12:00) BONUS: After-Party with Dr. Stephanie

Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep445/

We couldn’t do it without our sponsors:

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Author Michael Joseph Gross (Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives) reveals how muscle has shaped human health, confidence, and culture for centuries—and why it’s time for women to reclaim it. Learn why “brains vs. brawn” is a myth, how lifting builds empathy and resilience, and the surprising history of strong women—from Victorian Europe to the modern gym.

Episode Overview:
(0:00) Intro/Teaser
(4:00) From Greeks to Gains: The Origins of How We See Muscle
(10:00) The Myth of Brain vs. Brawn
(20:00) How Lifting Weights Rewires the Brain
(25:00) Why Most People Still Don’t Lift (and How to Change That)
(34:00) The Doctor Who Proved Strength Has No Age Limit
(46:00) How Pop Culture Shaped Our Fear of Muscle
(53:00) Are We Afraid of Strong Women?
(58:00) Jan Todd and the Victorian Women Who Lifted
(1:09:00) The Bettys Are Reclaiming Their Strength
(1:11:00) Raising Strong Daughters (and Sons)
(1:16:00) Where to Begin: Strength Training for Every Woman
(1:24:00) BONUS: After-Party with Dr. Stephanie

Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep444/

We are grateful to our sponsors:

TIMELINE - As perimenopausal women, we know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance, plus our recovery needs are greater. That's why you save 20% at https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER.

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Dr. Christine Maren, a medical doctor and certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in women’s health, shares her expertise on gut health, hormones, and the complex interplay between digestion and the menopausal transition. In this episode, she explains the differences in gut diversity between men and women, explores how shifts in estrogen and progesterone affect the gut, and discusses why sensitivity to alcohol, caffeine, and certain foods often increases during perimenopause. Dr. Maren also delves into the benefits of strength training, detoxification, dietary fibre, and critically examines the use of birth control pills for perimenopausal symptoms, advocating for more holistic approaches.

Episode Overview:
(0:00) Intro/Teaser
(4:00) Gut Health and Perimenopause Transition
(14:00) Histamine, Detoxification, and Midlife Changes
(19:00) Estrogen Detoxification and Gut Health
(32:00) Resilience and Fibre in Midlife
(40:00) Carbohydrates, Gut Health, and Thyroid
(50:00) Resilience and Hormone Balance in Women
(53:00) The Importance of Good Carbohydrates
(57:00) Strength Training, Confidence, and Birth Control
(1:04:00) Birth Control Risks in Perimenopause
(1:15:00) BONUS: After-Party with Dr. Stephanie

Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep443

We are grateful to our sponsors:

BIOPTIMIZERS - Magnesium Breakthrough contains multiple types of magnesium plus cofactors like B6 to enhance absorption. Visit https://bioptimizers.com/better and use code BETTER to save 15%.

PIQUE - Designed to deeply hydrate, enhance skin elasticity & firmness and support sustained energy—exactly what we need during this stage of life. Start your daily ritual today with 20% off for life—plus a free gift to elevate your routine. Head to https://piquelife.com/drestima.

ONESKIN - Use the power of peptides for firmer, glowing skin. Save 15% at https://oneskin.co/better with code BETTER.

MANUKORA - Head to https://manukora.com/BETTER to get $150 off your first order with their Black Friday Starter Kit, which comes with an MGO 850+ Manuka Honey jar, 35 honey travel sticks, a wooden and a guidebook!

AG1 - Subscribe today to get a 1-month supply of AG Omega-3 with your first AG1 order! You’ll also get their Welcome Kit with everything you need to get you started. Get it now at https://drinkag1.com/stephanie.

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