#438: You’re NOT Going Crazy: Understanding What’s Going On In Your Body In Your Late 30s - 50s With Andrea Donsky
5/15/20261 hr 15 min
Today, I’m joined by Andrea Donsky, a powerhouse nutritionist, menopause advocate, and author of the groundbreaking new book Nourishing Menopause. In our conversation, Andrea opens up about her deeply personal journey—how experiencing her first hot flash as a nutrition expert pushed her into years of curiosity, research, and ultimately, a mission to reimagine menopause as both a challenge and an opportunity. Episode Timestamps: Welcome, show intro, and purpose ... 00:00:00 Lack of menopause awareness and connecting symptoms ... 00:07:02 Mainstream vs. holistic menopause approaches ... 00:09:09 Surveying thousands of women and symptom discovery ... 00:11:16 Validating unusual menopause symptoms ... 00:13:41 Impact on relationships and the workplace ... 00:21:04 Early onset, variability, and importance of hormonal testing ... 00:25:32 Key takeaways: you’re not alone, support exists ... 00:28:16 Ovarian aging and overall health ... 00:29:47 Shifts in women’s health research ... 00:32:11 Designing impactful, diverse menopause surveys ... 00:33:41 Andrea’s “Nourishing Menopause” book philosophy ... 00:35:12 Nourishment, longevity, and healthspan ... 00:37:23 Risks of muscling through menopause ... 00:39:52 Insulin resistance: causes, signs, and management ... 00:45:57 Meal timing, fasting, and metabolic flexibility ... 00:51:06 Personalized health testing and nutrition ... 00:56:0 Soy/phytoestrogen controversy ... 00:58:08 BALANCE blueprint and nutrition pillars ... 01:01:18 Managing stress, nervous system, and reframing menopause ... 01:05:31 Andrea’s non-negotiables and top practical tips ... 01:09:11 Our Amazing Sponsors: LongeFera by Regenerive - Most cheap Ashwagandha is bulked up with stems and leaves to inflate the “actives.” Those parts can bring compounds you don’t actually want in your body. LongeFera — fixes that with a root-only extract containing four newly identified bioactives, the ASHX4 Complex. Visit regenerive.co and use code NAT25 for 25% off. Micro-BOOST (Humic Mineral Complex) by BEAM Minerals - A concentrated liquid humic formula that binds and removes toxins like heavy metals, mold, and pollutants—working fast with just a daily shot. Head to http://www.beamminerals.com/NAT20, use code NAT20, and get 20% off your first order. CP1 Pure Collagen Peptides by Puori — a clean, unflavored collagen that supports connective tissue, joints, and skin elasticity with a unique amino acid profile your body actually uses, plus Nat's Links: YouTube Channel Join My Membership Community Sign up for My Newsletter Instagram Dr. Bill Lawrence Episode
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsNathalie Niddam· Host0:00
[gentle music] Welcome to Longevity. I'm your host, Natalie Needham. I'm a nutritionist, a human potential and epigenetic coach, and I created this podcast to bring you the latest ways to take control of your health and longevity. We cover it all, from new technology and ancestral health practices, to personalized interventions, and a very special interest of mine, peptides and bioregulators. Enjoy the show. Welcome back to the show, folks. My name is Natalie Needham, and I am your host. Now, there comes a point where nothing changes, and yet everything seems to feel different. Today, I discuss this and so much more with Andrea Donsky, fellow nutritionist and author of the new book, Nourishing Menopause. We're talking about menopause as a major longevity turning point from mood and metabolism to muscle memory and reclaiming your health. Andrea is a consummate researcher, and she has put together a number of huge surveys that have now been published in major menopause journals. You gotta check out this episode. It's a really different take and perspective on menopause I think that you guys will really enjoy. Next up, we'll thank a couple of sponsors, and then we're off. PSA: All ashwagandha is not the same. I wish, I wish it were, because $12 sounds great, but not so