Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Welcome to Morphus!
We created Morphus to spark change in the conversation around perimenopause and menopause wellness, to bring together women seeking support and information, and to provide research-backed supplements for women in perimenopause and menopause. As Health Experts with over 23 years of experience as wellness educators, we bring you expert insights on perimenopause and menopause, along with the latest evidence-based scientific research.
Our goals are to help you navigate this time in your life, empower you to take charge of your health, and arm you with the resources and education to make the right decisions for yourself and your changing body.
Our name was inspired by the symbolism of butterflies, which represent beauty, transformation, and hope. Morphus combines the words "metamorphosis" + "us" (Morph/us) to represent the transformation we are all going through.
Andrea Donsky & Randy Boyer
Co-Founders, Morphus, Inc.
Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Ep #199: Gut Health, Insulin & Hormones with Dr. Cassie Smith, MD
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If you're doing everything "right" and your body still feels like it's falling apart in perimenopause, this one is for you.
Andrea sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, a dual-board-certified endocrinologist who grew tired of watching women get normal lab results and zero answers. She wrote the book "Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones" because she was one of those women, too. This conversation goes deep into why your gut is running the show behind your hormones and what you can actually do about it.
We get into the stuff nobody explained to you: why your "UTI" might not be a UTI, why insulin is the domino that knocks over your estrogen, your progesterone, your thyroid, and your sleep, and what microdosing a GLP-1 really means (with real numbers, not hype).
What you'll learn:
- Why perimenopause belly fat and stubborn weight gain often start in your gut, not your willpower
- What "microdosing GLP-1s" actually means, the real dose ranges, and who it may help
- Why recurring "UTIs" in perimenopause are sometimes due to estrogen deficiency, not infection
- How your gut bacteria change the way your body metabolizes estrogen and thyroid hormone
- The fasting insulin test most doctors skip, and exactly what to ask for at your next appointment
Listen to this next:
Ep #195: GLP-1 and Muscle Loss in Perimenopause: What to Eat to Protect It with Natalie Bean: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ep-195-glp-1-and-muscle-loss-in-perimenopause-what-to
Chapters:
0:00 Why your gut controls your hormones in perimenopause
3:31 What damaged your gut before perimenopause: birth, antibiotics, everyday meds
9:37 The "UTI" that isn't: estrogen deficiency vs infection
13:20 Good vs bad bacteria: inflammation, thyroid, and estrogen
19:14 Insulin, cortisol, and the "metabolic dumpster fire"
28:14 How to lower insulin without "eat less, move more"
35:33 Microdosing GLP-1s for PMOS: the actual doses
42:06 PMOS, medical gaslighting, and the 103 symptoms doctors miss
46:51 How Dr. Cassie works with patients + where to find her
Learn more about Dr. Cassie Smith here: https://www.modern-endocrine.com/
Dr. Cassie Smith's Book: Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones: The Critical Connection Your Doctor Is Missing… And Why You Still Feel Terrible Despite “Normal” Labs https://amzn.to/44GLALR
Educational only, not medical advice. Dr. Smith's GLP-1 dosing reflects her clinical practice and is individualized for each patient. Talk to your own provider before changing anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Morphus: Menopause Reimagined
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