Maximizing Hormones, Physique & Running Through Perimenopause

#73 - Debunking Caffeine, Cortisol, Anxiety & Belly Fat

Louise Valentine

If you've been told to give up caffeine completely during peri/menopause, it's time to set the record straight. In this episode, Louise, a multi award-winning exercise physiologist, women's integrative health practitioner, and performance scientist, breaks down the myths around caffeine, cortisol, anxiety, and belly fat—and how they’re actually all connected!

You'll learn why having caffeine on an empty stomach is counterproductive, how to fuel properly before workouts, and why over-caffeination is, without a doubt, making your anxiety worse. She also covers the best caffeine timing, types, doses, brands and most importantly, how to use it without wrecking your hormones! Get ready to compare female-specific science and considerations to cutting-edge generalized performance science so you can be fully empowered to work with your female body, not against it. Additionally, you can learn if you are genetically a slow or a fast caffeine metabolizer (without needing expensive genetic tests).

Louise discusses why caffeine often gets blamed for hormonal imbalances (and why that’s not the full story), how stress and cortisol levels affect fat storage, bone, and muscle loss, and the best way to pair caffeine with food for sustained energy and hormone support. Plus, she shares why cutting off caffeine by noon or earlier can improve your sleep, mood, mental health, and recovery, along with a simple hack to reset your caffeine tolerance—without quitting cold turkey.

Tune in for practical, science-backed strategies to help you enjoy your coffee without the hormonal chaos. If ready to reclaim your best holistic health, vibrance, and badass fitness results, this episode is for YOU!

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Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:58) The problem with having caffeine on an empty stomach
(6:02) How cortisol affects fat loss, muscle growth & hormones
(9:41) Common mistakes women make with caffeine & exercise
(13:06) How caffeine impacts sleep, anxiety & weight gain
(21:39) The right caffeine dosage & why timing matters
(27:39) How caffeine metabolism affects your body differently
(31:06) The caffeine-anxiety connection & how to fix it
(35:55) The easy way to reset your caffeine tolerance
(41:04) Outro


Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Fitness, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for a simple female-specific science-based revolution. Let's unlock our best with less stress!

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