Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones & Midlife Women’s Health
Hello, my friend. You’ve landed in the right place — where super smart and slightly sassy women over 40 come to figure out what the hell is going on with our hormones, emotions, relationships, careers, and… well, everything, really.
I’m Jessica Long, a health coach, certified menopause coaching specialist and fellow midlife woman on this wild ride with you. Join me each week and together let’s learn about midlife women’s health and wellness from every angle — Western, Eastern and everything in between. We talk perimenopause and menopause, burnout, career pivots, parenting, marriage shifts, purpose, and the constant quest to feel like ourselves again.
You’ll hear honest midlife advice from experts and everyday women, and real-life tools that actually help with hormone health, mindset, nutrition, and lifestyle — plus fun stuff like our favorite books and girls’ trips.
If you love hearing from experts, rebels, and wise women rewriting midlife on their own terms, then you belong here. Hit play and let’s go.
✨For more midlife musings, follow me on Instagram @midlifeadvicepodcast
✨Join my email list at belongwellness.com to get my 3 favorite midlife-friendly smoothie recipes!
Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones & Midlife Women’s Health
43: How Beliefs About Aging Affect Midlife Health and Longevity with Andrea Nakayama
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Turns out, those ‘I’m past my prime’ thoughts aren’t harmless—they can literally change your hormones, heart, and health. 😱
Functional nutritionist and narrative-medicine practitioner (yes, we will cover what that means) Andrea Nakayama explains how age beliefs influence inflammation, cortisol, heart health, memory, recovery, and even longevity.
If you’re a midlife woman trying to feel your best during this wacky season of life and want some practical midlife advice for how to evolve into one badass “old” lady, this one’s for you.
We cover:
✔️The 7.5-year advantage: how positive aging beliefs can extend your life
✔️Why negative beliefs can affect cardiovascular health, memory, and recovery
✔️How mindset and culture influence midlife women’s health
✔️Andrea’s thoughts on Menopause Hormone Therapy
✔️Sleep, elimination, and blood sugar—the three pillars of midlife health
Why midlife women should listen:
This episode blends science, mindset, nutrition and lifestyle for women navigating hormonal changes, perimenopause, and the mental side of midlife. Andrea and Jessica unpack what every midlife woman needs to know about how her beliefs, not just her biology, can change her health trajectory.
Guest:
Andrea Nakayama—Functional Medicine Nutritionist, educator, host of 15-Minute Matrix, founder & former CEO of Functional Nutrition Alliance
andreanakayama.com | fxnutrition.com | @andreanakayama
Resources mentioned:
•Becca Levy, PhD — Breaking the Age Code (age beliefs & longevity)
•Ellen Langer, PhD — The Mindful Body (mindset & health)
•Daniel Levitin, PhD — Successful Aging (how memory changes with age)
CHAPTERS:
02:31 What is Narrative Medicine?
06:48 How Your Perceptions About Aging Affect Longevity
08:34 How Our Beliefs Impact Our Physical Health
10:31 What We Can Do About Society's Negative View of Aging
15:56 How To Improve Our Views of Aging
19:32 Andrea's Thoughts on Menopause Hormone Therapy
24:37 3 Pillars of Midlife Nutrition
27:09 Is There a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy About Aging?
36:56 How to Shift Your Negative Beliefs
39:30 Our Memories Are Changing, Not Declining
41:52 Key Takeaways
⭐️ If this episode gave you new insight into midlife women’s health or helped you reframe your thoughts on getting older, please leave a quick rating and review on Apple or Spotify. Your positive reviews are the best way to help me book expert guests to share actionable midlife advice with those of us who need it most.
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✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system support, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @belongwellness
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