The Truth About Detox & Menopause

You’ve probably heard the buzz about intermittent fasting—but is it really right for women in perimenopause and menopause? In this episode of Joyful Menopause, host Lynda Enright, Functional Nutritionist, breaks down the truth about fasting and hormones so you can make sense of what’s best for your body during this stage of life.

You’ll learn:

• How intermittent fasting affects key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, and cortisol
• The real benefits of fasting for metabolism, brain fog, inflammation, and sleep
• The risks and red flags women should know before jumping in
• Practical ways to make fasting work for your lifestyle—without adding stress or deprivation

Lynda also shares real client stories to show how fasting can look very different for every woman—and why listening to your body is the key to success.

If you’ve ever wondered whether intermittent fasting could help you feel more energized, focused, and balanced during menopause, this episode is a must-listen.

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you to feel your best during perimenopause and menopause:

1. Want more science-backed health tips? Click here to sign up for my free weekly newsletter for practical advice on navigating menopause with confidence:
 
2. Click here to get the free guide: 5 Natural Ways To Reduce Menopause Symptoms.

2. For more information about Lynda and how she supports women on their health journey, click here to learn more.

3. Interested in seeing if nutrition coaching with Lynda is right for you? Click here to book a free discovery call with Lynda.

Transcript

0:05

Hello and welcome back to Joyful Menopause, where we talk about how to feel strong, vibrant, and joyful through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. I'm your host, Lynda Enright, and I help women find balance in their hormones, their health and their lives. And today we're talking about something that I think is a misunderstood word and wellness that is detox. If you've ever thought a detox meant a cleanse a fast or something, you buy in a box I have good news. Your body already knows how to detoxify. But during perimenopause and menopause, and just as we get older and because of the very challenging environment we live in, those natural systems can slow down, and that can affect everything from your weight to your sleep to brain fog. So today we're diving into why detoxification becomes harder in midlife, how it's connected to hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and anxiety, and how to support your body naturally to feel more energized, clear and balanced. So let's get started. Menopause doesn't have to feel like you are living in someone else's body. Your host, Lynda Enright, has spent the last 25 years helping women to thrive in midlife. Here you'll find science-based practical advice that you can start using today to get real results for your health. Welcome to Joyful Menopause. If you've been wondering why it feels harder to lose weight, sleep well, or think clearly since menopause, your detox system might be the missing link. We often talk about hormones like estrogen and progesterone, as if they're only fertility related, but these hormones play a huge role in how your liver, your gut, and your metabolism function. As estrogen declines, the liver loses some of its efficiency in breaking down things like fats, sugar, and hormones to get excreted out of your body. And that means detoxification is slowing and so is your metabolism. So this is one reason also so while weight loss during menopause can feel frustratingly difficult when bile production, so your liver produces bile, so when the production of that and the flow of it also slows down, your body struggles to excrete hormones and toxins that it doesn't need anymore. So you might feel bloated and puffy, sluggish or foggy. All signs that your detoxification pathways are being overworked. So if you've been asking, why can't I lose weight during menopause? Or why am I so tired all the time? Detoxification may be part of the answer. But before we jump too far ahead and think about supplements or cleanses, or talk about all the things that people do, we need to understand what it really means. What does detoxification mean? So what if your hot flashes, brain fog, and sleep problems aren't separate issues, but just branches of the same root. We talk about root cause. When we're thinking in functional nutrition, we talk about these roots and then the branches that are going off the roots. The branches are the symptoms you might be seeing, so things like brain fog, menopause, sleep problems, anxiety, mood changes, weight gain around the abdomen, hot flashes, night sweats, but underneath those branches are the roots, the foundational systems. That keep your body in balance, that's digestion where your food is broken down to work with so the nutrients can work in your body the way they're supposed to and do the functions they're meant to do. We're talking about inflammation and how your body responds to stressors in your environment. And detoxification, how your body clears hormones, toxins, and metabolic waste. So if those roots aren't supported, the branches just keep growing and we get these symptoms. So no matter how many different remedies you try, we haven't, we haven't solved the root. I talk all about in my Joyful Menopause program, building a healthy foundation, and that's those roots. We're trying to build that healthy foundation. So that's why a joyful menopause starts below the surface. It doesn't start at the branches. It. Starts by tending to the roots. Your body detoxes every single day. The question is, are you supporting it or are you making it more difficult? Detoxification isn't a fad or a cleanse. It's a system in your body that runs constantly. Your liver, your kidneys, your gut, your lungs, your lymph system, your skin, even. So just to break it down to something a little simple, there's three phases. So the first phase is the liver breaks down toxins and hormones. And during that phase one, they can actually become more reactive at this first part. So then phase two, the liver binds those breakdown products, the molecules like sulfur or methyl groups or some or things that we don't need. The liver binds with those and to get excreted. And then in phase three, they get excreted. They leave your body through urine, through stool or sweat. So if your digestion is sluggish. If you're constipated or if bile flow is slow, these toxins can start getting reabsorbed back into the system and creating sort of a re toxification problem rather than a detoxification situation. So that's why constipation, bloating, fatigue often go hand in hand with a brain fog and hot flashes. It's all connected. And for women in perimenopause and menopause, these pathways are under more pressure than ever. So it's not your imagination, your metabolism and detox pathways really do change when you get older. When estrogen and progesterone go down, several things are happening. Number one, the liver is slowing down. So estrogen helps to regulate how your liver metabolizes fats and sugars and lower levels of estrogen and progesterone means there can be more fat storage, especially around the abdomen. So that's one reason how estrogen can affect weight loss and certainly become a, a big challenge for women in perimenopause and menopause. Another thing that happens is digestion slows. So hormonal shifts affect the motility, the movement of your gut. It affects the flow of bile, which can lead to constipation, to bloating, to discomfort. And then inflammation can increase. So lower estrogen means there's less protection, the antioxidant protection, adding stress, poor sleep, unstable blood sugars, and you have sort of the perfect storm for inflammation to be flaring up and creating symptoms. Lastly, sleep gets disrupted. So many women experience insomnia, hot flashes at night or night sweats because detox and hormone metabolism are compromised. So when the liver is overworked, then sleep can suffer. Especially that one to 3:00 AM is kind of the key when the liver is doing most of its work. So all of this adds up to a system that's overloaded and under supported. But here's what's so powerful about this, is your body is really good at adapting. If we can create the right environment to make that possible. When it feels like your hormones are out of control, the key is to focus on what you can control. We can't stop aging, we can't change our genes, but we can influence how our body responds. So in functional nutrition, when we're looking at the root, we talk about the ways that we can influence it. So the daily habits that you have can have a big impact on your hormone balance, your food, the quality of your nutrient, nutrients, the diversity, the timing of how you're eating. Movement, circulation, strength, the flow up through your lymph system, your environment, what you're surrounded with, what you breathe in, your mindset, how you manage stress and rest. And what we, when we focus on these things that are within our control, we can give our liver, our gut, our hormones, the support that they need. So this is where food truly becomes medicine. And the power to shift your symptoms can start with what you put on your plate. So before you try another supplement or hormone, ask yourself, how is your sleep? We got three things to think about. Your sleep, your poop, and your blood sugar. These three, you know, they're not glamorous sounding, but they're absolutely non-negotiables to build this foundation for hormone balance and detoxification. So let's just talk a little bit about what that means. So sleep. Poor sleep increases inflammation and impairs liver function. If you are experiencing sleep problems, perimenopause, post menopause, it's often because your body can't complete its repair work at night. So supporting your liver with protein at dinnertime, limiting alcohol, key component and winding down early, um, creating the best environment for your sleep is huge. Second is poop. Daily elimination keeps estrogen and toxins moving out. We need things moving out of our body every day. If you're not going every day, your body could be reabsorbing what it's trying to excrete that can make bloating worse and hot flashes and anxiety in menopause. And then lastly, blood sugar, every spike and crash, these rollercoasters of blood sugar that we have, they trigger cortisol, adding to stress on your hormones. So, stable blood sugar helps to reduce inflammation. It helps to support the thyroid and it helps regulate appetite and mood. Key factors in losing weight during menopause and reducing anxiety through diet, too. Simple doesn't mean easy, but these are the foundational pieces, and without them, you know, no supplement, no detox plan is gonna do any good anyway. If your digestion isn't working, your hormones can't be balanced. Period. End of story. All the detoxification begins in your gut, so your liver prepares, giving you a little science here. Your liver prepares toxins and hormones for elimination to get them out of your body, but it's your digestive system that actually carries them out. When digestion is slowed or compromised because of stress, low stomach acid, or an imbalance in the microbiome, everything downstream is gonna suffer. So why I think of digestion is detoxification. We think of detoxification in the liver, but we need that digestion to happen. If you're struggling with symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, thyroid issues, digestion is often the first root that we have to nurture. So we support that by first of all, chewing thoroughly. I, I don't even always remember to talk about chewing thoroughly because it seems so simple and basic, but we don't do it. We don't chew our food well. We eat so fast that we're not always starting that breakdown process in the mouth where it needs to be done. We need to stay hydrated, getting plenty of water, eating a lot of fiber and colorful plants. Colorful fruits and vegetables give us so many nutrients in addition to a lot of good fiber. We need to manage our stress. Particularly during meals, if you come to a meal and you can just sit down and take a few deep breaths that can lower your cortisol, that's gonna make your digestion actually work better. And then supporting our gut bacteria with things like fermented foods, probiotics, possibly if tolerated, that just depends. It's an individual thing, and it's something I work with my clients individually on. When digestion improves, our energy raises, our mood steadies and our hormone metabolism improves. Naturally without doing anything magic. And I wanna talk about your genes for a second. Food doesn't just fuel you. It actually talks to your genes, your genetics. So every color on your plate has different compounds that activate different detox pathways. So that's why eating the rainbow isn't, isn't just a slogan, it's actually science. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, help to metabolize estrogen and support liver detoxification. Leafy greens help to feed your micro microbiome and support the flow of bile. And here's something really important over restricting food can actually hurt your detox capacity. Many women cut calories or eliminate entire food groups trying to lose weight during menopause, but that can create nutrient deficiencies and make things worse. Sometimes I work with clients about, with food sensitivities and we do restrict diet for a little bit and we can, might be eliminating some things, but the goal never with an elimination diet is to have a permanent situation where we're, where we're removing lots of foods from our diet. The point is to reduce inflammation and to build our diet back up to one that's really nutrient rich. So instead of thinking about what do I need to cut out? Try thinking, what do I need to add in? Your body needs nutrients to detoxify and to rebalance, especially during hormonal transitions. You don't need a detox plan. You need a daily rhythm that supports a detoxification. So here are some simple, very powerful ways to help your body to do what it's designed to do. Number one, hydrate. Water supports kidney function and lymphatic flow for detoxification. Eat the rainbow. Each color supports different enzymes that support this whole process. Moving daily. Exercise stimulates that flow, again, the lymphatic flow that moves things through. It helps also your gut to just move and process food, helps your metabolism. Sweating, working out, or saunas both help to clear toxins. And managing stress. Stress hormones create internal toxins. Calming your nervous system is key to detox also. Again, not quick fixes. They're what create long-term hormone harmony, and that's what we're aiming for. You can't supplement your way out of a weak foundation. Many women jump straight to hormones, pills, or powders, and there's a place, there's a time and place for those things. But your body can't heal without having just the basics and this foundation. So when you rebuild the foundation, digestion, inflammation, detoxification, your symptoms can start to shift your brain flow. Brain fog clears. Your sleep improves, your anxiety calms, your hot flashes lessen, your weight stabilizes. This is the power of nutrition, of functional nutrition. Looking at the roots, it helps you to tend to that soil so the roots can be strong. That's what we're aiming for. A strong foundation, strong roots. Menopause is not the end of your vitality. It's really an invitation to nourish that foundation. You can't change that hormones are shifting, but you can change how your body responds to it. So take a moment to reflect on the three roots. How's your digestion? Are you eliminating daily? Are you feeling nourished? How's your inflammation? Are you moving, sleeping and managing stress? And how's your detoxification? Are you hydrating and eating colorfully, colorfully with real whole foods? Nothing that's made in the lab. You don't need to fix everything overnight. You can just start with one small thing, again, within this, this area of control that you have. Maybe it's just adding a fiber rich meal. Maybe it's setting a bedtime. Maybe it's taking a five minute walk after dinner to regulate your blood sugars better. Healing happens when we create consistency, not perfection. Thanks for joining me today for this episode of Joyful Menopause. Remember, detox isn't something you buy. It's something your body does for you every day, and when you support what your body needs with digestion, inflammation, detoxification, your body can reward you with more energy, better sleep, clearer thinking, and a steady weight. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend who's also navigating perimenopause or menopause. And if you'd like help finding your balance, you can learn more about my Joyful Menopause plan at bewellconsulting.com. Until next time. Remember, your body is wise, it is capable, and it is designed for balance. When you support your roots, your whole life can bloom. Have a great day. Thanks for being here.