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Your Genes by Design
Your Genes by Design: practical genetics for women 45+. Weekly 5–10 minute episodes that turn complex science into everyday insight — with articles and helpful freebies to support your journey.
Your Genes by Design
Stronger Cravings After 45? Here’s What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You
🎙️Your Genes by Design Podcast-Episode 1
Cravings after 45 aren’t just “lack of willpower.” Shifts in estrogen, cortisol, glucose, and long-held habits set the stage—then genes like FTO, MC4R, DRD2/DRD4, and COMT can tilt how loud cravings feel. Here’s the simple way to interrupt the loop and respond to what your body actually needs.
What You’ll Learn
* How shifts in estrogen/cortisol change insulin sensitivity and drive stronger cravings
* Why the brain’s reward loop repeats (trigger → cue → reward → repeat)
* Where genes like FTO, MC4R, DRD2/DRD4, and COMT can influence hunger, fullness, and reward
Try This Today
* Protein + healthy fats earlier in the day to flatten glucose swings
* Interrupt the routine once (new seat, quick walk, big glass of water) to give your brain a new cue
* Ask, “What is this craving asking for—fuel, calm, or comfort?” and meet that need
The Precision Piece
If cravings feel louder or harder to control after 45, your genes might hold the clue.
Variants in FTO and MC4R can influence how easily you feel full, while DRD2/DRD4 and COMT shape how your brain processes reward and stress. Together, they tilt how strongly you react to comfort foods, caffeine, or that quick sugar fix.
Knowing your personal pattern brings precision—it helps you understand whether your cravings are more metabolic, hormonal, or dopamine-driven. With that insight, you can target the right layer instead of relying on willpower alone.
It’s not about eating perfectly—it’s about working with your design so your biology supports your choices, not the other way around.
Know a woman 45+ who’d benefit? Share this episode.
In this 7-minute episode, we look at why cravings often feel stronger after 45 — and how shifts in glucose and insulin sensitivity help explain it.
🧬 Discover how your genes can influence hunger, energy, and response to food.
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