Hormone imbalance, weight gain, brain fog, and burnout after 40? You’re not alone. In this episode of Doing Life Different, Lesa Koski welcomes functional medicine practitioner Marrie Simpson for an open, empowering conversation about hormones, metabolic health, and how women can take back control of their well-being—naturally and holistically.

Marrie shares her personal journey from prescription-based medicine to root-cause healing, and dives into actionable steps women can take to balance hormones, increase energy, improve sleep, and support metabolic fitness—especially during perimenopause and menopause.

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or out of balance, this episode is packed with hope, education, and next steps—without the overwhelm. Whether you're dealing with hot flashes, insomnia, low libido, or just a nagging feeling of "not quite right," you're in the right place.

🎧 Plus: Lesa shares her own experience navigating estrogen blockers after breast cancer—and how Marie's guidance has helped her reclaim her energy and mindset.

⏱️ Timestamps:

• 
  
• 
  
• (00:00) Introduction: Meet Marrie Simpson
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (03:15) Marrie’s journey from traditional medicine to functional healing
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (09:42) How hormone imbalance affects women 40+
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (15:27) Understanding perimenopause and estrogen dominance
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (19:44) The real impact of cortisol, stress, and sleep
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (23:16) Weight gain and metabolic slow-down in midlife
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (30:03) What women can do naturally to support hormone health
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• 
  
• 
  
• (34:55) When hormone replacement therapy makes sense—and when it doesn’t
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (42:48) Alcohol, estrogen, and breast cancer risk
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (48:19) Why listening to your body is the most powerful strategy
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• (51:30) Final words of hope from Marie and Lesa
• 
  
• 
  

✅ Key Takeaways:

• 
  
• 
  
• 88% of chronic illnesses are connected to metabolic dysfunction—not genetics.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Cortisol and estrogen dominance are often the hidden culprits behind midlife weight gain and insomnia.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Women can take a natural approach to healing through diet, stress management, muscle preservation, and detoxification.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Hormone replacement therapy can be powerful—but only when individualized and timed correctly.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Alcohol increases breast cancer risk and interferes with hormone balance. (One glass of wine per night may not be as harmless as you think.)
• 
  
• 
  

👩‍⚕️ Guest Bio: Marie Simpson, PA-C, IFMCP

Marrie Simpson is a licensed Physician Assistant and certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. Founder of Elevate Health and Wellness, Marrie blends her clinical training with deep compassion, science-backed protocols, and personalized coaching. With specialties in metabolic health, hormone balance, autoimmune conditions, and genetic optimization, Marie empowers women to heal root causes—not just symptoms.

🔗 Resource Links:

DIY Parenting Plan Course

Find More From Lesa Here!

Marrie Simpson’s Metabolic Reset

jjflizanes.com/lesa

🔎 Tags/Keywords:

perimenopause, menopause, hormone imbalance, functional medicine, Marrie Simpson, Lesa Koski, breast cancer recovery, metabolic health, estrogen dominance, cortisol and weight gain, Dutch hormone test, natural hormone support, midlife weight gain, healthy aging women, women’s health podcast, hot flashes natural remedy, hormone replacement therapy, sober curious midlife, hormone health podcast, doing life different podcast, aging gracefully, holistic hormone support

Welcome listeners.

2

I am always excited to have

my darling friend, my prayer

3

warrior Marie Simpson with us.

4

She is my functional health

practitioner that I love.

5

And you know what was funny?

6

I was telling Marie before we got

on, usually when I do this podcast,

7

I, I let people tell their authentic

story and I was watching something.

8

On Marie, a different video, a side

video, and I'm like, I've never

9

had her do that on the podcast

and your story, it helps people.

10

It helps people learn.

11

You know, when you go through something

difficult and you learn from it and

12

you share it, you share that story.

13

That's how we encourage

and change the world.

14

And so I just wanna take a little

time to get to know Marie better.

15

We're gonna do that first, but just so

you know, this episode you are gonna

16

love 'cause it's all about hormones.

17

We're gonna talk, touch a little bit

on perimenopause and menopause and

18

then um, we're gonna talk about what

we can do kind of naturally, right?

19

Without hormone replacement meds.

20

Then we're gonna delve into how do you

know when it's time or if it's necessary.

21

And Marie can help us with all of that.

22

And I just wanna add one more thing that

all of this is really hard to talk about.

23

I feel like when we don't

talk about metabolic.

24

Fitness, metabolic health, and Marie

has taught me so much about that.

25

So listeners, I do have another episode,

but what I want you to know is when I

26

do my saddle up segment on Thursday, I'm

going to go through what I've learned

27

from Marie briefly about metabolic health.

28

And if you are interested, I have.

29

How to connect with

Marie in my show notes.

30

It's even on my website.

31

Or you can just, I'll put her

website on in my show notes too.

32

So that was a really long introduction,

but Marie, thank you so much for being

33

here, for taking the time and welcome,

and let's get to know you a little better.

34

What led you to do this

Phenomenal work for people.

35

Yeah.

36

Speaker 2: Well, thank

you so much for having me.

37

I always love.

38

Being on your podcast and so appreciate

you and right back at you with all

39

those beautiful things you said about

me because you are just a, just a

40

sweetheart and a prayer for me as well.

41

So, um, so I started in medicine.

42

I always love helping people and, and

so I knew that I wanted to go into

43

medicine, always interested in it.

44

I love, love, love learning, and so.

45

I became a physician assistant back in

46

in a nursing home for years before that

and just always kind of in that area.

47

Um, practiced family practice for a

number of years, but I just was like,

48

wow, I am putting people on prescriptions.

49

I have 10 minute visits.

50

We are not getting at the rut, and I

thought there has to be something more.

51

I don't wanna just keep

doling out prescriptions.

52

And so started in functional medicine.

53

It took me a while to get my, um,

certification in functional medicine,

54

probably about seven, eight years.

55

But I started, started

in hormones actually.

56

Uh, and then just kept going

deeper and deeper and deeper

57

with autoimmune conditions.

58

Uh, I spent some time under Dr.

59

Dale Breon, who wrote

the book, the End of.

60

Alzheimer's, he's had a couple subsequent

books, but really looking at how

61

do we prevent disease and how do we

prevent the need for prescriptions?

62

And I use this analogy all the time.

63

Bad, better, best, bad, doing nothing.

64

Okay?

65

So we don't wanna have high

blood pressure and not treat it.

66

We don't wanna have high

blood sugar and not treat it.

67

We want to understand what we have

and if we can prevent the need for

68

medication, that's gonna be best.

69

But better is gonna be

that we use medication.

70

So medications are indicated.

71

Uh, and we definitely feel, I feel that

traditional medicine has its place, but.

72

It doesn't do the best job at disease

prevention at increasing our health span.

73

So I started in functional medicine,

uh, and I wasn't the healthiest, but

74

I started implementing many, many

things I've been overweight for since,

75

since actually I was a kid and didn't

get to do the things I wanted to be,

76

uh, in pom-poms and cheerleading.

77

But, you know, my weight really

held me back in a lot of areas.

78

So became had difficulty getting pregnant

because of my weight, because of PCOS.

79

I had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

80

I had many, many symptoms.

81

Again, the hormone imbalance.

82

I had chronic achiness

and pain, I had insomnia.

83

The list was long.

84

I started addressing all of these things

from a functional medicine approach,

85

uh, as I learned functional medicine

and how to do things, but my weight

86

would not, my, it was, I just was stuck.

87

I had tried hundreds, literally

hundreds of things, whether it

88

was, you know, diet and exercise.

89

I would maybe eat 500 calories a day

and I would exercise three or four

90

hours thinking if I just worked harder.

91

Yes.

92

Then the weight's gonna come off and.

93

And after I started my own practice,

um, I, I left the clinic practice in

94

about four and a half years ago and

started Elevate Health and Wellness,

95

which is what I work under right now.

96

Then I went through a program

myself that was really helpful.

97

It didn't have the functional medicine

aspects, but it was helpful for losing

98

weight, really training your body on

how to detox, how to, um, optimize.

99

Fat burning.

100

How to really support the body through

the process because we know that

101

toxins are stored in fat, and so as we

are working on burning fat for fuel,

102

we are going through detoxification.

103

Also, focusing on balancing hormones and

optimizing energy, and really getting at

104

the root of so many pieces, looking at gut

health, looking at brain fog, looking at.

105

Autoimmune conditions and all of that,

just all bringing lots of pieces into it.

106

So I've created my own version of

this with genetics with continuous

107

glucose monitors, because these pieces

really help give us understanding of

108

what's going on behind the scenes.

109

Our body gives us clues whether

you have digestive issues, whether

110

you've had a diagnosis of cancer

that is a clue about immune health,

111

whether you have, uh, brain fog.

112

All these pieces are are clues.

113

And so we put that detective hat

on and we think, okay, what's

114

going on behind the scenes?

115

And then we look at.

116

Labs, the continuous glucose

monitors give us information.

117

Genetics help me personalize

fine tune what recommendations

118

that I would typically have.

119

And so over the course of the

last four years, I've continually

120

added and developed the 12 week

program for what it is today.

121

And it was my personal transformation.

122

It was learning all of the pieces

that, uh, can keep people stuck.

123

And it isn't a one size

fits all as we know, right.

124

So that and a coupled with my dad

and my dad started becoming ill.

125

15 years ago and he had diabetes and he

started gaining weight around the middle.

126

Um, but then came the tremors, it

came some personality changes, uh,

127

frequent falls, and eventually he

was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

128

And that really helped me.

129

And that's around that time

I was doing the, uh, brain.

130

Optimization with Dr.

131

Dale Bredesen's training and really

looking into what is going on with my dad

132

and come to find out that we know 88% of

all chronic illness comes from a metabolic

133

disorder, and he certainly had that.

134

He had the weight around the

middle, he had the diabetes, and

135

so just kind of working along.

136

We have managed to halt progression

for many, many years, and now

137

as he's now in his eighties.

138

Um, 84 to be exact.

139

We've, we've, we've seen continued

progression and he has good days and

140

bad days, but he is a hundred percent

rely reliant on other people to care for

141

him with eating, with, walking, with,

caring for any, anything that he needs.

142

It's based on somebody

else, uh, caring for him.

143

So his health span was cut way too short.

144

We know the average lifespan is.

145

77, uh, and the average health span is 65.

146

So it's like, what are we gonna

do with that last 10 to 12 years?

147

Uh, and we wanna, we wanna lengthen

lifespan and lengthen health span mm-hmm.

148

So that people don't have to suffer.

149

Like I see so many people do.

150

So, all right.

151

Speaker: Too long.

152

I know men that, I love that.

153

I love learning that about you.

154

And that is why you're the

amazing woman that you are.

155

Oh, thank you.

156

Because you've, thank you.

157

You've learned and you share it.

158

And, and that's what we need.

159

That's what we all need, need to

do, is share the things we learned.

160

So I have so many questions popping up.

161

One thing I wanted to mention mm-hmm.

162

That I've heard you say before is

it's important to know our why.

163

So we're sitting here today and.

164

As a woman, you know, I know

my why is I wanna feel better.

165

Mm-hmm.

166

I want to grab my grandchildren, pick

'em up, carry 'em down the street.

167

I wanna run, I wanna

play, I wanna feel good.

168

Mm-hmm.

169

And so, and there is a part of it

that I kind, I wanna look good, but I

170

think even more is, I wanna feel good

now at this stage in my life, but.

171

Here's the thing that so many

women my age, and I didn't even

172

think I was gonna mention this, but

it kind of goes along with this.

173

Mm-hmm.

174

They're like, oh my gosh,

why I've gained weight.

175

Women who have remained at a steady,

great weight all their life, and

176

all of a sudden they're like.

177

What is going on.

178

Mm-hmm.

179

Why am I suddenly like I can't

do anything and I've been there.

180

Mm-hmm.

181

I have been there when I

couldn't really do anything.

182

So those, and I wasn't obese and it

wasn't a big deal, but it does me

183

being five pounds more than I need

to be affects my blood pressure.

184

Mm-hmm.

185

Mm-hmm.

186

So learning the how to be

metabolically fit changed my life too.

187

Mm-hmm.

188

And you helped with that.

189

So let's talk about that.

190

Is that hormone related that

suddenly we wake up and we go.

191

Everything that I used to do isn't

192

Speaker 2: working.

193

Yeah.

194

You know, it's, it's, it is

hormones and it's more than that.

195

Uh, I feel that the modern conveniences

of life have, have increased that

196

propensity for weight gain just because.

197

We're in front of screens, we're rushing

around and like you, I have 10 grandkids.

198

I have aging parents, I have

three kids, I have a husband.

199

I'm running a business,

and things get kinda crazy.

200

And so I know it's really important

that we manage that cortisol because

201

when cortisol goes up and oftentimes

it's really, you know, we're gonna see

202

blood sugar elevation, which is gonna

have influence on metabolic health,

203

but that that cortisol elevation will

completely override our sex hormones.

204

So that's one piece.

205

The other piece is we're not moving

as much, and so we know that muscle

206

will deteriorate after the ages of 30.

207

We start to lose about

three to 8% of our muscle.

208

And it depends on the person, right?

209

Um, and so as our muscle goes down,

our metabolic, you know, activity slows

210

and we can start to see weight gain.

211

Uh, so that's, that's a piece.

212

So cortisol elevation.

213

Lack of muscle and, and muscle tone,

muscle strength, lack of sleep.

214

Mm-hmm.

215

So if we're in front of screens and we're

stressed, we often don't sleep as well.

216

That has a big impact on.

217

A cortisol, but also on our metabolic

health and just our nutrition.

218

Yeah, our nutrition is foundational.

219

It's a foundational pillar, and so when

we're stressed and tired, we may not feel

220

like cooking those veggies and getting.

221

Clean healthy meals, right?

222

Nutrient dense meals.

223

And so those are other pieces.

224

When our estrogen starts to decline

and our progesterone, particularly our

225

pres progesterone first, then we, we

can have estrogen dominance and that

226

also can have a tendency to increase.

227

And so there's just all these

little pieces that add, it's,

228

it's like a puzzle of Right.

229

10, 15 pieces that add to that.

230

Speaker: Mm-hmm.

231

Well, okay, so let's talk a

little bit, I don't like, I think

232

most people kind of know what

perimenopause is and what menopause is.

233

Mm-hmm.

234

But when you were just

saying that the estrogen.

235

Increases.

236

Is that per, is that perimenopause

that that happens or more Yeah, so

237

Speaker 2: perimenopause, we're gonna

see progesterone start to decline

238

first, and when that declines, we have

more incidents of estrogen dominance.

239

We see perimenopause in the late thirties

and, and typically in the forties.

240

And it's not that hormones are just like.

241

Going down, down, down,

it's, we're seeing shifts.

242

We're seeing things that are up and down.

243

Progesterone is the hormone that we

see decline first, and so we wanna have

244

estrogen and progesterone balanced.

245

But if we're seeing a decline

in progesterone and estrogen

246

staying high, that creates.

247

Estrogen dominance, so having too much

estrogen and too little progesterone,

248

and that in and of itself can cause

heavier periods, maybe fibroids.

249

Mm-hmm.

250

Dense breast tissue.

251

PMS, those are some of the common.

252

Signs of tro, I think I have all

253

Speaker: those.

254

Yeah.

255

Speaker 2: And we can see that

even before perimenopause.

256

I see that in a lot of individuals

and we have synthetic estrogens

257

that people can get exposed to

that will also compound that.

258

Mm-hmm.

259

And so we wanna be careful around,

you know, plastics and receipts

260

and, and different things like that

are, are personal care products.

261

Mm-hmm.

262

That can have that influence on the

synthetic estrogens, uh, as well.

263

So.

264

Speaker: Okay.

265

That's good to know.

266

I dunno if that

267

Speaker 2: answers your question.

268

Speaker: No, it does.

269

And, and that kind of

talks about perimenopause.

270

Mm-hmm.

271

Okay.

272

So then, and, and when you talk

about like not sleeping as well.

273

Mm-hmm.

274

So then I went, ding, ding.

275

So your hormone then is starting to

affect your stress, your cortisol,

276

'cause you're not sleeping as much.

277

Mm-hmm.

278

So that's playing a role too.

279

So, so definitely.

280

And

281

Speaker 2: progesterone is particularly.

282

When we think about progesterone, that

is the hormone that is more calming.

283

Yes.

284

And it does help to promote good sleep.

285

And so in that perimenopausal timeframe,

sometimes we'll use some bioidentical

286

hormone, just progesterone before bed

to help people with that sleep and, and

287

feel more calm and and type of thing.

288

So it can be really helpful.

289

I, in

290

Speaker: fact, I did do that.

291

Mm-hmm.

292

And I did not have, uh, hormone cancer.

293

So that is not what led, but I did do

that, and I do remember the relief I felt.

294

Mm-hmm.

295

Um, and I was able to sleep.

296

And then la la, la la la time

moved on and menopause kicks in.

297

Mm-hmm.

298

So tell us just really quick

what that is and then things kind

299

Speaker 2: of changed again for me.

300

Right.

301

So we define menopause as not

having a period for 12 months.

302

And that's when it's kind

of typically menopause.

303

And that can be rarely in

the thirties, but typically

304

late forties and and fifties.

305

So the average age is about 51.

306

And, and with that, the estrogen

starts to decline and sometimes

307

it's gonna bounce around.

308

So when women go into the clinic and

they say, I wanna have my hormones

309

checked, we could look at estradiol.

310

Uh, but it isn't as accurate unless

we're doing a specific test where

311

we're testing at a particular, um.

312

Time of the month unless

you're postmenopausal.

313

And so there's the main hormone that

they look at is what's called FSH.

314

If we're going to be doing a

test to assess menopause in

315

women that haven't had a period.

316

Um, so.

317

During post menopause, then we see very

little, a little bit, but very little

318

estrogen and progesterone production.

319

Mm-hmm.

320

And then those symptoms typically are

gonna be night sweats, hot flashes,

321

vaginal dryness, lower libido,

and we can see some of these in

322

that perimenopausal time For sure.

323

Um.

324

Sleep changes, energy changes, uh, we can

start to see a decline in bone density.

325

Mm-hmm.

326

Uh, after, after the hormones, after a

period hasn't been present for a year,

327

that's when typically they're gonna

recommend that women have a bone density.

328

Um, just to assess kind of where

things are at, see some hair changes.

329

Um, so those, those would

be symptoms of menopause.

330

Speaker: Okay, so now what I wanna do is

I wanna talk about, and I think we've kind

331

of covered it, but what are things that we

can do to ha help our hormones naturally?

332

Mm-hmm.

333

Mm-hmm.

334

And then I wanna talk about.

335

Because it is a trick to

figure out your hormone levels.

336

Yeah.

337

And how do you know?

338

And there's all kinds of, I think there's

controversy about is it good, is it bad?

339

And I think you really wanna catch where

you're at with those and it fluctuates.

340

Mm-hmm.

341

So I wanna get into that a little bit too.

342

So what can we do, because

I can't take hormone.

343

Mm-hmm.

344

You know, and I am on an oxygen

blocker since breast cancer.

345

Mm-hmm.

346

And I know, you know, one in eight women

might be going through what I'm going

347

through, who are listening to this.

348

Mm-hmm.

349

But I just have to ask too, a

little bit for my own wellbeing.

350

Mm-hmm.

351

What can

352

Speaker 2: I do?

353

Yeah, sure.

354

Well, these are great questions

and so I'm gonna kind of try

355

to answer each one of those.

356

Natural ways, and that's one of the

things that I work on with women

357

in the program that I have, and

it is helping to balance hormones.

358

And so nutrition is really important.

359

We want to, and, and for you too, Lisa,

not being able to use hormones, but being

360

able to really optimize health stress

is gonna be a huge thing to manage, but

361

then nutrition, bringing in cruciferous

vegetables is going to be helpful.

362

Whether you're on hormones or not,

genetics is gonna give us a clue

363

about how we metabolize estrogen.

364

Uh, and then you mentioned some testing.

365

I recommend Dutch hormone testing

because we're gonna look at, you

366

know, a, where those hormone levels

are, but then also and, and also

367

cortisol 'cause that is gonna have

an influence on our sex hormones.

368

The other piece that it looks at is.

369

Metabolites.

370

And when we have estrogen, whether

it's in our being made by our our

371

ovaries, or we're using a bioidentical

form of estradiol, then we wanna

372

make sure that it's safe, right?

373

Speaker: Mm-hmm.

374

Speaker 2: Again, whether it's our

body producing it or it is, um.

375

It is being given.

376

And so we can look to see how

your body is metabolizing it,

377

genetics influence that from the

standpoint of detox and methylation.

378

I know we're, I don't wanna get

too sciencey, but we wanna look to

379

make sure that it's going down the

right pathway and not producing

380

metabolites that would increase risk.

381

For in men it would be prostate

cancer and in women breast cancer.

382

Right.

383

Or potentially ovarian.

384

And so if people are gonna consider using.

385

Hormone replacement therapy, it's

ideal to use that in the first 10.

386

10.

387

Within the first 10 years, it's gonna

have a much more impact on brain health,

388

cardiovascular health, bone health.

389

Just overall, when we start it later than

that, it doesn't have as much benefit.

390

Okay.

391

But the, but the key is we want to

look at each woman individually.

392

Mm-hmm.

393

And see what their risk factors are.

394

What is their metabolic health like?

395

Because we know that if.

396

Metabolic health is not good.

397

We increase risk for cancers, not

just breast, but other cancers.

398

Right?

399

We wanna look at genetic pieces

to see, are you methylating?

400

Well, what are your detox pathways?

401

Right?

402

And we wanna look at history.

403

Do you have that history of

estrogen dominance where you

404

had dense breast tissue, you had

fibroids, you had heavy periods.

405

You had PMS.

406

Mm-hmm.

407

All of these other pieces, because if you

have that in your history, it can give

408

us clues about what risks you may have.

409

In using bioidentical hormone therapy.

410

So we wanna take each individual and,

and kinda look at all of these pieces

411

answering the thing that we can do

from what can we do from a natural

412

standpoint, it is gonna be Whole Foods.

413

Healthy fats, adequate protein, getting

in movement, managing cortisol, managing

414

stress, um, and we know that alcohol

will raise aromatase and that then

415

can increase risk of breast cancer.

416

And so if women are using, you know, more

than maybe a glass of wine a week, it's,

417

we wanna be very cautious with that.

418

Uh, and then.

419

Also if women are going to use hormones,

and I do bioidentical hormone therapy

420

myself, uh, I test, you know, we

get tests done, but then also I use

421

some products that are gonna really

help with that methylation piece.

422

So there's a couple

supplements to bring in.

423

And even in individuals that

aren't using hormones, if there

424

are symptoms of estrogen dominance,

then they can be very helpful.

425

So, right.

426

I, I, I think I kept going,

427

Speaker: no, I love that.

428

And this is what I wanna jump in and say.

429

Yeah, because.

430

I know that if I were sitting

here listening who I am,

431

I would wanna know more.

432

I would wanna get this done.

433

I wanna get it.

434

I would wanna, I would wanna

figure this out, and this is what

435

I want the listeners to know.

436

Mm-hmm.

437

Marie is here for you.

438

Yeah.

439

So connect with her because.

440

That is how you're going to have

someone who can scientifically look

441

at your body, and I've done it.

442

Look at your gene, look at is this

safe for you to use this hormone?

443

Would it be beneficial?

444

Mm-hmm.

445

And I kinda like hearing,

I think I'm almost 10 years

446

out of, you know what I mean?

447

So maybe, and I did do a little

bit of hormone therapy, so maybe

448

I did it at really the right time

and that was all that I needed.

449

Mm-hmm.

450

Mm-hmm.

451

But that's what, I don't want this

because we're throwing out a lot of tests.

452

And things, what I want you to know is

Marie can lead you and she's led me to

453

which test works and, and she can learn

about it and then you so beautifully

454

will share what supplements work.

455

You give us, you know, links to

a great place to get them where

456

we maybe save a little bit of

money on a high quality product.

457

So this doesn't have to sound

overwhelming or scary, right?

458

It is for you to just

investigate, do it for yourself.

459

Because in order for you to be there

for all the other people in your

460

world, you gotta take care of yourself.

461

Mm-hmm.

462

And Marie, I think what's so interesting

is I did all of this except there were.

463

Two pieces in my journey that I

was missing and one was, thank you

464

for talking about wine, because

I had my breast surgeon on who

465

has a private breast center.

466

Mm-hmm.

467

She said, wine, alcohol

causes breast cancer.

468

Mm-hmm.

469

And she actually said, Marie, that the

surgeon general before the one we have

470

now, wanted to put that on every alcohol.

471

Mm-hmm.

472

Bottle so that women who just like

cigarettes say, this causes lung cancer,

473

and for some reason it didn't happen.

474

That's a big deal.

475

And do you know?

476

Mm-hmm.

477

I grew up in the era of.

478

I'd be stressed out all day, you know,

working with the kids and then I'd

479

take my glass of wine to calm down.

480

That was the wor.

481

And I, like almost every night

would have a glass of wine.

482

I wasn't a drunk, but that wasn't

healthy and I didn't feel good.

483

Yeah, I didn't feel good.

484

But every night I'd do it again

because I was like, oh, I'm, you

485

feel good for maybe 20, 30 minutes.

486

Yes.

487

So the piece, so I was, and I think I was

maybe white knuckling it a little bit.

488

Well, I better fast this long.

489

I gotta work out this hard.

490

Yes.

491

And what I learned.

492

I made it through chemo

beautifully because I chilled out.

493

Yeah.

494

I ate well.

495

I went on walks, I lifted at home.

496

I didn't kill myself.

497

Mm-hmm.

498

And I was so, I became so fit.

499

So that's like a lesson

that we can all hold onto.

500

So I just had to jump in and

say Maur bottle that she's

501

Speaker 2: helped me.

502

Yeah, no, and that's so true.

503

And it, it is hard because I feel that

a lot of our social events are based

504

around alcohol and not all, but many are.

505

Yes.

506

And I feel that it has

become this in, um, society.

507

So, and it is something that I, I also.

508

Was doing and, and actually the

Lord has said, Hey, you know what?

509

This is not what I have

for you and mm-hmm.

510

And I recognize that.

511

I wasn't getting drunk and what have

you, but just, just being reliant on it.

512

Oh man.

513

Yeah.

514

This has been a stressful day.

515

I, I wanna have a glass

of wine when I get home.

516

Yeah.

517

Or choosing the restaurant I wanna

go to because this is, you know.

518

Yeah.

519

And it, and I don't wanna

have anything control me.

520

And I felt that it was controlling me.

521

And so just praying to say,

Lord, take away those desires.

522

Yes.

523

Uh, and fill those with

desires for things of you.

524

And if you want me to step away

from this, I know it can be.

525

Uh, not in my own strength.

526

And that's, yeah, it was a prayer

for a long time for me, but I do feel

527

confident that's what he wanted for me.

528

And, and when you mentioned earlier

about the whole why, my, why kids

529

and my grandkids, I wanna chase them.

530

I wanna run with them.

531

I wanna, yeah.

532

You know, go skiing with them in the,

in the winter and I want to slide and,

533

and whatever, but it's, I want women

to know that their bodies can heal.

534

That is my biggest thing.

535

Yeah.

536

And I want them to know that.

537

They were created for purpose and, and it

isn't to be sick and, and to just settle.

538

Yes.

539

You, and, and it isn't about

medications and supplements.

540

Sure.

541

They're gonna play a little bit of a

role, but it's about these foundational

542

pillars that we can put in place and just

little steps here and there and there

543

that we can start that healing process.

544

Yeah.

545

Um, and so that's my why.

546

I want women to know that they

can feel good, that they can heal.

547

And with all of that knowledge

out there, I mean, it's just like,

548

oh my gosh, everywhere you turn,

it's this, this, this, this, this.

549

Mm-hmm.

550

Like, there's a lot of confusion,

but when we pause and we listen

551

to what the body's telling us

552

Speaker: mm-hmm.

553

Speaker 2: What's our gut like?

554

What's our brain like?

555

Yes.

556

What's our, you know, all

of these pieces, then we can

557

start learning what's going on.

558

And that's what functional

medicine is all about, is looking

559

at the root rather than Okay.

560

Take this, take that.

561

Take this.

562

Yes.

563

So at any rate.

564

That's, I love that.

565

And

566

Speaker: we're all unique, we're all

unique individuals, so every one of us

567

is going to need something different.

568

Mm-hmm.

569

Not like, you know, here you go,

let me give you the same dose.

570

I give this, you know, 400

pound man, it's like, what?

571

Like my husband and I go, he's

like almost twice my size.

572

Mm-hmm.

573

I mean, he used to be, now it's probably,

I'm getting a little closer, but No.

574

You know, and then we'll get like

a a, a dosage that's the same.

575

Of Advil or whatever.

576

They tell us to take the same amount.

577

I'm like, okay, that's right.

578

That's just bananas.

579

So I, I love, that's why I love working

with you because it is so individual

580

and you're really looking at me and,

and I think, you know, for those of us

581

out there, it, that is where it starts.

582

Listen to your body.

583

Mm-hmm.

584

Listen to yourself,

because you're gonna learn.

585

You can be a little

detective and learn a lot.

586

Mm-hmm.

587

Even without the test.

588

For sure.

589

Yep, for

590

Speaker 2: sure.

591

That is the number one place to start

is getting a really good history,

592

understanding what were your periods

like, even if you are postmenopausal,

593

what were they like before?

594

Speaker: Right?

595

Did

596

Speaker 2: women have miscarriages?

597

That gives us a clue where?

598

Where does your mammogram show

dense fiber glandular tissue?

599

That gives us a clue.

600

I mean, all of these pieces give us

clues, and then looking at traditional

601

labs that your practitioner may order.

602

That isn't necessarily where optimal is.

603

For instance, we talked a little bit

about metabolic health before We wanna

604

see a fasting blood sugar under 84.

605

Speaker: Yeah.

606

Speaker 2: We, you know, I see so

many times where blood sugars are like

607

ninety nine, a hundred and ten and

it's like, well, okay, we'll check

608

it again in six months or a year.

609

And it's like, we don't wanna wait.

610

Again, we know that 88% of

chronic illnesses from metabolic

611

health, we wanna nip that in

the butt and get after it soon.

612

So, um, knowing what those

normal parameters versus what is

613

optimal can be really helpful.

614

So, yep.

615

Speaker: Okay.

616

Now we're almost running outta time.

617

Yeah.

618

But you have to ask one more little

thing, because you mentioned that

619

you use hormone replacement therapy.

620

Mm-hmm.

621

Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.

622

Speaker: So.

623

When is it appropriate?

624

And I know it, it is like, uh,

dependent on the individual.

625

Mm-hmm.

626

But when would that be a a, an appropriate

627

Speaker 2: mm-hmm.

628

Speaker: For someone to get on

bioidenticals or, or mm-hmm.

629

Or what have you.

630

Speaker 2: I think looking, uh, I think

early on, if we're gonna use hormones

631

again, we're gonna have much more

benefit if we start them within 10 years.

632

Yeah.

633

If women are.

634

Having significant, and a lot of

times when I was working in the

635

clinic practice, it would be like

night sweats and hot flashes.

636

That would be the driver of people

using hormones, and I think that

637

it certainly is helpful when I

have women go through the program.

638

When we start working together,

we can put together pieces.

639

And I already alluded to the,

the nutritional aspects mm-hmm.

640

And the, um, alcohol being one.

641

Right?

642

Yep.

643

Uh, which is, can, can be hard for people,

but then also not pushing our bodies.

644

And like you said, you know, used to go

to the gym and, and I was working out

645

so much and I wasn't seeing benefit.

646

I had night sweats.

647

Hot flashes when I was still

menstruating because I was

648

just pushing myself too much.

649

Yeah.

650

And that just makes it worse, so, so if

you're having night sweats, hot flashes,

651

sometimes people have a lot of brain fog.

652

Um,

653

I think it's then time to look at.

654

Benefits versus risks, right?

655

We wanna make sure that the benefits

outweigh the potential risks.

656

And what are those risks?

657

That's what I ask, right?

658

Most of the time, we can get night

sweats and hot flashes to resolve.

659

With natural methods.

660

And so again, stress.

661

Um, sometimes I'll use some

black koosh, sometimes rhubarb,

662

so estro vera is rhubarb.

663

That can be helpful.

664

Uh, but most of it is gonna be

lifestyle and nutritional pieces that

665

can, that can really shut down the,

um, night sweats and hot flashes.

666

So,

667

Speaker: well, and I have to say Marie.

668

Mm-hmm.

669

When.

670

So if I occasionally, like once a

month might have a glass of wine.

671

Mm-hmm.

672

I get it.

673

I start having hot mm-hmm.

674

Like hot flashes.

675

Yeah.

676

I don't ever have them unless, and

that's probably because of that estrogen.

677

So, so you're saying like, do everything

naturally that you can Yeah, I think,

678

I think that's what you're saying.

679

Speaker 2: Well I think, I think

that's, that just makes sense, right?

680

Yep.

681

To prevent disease.

682

Um, no.

683

It may be too hard for people.

684

And so then we wanna look at if people's

metabolic health, if, if their blood

685

sugars are elevated, their insulin levels

are elevated and they're using alcohol,

686

I don't think people should use hormones.

687

I don't, I don't believe they should.

688

And I, I know Naasha Winter, she wrote

the book, metabolic Approach to Cancer.

689

Yeah.

690

She would say absolutely not.

691

Um, and so that's, if we're doing the

right things, then I think that estrogen

692

replacement therapy has a place and is.

693

Definitely beneficial.

694

Mm-hmm.

695

Uh, so, and it is gonna be

helpful for bone density.

696

It is gonna be helpful for

muscle, it is gonna be helpful

697

for cardiovascular health.

698

So there is a lot of benefits, um,

to using it in the right individuals.

699

If people have strong family

history of breast cancer.

700

If we look at genetics and there's

some risks, we can mitigate those

701

risks with lifestyle in, in a

couple supplements to make it.

702

Yep.

703

Safer.

704

And so it doesn't shut

the door on it at all.

705

Um, E three is a very weak estrogen.

706

It, it's estriol.

707

And so using a little bit of E three,

um, vaginally oftentimes is acceptable.

708

And of course, it, we, I always want

you to talk with your practitioner about

709

things, um, but for vaginal health.

710

And so that would be something that,

uh, would be certainly an option.

711

For

712

Speaker: vaginal health.

713

Well, I'm gonna even like throw that in.

714

Even me, who's on the estrogen

blocker, my oncologist mm-hmm.

715

Said that.

716

That's right.

717

Speaker 2: Yeah.

718

Mm-hmm.

719

And prescribes it.

720

Yeah, sure.

721

Yeah.

722

Mm-hmm.

723

Mm-hmm.

724

Yeah.

725

So, and it's gonna depend

on, some practitioners are.

726

Not aware of the functional medicine,

integrative medicine, you know,

727

and some of those types of things.

728

And, and there are others that are, that

are practicing traditional medicine.

729

So it is helpful to have one

that has some knowledge and

730

is trained and it's not that.

731

I, I don't like those things that, you

know, they come out what your doctor

732

isn't telling you and your doctor's bad.

733

It's not that.

734

Yeah, no, it's that they're

not, they're not knowledgeable.

735

They don't, and they're knowledgeable,

but they just aren't aware of the

736

functional medicine pieces and what

we look at and how we want to address

737

things early and prevent disease

rather than waiting for it to occur.

738

So.

739

Yeah.

740

Speaker: You know, and I just have

to add before we go, I think that's,

741

so that's been so important to me.

742

And I feel like God has always led

me to physicians who are open to it.

743

Mm-hmm.

744

So that I can work with you Marie.

745

Mm-hmm.

746

And my oncologist.

747

Now my oncologist is not an a functional

assessment doctor, and I never would've

748

thought I would've gone to the U of M.

749

Mm-hmm.

750

But when I went there, she, and it's Dr.

751

Blaze, if anyone wants to know.

752

Yeah.

753

When I went to her, she looked at me.

754

Mm-hmm.

755

And she said, no, you don't need a port.

756

You know, there were

different things and Sure.

757

Some of the oncologists that I talked to

said, oh, don't cold cap for your hair.

758

It won't really work.

759

She said, cold cap for sure.

760

Mm-hmm.

761

And she said, make sure you

use ice on your hands and feet.

762

Mm-hmm.

763

So I don't have any neuropathy.

764

Do you know?

765

How rare it is for patients to

hear that from their physician.

766

Mm-hmm.

767

And so I would just like

to get that word out.

768

Like it's not, I'm on

this team or that team.

769

We're working together here.

770

Right.

771

And I feel like Right.

772

I have been blessed with those physicians

and I would really like to share that.

773

Mm-hmm.

774

With more of them share my

story, which we're hoping to do,

775

which I'm, I'm moving forward.

776

I think you should.

777

Yeah, totally.

778

Speaker 2: Women can learn so much.

779

And it is, you wanna be an

advocate for them, right?

780

Yes.

781

You've gone through it.

782

Yes.

783

So, um, yeah.

784

Speaker: Yeah.

785

I'd love you to hear that.

786

And helping those doctors

too understand Right, right.

787

How they did things right for

me and how they can do that too.

788

So.

789

Mm-hmm.

790

For all my dear friend, I've

taken up so much of your time.

791

I feel like this was so good.

792

Yeah.

793

And like there was so much information.

794

And listeners, I promise I'm gonna do

an overview on my saddle up segment

795

and I'm gonna talk about metabolic.

796

Health.

797

Mm-hmm.

798

And just go to Marie.

799

If you're ready to delve in and

you're ready to take care of you,

800

it's like the great first step.

801

So yeah.

802

Thank you so much for

being, yeah, thank you.

803

Love you.