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Health & Fitness

Women Aging Powerfully

Leah Vachani

Curious about unlocking the secrets to thriving through menopause? Join Leah Vachani, Certified Menopause Specialist & Nutrition Coach as each episode features dynamic discussions with top thought leaders in women's health, diving into crucial topics often overlooked by many health providers—nutrition, fitness, hormones, stress management, sleep and more. We simplify complex science into practical steps for your daily life, empowering you to tackle menopausal symptoms, conquer weight challenges, and boost your overall health. This isn't just about aging gracefully; it’s about aging powerfully!

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  • S1 · E65
    Yesterday · 31 min

    How to Get a CGM (without Diabetes) #065

    Most women assume a continuous glucose monitor is a diabetes device — that you need a diagnosis, or a doctor willing to write something. That stopped being true in 2024. The practical episode — costs, HSA/FSA, where it goes, whether it hurts, how long to wear it, and who should skip it. Chapters below if you want a specific answer. Read the full blog post and show notes — current pricing and every source in one place. Ask Leah anything — record a question and I'll answer it on air in a future Q&A episode. PART 5 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. Listen in any order, though they build. Find the full series here. CURRENT AS OF OCTOBER 2026: Over the counter, no prescription, no alarms, HSA/FSA eligible: Dexcom Stelo (15-day, ~$89/month, free Dexcom Clarity dashboard you can share with a practitioner) and Abbott Lingo (14-day, ~$89 for two, no dashboard). Subscribe, take four weeks, cancel. Check your phone against the compatibility page first — sensors are final sale. Overpatch: Skin Grips, https://a.co/d/0hQx2A0j (affiliate). Prescription route, the one with alarms: Dexcom G7, FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus. Chapters: 00:30 Today's the practical one 01:13 What a CGM actually is 03:01 Do you need a prescription? 04:28 Which one should you buy? 06:28 Who can see your data? 07:38 Will your phone run it? 08:47 A word from Fullscript 10:30 What does it cost? 12:18 Where it goes, does it hurt? 14:06 Placement and your warranty 15:22 Don't throw away the box 16:07 Keeping it from falling off 18:20 What happens on day one? 19:27 Change nothing in week one 20:39 How long do you wear it? 23:30 Who should skip this? 25:48 What to do first 28:03 Coming in part six 29:10 Ask Leah anything Resources: The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the metabolic tests worth asking for, and a printable list to take to your appointment. Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data. On your own, in a small group, or one-on-one with me. The Inner Circle — my monthly membership for women who want ongoing support. Free Community — come and join us, no cost. Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% community discount. AG1 — the greens powder I use daily. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and trust. Every source is named and linked on the blog post — FDA clearance records, the manufacturers' own compatibility and replacement pages, and Kennedy's Hack Your Blood Sugar. A quick note from me: I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — and this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. The information here is meant to inform and empower you, not replace a conversation with your healthcare provider. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

  • S1 · E64
    September 23 · 44 min

    What a CGM Actually Is, and What It Shows You #064

    PART 4 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. You can listen in any order, though they do build. Find the full series here. For three episodes I've been ending on the same unsatisfying note: none of this tells you what's happening in your body specifically. This episode is about the thing that can. A continuous glucose monitor doesn't measure glucose. It measures yours. Researchers at King's College London fed around a thousand people — including a lot of identical twins — identical meals. The responses varied enormously. And when they worked out what drove the differences, less than a third of the variation came from the food itself. The rest was the person eating it. Read the full blog post and complete show notes — every study linked in one place. In this episode: What the device physically is, and why it's far less invasive than most women imagine Interstitial fluid, lag, and why the line doesn't move the moment you eat Two days of data painted out loud — rolling countryside versus a mountain range Why the afternoon crash and the sudden craving are a sequence, not a character flaw The four things worth watching in your own data Why a number on its own tells you nothing, and what to write down beside it Why how fast you recover matters more than how high you spike How much of your glucose response is genetic — and how much isn't Chapters: 00:00 The question I keep leaving you with 02:26 What a CGM actually is 03:50 What it measures, and why it lags behind 04:54 Two days of data, painted out loud 06:28 The spike, then the crash, then the craving 07:50 The four things worth watching 11:01 Why a number on its own tells you nothing 13:12 The one that matters most, and it is not the peak 14:52 Two people, one muffin, different results 16:07 How much of this is genetic 18:19 What to do this week Resources: The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the tests worth asking for, including the fasting insulin nobody offers you. Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data. The Inner Circle — my monthly membership. Free Community — come and join us, no cost. Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% discount. AG1 — the greens powder I use daily. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and trust. Sources: every study is linked in full on the blog post. Key papers include Berry et al. 2020 in Nature Medicine (the PREDICT study) and Hall et al. 2018 on glucotypes. Device mechanics from Karen Kennedy's Hack Your Blood Sugar. I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

  • S1 · E63
    September 15 · 25 min

    Your Fasting Glucose & A1c Are Creeping Up. Nobody’s Worried?!? #063

    PART 3 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. You can listen in any order, though they do build. Find the full series here. Three years ago Diane's A1c was 5.4. Then 5.5. Then 5.6. Every year she was told it was normal. This year she got a phone call, the word prediabetic, and some advice about losing weight. And she was stunned — because from where she was sitting, nothing had happened. Nothing had. It was just the year she crossed a line somebody drew. Here's what almost nobody tells you: for women sitting exactly where Diane was, somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 4 went on to develop diabetes within five years — starting from a result they were told was normal. Read the full blog post and complete show notes — every study linked in one place. In this episode: What an A1c actually measures, and why it's an average rather than a snapshot What the research says about a "normal" A1c of 5.6 Why there's no cliff at 5.7, and how that line was arrived at Why the system detects thresholds but not trajectories — and why the warning arrives when it's worth the least What's actually happening underneath a rising A1c Why two women with the identical A1c can be in completely different situations Insulin is a hormone, and it's missing from the midlife hormone conversation Two things that can make your A1c read falsely high, both relevant in perimenopause The ten-minute exercise that does what the system cannot Chapters: 00:00 Diane's lab results, three years running 02:26 What your A1c actually measures 04:41 What the research says about a “normal” 5.6 06:18 Why there is no cliff at 5.7 09:11 The system detects thresholds, not trajectories 13:52 What was actually happening underneath 17:11 Insulin is a hormone. Nobody is discussing it. 19:07 What can make your A1c read falsely high 21:24 What to do this week 23:28 What you still cannot see Resources: The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the tests worth asking for, including the fasting insulin nobody offers you. Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data. The Inner Circle — my monthly membership. Free Community — come and join us, no cost. Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% discount. AG1 — the greens powder I use daily. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and trust. Sources: every study is linked in full on the blog post. Key papers include Zhang et al. in Diabetes Care, DeFronzo 2009, De Paoli 2021, and the ADA Standards of Care. I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

  • S1 · E62
    August 21 · 27 min

    I Haven't Changed Anything. So Why Am I Gaining Weight? #062

    PART 2 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. You can listen in any order, though they do build. Find the full series here. Your eating hasn't changed. The weight has, mostly around the middle, and it won't come off the way it used to. The weight is a symptom, and a late one. What changed years earlier was invisible: your body quietly got worse at handling sugar. Insulin climbed to compensate — and insulin is a storage hormone, so you started spending more of your life in storage mode without eating a single thing differently. If you get an afternoon energy crash, sugar cravings, 2am waking, brain fog after meals, or genuine irritability when a meal runs late — those aren't separate complaints and they aren't aging. They're all blood sugar. Read the full blog post and complete show notes — every study linked in one place. In this episode: Why the weight shows up last rather than first The four forces that all attack the same system — estrogen, sleep, stress and muscle The fifth one, which came from outside and has nothing to do with your age Why neither your scale nor a standard blood panel could show you any of it The one free measurement worth adding this week Chapters: 00:00 What we get wrong about women and weight 01:03 The symptoms nobody told you were blood sugar 02:54 Why the weight is a late symptom, not a first one 04:25 The pantry analogy: what insulin actually does 05:22 What falling estrogen does to your blood sugar 08:50 What four bad nights do to insulin sensitivity 09:17 The blood sugar spike that has nothing to do with food 13:37 Why muscle is where your sugar goes 15:35 How ultra-processed food gets past your appetite 17:28 Why your scale and your labs both missed it 20:38 The one measurement worth adding this week 24:37 What you still cannot see, and what changed Resources: The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the tests worth asking for, including the fasting insulin nobody offers you. Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data. The Inner Circle — my monthly membership. Free Community — come and join us, no cost. Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% discount. AG1 — the greens powder I use daily. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and trust. Sources: every study cited is linked in full on the blog post. Key papers: DeFronzo & Tripathy 2009 on muscle and glucose disposal, Broussard et al. 2012 on sleep and insulin, De Paoli et al. 2021 on estrogen and insulin resistance, Greendale et al. 2019 on body composition in menopause, Lovejoy et al. 2008 on visceral fat, and Hall et al. 2019 on ultra-processed food. I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

  • S1 · E61
    August 14 · 28 min

    The 3 Blood Sugar Numbers Your Doctor Probably Did Not Check #061

    You have been told your labs are normal. You are still exhausted, still foggy, still carrying weight that will not move. This episode is about the gap between those two things. Normal on a lab report means your number falls inside the range of the population that got tested. It does not mean optimal, and it does not mean well. I walk through three numbers that tell a more honest story — including one you can calculate tonight from bloodwork you already have. Read the full blog post and complete show notes — every study linked in one place, plus the printable version. PART 1 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. An eight-part series on blood sugar, continuous glucose monitors, and getting back in the driver's seat of your own health. You can listen in any order, though they do build. Find the full series here. In this episode: Where reference ranges actually come from Fasting glucose: what the standard range says, and where risk really begins Fasting insulin: the test almost nobody orders The triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, how to calculate it, and the limitation you need to know about What these three numbers can tell you, and what they genuinely cannot Chapters: 00:00 Why "Normal" Lab Results Can Be Misleading 03:20 What "Normal" Actually Means on a Lab Report 04:30 Only 12.2% of Americans Are Metabolically Healthy 06:23 Number One: Your Fasting Glucose 08:19 The Risk Hiding in High-Normal Glucose 13:08 Number Two: The Test Almost Nobody Orders 18:26 Number Three: The Ratio You Can Work Out Tonight 22:29 Why That Ratio Doesn't Work for Everyone 23:12 What to Do This Week 25:44 What These Numbers Can't Tell You Resources: The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the metabolic tests worth asking for, what optimal looks like, and a printable list to take to your appointment. Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data. On your own, in a small group, or one-on-one with me. Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% community discount. Sources & research: every study cited in this episode is linked in full on the blog post — read it here. Key papers: Araujo 2018 on metabolic health prevalence, Nichols 2008 on fasting glucose risk, McLaughlin 2003 on the triglyceride-HDL ratio, and Sumner 2005 on why that ratio does not apply to African American adults. A quick note from me: I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — and this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. The information here is meant to inform and empower you, not replace a conversation with your healthcare provider. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

  • S1 · E60
    August 6 · 53 min

    How to Kick Sugar Addiction in Midlife with Jenn Edden #060

    You didn't used to be like this. Twenty years ago there was cake in the office kitchen, you had a slice, and you forgot about it by three. Something changed. It wasn't your character. Sugar addiction expert Jenn Edden joins me to explain what actually shifts in a midlife body — why cravings get louder after 40, the research linking night sweats to insulin rather than estrogen alone, and whether moderating sugar is realistic or a trap. We don't agree on everything, which I think makes it a better listen. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ IN THIS EPISODE ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ • Why breakfast decides what happens at 9pm • What a CGM actually shows when you skip it • The night sweats and insulin connection nobody mentions • Can you moderate sugar after 40, or do you have to quit? • Why 1 in 5 women aged 50–64 meet the research criteria for food addiction • Ultra-processed food, cravings, and the cake Jenn ate out of her own garbage • The self-talk the hardest cases all share • HRT, GLP-1s, and why the foundation comes first • The five-minute morning habit that costs nothing Content note: Jenn refers briefly to her own history of abuse and of disordered eating. It is not graphic, but please take care of yourself while listening. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CHAPTERS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00 Show open 00:31 Why “I'm addicted to sugar” is the wrong story 02:08 Meet Jenn Edden 02:13 The year that tested everything 03:46 “You fall to the level of your systems” 04:41 The 90-minute morning routine that held 06:16 Inside the Sugar Freedom Method 06:55 Why breakfast is the first domino 08:38 What a CGM actually shows 09:57 When the craving is emotional 11:06 Where the passion comes from 12:43 A word from AG1 14:40 From a pint of ice cream to one cookie 15:15 There is no one pill 17:04 The cake in the garbage 17:50 Mike Collins, and where we disagree 19:20 Gut health and the microbiome 20:18 Why some people spiral up and others down 21:09 Forgiveness, and building from the wreckage 24:25 Is it easier to stay sick? 26:43 Why midlife women are the no-BS clients 28:47 Clean eating and the fishbowl 30:57 The line outside your liver 32:55 A word from Fullscript 34:39 The one thing the hardest cases share 36:25 Mirroring, rewiring, catching the thought 38:39 The cup of tea (and Leah's beads) 40:16 HRT, GLP-1s, and doing the foundation first 44:14 Two biohacks: the vibration plate and the tub 48:03 The five-minute rule 50:02 Woman Unleashed, free 51:00 Where to find Jenn 51:40 Clarity, and one last thing ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ CONNECT WITH JENN EDDEN ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Free copy of Jenn's book, Woman Unleashed Jenn Edden Coaching Jenn on Instagram Jenn on YouTube ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ RESOURCES ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Clarity — 5 weeks, your own real-time glucose data. Free 5-Day Energy Reboot ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ FULL SHOW NOTES, SOURCES & RESEARCH ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Every study cited in this episode, linked to the original paper: read the full show notes ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor. This is not a substitute for personalized medical care. Always check with your provider before changing your diet, supplements, or lifestyle.

  • S1 · E59
    July 9 · 56 min

    HRT and Breast Cancer: What the 2002 Study Got Wrong with Karen Martel #059

    For two decades, women were warned away from hormone replacement therapy on the strength of a single study. In this episode, certified hormone specialist Karen Martel joins Leah to separate the headline from the data — where the fear came from, what the reanalysis actually showed about estrogen versus progestin, the benefits women were rarely told about, and how to advocate for real care when your doctor isn't trained in menopause. In this episode: Where the modern fear of HRT really came from What the Women's Health Initiative found — and what the headlines left out Why estrogen and a synthetic progestin were treated as the same thing The bone, brain, skin, and metabolic benefits women rarely hear about Why so few doctors are trained in menopause — and how to find one who is Bioidentical vs. synthetic, compounding pharmacies, and a caution about pellets Whether it's ever "too late" to start Connect with Karen Martel Podcast: The Hormone Solution | Menopause, Perimenopause, & Women's Midlife Health — 500+ episodes on hormones, HRT, and midlife metabolism. New episodes Tuesdays and Saturdays. Free hormone quiz — personalized results based on your symptoms and stage of life: Take Karen's hormone quiz Cosmetic hormone creams — 10% off for listeners with code LEAH10: karenmartel.com. The line includes a progesterone cream, a low-dose estradiol, and a Biest face cream. A companion ebook walks you through deciding whether these may be a fit for you. Ships to the US and Canada only. Disclosure: The cream link above is an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, Leah may earn a commission at no additional cost to you — and you still get your 10% listener discount. She only shares products she'd point a friend toward. Resources & links: Free 5-Day Energy Reboot — starts Monday, July 13 (runs Jul 13–17; the easiest place to start) Clarity: Understand Your Metabolic Sweet Spot — the 5-week coaching program that uses your own real-time glucose data. Cohort #2 starts Monday, July 20. Doors are open now. Inner Circle membership — the twice-monthly community Women Aging Powerfully on Spotify · on YouTube Join the mailing list: leahvachani.com Practitioner-grade supplements (vitex, phytoestrogens, adrenal support) — 15% community discount via Fullscript 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E58
    June 18 · 30 min

    Why Am I Bloated All the Time? 7 Food Myths Busted #058

    If you’ve been bloated for years and nothing has worked, this episode is for you. Most midlife bloating isn’t a food sensitivity — it’s a combination of insulin spikes, cortisol, and estrogen fluctuations that don’t show up on any food panel. In this episode I bust the seven food myths I see keeping more midlife women bloated and stuck than almost anything else — including the ones being sold to you as healthy. We get into the actual mechanism (yes, including how your kidneys are part of the story) so you can finally understand what’s happening in your body, not just follow another rule. In this episode• The 2021 study that proves your metabolism doesn’t actually slow after 40• What insulin resistance really is, in plain English — with a noise-canceling headphones analogy you’ll remember forever• Why fat was never the villain you were told it was• How estrogen decline changes your response to oatmeal (it’s real)• The kidney-sodium-water mechanism behind blood sugar bloat• Why elimination diets fail — and what to look at instead• Dr. Lisa Mosconi’s “brain energy crisis” — the menopause brain story• Why willpower will never fix stress eating (it’s a cortisol problem) Full Show Notes here. 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: Dr. Ben Bikman — Why We Get Sick Dr. Robert Lustig — Fat Chance and Metabolical Dr. Christopher Palmer — Brain Energy 🎙️ Submit YOUR⁠ podcast question here⁠ or via written format⁠ here⁠. 💌⁠ Leah's Mailing List⁠ 💚⁠ FullScript Dispensary⁠ (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my⁠ special link⁠, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on⁠ Instagram⁠ for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on⁠ YouTube⁠ for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully⁠ Facebook Community⁠ ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully⁠ Podcast⁠ ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature⁠ course⁠ The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E57
    June 4 · 1 hr 17 min

    The Pelvic Floor Truth Most Women Aren't Told (Leakage, Painful Sex, Perimenopause) with Jana Danielson #057

    Most women have been told their pelvic floor problems mean they're weak. Pelvic floor and Pilates expert Jana Danielson is here to set the record straight: most women are too tight, not too weak — and the kegels we've been doing for years may have been making things worse. In this conversation, Jana breaks down the real anatomy of the pelvic floor, the symptoms that connect back to it (leakage, painful sex, bloating, constipation, even jaw tension), why breath and posture matter more than another exercise, and the three-minute daily practice that can change everything. If you've ever quietly accepted any pelvic floor symptom as "just part of aging," this is your wake-up call. Full show notes here. → Watch on YouTube: @WomenAgingPowerfully → The CGM Metabolic Makeover — my flagship program for understanding your blood sugar in real time → Join the mailing list at leahvachani.com — episode summaries, recipes, and the things I'm learning → My FullScript Dispensary — special community discount on practitioner-grade supplements Connect with Jana → Website: bloombetter.life → Instagram: @jana.danielson → Facebook: The Cooch Ball → Substack: The Jana Danielson → Free download: Healthy Pelvic Floor eBook → Join us: 21-Day Belly Bloat Challenge (June 9–30, 2026) Mentioned in This Episode → The Cooch Ball — Jana's pelvic floor fitness tool → Joylux vFit — red-light intimate wellness device referenced for vaginal tissue health 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E56
    May 29 · 43 min

    Intermittent Fasting for Women Over 40: What Actually Works in Menopause with Melanie Avalon #056

    Melanie Avalon — host of The Intermittent Fasting Podcast — joins Leah to bust the myths around intermittent fasting for women over 40. They cover the infamous rat study behind most of the fear, what recent research on postmenopausal women actually shows, what really breaks a fast (it’s probably your morning coffee ritual), the protein lever most women are missing, and two supplements that pair with fasting. Full Show Notes here. About the guest Melanie Avalon is the host of The Intermittent Fasting Podcast and The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast, author of What When Wine, founder of the supplement line AvalonX, and creator of the food sensitivity app Food Sense Guide. Connect with Melanie Website: melanieavalon.com Find Your IF Style — Melanie’s quiz: melanieavalon.com/ifquiz AvalonX supplements (code LEAH for 10% off): avalonx.us 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E55
    May 21 · 48 min

    Why You're Waking Up at 3 AM in Perimenopause (And What a Stanford Sleep Expert Says Actually Works) #055

    Waking up at 3 AM and can't fall back asleep? You're not imagining it, and you're not alone — sleep maintenance insomnia affects roughly 40 to 60% of women in perimenopause and menopause. In this episode, Stanford-trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Sarah Silverman, PsyD, breaks down what's actually happening in your body, why melatonin is probably the wrong tool, and the evidence-based approach (called CBT-I) that has the strongest research behind it. We cover the 2 AM cortisol spike, sleep apnea in fit perimenopausal women that often gets missed, chronotypes, and the single most important thing you can do for sleep — which has more to do with your wake-up time than your bedtime.ABOUT THE GUESTDr. Sarah Silverman, PsyD is a licensed clinical health psychologist and Stanford-trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She is a former Stanford Sleep Medicine Clinical Fellow, former Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, and former Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Tampa General Hospital. Her practice focuses on helping women — especially in midlife — sleep again without medication, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Find her at drsarahsleep.com.CONNECT WITH DR. SARAHWebsite: drsarahsleep.comFree Sleep Masterclass — 3 Steps to Up-Level Your Sleep Confidence Get the full show notes at: https://leahvachani.com/post/why-waking-up-3am-perimenopause-sleep-055 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E54
    May 14 · 23 min

    Should I Eat Fruit After 40? What Hibernating Bears Can Teach You About Sugar #054

    Should you stop eating fruit after 40? In this solo episode, Leah Vachani — Certified Nutritionist, Menopause Specialist, and Metabolism Coach — answers the question she hears on nearly every coaching call right now.Using what hibernating bears reveal about insulin resistance as a survival feature, what our ancestors actually did with fruit, and how declining estrogen changes the metabolic equation, Leah walks through a clear six-rule framework for eating fruit in perimenopause and menopause.Topics covered:Why "is modern fruit sweeter?" is the wrong questionThe bear story — and why insulin resistance can be a feature, not a bugWhy our ancestors ate fruit on a seasonal rhythmWhy estrogen decline changes your glucose response to fruitThe six-rule framework for eating fruit after 40How to use CGM data to write your own personal rules📖 Read the full deep-dive article: Is Fruit Healthy After 40? https://leahvachani.com/post/is-fruit-healthy-after-40-perimenopause-blood-sugar 🎧 Full show notes: https://leahvachani.com/post/is-fruit-healthy-after-40-054 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E53
    May 7 · 44 min

    Why Most Diets Fail: How Emotional Eating and Food Addiction Keep You Stuck with Tricia Nelson ep #053

    If willpower keeps letting you down around food, this conversation is going to feel like an exhale. Emotional eating expert Tricia Nelson joins Leah for a real, honest look at why most diets fail, how to tell the difference between emotional eating and food addiction, and what to actually do about it. From her PEP test to the 24 personality traits underneath every binge, Tricia hands you a completely new way to think about why you eat the way you eat — and what real healing actually looks like. In This Episode We Cover How Tricia first realized she was an emotional eater (the sister story everyone relates to) Why avoiding tempting foods isn't a real strategy in modern life Emotional eating vs. food addiction: where you might fall on the spectrum The three real drivers of overeating: emotions, stress, and habit Why nighttime eating is so common (and what's actually driving it) Tricia's PEP test — Painkiller, Escape, Punishment The 24 personality traits behind emotional eating Why people-pleasing leads straight to the I-deserve-it binge The real solution: slowing down, three-meal magic, and community Why support isn't shameful — it's the fastest way through Resources from the Episode Tricia's website and free emotional eating quiz: healyourhunger.com Tricia's TEDx talk (over 2 million views): Emotional Eating: What if Weight Loss Isn't about the Food? Tricia's book: Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now Tricia's podcast: Confessions of a Binge Eater Tricia on Instagram: @tricianelson_ Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E52
    April 29 · 41 min

    Is Keto Bad for Women in Menopause? The Truth About Keto After 40 #052

    In this solo episode, Leah unpacks one of the most confusing questions in women's metabolic health right now: is keto actually bad for women in menopause? Drawing from the work of Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Mindy Pelz, and Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, Leah breaks down what keto actually is (and isn't), why this conversation matters more in midlife than at any other stage, and the middle-path framework she uses with her clients to get the benefits without the burnout. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What keto actually is, in plain language Why insulin resistance gets worse as estrogen declines How ketones may help fuel the menopausal brain When strict keto can backfire (cortisol, thyroid, stress) Why metabolic flexibility beats metabolic rigidity A practical framework you can start using this week PROGRAMS & RESOURCES MENTIONED CGM Metabolic Makeover program FullScript dispensary (15% community discount) Subscribe to the Women Aging Powerfully newsletter 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E51
    April 23 · 37 min

    How Many Carbs Does Your Body REALLY Need? #051

    We've been told for decades to build our diets around carbohydrates. But what does the science actually say — and does the answer change for women going through perimenopause and menopause? In this solo episode, Leah Vachani unpacks the history of the low-fat movement, explains what carbohydrates do in the body and why insulin is the hormone you need to understand, and dives deep into how declining estrogen changes your carb metabolism in ways most doctors never explain. Drawing on research from Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, and Dr. Mindy Pelz, this episode offers a clear, practical framework for how to eat in a way that actually works with your hormonal reality — not against it. In This Episode The history of the diet-heart hypothesis and how Ancel Keys shaped decades of nutrition advice Why carbohydrates are not classified as an essential nutrient How glucose, insulin, and fat storage are connected How estrogen acts as an insulin sensitizer — and what happens when it declines ZOE PREDICT study: why post-menopausal women have dramatically higher blood sugar responses to the same meals Dr. Lisa Mosconi's brain imaging research on glucose metabolism and the menopausal brain Why brain fog, 2am waking, hot flashes, and cravings can all have a blood sugar component A tiered carb framework: ketogenic / low-carb / moderate-carb — with actual numbers The kindling vs. log analogy for understanding metabolic fuel switching Which lab markers to ask for — and why fasting insulin matters more than fasting glucose How CGMs make all of this personal and actionable Teaser: next week's episode — Is ketosis bad for women in perimenopause and menopause? Get the full show notes here. 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Books Why We Get Sick — Dr. Ben Bikman (2020) Fat Chance — Dr. Robert Lustig (2012) Metabolical — Dr. Robert Lustig (2021) The Obesity Code — Dr. Jason Fung (2016) The Menopause Brain — Dr. Lisa Mosconi (2024) The XX Brain — Dr. Lisa Mosconi (2020) Grain Brain — Dr. David Perlmutter (2013) Fast Like a Girl — Dr. Mindy Pelz (2022) Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E50
    April 8 · 59 min

    The Truth About Food Labels, Clean Eating, and Going Low Carb Without Feeling Deprived — with Anna Vocino #050

    After a celiac diagnosis forced her to rethink everything she ate, Anna Vocino didn't just figure out how to feed herself — she built a food company. Today she's the founder of Eat Happy Kitchen, a bestselling cookbook author, and co-host of the Fitness Confidential podcast, and she's spent years helping others find joy in eating well without sacrificing flavor.In this conversation, Anna and Leah dig into low-carb strategies, the truth behind food labels, what happens to insulin sensitivity when estrogen declines, and the emotional complexity of changing how you eat during midlife. What We Cover Anna's story: from celiac diagnosis to clean food entrepreneur Why insulin resistance increases as estrogen declines — and what to do about it Simple low-carb swaps for pasta, rice, pizza, and comfort food classics The 30-to-60-day taste bud reset and why it's worth the discomfort Meal planning strategies that hold up on real, tired weeknights How to read food labels — and what brands are legally allowed to hide Why "net carbs" can be misleading and what to focus on instead The emotional and cultural relationship women have with food during midlife Navigating wine, celebrations, and social eating without guilt Voting with your wallet and supporting clean food brands Full show notes here 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: Eat Happy Kitchen Anna's Cookbooks: Eat Happy | Eat Happy Too | Eat Happy Low Carb Italian | Eat Happy Cocktail Hour (2026) Connect with Anna on her website Anna on Instagram @annavocino Chlorella supplement mentioned by Leah | code 'LEAHV' to save 20% 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeahVachani or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List: https://leahvachani.com 💚 FullScript Dispensary: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/lvachani (My community gets a 15% discount!) Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/leahvachani/ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@WomenAgingPowerfully ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenagingpowerfully ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast: https://leahvachani.com/podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course: https://leahvachani.com/cgm-reset-register-now The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E49
    March 18 · 46 min

    Your Makeup Bag Might Be Making Menopause Worse with Melanie Petschke #049

    What's hiding in your makeup bag? Board-certified nurse practitioner and Crunchi co-founder Melanie Petschke breaks down how everyday beauty products may be worsening your perimenopause and menopause symptoms — and what you can actually do about it.In This Episode Why the U.S. cosmetics industry is significantly under-regulated — and what MoCRA did (and didn't) change The most problematic ingredient categories: fragrance, preservatives, PEGs, talc, and chemical sunscreens How endocrine disruptors (xenoestrogens) affect women in perimenopause and menopause specifically The concept of 'body burden' — and why cumulative exposure is the piece most people miss How to read labels and identify greenwashing without a chemistry degree The EWG Verified badge as the most reliable consumer shortcut currently available How to transition to cleaner products without starting from scratch or breaking the bank [00:00] Introduction [02:15] Melanie's origin story — how pregnancy sparked a mission [06:30] How U.S. cosmetics regulation works (and why that's a problem) [11:00] The most concerning ingredient categories: fragrance, preservatives, PEGs, talc, chemical sunscreens [18:30] Endocrine disruptors, xenoestrogens, and why perimenopause makes you more vulnerable [24:00] Beyond your makeup bag: toxins in food, cookware, laundry, and drinking water [29:30] Understanding body burden — why cumulative exposure matters [33:00] Can your anti-aging skincare be accelerating aging? [37:30] How to read labels and spot greenwashing — practical tips [42:00] The EWG Verified badge and how to find brands you can trust [46:30] Transitioning to cleaner products without starting from scratch [50:00] Where to find Melanie and learn more about Crunchi About Melanie PetschkeMelanie Petschke is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and the co-founder of Crunchi, a clean cosmetics brand built on some of the most rigorous safety and sustainability standards in the industry. She has spent over a decade studying the impact of environmental toxin exposure on health and is passionate about empowering women to make better-informed choices.🔥 Resources Mentioned Crunchi website (use code 'ADVOCATE15' to save 15% on your first purchase over $50 + free shipping) Melanie on Instagram: @melanpetschke Crunchi on Instagram: @crunchi_collection EWG Skin Deep Database: www.ewg.org/skindeep EWG Verified Certification: www.ewg.org/ewgverified 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • March 4 · 46 min

    Why You Can't Just Eat Less Sugar (And What Actually Works) with Mike Collins #048

    What if the thing you've been reaching for to feel better is actually making everything harder? In this episode, I sit down with Mike Collins—sugar detox expert, author of The Last Resort Sugar Detox, and someone who's been in recovery from substance use disorder for over 40 years. We explore the real science behind sugar addiction, why fructose acts as a neurotoxin in your brain, and what it takes to truly break free. Mike shares what he learned from raising two children sugar-free and how parents can help the next generation build healthier relationships with food. If you've ever felt like sugar has a grip on you, this conversation will change how you think about cravings, emotions, and what your body actually needs. What You'll Learn: Why sugar addiction is now recognized as a substance use disorder How fructose functions as a neurotoxin and impacts brain health The 90-day abstinence timeline for resetting cravings and emotional patterns Why some people trade sugar for other compulsive behaviors The connection between maternal diet and children's brain development Practical strategies for dining out and supporting loved ones through detox 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: Sugar Detox Quiz SugarFreeKids.com The Last Resort Sugar Detox book Mike's 30-Day Sugar Freedom Challenge Get the full show notes at: https://leahvachani.com/post/why-you-cant-just-eat-less-sugar-mike-collins-048 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E47
    February 25 · 17 min

    Apple Cider Vinegar for Blood Sugar: Separating Science from Hype #047

    Is apple cider vinegar worth the hype—or is it just another wellness trend? In this episode, I break down the actual research on ACV and blood sugar control, what leading metabolic health experts like Dr. Ben Bikman say about it, and why this matters even more for women over 40 dealing with the metabolic shifts of perimenopause and menopause. I’ll cover the mechanisms behind how ACV works, the viral weight loss study that got retracted, myths about “the mother,” and exactly how to use it correctly—including the dilution ratio most people get wrong. In This Episode: • Why blood sugar control matters more after 40 • What the 2025 meta-analysis found about ACV and fasting glucose • Dr. Ben Bikman’s take on ACV for metabolic health • How ACV works: alpha-amylase, glucose uptake, and AMPK • The retracted weight loss study and “the mother” myth • Correct dosage, dilution, timing, and teeth protection • Medication interactions and safety considerations Mentioned in This Episode: • Full Blog Post + Episode: Apple Cider Vinegar for Blood Sugar • My Recommended Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, organic, with the mother): Get it on Amazon • 2025 Meta-Analysis on ACV and Blood Sugar: PubMed • Dr. Ben Bikman on ACV: HLTH Code Article • Dr. Ben Bikman’s book: Why We Get Sick • BMJ Retraction Notice (2024 Weight Loss Study): Read More Get the full show notes at: https://leahvachani.com/post/apple-cider-vinegar-for-blood-sugar-047 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

  • S1 · E46
    February 11 · 20 min

    What Your Fasting Blood Sugar Isn’t Telling You (And the Number Your Doctor Probably Isn’t Testing) #046

    You got your blood work done. Your doctor said your numbers are “normal.” So why do you still feel exhausted, bloated, and like your body just isn’t cooperating? In this episode, Leah breaks down why fasting blood glucose — the number most doctors rely on — is the LAST thing to go wrong in the insulin resistance progression, and the one test that could reveal what’s really happening years before your standard labs catch it. She also explains why menopause makes metabolic health even more critical, and what you can do about it starting today. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why fasting blood glucose is like a smoke alarm that goes off after the house is already on fire What fasting insulin reveals that fasting glucose can’t HOMA-IR: the simple calculation that tells you more about your metabolic health than most standard lab panels Why “normal” lab ranges are based on a population that’s 88% metabolically unhealthy How declining estrogen in perimenopause directly increases insulin resistance The brain-insulin connection and why “Type 3 Diabetes” should be on your radar Exactly what labs to ask for at your next appointment How continuous glucose monitoring can give you personalized metabolic insights Chapters 00:00 Understanding Metabolic Health 01:47 The Importance of Fasting Insulin 09:23 Rethinking Normal Ranges in Lab Results 12:11 Hormonal Changes and Their Impact on Metabolism 14:18 Taking Action: Sarah's Journey to Health 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

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