Turning Down the Heat: How Inflammation Amplifies Menopause Symptoms (and how to calm the fire)

“You are not broken. Your body is simply responding to changing signals. When you lower inflammatory noise through daily choices—food, sleep, movement, and calming habits—you change your experience.” - Kylie Buckner, RN

💡 Show Summary

Welcome back to the Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast with Kylie Buckner, RN, your guide to navigating perimenopause and beyond with knowledge, compassion, and practical tools.

In this episode, Kylie breaks down the real science of why menopause can feel so intense — and how inflammation turns up the “volume” on symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, and mood swings. You’ll learn what’s happening inside your body, why the hormone dance in midlife is a little like a “second puberty,” and how lifestyle levers can help you reclaim balance.

You’ll learn:

• 🌸 How declining estrogen and progesterone send “SOS” signals to your brain — and why FSH ramps up to keep reproduction alive as long as possible.
• 🧠 The critical role of estrogen in protecting heart health, bones, thyroid balance, and metabolism — and what happens when that protection fades.
• 🔥 What hs‑CRP is, and why tracking this simple blood test can help you measure and manage inflammation in real time.
• 🥦 Five science‑backed lifestyle levers that lower inflammation and ease menopause symptoms.
• 🌙 A gentle guide to improving sleep, calming cortisol, and breaking the hot flash–insomnia loop.
• 📈 How to use Kylie’s free 2‑Week Anti‑Inflammatory Tracker PDF to spot patterns, measure progress, and see the payoff of small daily changes.

📝 Episode Notes

Mentioned in this episode:

• Free Download: [5 Anti‑Inflammatory Levers + 2‑Week Tracker PDF] 
• hs‑CRP (High‑Sensitivity C‑Reactive Protein) — a biomarker for chronic inflammation Ask your provider about adding this lab to your next check‑up.
• Email Kylie: [e-mail] — share your micro‑wins, insights, or questions!
• Connect: Follow the show and share this episode with a friend navigating perimenopause or menopause.

🧭 Key Takeaways

• Menopause is natural — symptoms are modifiable.
• Estrogen loss increases inflammation, affecting your heart, bones, and thyroid.
• hs‑CRP is a powerful, underused biomarker for tracking inflammation.
• Start with one lifestyle lever, not all five — progress over perfection.
• Sleep, plant‑based foods, daily movement, and stress recovery change the signal your body hears.