December 17, 2024 • 26 mins
Unlock the secrets of navigating menopause with confidence and clarity!
Join Heather Carey, as she unveils the impactful lessons learned in 2024, including the launch of her signature course, "Nourish, Your Menopause Journey." Heather celebrates the progress in understanding menopause while acknowledging the knowledge gaps within the medical community.
In this episode Heather shines a light on the unsettling rise of "menowashing," where misleading marketing preys on menopause fears. By exposing these tactics, we aim to arm you with the knowledge to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
As we go into the new year, let's say goodbye to the myths and misinformation that cloud your menopause journey. From the false promises from celebrities, doctors and talk of hormone-balancing supplements to the pitfalls of detox teas, Heather dissects the marketing gimmicks that target menopausal women. As misleading diet trends like keto and intermittent fasting resurface, she highlights their limitations and promote healthier alternatives.
With 2025 on the horizon, let's foster a commitment to balanced nutrition, enjoyable exercise, and professional guidance for hormone therapy. Embrace menopause as a powerful transition, and together, we'll leave behind ineffective solutions in favor of real, proven care.
Thank you for being part of this journey, and here's to a joyful and informed holiday season! Can't wait to see you in the New Year!
I would love to hear from you! What did you think of the episode? Share it with me :)
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Hang out with Heather on IG @greenpalettekitchen or on FB HERE.
Let's Talk!
Whether you are looking for 1-1 nutrition coaching or kitchen coaching let's have a chat. Click HERE to reach out to Heather.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everybody, welcome back to Real Food Stories.
I am your host, heather Carey,and today we are winding down
2024, which I honestly cannotbelieve.
Where has the time gone?
Seriously, I think this is justa part of getting older, but
(00:20):
time seems to be going atlightning speed these days and
sometimes I wish it would justslow down a bit, and especially
when we are talking aboutmenopause and nutrition and
diets, things seem to be goingat a very, very fast pace.
So we're going to talk aboutthat a little bit today.
(00:43):
So we're going to talk aboutthat a little bit today.
And nonetheless, we are inDecember and I always love a
good recap of the year to beable to look back on what I
accomplished and what I want tocarry into the next year.
One thing I got off the groundthis year was my signature
(01:04):
course called Nourish, yourMenopause Journey, which was
truly a labor of love for me anda long time coming.
I learned so much and had anamazing community of women join
me in September and I amplanning on opening up Nourish
(01:24):
again in February.
So stay tuned for that if youare interested in getting real,
credible information and supportand community around your
menopause journey, because ifyou're on a journey with your
own menopause transition andstrive to feel your best during
(01:45):
this time of your life, youdefinitely don't want to miss
out on this.
Nourish is packed with all ofthe best evidence-based
nutrition, food and other hotand timely menopause topics
hormones, weight loss all of itcentered around being your
healthiest, and by the end ofNourish, you will feel so much
(02:07):
more in control of your wholemenopause journey.
You will learn more aboutNourish in the new year, so stay
tuned for that.
Again, I'm planning onlaunching that in February.
Okay, last week I did a podcaston some of the best things that
(02:28):
happened in the menopause spacethis past year, everything from
the realization that mostdoctors are pretty, I'm going to
say, clueless when it comes tomenopause but it's getting
better to some of the best foodsfor menopause and health and
which self-care practices werereal winners, all the way to new
(02:51):
realizations about diets andweight loss.
Take a listen if you haven'talready.
That's just the last week'sepisode, because this week I
want to focus on those thingsthat have made it into the
menopause space that seriouslyneed to take a hike.
Now let me start with thisagain, because I said this last
(03:14):
week, and I will continue to saythis Menopause is a journey.
It's not a sprint, it's noteven a marathon.
It's like navigating a windingroad with twists, turns and, yes
, the occasional pothole.
But here's the good part We'vegot the map now.
If you have been with me on myown journey for the past couple
(03:37):
of years on this podcast, youmight know that I lean into
evidence.
I will never promote anybody oranything that talks about
healthy eating or health ingeneral without making sure that
there is some science behind it.
I am not here to sell you a faddiet or make money on pills and
(03:58):
potions that have zero proofbehind them and most of them
have zero proof behind them andI hope that by listening to me,
you have become a little smarterand savvier when it comes to
menopause, your health andmaking decisions that work the
best for you.
Now.
That is worth celebrating thisyear.
So today I want to take anotherlook back at 2024, like I said,
(04:23):
the lessons we've learned, themyths we've busted and the ways
we've grown as a community.
This episode isn't just aboutcalling out the bad.
It's about shining a light onhow much progress we've made
together.
So, whether you're sipping yourmorning coffee, enjoying a tea
break or unwinding with yourfavorite mocktail.
(04:44):
Settle in, because this one'sfor you.
All right, let's dive in.
Okay, so what keeps popping upagain and again in the past year
?
One term that's truly takenover this year for me, that I am
becoming a little obsessed with, is menowashing Kind of clever
(05:08):
right.
Menowashing is a rift on theterm greenwashing that was
created or realized back in the80s.
Now greenwashing is thepractice of companies making
exaggerated claims about theirproducts or services to appear
more environmentally friendly,and there's dozens of companies
(05:31):
that have been called out forthis, and the list is long.
But one of the most notablecompanies in the news recently,
in the past even year, has beenLululemon.
You probably have heard ofLululemon.
They're very expensive yogaclothes.
Lululemon has faced accusationsof greenwashing, claiming
(05:54):
sustainability initiatives whilecontinuing practices that
critics say fall short of realenvironmental impact.
For example, despite promotingeco-friendly materials, reports
have pointed out a lack oftransparency and meaningful
progress in reducing theiroverall carbon footprint.
So that's just one examplethese companies trying to make
(06:18):
themselves look much better thanthey actually really are and
maybe hiding some of the realstory, and thus the term
menowashing was born out of thisterm greenwashing Menowashing
is similar.
It's when companies, influencersor even some doctors exploit
(06:40):
menopause to sell products thatare either unproven or downright
unnecessary.
They tap into your fear fear ofaging, fear of gaining weight,
fear of feeling invisible andthey use it to push expensive
creams, supplements, diets,pills, potions, other lifestyle
and wellness protocols thatpromise magic but deliver very
(07:04):
little.
And let's be clear, this isn'tjust disappointing to me.
I think this is downrightharmful.
It erodes trust and distractsus from real, evidence-based
solutions.
So today we're calling it out.
We're talking about theinfluencers, the celebrities,
the doctors cashing in onmenopause, the supplements and
(07:28):
products capitalizing on ourfears, and the diets that need
to go for good, because the moreyou know, the more informed and
armed you can be with the rightinformation to make the best
decisions for you.
I am not saying that allsupplements are terrible for you
, and if you are takingsomething because you have a
(07:48):
belief in it, that's totallyfine, but I want you to
understand the facts behind someof the menopause industry and
how it can create an illusion ofbeing helpful while taking a
lot of your money.
And, most importantly, I wantus to ask why are we so quick to
(08:13):
buy into unproven fads whenwell-researched options, like
hormone therapy, for example,are sitting right there out in
the open?
Why are we so afraid ofmenopause hormone therapy, but
not afraid to take some herbsand vitamins and minerals and
(08:37):
things that have not been testedfor use with menopause?
This doesn't make sense to me.
Is it because we're scared ofhormones based on those old,
outdated studies that I havetalked about incessantly in
other podcast episodes?
Is it because of thosesometimes sensational headlines
(08:57):
that have long been disproven?
Or is it because the shinymarketing for a miracle
supplement feels easier to trustthan the complicated, nuanced
conversations we should behaving with our doctors?
And maybe it's both.
But here's the thing Modernhormone therapy is one of the
(09:19):
most thoroughly researched andeffective treatments for
menopause symptoms.
After that, your diet.
I'm not talking about a diet.
I'm talking about what you eaton a daily basis.
Your food matters.
So menopause, hormone therapyand the foods you choose to
nourish yourself with are thebest and most reliable ways to
(09:42):
help your symptoms.
In menopause, hormone therapyis safe for most women.
The food we nourish ourselvesis safe for all women, and both
can provide relief, real relief,relief that no overpriced
powder or cream can replicatefor the hype, when science is
(10:12):
right there waiting for us?
Why do we want to go onto somesevere diets when we know that
just eating well, exercisingstrength training, is our best
solution?
We're going to get into that,so let's dig in.
All right, I want to start witha deeper look at menowashing
what it is, how it works and whyit's harmful.
(10:33):
Look, the fact is, menopausehas finally entered the
spotlight and menopause is stilllooked down upon as something
that is wrong with us.
I get this.
I grapple with making peacewith my own menopause experience
.
I grapple with making peacewith my own menopause experience
.
My menopause experience startedout years ago and it was full
(10:56):
of confusion, with very littlesupport from my own medical
community.
And in the last few years,especially in the last year, I
have seen a tsunami of newproducts, diets and solutions
marketed to us because there isan opportunity of confusion
around menopause, and while someof that attention has been good
(11:19):
hello, more conversations andless stigma it's also created an
opening for companies to cashin.
Menopause has become a goldmine for marketers and they're
using our legitimatefrustrations and fears weight
gain, hot flashes, low energy,mood swings as leverage to sell
things we don't actually need.
(11:41):
Now think about it.
How many times have you seenwords like hormone balancing,
metabolism boosting, anti-agingmiracle slapped on a product?
These are buzzwords designed tohit us where it hurts, making
us believe we need fixing whenwe don't.
And here's the truth Menopauseis not a disease, right?
(12:05):
It's not something that we haveto try to get rid of.
It's a natural phase of life.
I believe in doing whatever youcan to keep yourself healthy and
well, through the food we eat,by other means, like hormone
replacement, as well as otherwell-studied modalities, like
even cognitive behavioraltherapy, for example.
(12:26):
What it doesn't require isoverpriced potions and gimmicks
and, most importantly, what itrequires is a lot of awareness
and self-compassion forourselves.
This is not an easy time formost women.
Some women go through menopauseand it's a blip on their radar
(12:49):
screen, and then there's therest of us and it feels like a
real hard transition.
So we need a lot of care rightnow and we don't need to be
taken advantage of, andmenowashing isn't harmless.
Menowashing distracts us fromtreatments that do work, like
the ones I just mentionedlifestyle changes, nutrition,
(13:11):
exercise, well-studied optionslike hormone therapy and it also
just erodes trust.
Over time, you start taking asupplement you don't really feel
like.
Is it helping me?
I don't know.
Could it be I'm paying tons ofmoney and then you get even more
confused.
Then what are you supposed todo?
Women deserve better thanfear-based marketing.
(13:33):
We deserve science-backedsolutions and clear, honest
information.
All right, so let's go into2024 and talk about some of
those celebs that I've mentionedand doctors and supplements,
and see what we can hopefullynot bring into the new year Now.
(13:55):
Some celebrities have done greatwork in bringing menopause into
the conversation.
I mean, celebrities are wellknown.
They can help us feel lessalone and normalize the
experience.
If she feels that same way, wow, I don't feel like.
You know, if she can feel likeshe's going through menopause,
then I guess it's okay for metoo.
(14:15):
Menopause is a business, though, and people who are famous and
well-known seem to come with ano like and trust factor.
But let's face it, a lot ofcelebrities aren't just talking
about menopause, they areselling menopause.
This year, I have seen Oprah outon the menopause campaign trail
(14:36):
, naomi Watts, gwyneth Paltrow,drew Barrymore the list
literally goes on and they areall selling something.
Naomi Watts, for example, andher brand Stripes, sells
topicals, overpricedmoisturizers, lubes and other
non-invasive beauty productswhich are marketed as
(14:56):
menopause-friendly, but doesthat make the products more
effective or just more expensive?
She also sells a supplementcalled the Inside Edition, which
claims that it takes away hotflashes and improves mood.
I get it.
I want magic in a pill too, butwhat I don't want to take are
unproven ingredients in a blendthat may or may not cause liver
(15:16):
toxicity.
That scares me more thananything.
Gwyneth Paltrow's goop is alsoanother prime example.
Her supplement, madam Ovary,claims to support hormones, but
lacks any substantial evidence.
It's just another pricey pillin a fancy bottle.
These pills are extremelyexpensive $90 a month to take
(15:39):
something that has no evidenceto support it.
And let's not leave out thecelebrity doctors that I would
like to keep into 2024.
And please, let's not bringthem into the new year.
Dr Mary Claire Haver, forinstance.
You have probably heard of her.
Everyone seems to know her fromher Galveston diet, and she
(16:03):
promotes this diet as the answerto menopause weight gain.
While her anti-inflammatoryfocus has merit, the program is
expensive, it's restrictive andit's not a cure-all.
She sells a whole host ofunproven supplements on her
website, and that frustrates meto no end, because Dr Haver
comes across as one of thosedoctors who had to educate
(16:25):
herself on menopause, becauseshe claims she did not get the
proper training in med school,which is a well-known fact for
most doctors.
So why is she out there sellingsupplements that have no
evidence of helping withmenopause, such as overpriced
collagen powder?
She knows better and she knowsthat menopause is a moneymaker.
(16:46):
And there's more like Dr AnnKabeca, who sells herself as the
girlfriend doctor Such greatmarketing.
She's not a doctor, but she'salso your best and most trusted
friend.
Except that she also sellsunproven pills, powders,
bioidentical hormones that donot work and lack any robust
(17:06):
clinical evidence.
Here's the problem whencelebrities and doctors blur the
line between education andmarketing, it becomes hard to
know who to trust.
Celebrities are not doctors,period, and doctors should not
be acting like celebrities.
Are they really trying to helpus or are they just trying to
(17:30):
sell us something?
Women deserve solutions, notsales pitches.
So I'm hoping that we can leavebehind these people in 2024 and
have better education in thenew year.
All right, I have mentioned afew supplements, but let's move
on to one of the biggest areaswhere menowashing shows up, and
(17:53):
that's just the overallsupplement industry and all the
products that go with it.
The supplement industry isbooming and menopause has become
one of the fastest growingmulti-billion dollar markets.
Why?
Because supplements don'trequire FDA approval it's the
Food and Drug Administration andthat means companies can make
(18:14):
vague claims without muchaccountability.
Take the so-called hormonebalancing supplements.
These are everywhere,everywhere.
I can't even call out a coupleexamples because there are so
many of them.
I would be here for five moreepisodes, calling every one of
(18:34):
them out.
There's pills, there's powders,there's blends that promise to
fix your hot flashes, yourweight gain, your mood swings.
You name it.
But here's the kicker nosupplement can balance your
hormones.
It doesn't work like that.
Hormones are complex and ifyou're struggling with symptoms,
a well-researched option likehormone therapy under the
(18:58):
guidance of a healthcareprofessional can make a real
difference.
Then there are the detox teasthat claim to cleanse your body,
flatten your belly.
In reality, these teas are justlaxatives in disguise.
They don't detox anything.
We cannot detox through a drinkor a food or a tea, and they
(19:20):
can actually harm your digestivesystem if overused.
So again, I want to ask you whydo we keep buying these
products?
Because the marketing taps intoour fears Fear of aging, fear
of losing control, fear offeeling invisible.
We have a long way to go.
I understand this, butmenopause isn't something to
(19:43):
fear.
It's a transition and wedeserve solutions rooted in
science and not empty promises.
And some diet trends I saw popback up this year keto,
intermittent fasting, thecircadian diet these diets have
been pushed as solutions formenopause weight gain.
(20:06):
But let's take a little closerlook at some of them Keto, which
I'm just really surprised thatthat's actually still like on
the forefront Dr Ann Kabeca, Iknow, promotes that and this
just amazes me carbs and focuseson fats and protein.
And while some people seeinitial weight loss because you
(20:37):
are going into ketosis andthat's a whole other
physiological thing that happensfor menopausal women ketosis
can actually raise your cortisollevels, that's your stress
hormone that's already elevated.
We're already under a lot ofstress.
High cortisol levels can leadto more fat storage, especially
around your belly Not exactlywhat we're going for.
So you might see an initialquick weight loss and then you
(21:01):
are going to likely be gainingthat back.
Intermittent fasting is anothertrend that I have seen rise in
the past year.
This has been marketed again tous as a quick fix, and
sometimes as the only fix formenopause weight gain.
It's applicable for some people.
Some people love intermittentfasting and skipping breakfast
(21:25):
and you do you but it's not auniversal solution.
For many women, extendedfasting periods can really
disrupt blood sugar.
It can end up increasingfatigue and even trigger
overeating later in the day.
So, again, might be a quick fixfor some quick weight loss, but
let's see if you can stick withit.
(21:45):
And let's not forget thecircadian diet that I've seen
make some kind of a resurgence.
Circadian rhythm is honoringthe daylight and the seasons and
you know eating only while it'slight out and not eating in the
dark.
So this is like eating with thesun diet.
(22:08):
So this diet tells you when toeat, based on your circadian
rhythms.
While there's some logic toeating earlier in the day, I'm
all for that.
That's fine.
Eating breakfast, lunch andeating an earlier dinner for
blood sugar control, this isn'ta magic fix for menopause weight
gain.
(22:28):
You might end up if you do eatearlier in the day and then you
don't eat for the rest of theevening and make a conscious
effort when you might have beensnacking at nighttime, you might
see some weight loss.
But I wouldn't go on thecircadian diet and eat with the
sun because of you know, juststrictly for weight loss.
(22:49):
So here's the bottom lineWeight gain during menopause is
complex.
It's influenced by our hormones,our lifestyle, genetics and our
age.
Most importantly, extreme dietsare not the answer.
Instead, focus on balancedmeals, plenty of protein, fiber,
(23:09):
healthy fats and regularmovement that you actually enjoy
.
So, as we close out 2024, let'sleave the concept of
menowashing behind.
Let's stop giving our money andour trust to products, diets
and people who do not have thescience to back up their claims.
(23:32):
Instead, let's focus on whatdoes work.
If something sounds too good tobe true, it probably is.
If you are questioning it, evenfor a second, it probably is
something to not be trusted.
Okay, and let's instead focuson what does work and go into
(23:54):
2025 with a renewed energy forlooking at well-studied
treatments like hormone therapywhen appropriate, simple,
nourishing foods that supportour changing bodies, our
movement, stress management, oursleep and, most importantly, a
commitment to questioning whatwe're sold and advocating for
(24:17):
real, evidence-based care.
Menopause is not something tofear.
We're not always going to feelhappy about it.
I think that in this country,the concept of aging and aging
well comes with so muchresistance, and I understand
(24:37):
that myself.
It doesn't feel good sometimesto go through menopause, and
it's certainly not somethingthat we are going to fix and
make go away, though it's atransition and it's a powerful
one, so let's enter 2025 withclarity, confidence and the
knowledge that we deserve better.
(24:57):
Thank you so much for joiningme today and for joining me
through all of 2024.
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with a
friend.
Let's keep this conversationgoing and demand better for
ourselves and each other in thenew year.
I hope you all have a very,very Merry Christmas and Happy
(25:18):
Hanukkah, or whatever holidaysyou are celebrating right now,
and until next time, take careof yourself.
You are navigating the stagebeautifully.
Hi everybody, welcome back to Real Food Stories.
I am your host, heather Carey,and today we are winding down
2024, which I honestly cannotbelieve.
Where has the time gone?
Seriously, I think this is justa part of getting older, but
(00:20):
time seems to be going atlightning speed these days and
sometimes I wish it would justslow down a bit, and especially
when we are talking aboutmenopause and nutrition and
diets, things seem to be goingat a very, very fast pace.
So we're going to talk aboutthat a little bit today.
(00:43):
So we're going to talk aboutthat a little bit today.
And nonetheless, we are inDecember and I always love a
good recap of the year to beable to look back on what I
accomplished and what I want tocarry into the next year.
One thing I got off the groundthis year was my signature
(01:04):
course called Nourish, yourMenopause Journey, which was
truly a labor of love for me anda long time coming.
I learned so much and had anamazing community of women join
me in September and I amplanning on opening up Nourish
(01:24):
again in February.
So stay tuned for that if youare interested in getting real,
credible information and supportand community around your
menopause journey, because ifyou're on a journey with your
own menopause transition andstrive to feel your best during
(01:45):
this time of your life, youdefinitely don't want to miss
out on this.
Nourish is packed with all ofthe best evidence-based
nutrition, food and other hotand timely menopause topics
hormones, weight loss all of itcentered around being your
healthiest, and by the end ofNourish, you will feel so much
(02:07):
more in control of your wholemenopause journey.
You will learn more aboutNourish in the new year, so stay
tuned for that.
Again, I'm planning onlaunching that in February.
Okay, last week I did a podcaston some of the best things that
(02:28):
happened in the menopause spacethis past year, everything from
the realization that mostdoctors are pretty, I'm going to
say, clueless when it comes tomenopause but it's getting
better to some of the best foodsfor menopause and health and
which self-care practices werereal winners, all the way to new
(02:51):
realizations about diets andweight loss.
Take a listen if you haven'talready.
That's just the last week'sepisode, because this week I
want to focus on those thingsthat have made it into the
menopause space that seriouslyneed to take a hike.
Now let me start with thisagain, because I said this last
(03:14):
week, and I will continue to saythis Menopause is a journey.
It's not a sprint, it's noteven a marathon.
It's like navigating a windingroad with twists, turns and, yes
, the occasional pothole.
But here's the good part We'vegot the map now.
If you have been with me on myown journey for the past couple
(03:37):
of years on this podcast, youmight know that I lean into
evidence.
I will never promote anybody oranything that talks about
healthy eating or health ingeneral without making sure that
there is some science behind it.
I am not here to sell you a faddiet or make money on pills and
(03:58):
potions that have zero proofbehind them and most of them
have zero proof behind them andI hope that by listening to me,
you have become a little smarterand savvier when it comes to
menopause, your health andmaking decisions that work the
best for you.
Now.
That is worth celebrating thisyear.
So today I want to take anotherlook back at 2024, like I said,
(04:23):
the lessons we've learned, themyths we've busted and the ways
we've grown as a community.
This episode isn't just aboutcalling out the bad.
It's about shining a light onhow much progress we've made
together.
So, whether you're sipping yourmorning coffee, enjoying a tea
break or unwinding with yourfavorite mocktail.
(04:44):
Settle in, because this one'sfor you.
All right, let's dive in.
Okay, so what keeps popping upagain and again in the past year
?
One term that's truly takenover this year for me, that I am
becoming a little obsessed with, is menowashing Kind of clever
(05:08):
right.
Menowashing is a rift on theterm greenwashing that was
created or realized back in the80s.
Now greenwashing is thepractice of companies making
exaggerated claims about theirproducts or services to appear
more environmentally friendly,and there's dozens of companies
(05:31):
that have been called out forthis, and the list is long.
But one of the most notablecompanies in the news recently,
in the past even year, has beenLululemon.
You probably have heard ofLululemon.
They're very expensive yogaclothes.
Lululemon has faced accusationsof greenwashing, claiming
(05:54):
sustainability initiatives whilecontinuing practices that
critics say fall short of realenvironmental impact.
For example, despite promotingeco-friendly materials, reports
have pointed out a lack oftransparency and meaningful
progress in reducing theiroverall carbon footprint.
So that's just one examplethese companies trying to make
(06:18):
themselves look much better thanthey actually really are and
maybe hiding some of the realstory, and thus the term
menowashing was born out of thisterm greenwashing Menowashing
is similar.
It's when companies, influencersor even some doctors exploit
(06:40):
menopause to sell products thatare either unproven or downright
unnecessary.
They tap into your fear fear ofaging, fear of gaining weight,
fear of feeling invisible andthey use it to push expensive
creams, supplements, diets,pills, potions, other lifestyle
and wellness protocols thatpromise magic but deliver very
(07:04):
little.
And let's be clear, this isn'tjust disappointing to me.
I think this is downrightharmful.
It erodes trust and distractsus from real, evidence-based
solutions.
So today we're calling it out.
We're talking about theinfluencers, the celebrities,
the doctors cashing in onmenopause, the supplements and
(07:28):
products capitalizing on ourfears, and the diets that need
to go for good, because the moreyou know, the more informed and
armed you can be with the rightinformation to make the best
decisions for you.
I am not saying that allsupplements are terrible for you
, and if you are takingsomething because you have a
(07:48):
belief in it, that's totallyfine, but I want you to
understand the facts behind someof the menopause industry and
how it can create an illusion ofbeing helpful while taking a
lot of your money.
And, most importantly, I wantus to ask why are we so quick to
(08:13):
buy into unproven fads whenwell-researched options, like
hormone therapy, for example,are sitting right there out in
the open?
Why are we so afraid ofmenopause hormone therapy, but
not afraid to take some herbsand vitamins and minerals and
(08:37):
things that have not been testedfor use with menopause?
This doesn't make sense to me.
Is it because we're scared ofhormones based on those old,
outdated studies that I havetalked about incessantly in
other podcast episodes?
Is it because of thosesometimes sensational headlines
(08:57):
that have long been disproven?
Or is it because the shinymarketing for a miracle
supplement feels easier to trustthan the complicated, nuanced
conversations we should behaving with our doctors?
And maybe it's both.
But here's the thing Modernhormone therapy is one of the
(09:19):
most thoroughly researched andeffective treatments for
menopause symptoms.
After that, your diet.
I'm not talking about a diet.
I'm talking about what you eaton a daily basis.
Your food matters.
So menopause, hormone therapyand the foods you choose to
nourish yourself with are thebest and most reliable ways to
(09:42):
help your symptoms.
In menopause, hormone therapyis safe for most women.
The food we nourish ourselvesis safe for all women, and both
can provide relief, real relief,relief that no overpriced
powder or cream can replicatefor the hype, when science is
(10:12):
right there waiting for us?
Why do we want to go onto somesevere diets when we know that
just eating well, exercisingstrength training, is our best
solution?
We're going to get into that,so let's dig in.
All right, I want to start witha deeper look at menowashing
what it is, how it works and whyit's harmful.
(10:33):
Look, the fact is, menopausehas finally entered the
spotlight and menopause is stilllooked down upon as something
that is wrong with us.
I get this.
I grapple with making peacewith my own menopause experience
.
I grapple with making peacewith my own menopause experience
.
My menopause experience startedout years ago and it was full
(10:56):
of confusion, with very littlesupport from my own medical
community.
And in the last few years,especially in the last year, I
have seen a tsunami of newproducts, diets and solutions
marketed to us because there isan opportunity of confusion
around menopause, and while someof that attention has been good
(11:19):
hello, more conversations andless stigma it's also created an
opening for companies to cashin.
Menopause has become a goldmine for marketers and they're
using our legitimatefrustrations and fears weight
gain, hot flashes, low energy,mood swings as leverage to sell
things we don't actually need.
(11:41):
Now think about it.
How many times have you seenwords like hormone balancing,
metabolism boosting, anti-agingmiracle slapped on a product?
These are buzzwords designed tohit us where it hurts, making
us believe we need fixing whenwe don't.
And here's the truth Menopauseis not a disease, right?
(12:05):
It's not something that we haveto try to get rid of.
It's a natural phase of life.
I believe in doing whatever youcan to keep yourself healthy and
well, through the food we eat,by other means, like hormone
replacement, as well as otherwell-studied modalities, like
even cognitive behavioraltherapy, for example.
(12:26):
What it doesn't require isoverpriced potions and gimmicks
and, most importantly, what itrequires is a lot of awareness
and self-compassion forourselves.
This is not an easy time formost women.
Some women go through menopauseand it's a blip on their radar
(12:49):
screen, and then there's therest of us and it feels like a
real hard transition.
So we need a lot of care rightnow and we don't need to be
taken advantage of, andmenowashing isn't harmless.
Menowashing distracts us fromtreatments that do work, like
the ones I just mentionedlifestyle changes, nutrition,
(13:11):
exercise, well-studied optionslike hormone therapy and it also
just erodes trust.
Over time, you start taking asupplement you don't really feel
like.
Is it helping me?
I don't know.
Could it be I'm paying tons ofmoney and then you get even more
confused.
Then what are you supposed todo?
Women deserve better thanfear-based marketing.
(13:33):
We deserve science-backedsolutions and clear, honest
information.
All right, so let's go into2024 and talk about some of
those celebs that I've mentionedand doctors and supplements,
and see what we can hopefullynot bring into the new year Now.
(13:55):
Some celebrities have done greatwork in bringing menopause into
the conversation.
I mean, celebrities are wellknown.
They can help us feel lessalone and normalize the
experience.
If she feels that same way, wow, I don't feel like.
You know, if she can feel likeshe's going through menopause,
then I guess it's okay for metoo.
(14:15):
Menopause is a business, though, and people who are famous and
well-known seem to come with ano like and trust factor.
But let's face it, a lot ofcelebrities aren't just talking
about menopause, they areselling menopause.
This year, I have seen Oprah outon the menopause campaign trail
(14:36):
, naomi Watts, gwyneth Paltrow,drew Barrymore the list
literally goes on and they areall selling something.
Naomi Watts, for example, andher brand Stripes, sells
topicals, overpricedmoisturizers, lubes and other
non-invasive beauty productswhich are marketed as
(14:56):
menopause-friendly, but doesthat make the products more
effective or just more expensive?
She also sells a supplementcalled the Inside Edition, which
claims that it takes away hotflashes and improves mood.
I get it.
I want magic in a pill too, butwhat I don't want to take are
unproven ingredients in a blendthat may or may not cause liver
(15:16):
toxicity.
That scares me more thananything.
Gwyneth Paltrow's goop is alsoanother prime example.
Her supplement, madam Ovary,claims to support hormones, but
lacks any substantial evidence.
It's just another pricey pillin a fancy bottle.
These pills are extremelyexpensive $90 a month to take
(15:39):
something that has no evidenceto support it.
And let's not leave out thecelebrity doctors that I would
like to keep into 2024.
And please, let's not bringthem into the new year.
Dr Mary Claire Haver, forinstance.
You have probably heard of her.
Everyone seems to know her fromher Galveston diet, and she
(16:03):
promotes this diet as the answerto menopause weight gain.
While her anti-inflammatoryfocus has merit, the program is
expensive, it's restrictive andit's not a cure-all.
She sells a whole host ofunproven supplements on her
website, and that frustrates meto no end, because Dr Haver
comes across as one of thosedoctors who had to educate
(16:25):
herself on menopause, becauseshe claims she did not get the
proper training in med school,which is a well-known fact for
most doctors.
So why is she out there sellingsupplements that have no
evidence of helping withmenopause, such as overpriced
collagen powder?
She knows better and she knowsthat menopause is a moneymaker.
(16:46):
And there's more like Dr AnnKabeca, who sells herself as the
girlfriend doctor Such greatmarketing.
She's not a doctor, but she'salso your best and most trusted
friend.
Except that she also sellsunproven pills, powders,
bioidentical hormones that donot work and lack any robust
(17:06):
clinical evidence.
Here's the problem whencelebrities and doctors blur the
line between education andmarketing, it becomes hard to
know who to trust.
Celebrities are not doctors,period, and doctors should not
be acting like celebrities.
Are they really trying to helpus or are they just trying to
(17:30):
sell us something?
Women deserve solutions, notsales pitches.
So I'm hoping that we can leavebehind these people in 2024 and
have better education in thenew year.
All right, I have mentioned afew supplements, but let's move
on to one of the biggest areaswhere menowashing shows up, and
(17:53):
that's just the overallsupplement industry and all the
products that go with it.
The supplement industry isbooming and menopause has become
one of the fastest growingmulti-billion dollar markets.
Why?
Because supplements don'trequire FDA approval it's the
Food and Drug Administration andthat means companies can make
(18:14):
vague claims without muchaccountability.
Take the so-called hormonebalancing supplements.
These are everywhere,everywhere.
I can't even call out a coupleexamples because there are so
many of them.
I would be here for five moreepisodes, calling every one of
(18:34):
them out.
There's pills, there's powders,there's blends that promise to
fix your hot flashes, yourweight gain, your mood swings.
You name it.
But here's the kicker nosupplement can balance your
hormones.
It doesn't work like that.
Hormones are complex and ifyou're struggling with symptoms,
a well-researched option likehormone therapy under the
(18:58):
guidance of a healthcareprofessional can make a real
difference.
Then there are the detox teasthat claim to cleanse your body,
flatten your belly.
In reality, these teas are justlaxatives in disguise.
They don't detox anything.
We cannot detox through a drinkor a food or a tea, and they
(19:20):
can actually harm your digestivesystem if overused.
So again, I want to ask you whydo we keep buying these
products?
Because the marketing taps intoour fears Fear of aging, fear
of losing control, fear offeeling invisible.
We have a long way to go.
I understand this, butmenopause isn't something to
(19:43):
fear.
It's a transition and wedeserve solutions rooted in
science and not empty promises.
And some diet trends I saw popback up this year keto,
intermittent fasting, thecircadian diet these diets have
been pushed as solutions formenopause weight gain.
(20:06):
But let's take a little closerlook at some of them Keto, which
I'm just really surprised thatthat's actually still like on
the forefront Dr Ann Kabeca, Iknow, promotes that and this
just amazes me carbs and focuseson fats and protein.
And while some people seeinitial weight loss because you
(20:37):
are going into ketosis andthat's a whole other
physiological thing that happensfor menopausal women ketosis
can actually raise your cortisollevels, that's your stress
hormone that's already elevated.
We're already under a lot ofstress.
High cortisol levels can leadto more fat storage, especially
around your belly Not exactlywhat we're going for.
So you might see an initialquick weight loss and then you
(21:01):
are going to likely be gainingthat back.
Intermittent fasting is anothertrend that I have seen rise in
the past year.
This has been marketed again tous as a quick fix, and
sometimes as the only fix formenopause weight gain.
It's applicable for some people.
Some people love intermittentfasting and skipping breakfast
(21:25):
and you do you but it's not auniversal solution.
For many women, extendedfasting periods can really
disrupt blood sugar.
It can end up increasingfatigue and even trigger
overeating later in the day.
So, again, might be a quick fixfor some quick weight loss, but
let's see if you can stick withit.
(21:45):
And let's not forget thecircadian diet that I've seen
make some kind of a resurgence.
Circadian rhythm is honoringthe daylight and the seasons and
you know eating only while it'slight out and not eating in the
dark.
So this is like eating with thesun diet.
(22:08):
So this diet tells you when toeat, based on your circadian
rhythms.
While there's some logic toeating earlier in the day, I'm
all for that.
That's fine.
Eating breakfast, lunch andeating an earlier dinner for
blood sugar control, this isn'ta magic fix for menopause weight
gain.
(22:28):
You might end up if you do eatearlier in the day and then you
don't eat for the rest of theevening and make a conscious
effort when you might have beensnacking at nighttime, you might
see some weight loss.
But I wouldn't go on thecircadian diet and eat with the
sun because of you know, juststrictly for weight loss.
(22:49):
So here's the bottom lineWeight gain during menopause is
complex.
It's influenced by our hormones,our lifestyle, genetics and our
age.
Most importantly, extreme dietsare not the answer.
Instead, focus on balancedmeals, plenty of protein, fiber,
(23:09):
healthy fats and regularmovement that you actually enjoy
.
So, as we close out 2024, let'sleave the concept of
menowashing behind.
Let's stop giving our money andour trust to products, diets
and people who do not have thescience to back up their claims.
(23:32):
Instead, let's focus on whatdoes work.
If something sounds too good tobe true, it probably is.
If you are questioning it, evenfor a second, it probably is
something to not be trusted.
Okay, and let's instead focuson what does work and go into
(23:54):
2025 with a renewed energy forlooking at well-studied
treatments like hormone therapywhen appropriate, simple,
nourishing foods that supportour changing bodies, our
movement, stress management, oursleep and, most importantly, a
commitment to questioning whatwe're sold and advocating for
(24:17):
real, evidence-based care.
Menopause is not something tofear.
We're not always going to feelhappy about it.
I think that in this country,the concept of aging and aging
well comes with so muchresistance, and I understand
(24:37):
that myself.
It doesn't feel good sometimesto go through menopause, and
it's certainly not somethingthat we are going to fix and
make go away, though it's atransition and it's a powerful
one, so let's enter 2025 withclarity, confidence and the
knowledge that we deserve better.
(24:57):
Thank you so much for joiningme today and for joining me
through all of 2024.
If this episode resonated withyou, please share it with a
friend.
Let's keep this conversationgoing and demand better for
ourselves and each other in thenew year.
I hope you all have a very,very Merry Christmas and Happy
(25:18):
Hanukkah, or whatever holidaysyou are celebrating right now,
and until next time, take careof yourself.
You are navigating the stagebeautifully.
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