Empowering Women: Beyond the Estrogen Window

Hormones can be wild, especially in perimenopause and menopause, and sometimes it feels like no one talks about just how much they mess with your mind, mood, and energy. But there’s a real science behind why things feel off, and it’s not all in your head. I sat down with my friend and hormone expert, Dr. Betty Murray, to talk about the gut-brain-hormone connection and why it’s such a big deal for women in this season of life. She’s not only a Functional Medicine Pioneer with over 20 years of experience, she’s also the Founder of The Menrva Project, a game-changing platform rethinking menopause care.

We talk about the stuff most doctors skip, why testing your hormones (not just guessing!) matters, how your gut health plays into your symptoms, and how stress totally hijacks your body. Dr. Betty shares what she’s seeing work in real time with her clients and why truly personalized care makes all the difference. If you’ve ever been told “it’s just aging” or felt brushed off, this one’s for you.

She also gives some real-life tips like what to eat, what to watch out for, and simple things that can actually help you feel like yourself again. It’s not about fixing you (because you’re not broken) but about understanding what your body needs in this new chapter. Whether you're just starting to notice changes or you're deep in the hormone rollercoaster, there's something here for you.

And if you're looking for something fun (and seriously good for you), I’ve been loving the new Mighty Maca Mango! It’s everything I love about Mighty Maca Plus, but with a zesty mango twist that’s perfect for summer. Try it with sparkling water, pour it over ice, or even make popsicles with the kids. It’s delicious and loaded with the good stuff your body will thank you for. You can check it out at dranna.com.

 

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction.

[00:04:04] Exploring the journey to functional medicine.

[00:09:44] Hormonal health and individualized care.

[00:12:20] Hormones and women's health.

[00:15:38] Testing hormone levels effectively.

[00:18:25] Estrogen dominance and microbiome health.

[00:20:11] Hormones and gut microbiome connection.

[00:24:26] Post-tubal syndrome and hormone disruption.

[00:27:01] Estrogen's role in fat loss.

[00:31:01] Insulin resistance and dietary changes.

[00:34:06] Airway health and sleep quality.

[00:36:09] Hormone replacement therapy considerations.

[00:39:24] Hormone metabolism and cancer risk.

[00:44:33] Progesterone's protective properties.

[00:48:14] Gut-brain connection in women.

[00:49:17] Hormones and mood disorders.

[00:53:00] Hormone management and detoxification.

 

Memorable Quotes:

"Our hormones are so much more powerful than the neurotransmitters that we associate with mood." [00:49:17] – Dr. Betty Murray

"In order for us to really, I think, fix the women's health care crisis, we need to have women have that control of their own body as an N of one, right? Because we're all different." [01:01:47] – Dr. Betty Murray

 

Links Mentioned:

Mighty Maca Mango: https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca

Menrva Project: https://www.getmenrva.com/home

 

Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:

Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbettymurray

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettymurray/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbettymurray

 

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok