I am so excited to be here with today’s guest, who is long overdue for this episode. I had Dr. Mindy Pelz on years ago and I’m excited to have her back. And today we’re talking about how women can harness their gender differences for optimal health throughout life.
Dr. Mindy is a two times New York Times bestselling author and one of the most trusted voices in women’s health. Her bestsellers include Fast Like a Girl, Eat Like a Girl, and now Age Like a Girl. Through her books and podcast, Live Like a Girl, she’s helped millions of women better understand their hormones, metabolism, and health. I also love binge watching her YouTube channel!
I’m definitely a tremendous fan of her work, especially the nuance she brings to the conversation about women and fasting. You might have heard that fasting is bad for women, but Mindy calls this into question. She goes into very real ways to understand how to fast as a woman and the nuance behind it. For me, fasting was a valuable tool in my healing and recovery journey, as it’s been for the thousands of people Dr. Mindy has helped as well.
We talk about fasting, nutrients, and the nervous system. Plus healing, switches that turn on when we fast, what flex fasting is, the order of foods and why to eat them in a certain order, and so much more.
Episode Highlights With Mindy
- Cutting through the myth… can women fast and what we need to do differently
- How to navigate fasting with a female hormone cycle and why it is so important
- The three types of women and how each fasts differently
- There are times when women shouldn’t fast and times when it can be a game changer
- We have two metabolisms: glucose and ketones and how to use them differently
- Somewhere 8-12 hours after food we shift to ketones
- The healing switches that turn on when we fast
- What flex fasting is and how she helps people find what works best for them
- Perimenopause and menopause specific fasting guidelines
- The cortisol component and how to pay attention to this part
- Can fasting be brain protective post menopause
- When to fast and when not to, and the most important meal you eat after fasting
- The important nutrients to focus on after fasting and the story about leucine
- Let’s stop making beans the enemy! And her take on sardine fasting
- Supplements she most often recommends and why
- The one food group that kills our ability to make our own GLP (it might surprise you)
- Order of food matters, not just the amount and type!
- Important concerns with GLPs and how to make your own and not lose muscle!
Resources Mentioned
- Mindy’s books – Fast Like a Girl, Age Like a Girl and Eat Like a Girl
- Mindy’s YouTube channel
- Stress questionnaire
- Live like a girl podcast
More From Wellness Mama
- 139: Dr. Mindy Pelz on Generational Toxins & Epigenetic Changes
- 906: Circadian Alignment Using Light, Food, Fasting, and Sleep (Solo Episode)
- 893: Morning Walk: My Thoughts on Fasting & What I Do (Solo Katie Episode)
- 886: Fasting: Why It’s Not for Everyone and What to Do Instead With Dr. Phyllis
- 821: Ketosis, Fasting & Autophagy for Deep Healing With Dr. Courtney Hunt
- 515: Dr. Michael J. Breus on How to Energize by Understanding Chronotypes, Sleep, Fasting, and Movement
- 466: Cynthia Thurlow on What Makes Fasting Unique for Women
- 455: Gin Stephens on the Real Deal About Intermittent Fasting for Women
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