Before, during, and after menopause, a woman's body undergoes significant changes. One of the biggest misconceptions is that we should let nature take its course and simply endure the symptoms. However, science has shown that comprehensive blood panels and early hormone replacement can have a significant positive impact on a woman's health when it comes to aging and disease prevention—specifically addressing bone loss, heart disease, and dementia.
Laurie Guzda
Post Menopause - I'm not crazy and I'm not alone.
After years of diets and exercise regimens, I was exhausted. I decided it was time for professional help. I became a fan of Jacqui Justice through Daily OM, long before SCL. I scheduled my consultation, and doing a deeper dive into bloodwork identified a sluggish thyroid. No amount of dieting was going to be effective—we needed to address the cause, *my* cause.
Working with Jacqui and my doctor gave me a wellness team. A weekly check-in with Jacqui keeps me accountable. My routine now includes regular exercise, healthy food choices, and time for meditation and creativity. Eliminating cheese was hard. I prefer life without alcohol. Eliminating sugar and refined white flour helped reduce bloat. I'm not giving up caffeine, but at Jacqui's suggestion, I enjoy a cup of water first thing in the morning—sometimes with lemon and ginger—to give my tummy a refreshing shower to start the day.
It's not so much what I weigh as how I feel. Creating new habits that are good for me and that I can sustain over time is what matters. I'm not about to deny myself some of life's great culinary pleasures. I want to be the healthiest 90-year-old that I can be.
Jacqui Justice
Functional Nutritionist
Laurie's story echoes countless others I've heard throughout my 28-year career as a Functional Nutritionist. Menopausal women ambushed by debilitating fatigue, stubborn hormonal weight gain, and resistant belly fat—all while growing increasingly disheartened by failed diets and exercise plans. Most have heard the same dismissive advice: "This is normal at your age, just eat less and exercise more," a profoundly inadequate prescription that often worsens their condition.
We started with a 30-Day Clean Eating Plan to cleanse and nourish, decrease bloat and sugar cravings—a necessary step to rebalance hormones and heal metabolism.
Standard lab ranges are designed to identify disease, not optimal wellness. These ranges are often too broad, meaning many women with clear symptoms are told their results are "normal" when they're actually far from optimal.
Laurie's analysis revealed subclinical hypothyroid and insulin resistance (both common in menopause) that conventional testing would have dismissed. This discovery explained why traditional approaches weren't working. No amount of dieting or exercise could overcome her underlying metabolic imbalances.
With a personalized blueprint, I designed a plan to naturally lower blood sugar and boost thyroid function. Laurie is no longer a stranger in her own body.
Schedule a consult at jacquijustice.com and use code MENO20 for 20% off your first visit.*
Emmi Lucca
Family Nurse Practitioner
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) right for you? Here are some of the pros and cons:
Pros: Decrease in heart disease, bone loss, and dementia. Slower aging of the skin. Relief from hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety.
Cons: Risk of blood clots (particularly if you're a smoker), though rare. Potential increased risk of breast cancer (if already prone to estrogen-driven cancers). Possible increased risk of stroke and heart disease if started after age 60.
Some of the biggest concerns regarding menopause are long-term diseases—heart disease, osteoporosis, and dementia. Also troubling are weight gain and overall changes in body composition, along with skin changes—decreased collagen can cause sagging and reduced elasticity. Brain fog— forgetfulness (often confused with dementia) and hormonal fluctuations can cause quick changes in mood, hot flashes, and irritability.
Some of the simplest things every woman can do to make menopause easier include eating healthy (nutritious foods as well as portion control), avoiding alcohol, exercising (specifically strength training), and considering hormone replacement early (during perimenopause, but definitely within 10 years of stopping menses).