The Menopause Gut: What No One Is Telling Women About Aging with Cynthia Thurlow, NP
The Doctor Youn ShowShow Notes
In this episode, I sit down with Cynthia Thurlow to unpack a piece of menopause that almost no one is talking about, the gut.
We often hear about hormones during perimenopause and menopause, but what happens when the real issue goes deeper? Cynthia shares her personal story, including a serious gut health crisis that nearly led to unnecessary surgery, and how it reshaped the way she approaches women’s health.
We break down the microbiome, the gut-ovary connection, and how shifts in estrogen and progesterone impact everything from digestion to immunity. We also get into why foods you used to tolerate suddenly don’t work anymore, what “leaky gut” really means, and how inflammation plays a role in midlife changes.
🔗 Links and Resources (Provided by Dr. Youn):
I know you’ll love the BON CHARGE Red Light Face Mask as much as I do… order yours today at https://boncharge.com/products/red-light-face-mask and use my exclusive promo code DRYOUN at checkout.
On This Episode We Cover:
→ 00:00:00 - Introduction
→ 00:00:11 - Reformed Adrenaline Junkie
→ 00:02:49 - Menopause + The Gut
→ 00:05:03 - The Gut Crisis That Changed Everything
→ 00:11:55 - What Is the Microbiome?
→ 00:15:56 - Leaky Gut + Immune System Changes
→ 00:20:19 - Perimenopause vs Menopause
→ 00:22:59 - The Microgenderome Explained
→ 00:24:54 - Gut-Ovary Axis + Aging
→ 00:28:51 - Trauma + Microbiome Health
→ 00:30:02 - The Menopause Gut Plan + Recipes
→ 00:33:36 - Animal vs Plant Protein
→ 00:35:24 - Seed Oils, What the Science Says
→ 00:41:46 - Dairy + Inflammation
→ 00:45:37 - Alcohol + Aging
→ 00:50:20 - Intermittent Fasting in Menopause
Watch This Next!
Menopause Isn’t the End — It’s the Upgrade! With Dr. Mindy Pelz
📍The Menopause Gut on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4lKrNTN
📍Cynthia Thurlow, NP Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/
📍 Check out Dr. Youn’s skincare products and nutritional supplements - https://younbeauty.com
📍 Download his FREE eGuide: "What to Eat to Look Younger" - https://discover.younbeauty.com/what-to-eat-to-look-younger-1
📍 Download his FREE eGuide: 10 Things Every Plastic Surgery Patient Must Know: https://discover.younbeauty.com/10-things-1
📍 YOUN Beauty Retinol Moisturizer
📍 YOUN Beauty Retinol Eye Cream
📍 Follow Dr. Youn on Instagram - @tonyyounmd
📍 Follow Dr. Youn on YouTube - youtube.com/tonyyounmd
📍 Follow Dr. Youn on TikTok - @doctoryoun
📍 Follow Dr. Youn on Facebook - @dryoun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from The Doctor Youn Show
Today I’m sharing my experience walking the Camino de Santiago, from preparing for the journey and meeting fellow pilgrims to finally reaching the cathedral in Santiago. I reflect on the lessons I learned along the way, the benefits of trying new experiences, and why the Camino may be worth adding to your bucket list.
In this episode, I’m sharing the daily habits I’m using to support my longevity and healthy aging, from what I eat and drink to the supplements I take and my exercise routine.
This week, Dr. Jolene Brighten joins me to break down ADHD in women and how hormones can influence symptoms throughout different stages of life. We cover estrogen, progesterone, the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, the gut-brain connection, nutrition, dopamine, ADHD medications, and practical strategies for managing symptoms.
What are the latest plastic surgery trends actually worth knowing about? From Ozempic-related facial changes and Botox mistakes to awake facelifts and new approaches to breast enhancement, there’s a lot to unpack. This week, Dr. Danielle DeLuca-Pytell joins me to break down the hot topics in plastic surgery, including temporal hollowing after weight loss, Botox and facial balance, facelift anesthesia, fat grafting, breast reconstruction, and newer options like Renuva and Alloclay.
What can you do before surgery to help your body recover better? From protein and strength training to supplements and prehabilitation, which strategies actually make a difference?This week, Dr. Rebecca Knackstedt joins me to break down the science behind surgical recovery, including protein, creatine, supplements, and nutritional deficiencies. We also discuss breast cancer screening, mammograms, MRIs, thermography, and QT imaging.