Perhaps you’re more anxious, irritable, overwhelmed, waking at 3am or feeling tired but wired. In this episode, I explain what cortisol actually does, why stress can feel different during perimenopause, and the truth about high cortisol, adrenal fatigue, cortisol belly and cortisol testing.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life! https://app.francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-payment-founding-member-237129
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

In this episode, I explain what good blood sugar regulation really looks like, why glucose naturally rises after eating, and what actually matters for supporting metabolic health through perimenopause and menopause.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life! https://app.francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-payment-founding-member-237129
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

We hear about insulin resistance everywhere, particularly in conversations about weight, blood sugar and menopause. But what does it actually mean? In this episode, I explain what insulin does, why the body can become less responsive to it, how the pancreas compensates, and the difference between insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life! https://app.francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-payment-founding-member-237129
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

We hear about “gut health” everywhere in the wellness space, but what does having a healthy gut actually mean? In this episode, I explain the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier, mucus layer, stomach acid and digestive function, plus the simple nutrition and lifestyle habits that can help support a healthy gut.

Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life, here!

Previous episodes mentioned:

• Episode 36: Perimenopause & Your Gut
• Episode 60: The Gut–Hormone Connection in Perimenopause

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life! https://app.francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-payment-founding-member-237129
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

We hear about inflammation everywhere; inflammatory foods, anti-inflammatory diets, chronic inflammation and even “inflammaging”. But what does inflammation actually mean? In this episode, I explain what’s happening inside your body when inflammation occurs, why inflammation isn’t inherently bad, the difference between acute and chronic inflammation, and why chronic low-grade inflammation becomes particularly relevant in midlife.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community at the Founding Member rate of just £10 per month for life! https://francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-membership/
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

Why is your ferritin low in the first place? In this episode, I explore some of the potential causes of low iron stores, from heavy periods and inadequate dietary iron to poor absorption, H. pylori, coeliac disease, gut conditions and chronic inflammation, and why understanding the underlying cause matters.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community: https://francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-membership/
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/

If you're wondering whether HRT is right for you, this episode offers a calm, balanced look at what hormone replacement therapy is, why every woman's experience is different, how guidance has evolved, and why HRT is most powerful when combined with a whole-body approach to health.

Links:

• Take my free perimenopause quiz: https://quiz.francescaliparoti.com/start-page
• Join the Midlife Thrive Community: https://francescaliparoti.com/midlife-thrive-membership/
• Book a 121 consultation: https://francescaliparoti.com/services/
• Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perimenopause.with.francesca/
• My menopause specialist doctor - Dr Mandy Leonhardt