Ep. 651 The Menopause Gut with Cynthia Thurlow

Shawn Needham, R.Ph., talks with Cynthia Thurlow about her upcoming book, The Menopause Gut. When Cynthia Thurlow was pushed to examine a personal health crisis, she uncovered an unexpected culprit behind her vulnerability: perimenopause. While it was giardia that landed her in the hospital, it was the hormonal shifts of perimenopause that had left her immune defenses compromised. In her new book, THE MENOPAUSE GUT: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond (Avery, on sale April 28, 2026), Thurlow offers a roadmap to reclaim balance and immune resilience after menopause. Beyond the familiar symptoms of menopause—changes in metabolism, sleep, and mental clarity—declining estrogen also weakens immune function, leaving women more vulnerable to inflammation and infection. Since roughly 70 percent of the immune system resides in the gut, these hormonal shifts can upset the microbiome, making it harder to stay healthy. The good news: the gut-immune connection works both ways. By restoring gut health, women can support hormone balance, strengthen immunity, and build lasting vitality through and beyond menopause. Thurlow shares evidence-based strategies she has used successfully with hundreds of patients (and herself). After explaining how the gut, immune system, and hormones interact, she presents a comprehensive plan to rebuild and maintain gut health through practical, sustainable lifestyle changes. Cynthia Thurlow Website | www.cynthiathurlow.com Health Solutions Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/health_solutions_shawn_needham/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@healthsolutionspodcast Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/HealthSolutionsPodcast Moses Lake Professional Pharmacy Website | http://mlrx.com.com/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MosesLakeProfessionalPharmacy/ Shawn Needham X| https://x.com/ShawnNeedham2 Shawn's Book | http://mybook.to/Sickened_The_Book Additional Links https://linktr.ee/mlrx