Ep. 67 | Hormone-Friendly Foods: Why Your "Healthy" Choices Might Be Making You Sick
You're reading labels. Choosing the "high protein" option. Buying the bars and shakes that say all the right things on the front of the package.
And you still feel inflamed, bloated, exhausted, and stuck.
What if the "healthy" foods in your kitchen are part of the problem?
Ultra-processed foods are everywhere — and the sneakiest ones are the ones marketed as health foods. Protein bars. Low-fat yogurt. Meal replacement shakes. Diet program meals. They look clean on the front of the label. Flip them over and it's a different story.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
The crucial difference between minimally processed, moderately processed, and ultra-processed foods — and why it matters more than ever during perimenopause and menopause
Why that "healthy" protein bar might be fueling inflammation, spiking your blood sugar, and sabotaging your hormones without you realizing it
Hidden sources of inflammation in common "health" foods — including popular diet program meal replacements and what I've seen firsthand as a practitioner
Why some weight loss programs are actually making your health goals harder to achieve — and how ultra-processed meal plans drain your Response Capacity instead of supporting it
How to decode nutrition labels like a pro — what to look for, what to avoid, and how to spot the tricks the food industry uses to make junk look clean
The connection between ultra-processed foods and chronic illness, gut dysfunction, and hormonal disruption
Practical tips for choosing truly nourishing alternatives that support your body — without turning grocery shopping into a research project
Here's the thing: you can't out-supplement a diet full of ultra-processed food. And you can't rebuild your metabolism or balance your hormones when your body is constantly processing ingredients it doesn't recognize as food.
Real nutrition in midlife isn't about perfection. It's about giving your body actual food — the kind it can recognize, absorb, and use. That's what Phase 2 of my work is built around: learning how to eat in a way that works with your hormones at this stage of life.
This episode is for you if: You're a woman over 40 in perimenopause or menopause who's been making what she thinks are healthy food choices — and can't figure out why she still feels terrible. You don't need another diet. You need to know what's actually in the food you're eating and how it's affecting your body right now.
Links & Resources:
🎯 Take the free quiz → What's Really Causing Your Symptoms? https://cindistickle.com/quiz
📅 Book a free Hormone Reset Clarity Call → https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call
🌿 Learn more about It's Not Just Hormones™ System → https://cindistickle.com
🥑 Free Guide → 9 Menopause-Friendly Foods That Reduce Inflammation → https://cindistickle.com
👩💻 Join the free community → It's Not Just Menopause: No-BS Support with Real Answers → https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause
📱 Follow on Instagram → @cindisticklenutrition
💬 If this episode spoke to you, please share it with a friend — or leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more women find the root-cause menopause support they deserve.
