Nutrition in midlife is loud so we brought in Coven Women’s Health Registered Dietitian, Nishta Saxena, to make sense of what your body actually needs in perimenopause and beyond. This episode breaks down metabolism, weight changes, hormone shifts and everything the internet gets wrong about “fixing” your body in your 40s and 50s. If you want less confusion, more confidence, and a grounded plan for nourishing yourself, this conversation is packed with clarity.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• What a Registered Dietitian actually is and why regulated, evidence-based nutrition support matters.
• Why weight changes in perimenopause, including shifts in hormones, fat distribution and metabolism.
• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, etc.), when they’re helpful and when they can create new problems.
• Why strength training becomes essential for health, longevity and weight stability.
• How stress, sleep and mindset impact appetite and midlife weight changes more than most diets do.
• Why nutrition is emotional, not just practical, and how to build habits that support the life you want.

Links from the episode:

• Learn more about the Weight & Nutrition programs at covenhealth.com
• Get started with the Diet & Nutrition Program or the Feel Powerful – Weight Management Program
• Follow Nishta on Instagram, @nishtasaxenard

Let’s Connect:
If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven Women’s Health at @covenhealth or visit www.covenhealth.com

This one gets personal. Dr. Michelle shares how she discovered she carries a BRCA mutation (from her dad’s side), what it meant for her 20s, and why that moment shaped her life’s work. From genetic testing and a preventive double mastectomy to building better care paths for women after cancer, this episode blends story, science, and the kind of straight-talk you wish you’d heard sooner.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• What BRCA actually is and why you can inherit it from either parent
• How to approach genetic testing when family history is missing or complicated
• What you need to know about screening
• Michelle’s decision-making: life insurance worries, timing kids, and choosing a preventive double mastectomy
• Why “one-size-fits-all” doesn’t exist: individualized choices vs. fear-driven advice
• Menopause after cancer: Who can (and sometimes should) consider hormones, and nuanced alternatives
• The survivorship gap: Why finishing treatment isn’t the finish line and what better support looks like
• How Michelle’s experience led to Coven Health and the Feel Powerful Menopause After Cancer program (evidence, empathy, and a real plan)
  
  

If you’ve ever felt in the dark about hereditary risk or been told to simply “tough out” menopause after cancer, this conversation is for you.

Let’s Connect:
If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven on Instagram at @covenhealth or visit www.covenhealth.com

Progesterone has a reputation for being the “bad guy” in PMS but it’s also essential for balancing estrogen and protecting your uterus. In this episode, Jenn and Dr. Michelle get into the role of progesterone, why women are told they’re “estrogen dominant,” and how myths around hormones keep us confused (and sometimes taken advantage of). They also touch on the hype around testosterone for women and what the evidence actually says.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• Progesterone 101: what it is, when it’s made, and why it matters
• The truth behind “estrogen dominance” and other buzzwords
• How progesterone can help (or worsen) PMS and perimenopausal symptoms
• Jenn’s experience with headaches, fatigue, and finding the right combination of hormone therapy
• Side effects, myths, and the importance of safe prescribing and follow-ups
• Testosterone: when it can help, what it’s not good for, and why it’s suddenly everywhere in your algorithm
• Why individualized care, not one-size-fits-all hormone promises, is the key to feeling better

This episode is equal parts myth-busting and practical education, helping you understand how different hormones actually work together — and what questions to ask if you’re considering hormone therapy.

Links from the episode:

MQ6 – Menopause Assessment Tool

Let’s Connect:
If this resonated, leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us and find more information about Coven Women’s Health at @covenhealth or visit www.covenhealth.com