Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

Why are my allergies suddenly worse in perimenopause?

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

Have you suddenly developed hay fever, itchy skin, rashes, food sensitivities or reactions to things you've tolerated your whole life?

In this week's solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter explores the surprising connection between menopause, histamine and allergies. She explains why hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can make some women more sensitive to foods, alcohol, environmental triggers and even HRT itself.

If you've ever wondered why your symptoms seem to come out of nowhere, this episode will help you understand what's happening and what you can do about it.

💬 Topics include:
• Why allergies can worsen during perimenopause
• Histamine intolerance and menopause
• The role of mast cells and hormonal changes
• Common food triggers including wine, tomatoes and fermented foods
• Why keeping a symptom diary can help
• The "histamine bucket" theory explained
• Hay fever, itchy skin, rashes and digestive symptoms
• How HRT can affect histamine sensitivity
• When to seek medical advice
• Practical ways to reduce allergy symptoms

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

00:00 – Allergies in perimenopause and menopause explained
00:31 – Histamine sensitivity, mast cells and menopause symptoms
01:24 – Common histamine triggers: food, alcohol, stress and temperature
02:23 – The histamine bucket theory explained
03:07 – Antihistamines and HRT for menopause allergies
05:06 – How to start HRT if you have histamine sensitivity
06:43 – Do menopause allergy symptoms get better over time?
07:30 – How to identify and manage histamine intolerance in menopause
08:14 – When to see a doctor about menopause allergies

#menopause #perimenopause #allergies

Today we're revisiting our episode with author, coach, and former editor of Hello! Magazine, Rosie Nixon.

Rosie opened up about the burnout that hit her in midlife – which was only exacerbated by hormonal turbulence in perimenopause – and how this did, in fact, lead to the biggest and best transformation of her life.

If you enjoyed this snippet, you can listen to the full episode with Rosie here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zWwGun1xjFISmV2hI6FHY?si=6YNgHbLARgePL1NrjkuU1g

#menopause #perimenopause #burnout

Can you go through menopause in your 30s?

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

This week, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by actress and national treasure Dani Harmer (best known as Tracy Beaker) for a very honest conversation about early menopause, HRT, exhaustion, brain fog and trying to parent young children while completely running on empty.

Dani opens up about the symptoms that made her realise something was wrong, how her partner first spotted the signs of perimenopause, and why finally starting HRT made her “feel like herself again”. Naomi also explains why women who go through menopause young may need extra support for their bones, heart and long-term health.

💬 Topics include:
• Early menopause and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
• Perimenopause symptoms in your 30s
• HRT for younger women
• Why DEXA bone scans matter in early menopause
• Brain fog, exhaustion and menopause fatigue
• Hair loss during menopause
• The role of nutrition and protein in menopause symptoms
• Menopause rage, anxiety and low mood
• Parenting young children during perimenopause
• How partners can better support menopause

llow Dani Harmer below:
Dani’s Instagram: @missdanijharmer
Dani’s TikTok: @daniharmer

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

00:00 – Dani Harmer on early menopause at 34
03:18 – The early menopause symptoms nobody warned her about
06:17 – Diagnosed with perimenopause in her 30s
09:23 – What is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?
12:05 – Why younger women may need higher HRT doses
15:50 – Why Dani still feels exhausted despite HRT
18:16 – Hair loss in menopause: hormones or nutrition?
21:14 – The menopause fatigue cycle explained
24:00 – Simple menopause nutrition changes that could help
27:06 – Can menopause cause hair thinning and hair loss?
29:14 – How Dani's partner supported her through menopause
32:30 – The right way to talk about menopause with your partner
34:21 – Dani's advice if your GP won't listen
37:03 – Feeling isolated with early menopause? What helps
38:32 – Parenting young children during perimenopause
41:04 – Why more women need to talk about early menopause

#menopause #earlymenopause #hrt

Today we're revisiting our episode with personal trainer, author, and wellness coach Lavina Mehta.

Lavina very candidly opened up about her experience as a South Asian woman bringing 'taboo' topics like perimenopause, periods, and women's health to the table – and why this is so crucially important to do.

If you enjoyed this snippet, you can listen to the full episode with Lavina here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UNeIYs6QhMFTjTqnSU1pk?si=mcTPkZqvQ2y90kFMSbaOjg

#menopause #perimenopause #southasianculture

Healthy shouldn't be this hard.

🤝 Get your own personalised menopause support from Dr Naomi Potter and her team: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/what-to-expect-ihih

In this week’s episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by nutritionist, author and podcast host Sarah Ann Macklin for a fascinating conversation about diet culture, self-worth, stress and why your mindset may be affecting your metabolism more than you realise.

Sarah explains why so many women feel like they’re “failing” at health during midlife – despite trying so hard to eat well, exercise and keep up with endless wellness advice. Together, they unpack the science behind self-compassion, stress, digestion, emotional eating and why being kinder to yourself may actually improve your health outcomes.

💬 Topics include:
• Why stress affects digestion and metabolism
• The link between self-worth and food choices
• Why women feel exhausted by wellness culture
• Diet culture and “optimisation” explained
• The science behind self-compassion
• Why shame does NOT motivate healthy habits
• Emotional eating and binge eating
• Why “healthy eating” feels harder in midlife
• The surprising psychology behind cravings
• How mindset affects hormones and health
• Why mums are more active than they think
• How to build healthier habits without punishment

📘 Get Sarah's new book Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Healthy-Shouldnt-Be-This-Hard/dp/0857509977/ref=asc_df_0857509977?mcid=ebba7bd752a23e949a6647f3f30010ab&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=795502497071&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6551743774984784278&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9262905&hvtargid=pla-2472515035398&psc=1&hvocijid=6551743774984784278-0857509977-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Follow Sarah Ann Macklin below:
Sarah’s Instagram: @sarahannmacklin
Sarah’s podcast: Live Well Be Well
Sarah’s book: Healthy Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Follow Dr Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

#menopause #nutrition #selfcompassion