Midlife Vitality

Holly Bradich

Details

Welcome to the Midlife Vitality podcast, where I empower midlife women to find their balance, and most importantly, find themselves. I'm your host, Holly Bradich - when perimenopause hit me hard with insomnia, bloating, mood swings and migraines, I launched into a healing journey that changed my life. I'm here to help you gut through the chaos and conflicting messaging on midlife health. Join me to ditch the diets and gimmicks, for science-based strategies that boost your metabolism, mood and confidence, so you can feel yourself again! Follow me on Instagram @mindful_vitality

Recent Episodes

NOV 5, 2026
S6: EP 7: Holiday Survival in Peri/Menopause: Cravings, Anxiety, Bloating & Weight Gain.
If the holidays leave you bloated, anxious and already planning to "be good" on Monday, this episode is for you. I dive into why the season hits harder in midlife, and give you practical, no-guilt tools for weight gain, holiday anxiety, cravings and bloating, with no forbidden foods. Part 1: Why the holidays hit differently in midlife Part 2: Let's talk about holiday weight gain Part 3: Anxiety and the holiday nervous system Part 4: Cravings, decoded Part 5: Beating the bloat & puffiness Part 6: My top tips to feel good this holiday season If you're lying awake at 3 a.m., listen next to Season 6, Episode 4: Why Women Can't Sleep in Midlife. Book a discovery call to see if a nutrition consultation is right for you. Feel better in as little as 2 weeks! Book your Discovery Call. In your initial nutrition consultation, I take a deep dive into your medical history, all current health concerns and goals, review blood work, and together make a personalized, sustainable plan of nutrition goals, supplements and lifestyle to help you get your glow back! Educational information, not medical advice. If you take medication, have a health condition, or have a history of disordered eating, check with your clinician before changing how you eat. See a doctor for persistent or severe bloating, unexplained weight changes or blood in your stool. #nutritiontips #midlifenutrition #perimenopause #menopause #midlifewomen #womenshealth #weightlossjourney #anxiety #bloating #mentalhealth #ibs #foodsensitivities
30 MIN
MAY 23, 2026
S6: EP 5: The Menopause Microbiome: Diarrhea, Food Sensitivities, Bloating...is it SIBO?
Scared to eat before you go out in case you sh*t your pants? If you’ve suddenly started reacting to healthy foods like eggs, dairy, garlic, broccoli, or onions with bloating, gas, brain fog, diarrhea, or constipation — you are not crazy, and it's not just aging. In this episode, we’re unpacking why so many women in perimenopause and midlife develop food sensitivities seemingly overnight, and why simply cutting out more and more foods is not the answer. We dive into the powerful connection between hormonal changes, stress, sleep, gut motility, and microbiome imbalance — and how they can create the perfect environment for issues like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and large intestine dysbiosis to develop. You’ll learn: • How estrogen and progesterone changes impact digestion and the gut microbiome • Why chronic constipation can trigger food reactions and bloating • The different types of SIBO (hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide) and how each one feels different • Why you may feel like you’re reacting to “everything” you eat • The truth about low FODMAP diets — and why they’re not meant to be forever • The difference between SIBO and large intestine dysbiosis • Why aggressive gut “kill protocols” often backfire • A gentler, more sustainable approach to healing your gut without surviving on rice and chicken. If you’re tired of fearing food, constantly bloated, or feeling dismissed when your symptoms don’t make sense, this episode will help you understand what may really be happening in your gut — and what steps you can take to start healing. Book your IBS discovery call today here. Follow me mindful_vitality #perimenopause #menopause #bloating #sibo #foodsensitivities #heartburn #brainfog #womenshealth #hormonehealth #hrt #ibs #gerd #fatigue #nutrientdeficiencies #hairloss #glutenfree #lowfodmap
44 MIN
MAR 6, 2026
S6 EP4: Why Women Can’t Sleep in Midlife — The Hidden Link Between Hormones, Cravings & Weight Gain
Struggling to fall asleep… or waking up at 3 AM with your mind racing? If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or 50s and suddenly your sleep has completely changed, you’re not imagining it, and you're not alone. Hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause can dramatically impact sleep—and that poor sleep can trigger cravings, stubborn weight gain, brain fog, and energy crashes. In this episode of Midlife Vitality, functional nutritionist Holly Bradich BSc., breaks down the science behind why sleep becomes so challenging in midlife and how it affects your metabolism, hormones, and food cravings. You’ll learn how fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, rising cortisol, and blood sugar imbalances can keep you stuck in a cycle of insomnia, fatigue, and feeling out of control around food—even when you’re trying to eat well and exercise. Holly also shares simple, practical strategies to help you sleep deeper, stabilize your blood sugar, reduce cravings, and support your metabolism naturally—without crash dieting or relying on willpower. If you’re tired of feeling exhausted, frustrated with stubborn belly weight, and wondering why your body suddenly feels so different, this episode will help you understand what’s really happening and how to start feeling like yourself again. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why sleep problems are so common in perimenopause and menopause The connection between poor sleep, cortisol, and late-night cravings How blood sugar crashes can wake you up at 2–4 AM Why lack of sleep slows metabolism and promotes belly fat Simple nutrition and lifestyle strategies to support better sleep and balanced hormone Should you try HRT to improve your sleep? The secret link between sleep, gut health and metabolism When your sleep improves, something amazing happens—your metabolism stabilizes, cravings calm down, and it becomes much easier to feel energized, confident, and in control of your body again. Blogs mentioned in this podcast: ⁠GLP-1 Digestive Side Effects Explained: Bloating, Constipation, IBS & What Actually Helps⁠ Follow me on Instagram ⁠@mindful_vitality⁠ Book your complimentary ⁠Discovery Call ⁠with me today for a personalized metabolism boosting plan. #midlifewomen #sleep #stressbelly #menopause #weightloss #diets #insulinresistance #weightlossjourney #glp1 #guthealth #nutrition #perimenopause #weightloss #metabolism #sleepissues #insomnia #brainfog #menopausebelly #bloodsugar #prediabetes #gutmicrobiome #probiotics #hrt #hormonetherapy
66 MIN
AUG 22, 2025
S6: EP 3: Burnout & The Midlife Bloat - Constipation Cures Part II
Are you a midlife woman who has checked all the boxes—career, family, caregiving, responsibilities—yet now your body feels like it’s betraying you? Constipation, bloating, brain fog, restless 3 a.m. wakeups, constant infections… no amount of water, fiber, or probiotics or laxatives seems to help. In this episode of the Midlife Vitality podcast, we dive into the hidden connection between stress, burnout, and your digestion—and why your gut struggles when your nervous system is stuck in survival mode. You’ll learn: How stress hormones slow down digestion, trigger bloating, and weaken your gut microbiome Why midlife sleep struggles are so common (and why that nightly glass of wine may actually be sabotaging your rest and your mood) Simple, realistic shifts that support better digestion—without diets, detoxes, or perfectionism The role of boundaries, asking for help, and making space for yourself in restoring gut health and energy How the 4R Functional Medicine Protocol can help reset your microbiome so you can tolerate more foods, reduce bloating, and finally feel like yourself again Healing your gut in midlife isn’t about willpower or doing more —it’s about releasing what’s weighing you down and giving your body the rest, nourishment, and care it needs. Grab your free guide: Midlife Metabolism Boosting Roadmap 📩 ⁠Book your complimentary Discovery Call with Holly⁠ Follow me on Instagram⁠ @mindful_vitality⁠ #guthealth #ibs #constipation #guthealingjourney #constipationrelief #midlifewomen #menopause #perimenopause #bloating #microbiome #probiotics #functionalnutrition #digestivewellness #holisticnutrition #womenshealth #heartburn #leakygut #foodsensitivities #sibo
48 MIN