Get more details and Join the Reset Retreat here: https://landing.leahbrueggemann.com/reset-retreat-oct26If you've been gaining weight, losing sleep, and feeling like perimenopause is just something you have to white-knuckle through, this episode is going to change how you think about what's actually happening in your body. Women gain an average of five pounds in the first two years of perimenopause alone, and it's not about eating too much. It's about what's shifting in your gut and why your body can no longer absorb, detox, and function the way it used to.In this episode I'm sharing:Why perimenopause and menopause are not just a hormone levels problem, and what's happening in your gut and liver that's driving the weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, and heavy periodsWhat lactoferrin is, why it drops dramatically the moment you enter perimenopause, and how that one protein controls iron regulation, immune response, and inflammation all at onceHow your gut manages estrogen through something called the estrobolome, what happens when that system breaks down, and why your heavy periods and mood swings might be a gut issue more than a hormone issueThe enzyme beta-glucuronidase and what it means for your health when it's too high, including why estrogen gets repackaged and recirculated instead of clearedWhy short chain fatty acids are your body's natural GLP-1 activator, how fiber and resistant starch trigger their production, and what that means for weight, blood sugar, and fullness in menopauseHow cooked and cooled potatoes and rice become a completely different food for your gut bacteria, and why that matters more in perimenopause than at any other stageWhy cruciferous vegetables contain a compound that specifically supports healthy estrogen metabolism, and how to get it from food rather than supplementsThe FUT2 gene and what it means if you're in the 20% of women whose gut literally cannot hold onto good bacteria the way it should, plus what to do about itWhy slippery elm bark, seaweed, bone broth, and collagen might be the missing piece if you've done everything right and your gut still isn't respondingThe five mushroom blend Leah recommends specifically for perimenopause and menopause, and which function each mushroom targetsPerimenopause is not a death sentence and it is not something you just survive. But your body is asking for different support than it used to, and the gut is where most of that work starts. This episode gives you the science and the actual action steps to begin changing what's happening at the root.Use code LEAH for 15% off at Eversio WellnessLeah's Favorite Things: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/favorites—I'm Leah Brueggemann, a Functional Diagnostic Nutritional® Practitioner and Hormone Health Coach, helping you balance your hormones in effective and realistic ways so you can live a healthier, happier life.Through the Balance Hormones Naturally podcast, you'll discover why your cycle is so important to your everyday health and how you can use nutrition to help support the rise and fall of your hormones and finally feel truly amazing. We dig deep to understand and heal the root causes of your symptoms so you can achieve lasting results through manageable and realistic lifestyle changes, allowing you to live a healthy and balanced life without a long-term pharmaceutical prescription.Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancinghormonesnaturally/ Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_brueg/ Website: https://www.leahbrueggemann.com/ Email: [email protected]—The recommendations presented in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified doctor. Before making any changes to your diet and lifestyle, please consult with your healthcare provider.