Few people discuss what happens to your hormones after menopause. In fact, there seems to be a lot of secrecy among women in this stage of life about their hormonal health. That’s why I’m so excited to have Maria Claps with me today to shed light on this important topic.   About Maria Claps Maria Claps is a certified health coach, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, and mom to four grown boys. After receiving inadequate healthcare that did nothing to address her perimenopause problems, Maria enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in order to help herself. After that, Maria pursued several hormone-centric trainings including Dr. Sara Gottfried's practitioner hormone training program, and the Functional Diagnostic Nutrition program, and she also has been mentored by hormone scholar and scientist Dr. Lindsey Berkson. Maria helps women all over the world as a perimenopause and menopause mentor. She is a DUTCH hormone test expert. She also teaches practitioners how to help midlife women thrive in a mentorship program called Midlife Hormone Mastery. When she’s not working with clients, Maria can be found trekking through Italy, at farmers’ markets locally, or in the kitchen creating recipes.   Hormonal Changes Don’t Mean the End of Your Lifestyle Throughout this conversation, Maria shares how her experience sent her on a quest to better understand the signs and symptoms of perimenopause. Insomnia, weight gain, and unstable moods led her to solutions that few others in the health field were discussing.  Over the years, Maria discovered the truth that lies behind many common menopause myths. In reality, you don’t have to accept all the changes. Maria explains that hormonal changes are not necessarily the same thing as aging. By recognizing that the way you feel now is a symptom, not the root of the problem, you can take informed actions. Much of the way people think of menopause is very negative. Maria explains how cultural expectations of older women derive from a false narrative. Sadly, this has led to a culture of silence around the topic. Maria works to help women open up about their experiences. When this happens, women can take action and regain control over their lives.   Understanding Your Hormones Before, During, and After Menopause Maria stresses that living a healthy lifestyle will help ease your transition to perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. Diet and nutrition, as well as exercise, go a long way. That being said, there is no guarantee that it will still go smoothly. Many of Maria’s clients do this and still struggle.  It can be scary to experience these changes in your body. There is a sense of loss of control when you don’t fully understand how these changes affect you. That’s why Maria stresses the role of education. When you understand your body well, you know what is normal, what isn’t, and what you can do about it.  Hormone testing, particularly the DUTCH Test, is a major tool Maria employs. It gives a complete picture of what the hormones are doing and how they are changing. Maria has seen the value of these tests to highlight potential problems and establish healthy regimens for her clients. What can you start doing today to prepare for menopause? Let me know in the comments on the episode page!   In This Episode How to recognize the signs of perimenopause [8:30] Common myths about menopause [11:45] Changing the cultural narrative of aging and menopause [16:40] What to expect from an optimal menopause experience [21:45] The connection between the premenopausal experience and menopause itself [27:35] The critical link between mindset and menopause [33:15] The value of comprehensive hormone testing for post-menopausal women [36:45] Practical tips you can start using today to reduce menopause symptoms [48:50]   Quotes “As far as becoming this overweight asexual woman who isolates herself and can’t contribute to the world anymore,