Women are very poorly educated on perimenopause and perimenopause symptoms! So much so that we often assume that the subtle, annoying signs of perimenopause are the result of something else. You probably know some signs of menopause like hot flashes or night sweats. But as you hit your late thirties to early forties, things start to change that your doctor might tell you are “normal” and nothing to worry about. Even though they don’t seem normal. Things like midsection weight gain, skin elasticity + texture changes, mood shifts, poor sleep, brain fog, loss of muscle tone (or difficulty maintaining muscle), fatigue, heavier periods, and low libido are the more common perimenopause symptoms. So what’s a gal to do? Ignore it and hope it sorts itself out? Or start to pay attention and make certain changes? Because I’m in this boat now, I know how important it is to dive into the vast topic of perimenopause.  My guest today is Dena Norton, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience in conventional and holistic health. Though she helped perimenopausal women for years, she became one of them - getting hit with low libido, love handles, and sleep disturbance. This wake-up call drove her to research perimenopause symptoms more deeply than ever. What she learned reduced her symptoms and put her back in control of her health! Dena is passionate about helping fellow 40-something women navigate this topsy-turvy stage of life with proven strategies to curb nagging symptoms and optimize the aging experience! If you are struggling with perimenopause symptoms, what’s your biggest concern? Tell me about it in the comments below or on the Youtube video! In This Episode: Perimenopause - What is it + when does it begin? Sneaky perimenopause symptoms no one talks about Protein intake + perimenopause diet: How much should you eat?  Perimenopause symptoms signaling menopause is near Problems with sex hormone testing (BEFORE you buy a test) 5 Key strategies to reduce annoying perimenopause symptoms Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Dangerous or worth doing? Quotes “I think [HRT] is fabulous. And almost every woman is a candidate, despite what she thought about her family history or whatever risk factors omitted her from that conversation.” [28:58] “All of us think of hot flashes and night sweats because that's what Grandma and Mom experienced, and that's really later down the line for most women, especially if you are an earlier starter… but some of the earliest [signs] that I see are things like sleep disruption, mood changes + anxiety more so than depression.” [28:39] Links Find Dena online | Instagram | Facebook DOWNLOAD Dena's High vs. Low Hormone Symptoms Guide Healthy Skin Show 015: Alternative Remedies For Lichen Sclerosus w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca Healthy Skin Show 286: Is This Normal? (Rashes "Down There" + Hormones Edition) w/ Dr. Jolene Brighten  Healthy Skin Show 180: How Hormones Impact Your Immune System + Skin Health w/ Heather Zwickey, PhD