Registered dietitian Ashley Koff explains why weight loss rules can backfire in perimenopause and menopause, how GLP-1 hormones connect to gut health, bone, and muscle, and how to use AI for health questions without handing it your decisions.
If you are in perimenopause or menopause and the eat less, move more advice is no longer working, this conversation offers a different starting point.
Victoria Byrd, RPh, talks with Ashley Koff, RD, USA Today best-selling author of Your Best Shot: The Personalized System to Optimize Your Weight Health, GLP-1 Shot or Not and founder of the Better Nutrition Program. Ashley has spent more than 25 years in personalized nutrition, and she explains why she moved from weight loss language to weight health, and what that shift means for women in midlife.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why Ashley views weight as a health signal made up of bone, muscle, fat, and water
How GLP-1, GIP, and other weight health hormones are produced in the gut lining, and how shifting sex hormones in perimenopause and menopause can affect them
What to consider before starting a GLP-1 medication, and why Ashley calls it a tool rather than a solution
Her perspective on pairing transdermal estrogen with a low-dose GLP-1, and why she urges caution with the word "microdose"
Why population-based guidelines for fiber, calories, and protein may not fit your body
How Ashley suggests using public AI for research and organizing your week, and where she says it falls short with labs, diagnoses, and recommendations
What private AI is, and how it differs from tools like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT
How "better, not perfect" can replace all-or-nothing thinking about food
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and how consumers are using AI for health
03:45 Why Ashley moved from weight loss to weight health
08:41 Weight health hormones and midlife
13:13 Why personalization matters
21:00 Talking with women who are curious about GLP-1 shots
28:44 Estrogen, GLP-1s, and the microdose question
33:49 Using AI as a health tool
39:00 Public AI vs. private AI
47:03 The emotional and cultural side of food
52:41 Better, not perfect nutrition
58:24 Where to find Ashley
Connect with Ashley Koff, RD:
Grab her Book: "Your Best Shot,"
Check out her website: https://thebetternutritionprogram.com/
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Disclaimer
This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.
Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. Women Mastering Midlife is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.
