About this episode

Dr. Mary Claire Haver discusses the gut-hormone-brain connection in menopause with Dr. Amy Shah.

In this episode of unPAUSED , Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Amy Shah, a physician trained in internal medicine and immunology with a nutrition background from Cornell, and author of the new book Hormone Havoc . Dr. Haver and Dr. Shah begin the conversation with the gut-hormone-brain connection, explaining how 40% of estrogen is recirculated through the gut, how the estrobolome, the collection of gut bacteria responsible for metabolizing estrogen, determines how much the body retains, and why declining estrogen in perimenopause and menopause triggers a cascade that loosens the tight junctions meant to keep food particles, toxins, and viruses from entering the bloodstream. This leaky gut drives inflammation that accelerates every symptom women are already experiencing, from weight gain and mood changes to sleep disruption and brain health decline. The gut-brain axis, the constant two-way communication between the gut and the brain, means that what is happening in the gut is directly shaping cognitive function, motivation, and emotional resilience in menopause. She also covers how 95% of serotonin is made in the gut, why chronic inflammation reroutes tryptophan away from…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Guest: Dr. Amy Shah

Topics covered

• menopause
• gut health
• hormones
• brain health
• inflammation
• nutrition

Keywords

• menopause
• gut-brain axis
• estrogen
• inflammation
• serotonin
• hormones
• nutrition

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cornell

Books & works: Hormone Havoc

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• Vanishing Vulvas & Menopause: What's Really Happening with Dr. Karen Tang · July 10, 2026 · 34 min
• Endometriosis and Fibroids Don't Stop at Menopause with Dr. Karen Tang · July 7, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Introducing Family Lore · July 5, 2026 · 3 min

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