324 - Menopause & Erectile Dysfunction: Hormones, Muscle Loss & Plant-Based Solutions | Dr. Brooke Bussard

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"Hot flashes are a canary in the coal mine for women. So, women who have more hot flashes, who have more frequent hot flashes, and more intense hot flashes, have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. People who are on a whole food, plant-based diet usually have fewer hot flashes, and the men have less erectile dysfunction. We lose between 3 and 8% of our muscle mass per decade after the age of 30. And then, for women, it speeds up after menopause, because we sort of are here, and we go off a cliff. Women should not be thought of as this delicate person that can’t lift heavy, that can’t partake in exercise that’s vigorous—like, we need to make sure that we keep our bodies as strong and functional as possible. If it takes you a year to learn how to squat, to learn how to lift some weights—like, there’s no rush—but it’s good to be on a path to getting stronger." -Dr. Brooke Bussard

What if menopause isn’t the end of something, but a powerful new beginning? In this energizing and empowering conversation, Dr. Brooke Bussard joins us to challenge everything you think you know about aging, hormones, and what’s really possible in midlife and beyond. A physician turned plant-powered health coach, Dr. Bussard shares groundbreaking insights from her new book, Outsmarting Menopause, and reveals how food, movement, and mindset can radically reshape our experience of this hormonal transition.

We dig into the real root causes of hot flashes, the surprising link between menopause and cardiovascular disease, how to build muscle and maintain bone mass without fear or frustration, and what men should know about their own aging journey too. Whether you're navigating menopause, supporting someone who is, this episode will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to take your health into your own hands!

What we discuss in this episode:

• The root cause of hot flashes—and what they’re trying to tell us.

• Why maintaining muscle mass matters—especially during hormonal shifts.

• High reps vs. low reps: What’s best for building strength and protecting hormones.

• The surprising connection between hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease.

• How menopause impacts the microbiome—and what you can do about it.

• The power of nuts and seeds in your diet, plus Dr. Bussard’s favorite ways to include them.

• The most harmful myths women are taught about aging and strength.

• How visceral fat affects your organs

• Dr. Bussard’s top tips for making meaningful, immediate health changes.

Resources:

• drbrookebussard.com

• plantsoveranimals.com

• Chew On This

• Outsmarting Menopause

• Eat and Feel Good!

• Instagram: Brooke Bussard, M.D. (@drbrookebussard)

• Facebook: Profile for Brooke Bussard, M.D.

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chewonthisbook (@chewonthisbook and @drbrookebussard)

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