The Real Heal - Intimate Conversations with Holistic Health Experts

Struggling with sleep in perimenopause? Waking up at 3AM, night sweats, racing thoughts, or feeling exhausted no matter how long you're in bed? In this episode, Dr. Renee (double board-certified OB/GYN and functional medicine physician) breaks down exactly why sleep gets disrupted after 40—and what actually works to fix it. You'll learn the real hormonal causes of perimenopause insomnia, what "sle...

Are your supplements actually making your menopause symptoms worse? Most women over 40 have a "supplement stack" they've built based on articles, social media trends, and health store recommendations. But as a double board-certified OB/GYN, I see the same pattern every day: women accidentally sabotaging their hormones with the very pills meant to fix them. In this episode, I reveal the 7 common su...

I was wrong about HRT—and I am sorry. For 15 years, I (Double Board-Certified OB/GYN and Functional Medicine Doc) followed the conventional medical wisdom that said Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was dangerous. Like thousands of other doctors, I was practicing out of fear based on the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. Today, I'm setting the record straight. If you have been told "no"...

Are you exhausted no matter how much you sleep… dealing with low libido, brain fog, mood changes, and feeling like you "lost your spark"—but your doctor says your labs are "normal"?   In this video, I'm breaking down the hormone that's often ignored in women's health: testosterone.   🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/brszxICJhKQ     DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purpos...

If you're noticing hair thinning after 40, more shedding in the shower, or a widening part—but keep hearing "your labs are normal"—this video breaks down the most important lab tests for female hair loss and the order I recommend starting with.   In this episode, I walk through the key root-cause factors behind hair loss in women over 40, including low ferritin, thyroid dysfunction, testosterone i...

If you're over 40 and dealing with bloating, stubborn weight gain, fatigue, or brain fog, your lymphatic system might be the missing piece. In this episode, I'm breaking down 5 simple ways to support your lymphatic drainage at home—plus the exact daily routine I use with my clients to help improve energy, hormone balance, and metabolism. Because here's the truth:👉 If your drainage pathways aren't...

If you've ever been told "your labs are normal"—but you're still exhausted, gaining weight, losing hair, and not sleeping—this video is for you. In this episode, I break down 7 commonly missed lab patterns in women over 40 that traditional testing often overlooks. Because "normal" does NOT always mean optimal—especially in perimenopause and beyond. We're diving into the real reasons your symptoms...

Hot flashes and night sweats are some of the most frustrating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause—but what if you don't want to take hormones or can't use hormone therapy? In this episode, I walk you through science-backed, non-hormonal treatments for hot flashes, including lifestyle changes, mind-body techniques, supplements, and prescription options that can help calm your body's internal th...

Perimenopause "We Do Not Care" isn't you being lazy, mean, or broken—it's brain chemistry + burnout + hormone shifts. If you've been seeing the "We Do Not Care Club" trend and thinking …why is this me? this video will help you connect the dots (estrogen, serotonin, dopamine, GABA, stress tolerance, and that short fuse you don't recognize). In this episode, I break down what's happening in your bra...

Perimenopause symptoms in your 30s are showing up way more than most women were ever warned about—and getting told "you're too young" is one of the fastest ways to stay stuck. If you're 35 and suddenly dealing with cycle chaos, anxiety, hot flashes, or brain fog, this video will help you understand what perimenopause actually is, why it can start earlier than you think, what to rule out, and what...

If you're over 40 and you've been checking all the boxes—eating clean, hitting your workouts, maybe even skipping meals like you used to—but that stubborn belly fat won't budge, trust me, you're not alone. I've wrestled with it myself. In this episode, I'm digging into why the old weight-loss tricks just stop working during perimenopause and menopause—and what actually moves the needle instead (an...

Menopause isn't just hot flashes — for a lot of women, it hits your brain first. If you're in your 40s or 50s and you're dealing with brain fog, word-finding issues, memory glitches, anxiety, low motivation, or sleep that suddenly falls apart, this video will help you understand what's really going on (and what you can do next). I'm Dr. Renee Wellenstein — double board-certified OB/GYN + Functiona...

In October 2025, the FDA and federal health leaders quietly updated menopause hormone therapy labeling—removing the black box warning that scared millions of women (and their doctors) away from estrogen for more than 20 years. In this episode, I break down what actually happened, why the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) headlines were misunderstood, and what the evidence says today about HRT/m...

Menoscalp—yep, it's a made-up word… but it describes a very real pattern: hair thinning, widening part, increased shedding, and scalp dryness/itching that often ramps up in perimenopause and menopause. If you're over 40 and your ponytail feels smaller (or your shower drain feels fuller), you're not imagining it. In this episode, Dr. Renee breaks down what's actually happening to your hair follicle...

Ever wonder why your ears start itching out of nowhere? Or maybe you get random ringing, a weird burning feeling on your tongue, or even notice you don't smell quite like you usually do? If you're a woman over 40 and you've caught yourself thinking, "Wait, is this perimenopause or am I just falling apart?"—trust me, you're not the only one. In this episode, I'm walking you through eight of the wei...

Feeling swamped by all the weight loss advice, new meds, and never-ending menopause talk? If you're a woman over 40, trust me, you're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Renee Wellenstein—a double board-certified OB/GYN and functional medicine doc—gets real about what actually helps women lose weight, balance hormones, and keep their metabolism on track in 2026. She also calls out what's just noise.  ...

If you're a high-achieving woman in your 40s and you used to crush it—but now you're just getting through the day—this video is for you. I'm Dr. Renee Wellenstein, double board-certified OB/GYN and Functional Medicine doctor, and I'm breaking down the 5 signs you're losing your edge and exactly how to get it back. In this video, you'll learn: Why your brain isn't as sharp as it used to be (and wha...

Could your DNA be the reason you can't lose weight—no matter how hard you try? In 2014, I did a $99 23andMe test (before functional medicine was even trendy!) and discovered I carry the FTO gene—a genetic variant that makes weight loss significantly harder. My report said I was "predisposed to weight above average." But here's the empowering truth: your genes are NOT your destiny. They're your ins...

If you're over 40, stressed, and gaining weight no matter what you do, these 3 stress mistakes might be the real reason. In this video, I'm breaking down how stress after 40 can quietly sabotage your metabolism, hormones, and weight loss efforts—and what to start doing differently. 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OWMu8-s3LRw   You'll learn: Why "just try harder" and more willpow...

Are you a woman over 40 tired of being told your labs are "normal" while you still struggle with fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight, or mood swings? In this episode, Dr. Renee Wellenstein—a double board-certified OB/GYN and Functional Medicine doctor—reveals the 8 essential lab tests your doctor probably isn't ordering (but should be). These tests go beyond routine check-ups to uncover the root c...

Can't lose weight after 40? Always exhausted? Brain fog that won't quit? Your doctor says your labs are "normal"—but you feel anything BUT normal. Here's what they're not checking: your mitochondria. Your mitochondria are your cellular powerhouses—they control your energy, metabolism, fat burning, and even how fast you age. When they're struggling, EVERYTHING suffers. In this video, I'm breaking d...

You've been told your thyroid labs are "normal," but you're still exhausted, gaining weight, losing hair, and feeling like a shell of yourself. Sound familiar? Here's the truth: "Normal" lab ranges are based on a sick population—not what's optimal for YOU. In this epiosde, I'm breaking down the 5 key signs that your thyroid isn't functioning optimally, even when your doctor says everything looks f...

Struggling to lose weight after 40 no matter what you try? It's not about willpower—it's about hormones. In this episode, I'm breaking down the 3 hormones that are sabotaging your weight loss efforts and exactly what you can do to fix them. Ready to discover YOUR hormone imbalances? Schedule a strategy call: https://www.drreneewellenstein.com/work-with-me As a board-certified OB/GYN and Functional...

Confused about which supplements actually work for perimenopause? I'm cutting through the noise and sharing the best supplements for perimenopause based on 20 years of clinical experience as a functional medicine doctor. Want a personalized supplement protocol? Schedule a strategy call: https://www.drreneewellenstein.com/work-with-me As a board-certified OB/GYN and Functional Medicine doctor, I've...

Are you eating clean, working out, but that stubborn belly fat just won't budge? The truth is—it's not about willpower, it's about hormones. In this episode, I'm breaking down how estrogen dominance and cortisol imbalances create belly fat in women over 40—and what you can actually do about it. You'll learn: ✅ Why estrogen dominance + fake estrogens (xenoestrogens) from the environment make fat l...