30: Beyond Weight Loss: The Peptides and Hormone Therapies Revolutionizing Thyroid Health and Perimenopause

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In this episode of the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Dr. Elena Zinkov about the often-misunderstood transition of perimenopause and its profound effects on women’s health.

Dr. Zinkov is a naturopathic doctor who has dedicated her career to empowering women through innovative hormone and peptide therapies. Having faced her own struggles with perimenopause symptoms in her 30s, Dr. Zinkov refused to accept what the medical establishment deemed “normal.” Frustrated by a system that often overlooks the unique challenges women face such as brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, and metabolic dysfunction — she embarked on a mission to change the narrative.

Dr. Zinkov is leading the charge in redefining women’s health through innovative hormone and peptide therapies — specifically designed to empower women over 35 to reprogram their metabolism, build muscle, and confidently defy the aging process.

She’s here to tell us that midlife isn’t just a transition  — it can be the most powerful chapter in a woman’s life.

This episode is packed with important information for women navigating perimenopause. Tune in to learn how you can be your own best health advocate during this transformative chapter of life!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Perimenopause starts earlier than most women realize — often in their 30s. Dr. Zinkov explains that hormone decline begins as early as our mid-twenties, and symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, and irregular cycles can start showing up long before periods stop. Tracking hormone fluctuations through regular testing is key to catching these changes early.
• Progesterone is the first hormone to decline — and it’s essential for sleep, mood, and calm. Bioidentical progesterone metabolizes into allopregnanolone, which activates GABA receptors in the brain. This calming effect is why declining progesterone often shows up as insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. And no — progestin is not the same thing. In fact, it can worsen mood and increase health risks.
• Growth hormone peptides (like sermorelin, CJC, Ipamorelin) paired with GLP-1s (like semaglutide) may help reverse metabolic decline in perimenopause. Dr. Zinkov shares that this combination not only supports weight loss but also builds lean muscle, regulates blood sugar, and boosts energy. These peptides work best when hormones are balanced, and they may even reduce autoimmune markers and inflammation.
• Testosterone is critical for motivation, libido, muscle mass, and mood in women — but needs to be carefully dosed. Despite fears of “bulking up,” women naturally produce testosterone and often need small amounts in midlife. Starting with a microdose (like 0.5 to 1 mg) in topical form can support energy and mental drive without unwanted side effects like acne or hair growth.
• Weight loss isn’t just about willpower or calories in/calories out — it’s about metabolic function, hormones, and muscle. Crash dieting and over-exercising can backfire, especially in perimenopause. Dr. Zinkov emphasizes prioritizing protein, resistance training, and supporting thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones to rebuild metabolism from the inside out.

Guest Resources/Connect with Dr. Elena Zinkov

• Clinic Website
• Personal Website
• Instagram

Freebies

• Download Dr. Zinkov’s free guide on hormone and peptide therapy here

Hormones & Hormone Therapies

• Bioidentical progesterone (topical and oral options, including compounded forms)
• Bioidentical estrogen
• Prometrium (bioidentical progesterone in a peanut oil base)
• Testosterone (low-dose, preferably compounded topical; avoid injections/pellets in most cases)
• DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone; controversial — microdosing recommended if used)
• 7-keto DHEA (potential benefits with fewer androgenic effects)
• Spironolactone (low-dose, sometimes used to reduce androgenic side effects)

Neurotransmitter-Supportive Agents

• GABA (calming neurotransmitter, indirectly supported by progesterone → allopregnanolone)
• Allopregnanolone (a metabolite of progesterone acting on GABA receptors)

Peptides & Innovative Therapies

• Growth hormone peptides:
  • CJC-1295
  • Ipamorelin
  • Tesamorelin
  • Sermorelin

• GLP-1 receptor agonists:
  • Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)
  • Tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist)

• DHH-B (Dihexa) – cognitive-support peptide for ADHD/brain fog/neuroprotection

• Rapamycin – Repurposed drug that may increase egg quality/quantity. Mentioned for ovarian aging, premature ovarian insufficiency (experimental use), delaying menopause

Nutrient Support & Supplement Tools

• Magnesium (noted to raise DHEA levels naturally) – Read my article on Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health for more information
• Saw Palmetto (to reduce DHT conversion from testosterone)
• Nettle root (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor)

Lifestyle & Testing Tools

• Weighted Vest (Amazon) (10% of body weight) – Enhances bone density, improves posture, and increases workout intensity.
• Walking Treadmill (Amazon)
• Day 3-5 Blood Work for Hormones – Helps assess estrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH, and testosterone levels.
• Thyroid Testing – Regular monitoring of thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, antibodies) is crucial during perimenopause.
• DUTCH Hormone Test – Evaluates hormone levels, metabolites, and cortisol patterns (useful for bioidentical hormone monitoring).

Books and Articles About Thyroid Health

• Estrogen Dominance as a Trigger for Hashimoto’s
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Did Your Thyroid Condition Start or Worsen During Perimenopause?

Get the Full Episode Transcript

Let’s Connect!

• Follow me on Instagram:@izabellawentzpharmd
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Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂

About Our Host

Dr. Izabella Wentz 

Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and her latest book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol.

Thyroid Pharmacist Blog
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Rootcology

About Our Guest

Dr. Elena Zinkov is redefining women’s health with cutting-edge hormone and peptide therapies, helping women over 35 reprogram their metabolism, build muscle, and defy aging. As someone who struggled with perimenopause symptoms in her 30s, she was determined not to settle for what doctors called “normal.” Frustrated by the medical system dismissing women, while they continued to battle brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, and metabolic dysfunction, Dr. Elena set out to change the conversation.

With over a decade of experience and having worked with 20,000+ women, she developed a proven method integrating bioidentical hormones, peptides, and progressive longevity strategies to help women reclaim their vitality, and thrive through perimenopause and beyond. Dr. Elena is on a mission to rewrite the rules on aging, empowering women to be their own best health advocates — and proving that midlife can be their most powerful chapter yet.

Clinic Website
Personal Website
Instagram