Bone Health: Why You Should Care Before Menopause
Most women don’t think about their bone health until something breaks, but by then, the foundation has often been quietly eroding for decades. From restrictive eating in our youth to digestive issues, chronic stress, thyroid imbalances, and the dramatic drop in estrogen during menopause, the factors influencing our bone density are wide-reaching and often overlooked in conventional care.
In this episode, Dr. Miranda Naylor sits down with Cindy Dupuis, a functional medicine nutritionist with over 20 years of experience specializing in women through perimenopause and menopause. After going into menopause herself at 43, Cindy has made it her mission to help women become their own advocates and understand the full picture of what’s happening in their bodies during this transition. Together, they explore why bone health is one of the most under-discussed pieces of women’s longevity, how to advocate for an early DEXA scan, the blood markers most doctors aren’t checking, and what you can do at every stage to protect your bones for life.
We’ll explore:
✔️ Why bone health matters for long-term independence, mobility, and quality of life
✔️ The surprising risk factors that put women at greater risk of osteoporosis
✔️ Why getting a DEXA scan in perimenopause (not at 65) could change everything
✔️ The blood markers (CTX and P1NP) that reveal what’s really happening in your bones
✔️ How estrogen, digestion, thyroid, and nutrition all play a role in bone density
✔️ Practical lifestyle, nutrition, and movement strategies to support strong bones at any age
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough to protect your bones, or if you’ve been told “everything looks fine” while feeling unsure, this episode will empower you with the questions to ask, the labs to request, and the lifestyle shifts that can make a real difference for your future self.
Timestamp
00:07 Why bone health matters more than most women realize
01:42 Cindy’s journey into specializing in menopause
06:20 Why doctors aren’t trained in perimenopause and menopause
09:47 The problem with waiting until 65 for a DEXA scan
12:38 Risk factors that put women at higher risk of osteoporosis 1
6:36 Why a broken hip is more serious than most people realize
19:23 When bone density peaks and when it starts to decline
23:17 What impacts bone density beyond estrogen
25:29 Blood markers to monitor: CTX and P1NP
27:55 How thyroid issues affect bone breakdown
30:55 The role of digestion, stomach acid, and bile in bone health
36:42 What to do if your DEXA shows significant bone loss
38:54 Cindy’s personal experience with a doctor’s misguided recommendation
41:28 The truth about weighted vests and bone health
42:47 Where to find Cindy Dupuis
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