“Why does your body stop responding… even when you’re doing everything right?” In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Siobhan Mitchell to unpack the true metabolic and cellular shifts happening in perimenopause and menopause. So many women feel like their body has suddenly turned against them—weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, and rising inflammation—despite doing all the right things. But this isn’t a failure of effort. It’s a biological inflection point driven by declining estrogen and its impact on metabolism, mitochondria, and vascular health. Together, they break down how estrogen loss reshapes everything from blood sugar control to fat storage, mitochondrial function, and long-term cardiovascular risk—while also exploring the emerging role of gut health and phytoestrogens like S-equol as targeted support. If you’ve been working harder than ever with fewer results, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do instead. Be sure to tune in! SIOBHAN MITCHEL Dr. Siobhan Mitchel, PhD, is a neuroscientist and Chief Scientific Officer at MitoQ. Her work focuses on mitochondrial health, cellular energy, and the role of oxidative stress in aging—particularly in women navigating perimenopause and menopause. She is passionate about advancing research that supports women’s long-term health, metabolism, and resilience at the cellular level. IN THIS EPISODE Why your body stops responding the same way in perimenopause How estrogen loss impacts metabolism, fat storage, and blood sugar The role of mitochondria in energy, brain function, and weight changes Why visceral belly fat increases—and why it’s more dangerous The connection between gut health, estrogen metabolism, and inflammation How phytoestrogens (like S-equol) support metabolism and hormone signaling Why midlife is a metabolic and vascular inflection point—not just hormonal QUOTES “This isn’t a failure of effort—it’s a biological shift happening beneath the surface.” “When estrogen declines, you don’t just lose hormones—you lose metabolic protection.” “If you support your mitochondria, you support your energy, your metabolism, and your long-term health.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution HERE! https://peri-revolution.com/ Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off MitoQ http://www.mitoq.com/energized MitoQ Instagram MitoQ Facebook MitoQ Youtube RELATED EPISODES  693: The Cellular Shift in Perimenopause: Mitochondria, Metabolism, and Energy 728: Why Brain Fog Isn’t Random: The Hormone Shift Behind It 717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause 705: The Metabolic Shift No One Warned You About in Midlife