The Latest Insights On Menstrual Cycle Research For Active Women | With Kelly McNulty

The Food Medic

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If the menstrual cycle affects everything from strength to sleep, why are we ignoring it in sport? In this episode of The Food Medic Podcast, Dr Hazel Wallace, a women’s health nutritionist, sits down with researcher Kelly McNulty to discuss the challenges of researching female physiology, the importance of individualised training, and the role of cycle tracking for athletes. The episode covers: How do the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives affect women’s health, athletic performance, and recovery? What challenges exist in researching female physiology and why is more high-quality research needed? Why is individualised training important for women, especially athletes? What is the role of cycle tracking in optimising athletic performance and recovery for women? How can women be empowered to better understand and work with their bodies throughout all stages of life? The episode emphasises the need for more high-quality research, encourages a balanced approach to training, and aims to empower women to better understand and work with their bodies throughout all stages of life. The more you understand your body, the more power you have to train, perform, and live on your own terms. So ask yourself: how much could change if you truly knew what your body needs? — If you have a question you'd like us to answer on the podcast, simply send a voice note to [email protected] – we'd love to hear from you! Stay up to date with the latest health advice, recipes, insights, and updates from Dr. Hazel Wallace and The Food Medic community. Dr. Hazel Wallace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhazelwallace/ The Food Medic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoodmedic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefoodmedic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thefoodmedic Explore More from The Food Medic Not Just A Period – New Book A groundbreaking guide to understanding your cycle, hormones, and health.Coming 22nd May 2025. Pre-order now: https://linktr.ee/notjustaperiod The Food Medic App Learn more: https://www.thefoodmedic.co.uk/about-the-food-medic-hub Weekly Newsletter Subscribe here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62b5a28d76b1bf772c403012 Get in Touch For inquiries or collaborations: General: [email protected] Partnerships: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There is a huge debate within even the scientific community and also I think people who are not in that space are even taking it upon themselves to create their own assumptions as to how women should be training across the menstrual cycle.
0:12.1	If we look at, you know, gold medal winning performances, personal records, whatever else have been set at all phases of the menstrual cycle.
0:19.9	You know, there's not a specific phase where all of these optimal things are happening. Does the pill reduce training adaptation,
0:26.4	particularly strength? So there's a lot of theory that, you know, it might because of those
0:30.4	chronically low estrogen and progesterone. But actually when we looked at the data and it was
0:34.4	another systematic review in meta-analysis apparently. I love to do this.
0:38.4	But basically we found...
0:40.3	Hello everyone and welcome back to the Food Medic podcast.
0:44.1	I'm Dr. Hazel Wallace, a women's health nutritionist and former NHS doctor.
0:48.2	And I'm back for a special women's health series of the Food Medic podcast.
0:51.9	In this mini series, we're diving into all things women's health,
0:54.7	from expert insights and myth-busting chats to mini-ask-Drasele episodes, where I answer questions
1:01.0	submitted by you. Expect accessible evidence-back tips to help you feel empowered, not held back
1:06.5	by your menstrual cycle and work.
1:21.9	Today I'm joined by Kelly McNulty, researcher, educator and founder of the period of the period.
1:29.0	Callie's work focuses on female physiology across the lifespan, including the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception,
1:34.7	paramenopause, and how these factors impact performance and recovery. She's on a mission to change the narrative around women's health in sport. And today, we're diving into the research, the nuance
1:40.3	and what really matters when it comes to training with your cycle. If you're enjoying these
1:44.3	conversations and want to go beyond just understanding your hormones and your menstrual cycle and
1:48.7	actually learn how to work with them, my latest book, Not Just a Period, is available. It's a
1:53.8	practical science-backed roadmap that helps you align your cycle in every area of your life,
1:58.5	from nutrition and mood to body image, skin, hair and more.
	...

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