When midlife hits, many women feel like strangers in their own bodies. Weight creeps up, energy dips, sleep feels elusive, and moods swing without warning. That’s where perimenopause and hormones come in. Doctors often shrug and say, “That’s just aging.” But what if those changes are actually your body waving a flag that something deeper is happening?

After decades practicing traditional medicine, Stacey Bean found herself facing the very symptoms so many of her patients had described: weight gain, brain fog, high blood pressure, and a body that no longer responded to “eat less, move more.”

In this encore episode, Stacey walks us through the turning points that led her from allopathic medicine into functional healing, highlighting the critical role of gut health, the impact of stress, and the power of Gestalt therapy with horses.

A Doctor Becomes the Patient

Stacey isn’t just another voice in the wellness space. She holds an M.D. from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and a master’s in Exercise Physiology from UC Berkeley. For years, she believed in the same advice she gave her patients: manage your weight, eat a balanced diet, and exercise consistently.

But when her own labs showed prediabetes and high blood pressure in midlife, Stacey realized the very system she had trusted wasn’t serving her anymore. Perimenopause had shifted her hormones, and the advice that once seemed logical was now making things worse.

Instead of doubling down on calories and cardio, she began exploring functional medicine, approaches that look for root causes instead of masking symptoms. She added certifications in women’s hormone health, gut health, and functional nutrition, along with training in Gestalt coaching and other integrative practices. That shift didn’t just change her health, it transformed her entire philosophy of medicine.

How Gut Health Affects Perimenopause and Hormones

One of Stacey’s biggest discoveries was the gut-hormone connection. While most women think of perimenopause as strictly an estrogen-and-progesterone story, the gut plays a starring role in how those hormones are processed and balanced.

The gut microbiome, the community of bacteria living in your digestive tract, helps regulate estrogen metabolism, influences insulin sensitivity, and manages inflammation. When that ecosystem gets out of balance, symptoms like bloating, mood swings, hot flashes, and stubborn weight become more intense.

Gut-friendly practices Stacey recommends:

• Add probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
• Prioritize protein at each meal (20–30 grams) to stabilize blood sugar and support hormone production.
• Cut back on processed sugar and refined carbs that spike insulin and trigger inflammation.
• Include fiber from beans, lentils, oats, and leafy greens to keep digestion moving smoothly.

By making these shifts, Stacey began to notice real changes: her blood sugar stabilized, energy returned, and weight started to release naturally; not because she was starving herself, but because her body finally had what it needed.

Stress, Cortisol, and the Midlife Body

Hormones don’t operate in isolation. Stacey emphasizes that chronic stress can throw the entire system off balance. When cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, stays elevated, it disrupts estrogen, progesterone, and insulin. The result? Difficulty losing weight, poor sleep, and constant fatigue.

Many women unknowingly make this worse by pushing harder: over-exercising, under-eating, and multitasking endlessly. Stacey discovered that pulling back was often the more healing choice. Swapping HIIT workouts for yoga or walking, practicing deep breathing, and setting boundaries around rest helped her body recalibrate.

Managing stress isn’t indulgent. It’s essential if you want to balance perimenopause and hormones.

Healing Beyond the Physical: Gestalt and Horses

Of course, Stacey’s journey wasn’t just about food and labs. After losing her husband in a tragic med-flight crash, she turned to Gestalt therapy to navigate grief that felt too heavy to process alone.
Gestalt is different from traditional talk therapy. It focuses on present-moment awareness and embodied experience, actually feeling emotions in the body rather than just analyzing them with the mind. Horses, as Stacey explains, make this work even more powerful.

As prey animals, horses are highly attuned to energy. They respond instantly to subtle emotional shifts, mirroring what a person is feeling, even emotions they’re trying to hide. This reflection often helps clients see patterns they couldn’t recognize on their own.

Stacey describes the results as “cellular healing”—the kind of deep release that allows both the nervous system and the hormones to settle into balance.

Key Lessons from Stacey’s Story

This encore episode leaves us with practical reminders:

• Perimenopause and hormones are interconnected with gut health. A balanced microbiome makes midlife transitions smoother.
• Stress matters as much as diet. Elevated cortisol will sabotage even the best food choices.
• Emotions live in the body. Releasing grief and trauma frees up energy for healing.
• Focus on health first. Weight release is the byproduct, not the goal.

Final Thoughts on Gut Health, Perimenopause & Hormones

Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like losing control of your body. Stacey’s story proves that when you listen to your symptoms, address root causes, and embrace healing on every level—physical, emotional, and spiritual—you can feel better than you thought possible.

Your body isn’t broken. It’s communicating. And when you support your gut, calm your stress, and honor the shifts of perimenopause and hormones, you create the conditions for true healing.

More Healing Opportunities

Stacey has a private free community with monthly workshops. Starting in October of 2025 she will be doing weekly group webinars. Later in fall of 2025 Stacey will be opening her W.I.S.E. Community (which is a paid membership community) that will have online courses and group Q&A’s where people can get additional help in a group format.

Bio:

Stacey holds an M.D. from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from UC Berkeley, and multiple certifications in Women’s Hormone and Gut Health from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. After over a decade in western medicine and more than 30 years in the health and wellness industry, she realized something was missing. Stacey’s personal journey through perimenopause—marked by brain fog, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, and feeling unwell despite “normal” labs—pushed her to explore a different approach. That’s when everything changed.

Stacey expanded her knowledge and became certified in Functional Medicine, Gestalt Coaching, and other root-cause healing methods. These tools, combined with her integrative approach, helped her heal at the root level—and she’s passionate about helping others do the same. Whether they’re navigating menopause, struggling with metabolic health, gut health, or simply looking to reclaim their vitality, Stacey combines root-cause healing, nutrition, fitness, and mindset work with a touch of Gestalt principles to create a unique path to wellness through her practice, Indigo & Sage Functional Wellness. 

Stacey believes the human body has an incredible ability to heal, and her mission is to help her clients unlock that potential by uncovering what ISN’T working in their lives, and discover and take hold of what IS. Her goal is to educate and empower her clients to take charge of their health and embrace the vibrant, fulfilling life they deserve. Stacey knows this is possible because she’s seen it happen—not just in her own life but in the lives of hundreds of clients she’s been privileged to work with.

• Website: www.staceybeanwellness.com
• Branded App: sbfunctionalwellness.com
• Instagram: @staceybeanmd
• Release the Rest: www.releasetherest.com

Resources

• Check out my website for more infrared sauna info
• Take a peek at my Jen Recommends list to see more of my favorite products.
• Grab my FREE Home Wellness Checklist here for more tips.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services. The statements and views expressed are not medical advice and are not meant to replace the advice of your medical doctor. This podcast, including Jen Heller and her guests, disclaims any responsibility and any adverse effects you may experience from the specific use of the information contained herein. The opinions of guests are their own and this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for the statements made by guests. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you have a medical condition, consult your licensed physician.