Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Welcome to Morphus!
We created Morphus to spark change in the conversation around perimenopause and menopause wellness, to bring together women seeking support and information, and to provide research-backed supplements for women in perimenopause and menopause. As Health Experts with over 23 years of experience as wellness educators, we bring you expert insights on perimenopause and menopause, along with the latest evidence-based scientific research.
Our goals are to help you navigate this time in your life, empower you to take charge of your health, and arm you with the resources and education to make the right decisions for yourself and your changing body.
Our name was inspired by the symbolism of butterflies, which represent beauty, transformation, and hope. Morphus combines the words "metamorphosis" + "us" (Morph/us) to represent the transformation we are all going through.
Andrea Donsky & Randy Boyer
Co-Founders, Morphus, Inc.
Menopause Reimagined with Andrea Donsky
Ep #202: Plant Protein & Menopause Muscle | Daphne Bascom
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"I'm doing everything right, and the scale still won't move." If that's you, the scale might be the wrong thing to watch.
Andrea Donsky, nutritionist, bestselling author of Nourishing Menopause, 7x published researcher, and co-founder of wearemorphus.com, sits down with Daphne Bascom, MD, PhD, a former head and neck surgeon who left the operating room for lifestyle medicine and is now Chief Operations Officer of The Vegan Gym. Daphne is 59, competes as an IFBB Bikini Pro, and has been putting on muscle for a decade on a fully plant-based diet. She is also blunt about the parts that are hard.
This one is for you whether you're vegan, plant-curious, or a total carnivore. Nobody is asking you to give up meat. The question is whether you're getting enough protein and enough different plants, and whether you're measuring the right thing.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Can you get enough protein on a plant-based diet in menopause, and what the newest muscle research actually found
- Why the scale lies, and what body composition means in plain English
- What body fat percentage is healthy for women in midlife (the published ranges may surprise you)
- Why you can't out-exercise a bad diet, and the minimum strength training that still moves the needle
- What a full day of plant-based eating looks like when you're aiming for 100+ grams of protein
- Why 30 different plants a week matters more for your gut than any single "superfood"
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Plants Have Power in Perimenopause
3:03 Meet Dr. Daphne Bascom: Surgeon Turned Plant-Based MD
6:07 Why Doctors Get Almost No Menopause Training
7:36 Going Plant-Forward: What Changed for Her at Nearly 60
10:27 Can You Get Enough Protein Without Meat in Menopause?
13:29 Why the Scale Lies: Body Composition vs Weight
14:37 What Body Fat Percentage Is Healthy in Menopause?
16:59 You Can't Out-Exercise a Bad Diet
22:15 A Full Day of Plant-Based Eating With 100+ Grams of Protein
27:34 30 Plants a Week, Your Gut, and Your 90-Year-Old Self
CONNECT WITH DAPHNE BASCOM, MD, PhD
Instagram: @wingmandaphne
Website: wingmanwellness.com
The Vegan Gym: thevegangym.com
The Vegan Gym on YouTube (free full days of eating, recipes, shopping lists): youtube.com/@thevegangym
Thrive on Plants podcast: thriveonplants.buzzsprout.com
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Morphus: Menopause Reimagined
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DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider. This podcast contains affiliate links; Morphus may earn a commission. Thank you for your support.