Dr. Stacy Sims: Female-Specific Exercise & Nutrition for Health, Performance & Longevity

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Stacy Sims, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, and expert in female-specific nutrition and training for health, performance, and longevity. We discuss which exercise and nutrition protocols are ideal for women based on their age and particular goals. We discuss whether women should train fasted, when and what to eat pre- and post-training, and how the menstrual cycle impacts training and nutrition needs. We also explain how to use a combination of resistance, high-intensity, and sprint interval training to effectively improve body composition, hormones, and cardiometabolic health, offset cognitive decline, and promote longevity.  We also discuss supplements and caffeine, the unique sleep needs of women based on age, whether women should use deliberate cold exposure, and how saunas can improve symptoms of hot flashes and benefit athletic performance. Dr. Sims challenges common misconceptions about women’s health and fitness and explains why certain types of cardio, caloric restriction, and low-protein diets can be harmful to women’s metabolic health. Listeners will learn a wealth of actionable information on how to improve their training and nutrition to enhance their health and how to age with greater ability, mobility, and vitality. Access the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Maui Nui Venison: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman  Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman   Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman  Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Stacy Sims 00:02:24 Sponsors: Maui Nui, Eight Sleep & Waking Up 00:07:03 Intermittent Fasting, Exercise & Women 00:12:50 Cortisol & Circadian Rhythm, Caffeine & Training 00:17:25 Reps in Reserve, Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE); Age & Women 00:21:06 Pre-Training Meal & Brain, Kisspeptin 00:26:45 Post-Training Meal & Recovery Window 00:29:59 Sponsor: AG1 00:31:48 Hormones, Calories & Women 00:34:24 Women, Strength Improvements & Resistance Training 00:39:10 Tool: Women & Training Goals by Age Range 00:44:16 Women, Perimenopause, Training & Longevity 00:47:14 Women & Training for Longevity, Cardio, Zone 2 00:51:42 Tools: How to Start Resistance Training, Machines; Polarized Training 00:58:23 Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin Podcast 00:59:10 Menstrual Cycle & Training, Tool: Tracking & Individual Variability 01:04:31 Tool: 10-Minute Rule; High-Intensity Training & Menstrual Cycle 01:08:36 “Train Hard & Eat Well”; Appetite, Nutrition & Menstrual Cycle 01:12:22 Oral Contraception, Hormones, Athletic Performance; IUD 01:20:57 Evaluating Menstrual Blood, PCOS; Hormones & Female Athletes 01:26:31 Iron, Fatigue; Blood Testing & Menstrual Cycle 01:29:33 Caffeine & Perimenopause; Nicotine, Schisandra 01:34:24 Deliberate Cold Exposure & Women, Endometriosis; Tool: Sauna & Hot Flashes 01:42:19 Tools: “Sims’ Protocol”: Post-Training Sauna & Performance; “Track Stack” 01:49:37 Women, Hormones & Sleep, Perimenopause & Sleep Hygiene 01:52:54 Supplements: Creatine, Water Weight, Hair Loss; Vitamin D3 01:57:21 Protein Powder; Adaptogens & Timing 02:00:11 Pregnancy & Training; Cold & Hot Exposure 02:06:19 Tool: Women in 50s & Older, Training & Nutrition for Longevity 02:09:38 Tool: Women in 20s-40s & Training, Lactate 02:12:18 Tool: What is High-Intensity Training?, Cardiovascular Sets & Recovery 02:17:22 Training for Longevity, Cellular & Metabolic Changes 02:19:30 Nutrition, 80/20 Rule 02:23:30 Listening to Self 02:26:00 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter  Disclaimer & Disclosures