Dr. Anna Cabeca has a passion for women’s health. Her mother struggled with multiple health and hormone issues over the course of her life, and this led Anna to discover that the research her mother’s care was based on was primarily done on men. After her mother passed prematurely Anna decided to make her own practice. She worked hard to discover the foundational issues in the medical industry. Even after being a board-certified ob-gyn trained at one of the best universities in the world she still wrestled with understanding her own hormones. She was diagnosed with infertility and early menopause in her 30’s and even with all of her education, she still struggled. That journey through solving the root issues is why she so vocal today. Listen in to hear Anna’s story, or keep reading to see the highlights!
What do we mean when we talk about mood?
In life, there are ups and downs. Both of those extremes are meant to be experienced- not lived in. So when we talk about “mood” we’re talking about the range of emotions that we can have. It’s good to check in with yourself and ask “How am I feeling at this moment? Am I happy? Or annoyed? Am I irritated or ecstatic? How am I resting at this moment?” There are so many moods we experience and so many emotions, so it’s important to be in tune with them.
What are some of the challenges that influence negative moods?
Our physiology follows our attention. If we’re looking at stressful media and the news before we go to bed, our physiology is interpreting that as a real stressor. This causes your stress hormones to increase and that can affect all of our other hormones and our sense of peace.
So where do we want to focus our attention? We want to focus on what is noble, what is good, and what is kind. With gratitude, we can reflect and meditate on these things. This concept of being in a state of gratitude isn’t soft science, it’s one of the greatest medicines we can give ourselves. It’s about refocusing and being present. This time of gratitude and meditation and prayer can start and end the day in a positive way. I’ve taught myself to meditate on gratitude before I even get out of bed to set my physiology off for success.
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How can we keep our memory healthy for as long as possible?
When I turned 48, I felt like I was spiraling downward. I had gained 20 pounds almost overnight and I was experiencing memory problems. When my patients came in and told me they had gained 5-20 pounds without changing anything I was skeptical! Then it happened to me and I realized there was a shift. There are weight-related hormones that can affect us, but what was worse for me was memory loss. The loss of recollection and forgetting my kids’ names was worse than usual. As a physician, mom, and business owner I worried about what was down the road for me. This took me into discovering my keto-alkaline path. After going into ketosis I found I could think clearly, make better decisions, and my memory was back.
As a physician/scientist I started researching, and I discovered that when we reach 35- 45 years old our brain’s ability to use glucose for fuel is significantly diminished. This increases memory loss, fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia- that all escalates. I had seen patients coming to me for PMS, breakthrough bleeding, heavy cycles, but there were these neurologic complaints that I hadn’t heard of. Glucose utilization in the brain is an estrogen-dependent process. So as our hormones start declining around 35-45, the ability for our brain to use glucose is suffocating. By switching to ketosis it’s almost electrifying to the brain. Ketones are much better fuel for our brains as we get older.
How can we switch to ketosis?
Digestive enzymes decline as we get older, so things that are easily absorbable like green powders and high-quality protein powder are very beneficial. I struggle with women eating a lot of sugary fruits and carbs thinking that they are healthy when really we should be focusing on vitamin-rich vegetables and high-quality fats. So healthy proteins, high-quality fats, and a good number of low-carb leafy greens such as spinach and kale can really support a healthy hormonal balance.
How can we get the most out of intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting can be so important just like our meals. A good day would be a keto-green breakfast somewhere between 9-12 am, something like smoked salmon with capers, arugula, and olive oil. If you love smoothies you can make a keto-green smoothie with some avocado, ginger, and MTC oil which is perfect to break your fast with. It’s important to include olive or MTC oil in your meals. If you have enough fat in your diet you won’t be hungry during the day.
With my focus age group of 35-60, most women feel better on a 13-16 hour fast. In this age range, I’ve found that eating dinner by 6 pm and breaking your fast around 9-12 am works really well. When I can stabilize my physiology earlier my body is much happier. I advocate extended fasting but not before building up to it. Start with smaller fasting periods and get comfortable with those before building up to a 24+ hour fast. With all of this, it’s important to figure out what’s best for you. There are guidelines you can use, but you need to see what optimizes your physiology.
About Dr. Anna Cabeca
Dr. Cabeca is an Emory University trained triple-board-certified physician – with specialties in gynecology, obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. She has worked with thousands of patients, spoken for dozens of healthcare organizations and associations, and consulted with physicians around the world. Her work has been featured in all major news media including NBC, CBS, ABC, People.com, NPR’s 51%, Reader’s Digest, Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, Style, and Sirius XM. Nancy Hala and Sheri Salata (former Exec producer, The Oprah Winfrey Show) said on their podcast, “Dr. Anna, you’re the ‘Girlfriend Doctor’. We are comfortable talking to you about anything.”
Important Links
Dr. Anna Cabeca on YouTube
The Girlfriend Doctor on Instagram
The Girlfriend Doctor on Facebook
The Hormone Fix by Dr. Anna Cabeca
Keto-Green 16 by Dr. Anna Cabeca
