The Great Menopause Myth: What Every Woman Needs to Know About HRT and Alcohol
Apr 28, 2025
When I first read The Great Menopause Myth by Kristin Johnson and Maria Claps, it felt like a breath of fresh air. After years of piecing together conflicting advice about hormone therapy, menopause, and healthy aging, their book gave me the clarity and empowerment I'd been searching for. So when I had the chance to sit down with them on Sober Fit Life, I knew we were about to have a powerful, eye-opening conversation.
In our conversation, Kristin and Maria didn't shy away from telling the bold truths women need to hear. They walked me through the real story behind the Women's Health Initiative study—the study that scared an entire generation of women (and their doctors) away from hormone therapy. They explained how outdated research, pharmaceutical influence, and systemic fearmongering led to a healthcare crisis that's still affecting us today.
But most importantly, they emphasized this: Hormones aren't just about hot flashes or fertility. They're about heart health. They're about brain health. They're about bone density, metabolic function, and the ability to truly thrive as we age.
One of the most striking things they shared was the undeniable link between alcohol and poor outcomes with hormone therapy. Kristin and Maria pulled no punches: If you're a midlife woman considering HRT, you have a choice to make. It's your cocktail or your hormones. Alcohol doesn't just add extra calories or disrupt your sleep—it fundamentally impairs your body's ability to metabolize hormones properly, increases harmful estrogens like estrone, burdens the liver, raises inflammation, and heightens your risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.
As someone who's been sober for years, this truth hit me hard — and validated so much of what I've witnessed firsthand in my health and the health of others. Sobriety isn't just about removing alcohol; it's about creating the best possible environment for our bodies to thrive, especially in midlife.
Kristin and Maria also talked about why lifestyle matters so much in this equation. Before considering HRT, they encourage women to start with gut health, anti-inflammatory nutrition, better sleep, and daily movement. But they also recognize that sometimes, hormonal depletion is so severe that women need HRT in order to find the drive and energy to improve those areas.
We also discussed some of the common pitfalls when seeking hormone therapy. Not all providers are trained in menopause care. Many OB/GYNs, while trusted, aren't necessarily experts in this specialized field. Kristin and Maria stressed the importance of seeking practitioners who understand the full-body impact of hormones, not just symptom management.
By the end of our conversation, I felt more empowered than ever. Hormones aren't optional for vibrant aging — they are foundational. And understanding the role alcohol plays in undermining that foundation is critical.
If you're in midlife and wondering what steps to take, I cannot recommend The Great Menopause Myth enough. It’s packed with science, compassion, and truly life-changing knowledge.
You can grab their book here: Purchase The Great Menopause Myth on Amazon.
You can also connect with Kristin and Maria online:
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Website: Wise & Well
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Instagram: @wise_and_well_
I'm so grateful for their work and for the chance to share it with you. This is the kind of conversation that changes lives. It certainly changed mine.
Stay curious. Stay informed. Stay sober fit.
Listen to the episode here 🎧
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