By Don Colbert, M.D. | Divine Health

Why Hormones After 40 Feel Like a Storm

Around your forties, your hormones stop behaving politely. Estrogen begins to swing up and down, progesterone quietly drifts downward,
insulin creeps upward, and cortisol can stay “on” far longer than it should. Add in thyroid shifts and suddenly:

• Weight gathers around your waist even if your diet hasn’t changed.
• Sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented.
• Mood swings, anxiety, or low mood feel more intense.
• Hot flashes or night sweats show up at the worst possible times.
• Brain fog makes simple tasks feel exhausting.

For many women, this isn’t a character issue or “lack of willpower.” It’s physiology. When estrogen and progesterone change, they tug on
insulin, thyroid, and brain chemistry. That’s why an approach that only chases symptoms — another sleep aid, another antidepressant, another
diet that ignores hormones — rarely works for long.

What Is Ketosis — And Why It Matters for Women Over 40

Ketosis is a natural metabolic state where your body shifts from burning sugar (glucose) to burning fat as its primary fuel. When this happens,
your liver produces ketone bodies — mainly beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) — which your brain, muscles, and organs can use for energy.

For a woman over 40, this matters because high-carb, high-sugar eating keeps insulin elevated. Chronically high insulin:

• Locks fat inside fat cells (especially belly fat).
• Pushes your body toward inflammation.
• Can worsen estrogen dominance and PMS-like symptoms.
• Makes your energy rise and crash all day long.

A well-designed keto diet — rich in healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, quality protein, and strategic fiber — lowers insulin,
stabilizes blood sugar, and encourages your body to burn stored fat. At the same time, ketones provide a cleaner-burning fuel for the brain.

What the Science Actually Shows

Before we go further, it’s important to be clear: the research I’m about to share does not test my specific
Keto Zone protocol, and it does not prove that any one diet or supplement will “normalize” hormones in every
woman between 40 and 60. Instead, these studies help explain why nutritional ketosis may support brain function,
inflammation balance, and metabolism in general — foundations that can indirectly help hormone health.

1. Ketogenic Diet and Cognitive Function
   A 2021 systematic review in Nutrition Reviews looked at ketogenic diets and cognitive outcomes in people with
   neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, refractory epilepsy, and glucose transporter type 1
   deficiency.¹ The authors found that ketogenic interventions reliably raised ketone levels and, in several trials,
   were associated with improvements in some measures of cognition or daily function compared with control diets. The review
   stresses that more rigorous, long-term human data are still needed, especially outside of these disease populations.
2. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate as an Anti-Inflammatory Signal
   A 2017 study in Scientific Reports examined beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) — the main ketone body during nutritional
   ketosis — in rodent models exposed to acute and chronic stress.² The researchers showed that BHB acted as an
   endogenous inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key inflammatory pathway, and that this was linked to reduced inflammatory
   markers and “antidepressant-like” behavior in animals. This is mechanistic work: it suggests how ketones can
   calm certain inflammatory signals, but it does not mean BHB supplements or ketogenic diets treat depression in humans.

Together, these lines of evidence support a cautious, science-based statement: nutritional ketosis can provide an alternative fuel
for the brain and may help reduce certain inflammatory pathways in the body. Clinicians such as neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter
and gynecologist Dr. Sara Gottfried have drawn on this kind of research in their work with brain health, metabolism, and midlife
women, but even they emphasize individualization and the need for more data in perimenopausal and postmenopausal populations.^3,4

None of this replaces medical care, and it does not prove that keto, the Keto Zone, or any supplement will “fix” hot flashes,
depression, thyroid issues, or relationship problems. Instead, think of the Keto Zone as one powerful framework that can
support better metabolic health — which your own physician can then integrate into a broader treatment plan.

The Keto Zone: Where Biology and Brain Chemistry Meet

Many people talk about ketosis. I use a bigger term: the Keto Zone.

The Keto Zone is that “sweet spot” where two transformations happen together:

1. Biological: Your body is in nutritional ketosis, burning fat rather than sugar for fuel.
2. Psychological: Your brain runs on ketones, which may support clearer thinking, more stable mood, fewer cravings, steadier energy, and better sleep.

When you’re in the Keto Zone, you don’t just lose weight. You feel different in your mind and emotions — less panicked, less driven by cravings,
more in control. For women over 40, that’s critical, because hormone swings are felt just as strongly in the brain as in the body.

Every major section of this article is really about that dual transformation:
ketosis + mental clarity
working together.

How the Keto Zone Specifically Impacts Estrogen, Progesterone, and Insulin After 40

Estrogen & Belly Fat

As progesterone falls in your forties, an older form of estrogen called estrone tends to rise, especially when there’s more body fat.
This “old lady estrogen” is produced in fat tissue and is associated with:

• Belly fat and back fat
• Sagging tissue and water retention
• Higher cholesterol and inflammation

High insulin and inflammation encourage this aromatase activity — your body converts more androgens into estrogen inside fat cells.
By lowering insulin and calming inflammation, a keto pattern can help reduce the hormonal drive to store fat around the middle and shift
the internal chemistry away from excess estrone. This doesn’t replace medical care, but it creates a more favorable metabolic environment.

Progesterone, Sleep & Mood

Progesterone is a calming hormone. It helps you fall asleep, stay asleep, and feel less irritable and anxious. It also supports healthy hair growth and
balances some of estrogen’s stronger effects. The problem: progesterone levels start dropping well before menopause.

When blood sugar is unstable — spiking after meals, then crashing — the body responds with cortisol surges. Those surges can aggravate insomnia and
night-time anxiety even further. Many women feel “tired and wired”: exhausted but unable to turn off their minds at night.

In the Keto Zone, blood sugar swings are smaller, insulin is lower, and cortisol demand is reduced. That calmer internal environment makes it easier
for bioidentical progesterone (if prescribed by a knowledgeable doctor) and your own remaining progesterone to do their job:
deeper sleep,
more emotional resilience, fewer evening cravings.

Insulin, Cortisol & Thyroid

Insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones are like three gears that lock together. When insulin stays high:

• Cortisol is more likely to stay elevated under stress.
• The thyroid may downshift to protect the body from perceived famine or overload.
• Fatigue, cold hands and feet, and slow weight loss become common.

Ketosis lowers insulin, which can reduce the pressure on both cortisol and thyroid. Early studies suggest ketogenic patterns can improve insulin
sensitivity and support metabolic rate, which indirectly helps thyroid function work more smoothly. It’s not a magic switch, but it is a powerful
tool in the toolbox.

Natural Food, Recipe, and Lifestyle Strategies to Support Hormones

Before we even talk about supplements or programs, let’s focus on the most powerful levers you control every day: what you eat, how you move,
how you wind down, and how you breathe.

A Sample Keto-Friendly Day for a Woman Over 40

Here’s an example of how a gentle Keto Zone-style day might look. This is not personal medical advice, but it shows the pattern:

• Morning: Coffee or tea with a tablespoon of healthy fat (like MCT oil powder or grass-fed butter), plus a small handful of nuts. No sugar, minimal cream.
• Late Morning: Scrambled eggs cooked in olive oil or avocado oil, with spinach, mushrooms, and a side of avocado.
• Afternoon: Big salad: mixed greens, arugula, cucumbers, olives, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, grilled salmon or chicken, olive-oil–lemon dressing.
• Evening: Non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts) roasted in olive oil, plus a moderate portion of grass-fed beef, wild salmon, or pastured chicken.
• Snacks (if needed): Olives, a few macadamia nuts, celery with almond butter, or a small serving of berries with unsweetened coconut.

Notice what’s missing: sugar, refined flour, sweet drinks, and constant grazing. This pattern allows insulin to fall between meals and encourages
your body to tap into stored fat.

Fiber, Gut Health, and Estrogen Detox

The gut microbiome is deeply involved in estrogen metabolism. Certain gut bacteria produce enzymes that re-activate estrogen in the intestines,
sending it back into circulation. A diet rich in plant-based fiber feeds beneficial microbes and supports more balanced estrogen handling.

High-fiber foods to build into your keto pattern:

• Leafy greens (kale, spinach, Swiss chard)
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage)
• Avocado, chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds
• Fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi) for probiotics

Sleep, Stress, and Gentle Movement

Hormones don’t respond to food alone. Chronic stress and poor sleep can undo much of the progress from a good diet. Simple but powerful habits:

• Evening wind-down: Dim lights at least an hour before bed, avoid bright screens, and keep your room cool and dark.
• Breathwork: 5–10 minutes of slow breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) lowers cortisol and helps you fall asleep faster.
• Gentle movement: Walking, light strength training, stretching, and time in natural light help insulin sensitivity and mood.

These lifestyle practices amplify the benefits of the Keto Zone and help your nervous system settle so your hormones can follow.

What the Science Actually Shows

Let’s look at two powerful lines of research that help explain why the Keto Zone can be so helpful for brain and hormone health — especially as you age.

1. Ketogenic Diet and Cognition
   A 2021 systematic review in Nutrition Reviews examined ketogenic diets and cognitive function in neurological diseases
   (including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy). The authors found that ketogenic interventions consistently raised ketone levels
   and, in many trials, improved cognitive scores, memory, or daily functioning compared with control diets. While more long-term research is needed,
   the review concluded that ketones provide an effective alternative fuel for the brain when glucose metabolism is impaired.
   
   Read the Nutrition Reviews article →
   
2. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as an Anti-Inflammatory Signal
   A 2017 study in Scientific Reports described beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) — the main ketone body in nutritional ketosis — as an
   endogenous inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key driver of inflammatory cytokines. By dampening this pathway, BHB reduced inflammatory
   signaling in immune cells. This helps explain why nutritional ketosis may calm systemic inflammation and support healthier insulin signaling,
   both of which are central to hormone health after 40.
   
   Read the Scientific Reports study →
   

Clinicians like neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter and gynecologist Dr. Sara Gottfried have helped popularize this research, showing how nutritional
ketosis and lower-carb patterns can support brain function, metabolic health, and hormone balance in midlife women — when used wisely and individualized
to each person’s needs.

Supporting Hormones with Superfoods, Collagen, and Gut Health

Beyond macros, the quality of the foods you eat matters for hormone health. This is where targeted superfood powder blends,
superfood greens powder, collagen, and gut-supportive nutrients can play a helpful supporting role.

Many women over 40 benefit from adding a daily serving of a greens-focused blend such as a Green Supremefood or Red Supremefood
style formula. These provide concentrated phytonutrients, antioxidants, and plant compounds that help calm inflammation and support liver detox — both essential
for handling estrogen safely.

As estrogen declines, collagen production in the skin, joints, and gut lining also drops. A high-quality collagen powder that includes
collagen peptides types I, II, and III can support skin elasticity and joint comfort, especially when offered in enjoyable options like
chocolate collagen powder and vanilla collagen powder.

Finally, your microbiome remains a major player. Gut health supplements such as probiotics with prebiotic fiber help shape
the “estrobolome” — the gut bacteria involved in estrogen metabolism. A product similar to a Fiber Zone blend plus a
Zone Biotics Probiotic-type formula can work together to support estrogen detox, bowel regularity, and immune balance.

Dr. Colbert’s Recommended Supplements & Books for Supporting Hormones Over 40

Once diet, lifestyle, and sleep fundamentals are in place, many women choose to layer in targeted support. Here are some of the tools I use most often
in my practice to help women step fully into the Keto Zone and stay there.

People Also Ask

Scripture & A Short Prayer

“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.” — Jeremiah 30:17

Heavenly Father, thank You for the way You have designed my body — with the ability to heal, adapt, and renew.
Give me wisdom to care for my hormones, my mind, and my metabolism in a way that honors You.
Help me make daily choices that move me toward the Keto Zone — clarity, peace, and steady energy — so I can serve You and love others well.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Infographic Outline: “The Keto Zone & Hormones After 40”

• Panel 1: “Hormone Roller Coaster After 40” – visual of estrogen, progesterone, insulin, cortisol curves.
• Panel 2: “What Is Ketosis?” – simple graphic of glucose vs. fat as fuel.
• Panel 3: “The Keto Zone Defined” – body (ketosis) + brain (clarity, mood, cravings, energy).
• Panel 4: “Estrogen & Belly Fat” – link between insulin, aromatase, and estrone.
• Panel 5: “Progesterone & Sleep” – how blood sugar stability supports restful nights.
• Panel 6: “Natural Daily Rhythm” – sample Keto Zone day (meals, movement, sleep).
• Panel 7: “Gut & Estrogen Detox” – fiber, probiotics, and the estrobolome.
• Panel 8: “Tools for Support” – subtle icons for superfoods, collagen, gut health, NAD+, and glutathione.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for personalized medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or changing any diet, exercise program, hormone therapy, or supplement regimen,
especially if you have existing medical conditions or take prescription medications.