Opening Keynote
Perimenopausal Nutrition Strategies: Evidence-Based Approaches to Support Hormones, Metabolism, and Wellbeing
Time: 4:00 pm
Date: Thursday, April 30
Speaker Bio
Deanna Minich, PhD, MS, CNS, IFMCP, is a nutrition scientist, international lecturer, educator, and author with over 25 years of cumulative experience in academia and in the food and dietary supplement industries. She is Chief Science Officer at Symphony Natural Health and founder of Food & Spirit™, and has authored seven books and over 50 scientific publications. A recognized leader in functional medicine, she is the 2025 recipient of the Linus and Ava Helen Pauling Award. Her work integrates helping others to live well using therapeutic lifestyle changes that impact their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Description
Perimenopause represents a dynamic and often challenging transition marked by fluctuating hormones, metabolic shifts, and changing nutritional needs. This presentation will explore evidence-based nutrition strategies to support women during this stage, highlighting how targeted dietary approaches can help modulate hormonal balance, reduce symptom burden, and optimize long-term health outcomes. Key areas will include the role of macronutrient distribution for metabolic stability, phytoestrogen-rich foods for hormone modulation, phytonutrients that support cognition and mood, and the importance of circadian-aligned eating for sleep and energy. Micronutrient considerations such as vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids will be reviewed along with emerging research on the gut microbiome and its influence on estrogen metabolism.
Practical tools for clinicians will be emphasized, with guidance on tailoring dietary interventions to individual needs, cultural considerations, and lifestyle factors. By combining clinical research with practical application, this session will provide participants with integrative strategies to empower women in navigating perimenopause with resilience and vitality.
Learning Objectives
- Apply personalized nutrition strategies that account for cultural, clinical, and individual differences in supporting women through perimenopause.
- Describe the hormonal and metabolic changes that occur during perimenopause and their implications for nutrition.
- Identify evidence-based dietary patterns and specific foods that support hormone balance, cognitive health, and metabolic function.
- Evaluate the role of phytoestrogens, phytonutrients, and key micronutrients in perimenopausal health.
- Discuss the influence of circadian nutrition, gut microbiome dynamics, and lifestyle factors on perimenopausal outcomes.