Dr. Deanna Minich, PhD, MS, CNS, IFMCP brings her signature whole-systems lens to one of the most underserved transitions in women's health. She breaks down why the standard conversation around perimenopause misses the bigger picture, and what a truly integrative approach looks like instead. Deanna discusses the role of the endocrine system, common myths surrounding perimenopause, and the significance of nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle factors in managing symptoms. Learn what you can do to support women navigating this rite of passage.
Valid through 8/8/28
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Valid through 1/31/2028
This enduring activity (Type 741) awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Provider # 1816, 1.0 Contact Hours.
Provider approved by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians for 1.25 CEs. NDs in Oregon, please see FAQ
Dr. Deanna Minich, PhD, MS, CNS, IFMCP is a nutrition scientist, educator, and internationally recognized thought leader in functional, integrative, and systems-based nutrition. She serves as Chief Science Officer at Symphony Natural Health, where she guides research, product innovation, and clinical education focused on women’s health, endocrine resilience, and healthy aging. Dr. Minich is the author of The Rainbow Diet and the creator of the Food & Spirit™ model, which integrates nutritional biochemistry with circadian biology, lifestyle medicine, and psycho-spiritual well-being.
With advanced training in functional medicine and human nutrition, Dr. Minich has taught for the Institute for Functional Medicine, the University of Western States, and other professional programs worldwide. Her work emphasizes the role of phytonutrients, circadian rhythms, mitochondrial function, and hormone–metabolite balance across the female lifespan, particularly during perimenopause and menopause. She is deeply engaged in translating emerging science into practical, personalized strategies for clinicians and the public.
Dr. Minich serves on the Board of Directors of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute and is a frequent speaker at medical and nutrition conferences. Her work bridges rigorous science with creativity, color, and consciousness—inviting a broader, more holistic understanding of nourishment, resilience, and human potential.
Disclosures:
• President & CEO, Food & Spirit, LLC
• Independent Contractor, Symphony Natural Health
• Stock Options, Symphony Natural Health
• Stock, Genexa
• Speaker, Various natural products industry (i.e., Fullscript, Standard Process, Biocidin, etc.)
• Book royalties, Turner Publishing
Minich DM, Ross K, Frame J, Fahoum M, Warner W, Meissner HO. Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses. Nutrients. 2024 Feb 14;16(4):530. doi: 10.3390/nu16040530. PMID: 38398854; PMCID: PMC10892513.
Minich DM, Henning M, Darley C, Fahoum M, Schuler CB, Frame J. Is Melatonin the "Next Vitamin D"?: A Review of Emerging Science, Clinical Uses, Safety, and Dietary Supplements. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 22;14(19):3934. doi: 10.3390/nu14193934. PMID: 36235587; PMCID: PMC9571539.
Minich DM et al. Not all maca is created equal: a review of colors, nutrition, phytochemicals, and clinical uses. Nutrients. 2024;16(4):530. doi:10.3390/nu16040530.
Hodges RE, Minich DM. Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application. J Nutr Metab. 2015;2015:760689. doi: 10.1155/2015/760689. Epub 2015 Jun 16. PMID: 26167297; PMCID: PMC4488002.
Minich DM, Bland JS. Acid-alkaline balance: role in chronic disease and detoxification. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Jul-Aug;13(4):62-5. PMID: 17658124.
Andrade P, Santamarina AB, de Freitas JA, Marum ABRF, Pessoa AFM. Personalized nutrition and precision medicine in perimenopausal women: A minireview of genetic polymorphisms COMT, FUT2, and MTHFR. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2024 Dec 5;80:100549. doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100549. PMID: 39642577; PMCID: PMC11664282.
Avis NE et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531–539. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063.
Thurston RC & Joffe H. Vasomotor symptoms and menopause: findings from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38(3):489–501. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.006.
Baker JM et al. Estrogen-gut microbiome axis: physiological and clinical implications. Maturitas. 2017;103:45–53. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.06.025.
Wu J, Harlow SD, Randolph JF Jr, Gold EB, Park SK. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Female Reproductive Aging. Semin Reprod Med. 2024 Dec;42(4):330-360. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1801388. Epub 2025 Jan 29. PMID: 39879998.
Inman ZC, Flaws JA. Impact of Real-life Environmental Exposures on Reproduction: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, reproductive aging, and menopause. Reproduction. 2024 Oct 3;168(5):e240113. doi: 10.1530/REP-24-0113. PMID: 39222443; PMCID: PMC11753258.
Grindler NM, Allsworth JE, Macones GA, Kannan K, Roehl KA, Cooper AR. Persistent organic pollutants and early menopause in U.S. women. PLoS One. 2015 Jan 28;10(1):e0116057. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116057. PMID: 25629726; PMCID: PMC4309567.
Meissner HO, Reich-Bilinska H, Mscisz A, Kedzia B. Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon) used as a Non-Hormonal Alternative to HRT in Perimenopausal Women - Clinical Pilot Study. Int J Biomed Sci. 2006 Jun;2(2):143-59. PMID: 23674976; PMCID: PMC3614596.
Madison AA, Belury MA, Andridge R, Renna ME, Rosie Shrout M, Malarkey WB, Lin J, Epel ES, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Omega-3 supplementation and stress reactivity of cellular aging biomarkers: an ancillary substudy of a randomized, controlled trial in midlife adults. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;26(7):3034-3042. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01077-2. Epub 2021 Apr 20. PMID: 33875799; PMCID: PMC8510994.
