{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Plant Powered Collective","title":"Episode 23: Nutrition as Nervous System Support","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":873,"description":"Episode 23: Nutrition as Nervous System SupportEpisode SummaryIn this episode of the Plant Powered Collective Podcast, we explore how nutrition directly supports the nervous system, especially during midlife and menopause.We discuss why rhythm matters more than restriction, how blood sugar stability influences stress hormones, how the gut brain axis shapes mood and inflammation, and why menopause increases our sensitivity to metabolic disruption.This is not about dieting.It is about biological regulation.When we stabilize meals, support the microbiome, and create predictable daily anchors, we move from survival mode into repair mode.What's Covered• How the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems function• Why irregular meals increase cortisol and stress signaling• How menopause shifts insulin sensitivity and stress reactivity• The gut brain axis and microbial rhythms• The estrobolome and estrogen metabolism• Practical rhythm strategies for midlife• A calming, plant powered lentil stew recipeRecipe: Calm and Restore Lentil Stew Serves: 4 to 6Serve with: Brown rice or brown rice and quinoa blend prepared separatelyA deeply nourishing, gut-supportive soup built on diverse plant fibers, anti-inflammatory spices, and mineral-rich vegetables. Creamy without cream, hearty without heaviness, and designed to stabilize blood sugar while supporting digestion and hormone health.Cooking is an act of creativity and self awareness. Add vegetables that are in season, swap lentils for beans, increase spices if you enjoy warmth, or reduce ingredients that do not sit well with you. This is your opportunity to nourish in alignment with your bio individuality. Your digestion, energy, preferences, and lifestyle all matter. When you approach a recipe as a flexible framework rather than a rigid rule, you create meals that truly support your physiology, your taste, and your season of life.Ingredients3 carrots, chopped1 leek, chopped4 celery stalks, chopped4 garlic cloves, minced1...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/m2cQX15G4OBVwYhoNlq8JcB0Nvfy6CcbdhOu7TLDPbs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83N2Qx/MGJiOGRmNjYyZjQz/MGQzYjI3NWM2NTAy/Nzg1MC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}