The Neuro Experience

Most people think tracking their protein is enough. The science says what your body actually craves is something far more specific and the person making that argument spent 23 years inside legacy media watching the wellness industry sell women everything from "bikini body in two weeks" to canned protein soda.

In this episode, I sit down with Liz Plosser, former Editor in Chief of Women's Health, where she oversaw brands reaching 44 million women. We break down why the nine essential amino acids are what your body is really after when you chase protein, why BCAAs are only a fraction of the picture, and why a study found four of the top six creatine gummies on Amazon contained zero creatine. Liz also opens up about her own supplement stack, her shift from endurance running to heavy lifting, and makes the case that testing instead of guessing is one of the most empowering moves you can make for your health.

Then we go deep on the science most people get wrong: why aging women struggle to pull amino acids from food, how essential aminos protect lean muscle even on rest days and for those on GLP-1s, the new research on high-dose creatine for sleep deprivation and Alzheimer's, and why collagen may not deserve the hype. We also cover the menopause misinformation epidemic, the 2002 hormone study that terrified the world, and what Liz puts in her own morning protocol. This conversation will completely change how you think about protein, what you supplement, and how you fuel your brain and body.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: The Protein Myth and Why Amino Acids Are What Your Body Really Wants

00:56 Protein, Amino Acids, and How Much You Actually Need

03:23 The Nine Essential Amino Acids: The Real Building Blocks

06:03 BCAAs vs EAAs: Why a Subset Isn't Enough

11:50 23 Years in Wellness Media: What Liz Saw Change

14:18 The Menopause Conversation and Why It Exploded

23:17 Kion Aminos, Timing, and Whether It Counts Toward Your 100g

26:46 Liz's Daily Routine: Aminos, Creatine, and the Morning Glass of Water

27:42 Can You Take Aminos While Fasting?

29:50 Do Aminos Preserve Lean Mass on Rest Days and on GLP-1s?

36:19 Leaving Legacy Media and Finding a New Mission

39:14 The New Creatine Research: Sleep, Dosing, and Alzheimer's

43:24 How Creatine Reaches the Brain and the Case for 10 Grams

44:48 Creatine for Mood and Depression

46:12 Collagen: Does It Actually Deserve the Hype?

49:40 The Creatine Gummy Scandal: Four of Six With Zero Creatine

51:27 Coffee, Cans, and Why Bioavailability Matters

54:50 Creatine, Electrolytes, and the 1990s Bodybuilding Hack

57:54 Liz's Morning Protocol and Owning Your AM

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Thank you to our sponsors

Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola

Timeline: https://www.timeline.com/partners/neuro-athletics

AirDoctor: https://www.AirDoctorPro.com use promo code NEURO for up to $300 off

Qualia Life: https://www.qualialife.com/Neuro for an additional 15% off on top of the 50%

BASED Bodyworks: https://basedbodyworks.com/ and use code NEURO for 20% off

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think breast cancer treatment ends when the tumor is gone. Science says that's where the real damage often begins, and the woman making that argument was diagnosed at 28, lost her mother to ovarian cancer the same year, and turned her own dismissal by the medical system into a specialization that now treats women nobody else will touch.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn Board Certified OBGYN, breast cancer survivor, and one of the few specialists in the world treating menopause in cancer survivors. We break down why 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no strong family history, why tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors quietly devastate brain, bone, and sexual health, and why telling a woman with severe vaginal atrophy to use coconut oil is not evidence-based medicine. Dr. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, her premature menopause at 28, the truth about hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer, and the BRCA, ApoE4, and surgical menopause snowball nobody is putting together for patients. This conversation will completely change how you think about breast cancer, menopause, and the women's health crisis hiding in plain sight.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Why Nobody Is Coming to Save Breast Cancer Survivors

01:05 Karin's Origin Story: Diagnosed at 28, Losing Her Mom, and Premature Menopause

03:06 The 85% Cure Rate Lie: Why Survival Comes at a Brutal Cost

06:13 Breast Cancer Is Not One Disease: Why 80% Have No Family History

08:14 BRCA1, BRCA2, and the Genetic Mutations Most Women Never Get Tested For

13:14 Karin's Own Genetic Test Story and Why 23andMe Is Not Enough

15:07 BRCA1 vs BRCA2: Age of Onset and When to Remove Ovaries

17:30 The Biology of Estrogen: Why Estrogen Does Not Cause Breast Cancer

23:40 Birth Control, Breastfeeding, and the Real Risk Factors

26:17 Alcohol, Inflammation, and the Toxins Driving Cancer Rates

27:46 Tamoxifen Explained: What It Does to Your Brain, Bones, and Body

34:23 Aromatase Inhibitors: Putting Your Estrogen in the Basement

37:15 Where Women Go When No Doctor Will Help Them

41:17 Oophorectomy, Early Menopause, and the 6 to 12% of Women Affected

44:26 Why Black Women Face the Highest Risk and the Least Care

46:20 The ApoE4, BRCA, and Surgical Menopause Snowball

48:02 Coconut Oil Is Not Medicine: The Vaginal Estrogen Truth

50:35 HRT Denial and the Myths Keeping Women From Treatment

51:13 Who Owns the Breast Cancer Survivor After Treatment Ends

54:18 Why the System Fails: Reimbursement, Resources, and Survivorship Gaps

01:00:07 Can You Be on Tamoxifen and Hormone Replacement Therapy?

01:03:26 Three Neurologists, One Tau Test, and the Dementia Dismissal

01:06:26 Positive Stories: Women Who Took Back Their Health and Won

01:09:16 The One Wish: Valuing Ovarian Function Beyond Reproduction

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF

DailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first month

IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

Biologica: https://biologica.com/NEURO Up to 32% off first subscription order

Cure Hydration: https://www.curehydration.com/ Use code NEURO gets 20% off

Honey Love: https://www.honeylove.com/NEURO Save 20% Off Honeylove #honeylovepod

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think breast cancer treatment ends when the tumor is gone. Science says that's where the real damage often begins, and the woman making that argument was diagnosed at 28, lost her mother to ovarian cancer the same year, and turned her own dismissal by the medical system into a specialization that now treats women nobody else will touch.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn Board Certified OBGYN, breast cancer survivor, and one of the few specialists in the world treating menopause in cancer survivors. We break down why 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no strong family history, why tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors quietly devastate brain, bone, and sexual health, and why telling a woman with severe vaginal atrophy to use coconut oil is not evidence-based medicine. Dr. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, her premature menopause at 28, the truth about hormone replacement therapy after breast cancer, and the BRCA, ApoE4, and surgical menopause snowball nobody is putting together for patients. This conversation will completely change how you think about breast cancer, menopause, and the women's health crisis hiding in plain sight.
*Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:*https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page
Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.
_____
*TOPICS DISCUSSED*(00:00:00) Intro: Why Nobody Is Coming to Save Breast Cancer Survivors
(00:01:05) Karin's Origin Story: Diagnosed at 28, Losing Her Mom, and Premature Menopause
(00:03:06) The 85% Cure Rate Lie: Why Survival Comes at a Brutal Cost
(00:06:13) Breast Cancer Is Not One Disease: Why 80% Have No Family History
(00:08:14) BRCA1, BRCA2, and the Genetic Mutations Most Women Never Get Tested For
(00:13:14) Karin's Own Genetic Test Story and Why 23andMe Is Not Enough
(00:15:07) BRCA1 vs BRCA2: Age of Onset and When to Remove Ovaries
(00:17:30) The Biology of Estrogen: Why Estrogen Does Not Cause Breast Cancer
(00:23:40) Birth Control, Breastfeeding, and the Real Risk Factors
(00:26:17) Alcohol, Inflammation, and the Toxins Driving Cancer Rates
(00:27:46) Tamoxifen Explained: What It Does to Your Brain, Bones, and Body
(00:34:23) Aromatase Inhibitors: Putting Your Estrogen in the Basement
(00:37:15) Where Women Go When No Doctor Will Help Them
(00:41:17) Oophorectomy, Early Menopause, and the 6 to 12% of Women Affected
(00:44:26) Why Black Women Face the Highest Risk and the Least Care
(00:46:20) The ApoE4, BRCA, and Surgical Menopause Snowball
(00:48:02) Coconut Oil Is Not Medicine: The Vaginal Estrogen Truth
(00:50:35) HRT Denial and the Myths Keeping Women From Treatment
(00:51:13) Who Owns the Breast Cancer Survivor After Treatment Ends
(00:54:18) Why the System Fails: Reimbursement, Resources, and Survivorship Gaps
(01:00:07) Can You Be on Tamoxifen and Hormone Replacement Therapy?
(01:03:26) Three Neurologists, One Tau Test, and the Dementia Dismissal
(01:06:26) Positive Stories: Women Who Took Back Their Health and Won
(01:09:16) The One Wish: Valuing Ovarian Function Beyond Reproduction
_______
*Thank you to our sponsors*KetoneIQ: https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFFDailyBasis: https://www.dailybasislife.com/NEURO for 50% off first monthIQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/Biologica: https://biologica.com/NEURO Up to 32% off first subscription orderCure Hydration: https://www.curehydration.com/ Use code NEURO gets 20% offHoney Love: https://www.honeylove.com/NEURO Save 20% Off Honeylove #honeylovepod
_______
I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.
My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing...
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:*https://tinyurl.com/55c24w66
Most people think tracking your brain is science fiction. The truth is, the technology to measure your brainwaves, train your focus, and deepen your deep sleep already fits inside a sleek little headband and the woman who built it has been studying neuroplasticity since long before consumer neurotech existed.
In this episode, I sit down with Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing wearable backed by the world's largest consumer EEG data set. We break down what brainwaves actually are, why your individual alpha peak frequency is one of the most underrated markers of cognitive aging, and how just five minutes of focused attention meditation per day can make your brain look 7.5 years younger. Ariel walks me through sleep spindles as the single greatest predictor of brain age, how the glymphatic system clears amyloid beta during deep sleep, and why hemispheric specialization shows up so differently in male and female anxiety. We also get into
Muse's foundation brain model, novel biomarkers for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, the digital sleeping pill, and her mission to make sure no one is jailed by the prison of their own mind. This conversation will change how you think about your brain, your sleep, and what cognitive longevity actually requires.
Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.
_____
*TOPICS DISCUSSED*(00:00:00) Intro: Inside the Brain Sensing Headband Changing Neuroscience
(00:05:17) What an EEG Actually Measures and Your Brainwaves Explained
(00:13:20) Alpha Waves, Flow State, and Why It's Easier to Reach Than You Think
(00:23:11) Peak Alpha Frequency: The Refresh Rate of Your Brain
(00:29:25) The Meditation Study That Made Brains Look 7.5 Years Younger
(00:38:30) Sleep Spindles: The Single Greatest Predictor of Brain Age
(00:43:30) Deep Sleep, Delta Waves, and the Glymphatic Power Wash
(00:48:11) Muse's Digital Sleeping Pill and Deep Sleep Boost
(01:01:21) fNIRS, Blood Flow Training, and the Athena Owl Experience
(01:04:23) The Foundation Brain Model and Novel Biomarkers for Alzheimer's
_______
*Thank you to our sponsors*Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicolaTimeline: https://www.timeline.com/partners/neuro-athleticsJones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEUROLifeboost Coffee: https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and use code NEURO for 10% offMomentum: https://momentumshake.com/neuro Get Free Welcome Kit + Travel Collection — $70 valueIQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/
_______
I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.
My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.
Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think tracking your brain is science fiction. The truth is, the technology to measure your brainwaves, train your focus, and deepen your deep sleep already fits inside a sleek little headband and the woman who built it has been studying neuroplasticity since long before consumer neurotech existed.

In this episode, I sit down with Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of Muse, the brain-sensing wearable backed by the world's largest consumer EEG data set. We break down what brainwaves actually are, why your individual alpha peak frequency is one of the most underrated markers of cognitive aging, and how just five minutes of focused attention meditation per day can make your brain look 7.5 years younger. Ariel walks me through sleep spindles as the single greatest predictor of brain age, how the glymphatic system clears amyloid beta during deep sleep, and why hemispheric specialization shows up so differently in male and female anxiety. We also get into Muse's foundation brain model, novel biomarkers for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, the digital sleeping pill, and her mission to make sure no one is jailed by the prison of their own mind. This conversation will change how you think about your brain, your sleep, and what cognitive longevity actually requires.

Reduce your risk of Alzheimer's with my science-backed protocol for women 30+:

https://go.neuroathletics.com.au/youtube-sales-page

Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for evidence-based conversations at the intersection of brain science, longevity, and performance.

_____

TOPICS DISCUSSED

00:00 Intro: Inside the Brain Sensing Headband Changing Neuroscience

05:17 What an EEG Actually Measures and Your Brainwaves Explained

13:20 Alpha Waves, Flow State, and Why It's Easier to Reach Than You Think

23:11 Peak Alpha Frequency: The Refresh Rate of Your Brain

29:25 The Meditation Study That Made Brains Look 7.5 Years Younger

38:30 Sleep Spindles: The Single Greatest Predictor of Brain Age

43:30 Deep Sleep, Delta Waves, and the Glymphatic Power Wash

48:11 Muse's Digital Sleeping Pill and Deep Sleep Boost

01:01:21 fNIRS, Blood Flow Training, and the Athena Owl Experience

01:04:23 The Foundation Brain Model and Novel Biomarkers for Alzheimer's

_______

Thank you to our sponsors

Function Health: https://www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola

Timeline: https://www.timeline.com/partners/neuro-athletics

Jones Road Beauty: https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com and use code NEURO

Lifeboost Coffee: https://lifeboostcoffee.com/ and use code NEURO for 10% off

Momentum: https://momentumshake.com/neuro Get Free Welcome Kit + Travel Collection — $70 value

IQBARS: https://www.eatiqbar.com/

_______

I’m Louisa Nicola - clinical neurophysiologist - Alzheimer’s prevention specialist - founder of Neuro Athletics.

My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention.

If you're committed to optimizing your brain- reducing Alzheimer’s risk - and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place.

Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/louisanicola_
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices