Energized with Dr. Mariza

Curious how to drink less alcohol, but still make your drinks fun? 

Join me in this episode for a refreshing conversation with mocktail expert and holistic nutritionist Blair Horton, who’s on a mission to transform your drinks into a feel-good ritual of self-care.

We dive into her new book, Everyday Elixirs, packed with thoughtfully crafted, seasonal, and functional recipes for mocktails and other beverages. Think immunity-boosting citrus, digestion-loving botanicals, anti-inflammatory herbs, and flavors so good you won’t miss the booze!

Blair’s philosophy is simple: wellness should be joyful, accessible, and delicious. She walks us through how swapping or reducing alcohol doesn’t have to feel like deprivation—it can actually feel like an upgrade. 

Whether you’re winding down after a long day, hosting friends, or proactively supporting your health, Blair shows how a thoughtfully made mocktail can help you feel like the best version of you. 

Tune in here!

Blair Horton

Blair Horton is a holistic nutritionist, natural chef, and author of the new book: Everyday Elixirs. Her love for nourishing the body met her desire to create drinks that feel special. What started as a simple idea for beautiful, alcohol-free options grew into a collection of 80 vibrant mocktail and wellness beverage recipes in her book. She continues to inspire others to choose natural, blood-sugar-balancing beverages to aid in health and longevity, all while feeling (and tasting!) good. 

IN THIS EPISODE

Blair’s inspiration behind her new book, Everyday Elixirs

Easy, fast, and fun mocktails to whip up anytime of year 

Creative and tasty matcha drinks 

Leaning into the seasons and getting creative with ingredients 

Dedicating certain drinks to certain times of the day 

Best bedtime drinks to promote restful sleep 

Choosing and creating blood-sugar-balancing mocktails 

Educating your kids on healthy drinks with real ingredients 

Trying out new mocktails and hosting mocktail parties

How to create healthier mocktails & even enjoy them out to eat!

QUOTES“Anytime you're getting some extra liquid, it's going to be hydrating. And I love to put a pinch of salt in pretty much all of them to bring out the flavor, but also to help our bodies take in the water.” 

“If your blood sugar isn't balanced, your mental health is not going to be great… that's very important to me; keeping the drinks lower in sugar.”

“I'm always focusing on how we add in the good versus focusing on taking out the bad.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

⁠Join my 7-Day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart HERE!

https://go.drmariza.com/lp/metabolism-jumpstart/

Blair’s book: Everyday Elixirs

Blair on Instagram

Check out my Blood Sugar-Friendly Mocktail Recipes HERE!

RELATED EPISODES 

713: What Alcohol Really Does to Women’s Hormones, Sleep, and Metabolism

#619: The Impact of Alcohol on Women’s Health, From Hormones to Cancer

#548: The Loaded Truth Behind Mom Wine Culture and the False Need to Wine Down with Celeste Yvonne

#345: To Drink Or Not To Drink? Why Drinking as We Get Older Is Hard on Our Hormones

#712: Why Lifestyle Medicine Is Mitochondrial Medicine (And What That Means for Your Energy, Metabolism & Longevity)

Feel like hangovers are hitting harder than ever lately? 

In this episode, I’m unpacking why alcohol hits differently in perimenopause—and why that glass of wine you used to tolerate now leaves you feeling off for days. 

Even long after drinking, alcohol is still disrupting your brain chemistry, slowing your metabolism, and amplifying inflammation throughout your body. 

And as women’s alcohol consumption has quietly increased in recent years, understanding these hidden physiological shifts has never been more important. 

That’s why I’m breaking down what’s really happening to your body with each sip, especially during midlife hormonal changes. 

But don’t worry, I share my top tips for you to detox from alcohol successfully, curb cravings, and feel in charge of your body again. Tune in here to change your relationship with alcohol and feel more like yourself! 

IN THIS EPISODE

Why alcohol feels like it hits harder in midlife

What a detox from alcohol can look like for you 

The facts behind alcohol misuse and binge drinking 

What really happens in a woman’s body when drinking alcohol 

The symptoms of metabolic dysfunction brought on by drinking 

My top recommendations for detoxing from alcohol  

How to curb cravings and make non-alcoholic drinking more fun

QUOTES

“We've been sold a very expensive lie that alcohol helps us relax. And for years, I would've told you that it did just that, that that glass of red wine was self-care, that drinking was harmless.” 

“It's not just a hangover anymore. It's not just getting older. Alcohol is impacting your hormones, your brain, your sleep, and your metabolism.”

“In order to feed and heal your gut and your liver, we need a much-needed break, and alcohol simply cannot be included.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

⁠Join my 7-Day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart

https://go.drmariza.com/lp/metabolism-jumpstart/

⁠Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Check out my Blood Sugar-Friendly Mocktail Recipes HERE!

RELATED EPISODES 

#619: The Impact of Alcohol on Women’s Health, From Hormones to Cancer

#548: The Loaded Truth Behind Mom Wine Culture and the False Need to Wine Down with Celeste Yvonne

#345: To Drink Or Not To Drink? Why Drinking as We Get Older Is Hard on Our Hormones

#712: Why Lifestyle Medicine Is Mitochondrial Medicine (And What That Means for Your Energy, Metabolism & Longevity)

Ever feel a quiet kind of panic creeping up in midlife? The feeling that even though you’re showing up for everything, you feel empty inside? 

This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to live with this feeling forever… better yet, it’s absolutely reversible. 

We’re diving into how lifestyle medicine and cellular energy (hello, mitochondria!) are at the epicenter of how you feel, think, and show up every day. 

You’ll learn why those mood shifts, energy crashes, and feelings of overwhelm actually make sense — and more importantly, what to do about them. 

Then, we’re going back to the basics as I’m sharing my top 10 foundational lifestyle adjustments to help you rebuild energy and vitality without extreme plans or pressure. 

If you’re ready to feel like yourself again, start with one simple change and press play — your midlife health reset begins here! 

IN THIS EPISODE

Navigating the drastic changes in ALL aspects during midlife 

What those little powerhouses– the mitochondria– really do

How to track metabolic trends before they spiral out of control

The benefits of efficient cycle and symptom tracking 

The best ways to stabilize your blood glucose and insulin levels 

Why strength training, movement, and protein are a MUST 

Choosing the RIGHT supplements to support your body 

Considering HRT as a beneficial support in midlife 

Why your sleep matters more than you think 

How to get started with these simple lifestyle must-dos 

QUOTES

“Lifestyle medicine is mitochondrial medicine. The reason why lifestyle habits like nutrition, sleep, movement, circadian rhythm optimization, even stress support actually work is because they nourish your mitochondria and they optimize your cellular energy.”

“What is one simple lifestyle shift you can make that will help your mitochondria produce more energy tomorrow? Choose one. Commit to it for 7 to 10 days and watch what shifts.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Sign up for my 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart

https://drmariza.com/jumpstart

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Grab Mitopure to support your mitochondria:

https://timeline.com/ENERGIZED

Get the Perimenopause Survival ebook here:

https://drmariza.com/perisurvival

RELATED EPISODES 

710: Kickstart Your New Year: How One Simple Habit Can Transform Your Life, Health, and Mindset

704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

686: Your Second Puberty Explained: What’s Really Happening to Your Body in Perimenopause

Believe it or not, but there is as much cardiovascular risk associated with smoking as there is with the drop in estrogen in perimenopause and menopause. 

But don’t worry–  I’ve brought the hilarious, talented, and brilliant Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj onto the podcast to dive into why midlife is a uniquely important—and often overlooked—window for cardiometabolic health, and what you can do about it. 

In this entertaining episode, Dr. Bhojraj breaks down why the drop in estrogen matters just as much as traditional risk factors and why so many women’s concerns are missed in conventional care. 

We also reframe hormone therapy not as symptom management, but as a powerful tool for optimization, longevity, and long-term heart and metabolic health. 

With humor and clarity, this conversation reminds you that you don’t need to overhaul your entire life —small, strategic changes truly add up.

Tune in here to learn how to simply and efficiently boost your health, starting with your heart! 

Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj

Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is an interventional cardiologist and Institute for Functional Medicine–certified physician who bridges conventional cardiology with functional and lifestyle medicine. He spent 20 years treating disease with procedures and medications, but then shifted his focus toward uncovering root causes to help patients reverse chronic cardiometabolic conditions through food, sleep, stress optimization, and lifestyle change. Dr. Sanjay is the founder of the Well12 program and host of The Curious Cardiologist podcast, where he explores the science of longevity, inflammation, and human performance. His passion is helping people reclaim their health through simple, lasting changes.

IN THIS EPISODE



How Dr. Bhojraj moved into functional cardiac medicine 



What age to start paying closer attention to cardiovascular health



Advocating for yourself and what labs you should be asking for 



Why taking care of your cardiovascular health is crucial during midlife hormonal changes 



Looking at your metabolic health before starting HRT 



Metabolic markers to pay attention to in midlife 



Non-negotiable small tweaks to improve your heart health 



How bringing joy to your life can be the best tool for your health 

QUOTES

“We need to talk about sleep, we need to have an intelligent discussion about diet and what that means. And we need to think about hormones too, because hormonal health is so central to cardiovascular health, and that is just not something that we talk about in cardiovascular training.”

“It's like contributing to your 401k in your twenties, right? Like $200 doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're 65, you're now retiring a millionaire– depending on how well you invest, because you made those small, little, little habits, those little changes. So that decade of the forties becomes super important, particularly because in women, that's when perimenopause starts to happen, right?”

“The point is that I think first of all, start with something that you can do, right? Again, it's 1% shifts. You don't have to change a thousand different things.”RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Check out Dr. Sanjay’s Signature Well12 Metabolic Program HERE!

https://lagunamedicine.com/well12

Dr. Sanjay’s Website

Dr. Sanjay on Instagram

Dr. Sanjay’s Podcast: The Curious Cardioloist

Dr. Sanjay on Facebook

RELATED EPISODES 

704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

678: How to Turn Perimenopause Into Your Metabolic Window of Opportunity + My Simple Daily Protocol To Feel Amazing

#451: Why Do Women Have a Higher Cardiometabolic Mortality Rate Than Men? With Dr. Sara Gottfried

You don’t have to overhaul your life with your New Year's Resolutions. Small habits, when done consistently, can completely change your health trajectory– changing your LIFE. 

In today’s episode, I’m flipping the script on midlife health—because you don’t need another restrictive plan or pressure-filled protocol to feel better. 

Instead, I’m sharing my top five simple yet powerful habits that can truly shift your energy, metabolism, and mindset in midlife. 

These are realistic, supportive practices designed to meet you where you are, not demand more discipline or perfection. 

You’ll also hear how you can build real momentum alongside thousands of women in my FREE 7-day Metabolism & Hormone Jumpstart Challenge. In just one week, you can reignite your energy, reset your metabolism, and start feeling like yourself again—without willpower battles or crash diets. 

Tune in here for a science-backed, supportive reset that actually works!

IN THIS EPISODE

Overcoming the post-holiday season fatigue and burnout 

The reset you need to start the new year right

Looking at your own habits that make your life run smoother

My top 5 go-to habits to boost energy and metabolism 

How consistency with even ONE of these habits is life-changing

All about my FREE 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart 

QUOTES

“The holiday season– it's a lot. It's a lot on our nervous system. It's a lot on our metabolism, it's a lot on our hormones. And [all the] while midlife, perimenopause, and menopause are playing behind the scenes.”

“Here's the thing, you don't need to do all the things, but choose one habit. And committing to it can change your entire health trajectory, and that changes your life.”

“You need a jumpstart that honors your body and nervous system right now. This isn't about perfection; it's about momentum. This isn't about restriction, it's about support. It's about wins. So let's do this together.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Sign up for my 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart

https://drmariza.com/jumpstart

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

RELATED EPISODES 

707: Before You Plan 2026, Ask Yourself This: 12 End-of-Year Questions to Realign Your Energy, Goals, and Hormones

704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

686: Your Second Puberty Explained: What’s Really Happening to Your Body in Perimenopause