MORE BLOG POSTS — Female health

For years, creatine has been pigeonholed as a supplement reserved for bodybuilders, powerlifters, and twenty-somethingers chugging protein shakes at the gym. Fortunately, that outdated reputation is finally beginning to crumble. In reality, creatine may be one of the most well-researched—and underutilized—supplements for women over 40. As estrogen levels begin to fluctuate during perimenopause and eventually decline after menopause, women experience predictable changes in body composition. Muscle mass gradually decreases. Strength begins to fade. Recovery after exercise often takes longer. Bone density can decline. Even cognitive changes such as brain fog and mental fatigue become increasingly common. Collectively, these changes contribute...

It happens all the time. My patient sees her lipid profile results, and her biggest concern is her total cholesterol. In fact, many women don't even know their LDL, HDL, or triglyceride levels. What they know is that their total cholesterol is 220, 240, or 260, and they've been told that's the biggest red flag. But the truth is, that's not necessarily the case. For decades, total cholesterol has been treated as the headline number. It's often the first number highlighted on lab reports and the one most likely to trigger concern. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most misunderstood...

Most women expect some bone loss as they age. After all, declining estrogen levels during menopause accelerate the breakdown of bone, making osteoporosis one of the most common health concerns facing women over 50. Because of this, many women—and even some healthcare providers—automatically assume that osteoporosis is simply part of getting older. But that isn’t always the case. The most important questions to ask when osteoporosis is diagnosed is whether it appears to be occurring as expected or whether something else may be contributing to the problem. In other words, is this simply age-related bone loss, or is osteoporosis acting...

Hot flashes. Anxiety. Insomnia. Heart palpitations. Headaches. Brain fog. Random itching. A nose that suddenly behaves like it’s allergy season year-round. A glass of wine that used to feel relaxing but now leaves you flushed, wide awake at 2 a.m., and questioning every life decision you've ever made. Sound familiar? I thought so…. Most women assume these symptoms are simply part of stress or aging. And to be fair, many of them are. But there’s another player that often flies under the radar—one that can quietly stir up a surprising amount of chaos—especially during perimenopause and menopause. Meet histamine, an...

Many women don’t realize that prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect the levels and patterns of the stress hormone cortisol. I’ve worked with countless women who had many symptoms of stress system dysfunction—fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, sleep issues—but their system couldn’t course-correct because some of their medications were tying its hands behind its back. In some cases, medications are necessary. But it’s important to understand which ones can affect cortisol and the stress system—and how they do so.   Medications That Affect the Way You Perceive Stress Your brain constantly scans your environment looking for potential threats—whether that’s a...