If you’re on the Internet at all, you’ve almost certainly heard of semaglutide in its more common name-brand forms: Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and/or Rybelsus®.  Semaglutide is a medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. It mimics the action of a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar, insulin production, and appetite.  Initially approved for managing type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has gained popularity in recent years for its significant weight-loss benefits, especially for individuals who are overweight.  When coupled with exercise, this combination creates a powerful strategy to improve...

Recently, during my standard late-night TikTok scroll, a video popped up on my feed. In it, a woman seemed to speak directly to me, saying: “You’re not ugly, you just have cortisol face.” Bold messaging, but okay. Since then, “cortisol face’ has continued to cross my feeds. The term is all over social media. If we’re being honest, it smacks of Internet wellness talk, which often…well, isn’t necessarily rooted in science or fact. The term “cortisol face” feels new, but online chatter about cortisol is definitely not. People on social media often talk about doing things...

If you’ve spent time on social media recently, you’ve probably heard the word “colostrum” — a lot.  From people putting it in their smoothies or coffees, to your favorite influencer sharing an ad, colostrum is certainly trending online right now. According to the Internet, colostrum supplements, often taken in powdered form, are packed with benefits. Many claim colostrum has given their immune system a boost, fixed their gut issues, and even made their skin glow. What is colostrum, anyway? It gets even more interesting when you realize what colostrum actually is. Colostrum is the first form...

When I first started seeing content about intuitive eating, I was immediately intrigued. I can’t be the only person who has noticed how extreme (and extremely confusing) messages about what we “should” be eating are.  One day we’re told to avoid carbs at all costs, the next we’re told to go plant-based, and then we're encouraged to just “eat clean”. We hear that we should never skip breakfast…before being told that actually, intermittent fasting may be the “best” eating approach out there. It’s exhausting, it’s overwhelming, and it’s so confusing.  Even the more seemingly moderate approaches,...

Are you even a Millennial or Gen Z woman if your entire "for you" page isn't filled with seemingly endless ways to improve your health and wellness? From intuitive eating to somatic workouts, it can be overwhelming, to say the least. The truth is, holistic wellness isn't just about eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. It's a multifaceted approach that considers every aspect of our wellbeing — from our physical health and our emotional state to our relationships and our environment — and even the smallest of changes can make a big difference. Here's our...

There are a lot of cool things about getting older. Our life experiences have provided us with wisdom, and we don’t sweat the small stuff as much. Well, technically, we’re not sweating the small stuff because we’re likely too busy dealing with hot flashes and night sweats as part of perimenopause. Perimenopause is one of the not-so-cool things about getting older: As the run-up to menopause (the time when menstrual periods stop for good), perimenopause is when the ovaries begin slowing down the production of estrogen. This generally starts when people are in their 40s, around...

Have you heard of Ovasitol? The supplement has been making waves on TikTok, with proponents touting its ability to improve insulin resistance and support healthy ovulation. But what is Ovasitol, and what are its benefits for women's health? Let’s discuss.  First, what is Ovasitol? Ovasitol is the brand name for inositol, an over-the-counter dietary supplement designed to support healthy insulin and hormone levels, menstrual regularity, and fertility.* It’s a combination of two sugar alcohols, myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol, which are naturally occurring in the body as well as in foods like fruits, beans, grains, and nuts. Myo-inositol...

Recently on social media, millennial women have been reflecting on all the blatant examples of diet culture that were simply accepted as “normal” while they were growing up. They bring to light the magazine covers picking apart female celebrities’ bodies, point out the way food and drinks were marketed to us, and share the types of comments they received from real people in their lives. In so many ways, we’re doing better today. Now, we finally have some understanding of how badly we need to confront diet culture and stop commenting on people’s bodies. We’re finally...

Estrogen, often referred to as the "female hormone," plays a crucial role in women's health throughout our lives. From puberty to menopause and beyond, this powerful hormone influences everything from bone density to mood regulation. While it's primarily associated with reproductive health, estrogen's impact extends far beyond that, affecting nearly every system in the body. However, not all women need to be concerned about increasing estrogen. In fact, many women today may experience excess estrogen, especially those of reproductive age. During perimenopause or menopause is when estrogen levels naturally begin to decline. Other scenarios where low estrogen may...

You’ve probably heard someone jokingly say, “OMG, that’s giving me PTSD!” But the truth is, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that affects way more people than you might think.  Nightmares, anxiety, flashbacks, and feeling emotionally numb — these are just a few of the ways PTSD can show up in someone’s life. And it’s not just veterans who experience it. About 3.5% of adults in the U.S. deal with PTSD every year, and one in 11 people will face it at some point in their lives. PTSD symptoms can affect anyone...