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DHEA-S: The Lab Test That Illuminates Adrenal and Hormone Health

DHEA-S: The Lab Test That Illuminates Adrenal and Hormone Health When women tell me they feel “wired but tired,” can’t shed weight, or keep riding an emotional rollercoaster, my nurse brain immediately wonders about their adrenal glands. One of the most overlooked markers for adrenal function is DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate). Checking this single lab can […]

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What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Weight Loss, Worth, and Wellness

What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Weight Loss, Worth, and Wellness If I could sit across from my twenty-something self—the one clutching a calorie-tracking notebook and chasing every fad diet—I’d start with a long hug and a tall glass of water. Then I’d talk about the weight loss mindset shift that took me years

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Why “Falling Off” Is a Myth—and What’s Really Happening Instead

Why “Falling Off” Is a Myth—and What’s Really Happening Instead Affiliate DisclosureThis post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I personally trust and believe can support your health journey. As always, this content is

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Understanding Your Fasting Insulin: An Early Window Into Metabolic Health

Understanding Your Fasting Insulin: An Early Window Into Metabolic Health A few years ago, I met a woman whose blood sugar numbers looked perfectly normal—yet she couldn’t shake stubborn belly weight and mid-afternoon crashes. Her fasting insulin test finally explained it: her pancreas was working overtime long before her glucose levels budged. That’s the

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Understanding Your Fasting Glucose: What It Means and Why It Matters

Understanding Your Fasting Glucose: What It Means and Why It Matters I’ll never forget a patient who told me, “But I don’t even eat that much sugar — why is my glucose still high?” That’s the thing: fasting glucose isn’t just about how much candy or soda you’ve had. It’s a window into how your

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The Snack Rule That Helps Me—and My Kids—Avoid Crashes and Cravings

The Snack Rule That Helps Me—and My Kids—Avoid Crashes and Cravings I used to think snacks were supposed to be quick and cute—like those little bags of goldfish crackers or a granola bar tossed into a purse. They kept the kids quiet in the car, and if I was starving between patients, I’d grab one,

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Understanding Your Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST & More)

Understanding Your Liver Enzymes (ALT, AST & More) Your liver is one of the busiest organs in your body. It’s in charge of filtering toxins, supporting digestion, balancing hormones, and storing energy. Because it works so hard, your liver gives us important signals through blood tests—specifically, liver enzyme levels. If you’ve ever had labs

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Rewiring vs. Restricting: The Real Path to Food Freedom

Rewiring vs. Restricting: The Real Path to Food Freedom I used to believe the answer to weight loss was always restriction. Cut carbs. Cut calories. Cut out entire food groups and then cut out social events because—let’s be honest—it’s hard to sip water at a birthday party when everyone else is having cake. If

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How Your Gut Talks to Your Brain—and Why It Might Be Making You Anxious

How Your Gut Talks to Your Brain—and Why It Might Be Making You Anxious I’ll be honest with you—I didn’t used to give much thought to my gut beyond whether my jeans fit after dinner. I thought digestion was just about food going in, nutrients getting absorbed, and waste coming out. End of story. But

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Understanding Vitamin D: Why This Sunshine Vitamin Matters for Your Health

Understanding Vitamin D: Why This Sunshine Vitamin Matters for Your Health When I first started nursing, I didn’t think twice about vitamin D. I figured if you spent a little time outside, you were good to go. But then I began seeing lab results from patients who spent plenty of time outdoors and still came

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