Hormones & health
Cortisol, estrogen, insulin: hormones get blamed for everything in midlife. Here we read the original studies and separate what was measured from what is marketing.
Guides in this topic
- Menopause symptoms: the full list and how long they last
The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, the average age it happens, how long symptoms last, and the bleeding changes that need a doctor.
- Menopause supplements: what works, what doesn't, and what is risky
What US health agencies and The Menopause Society say about black cohosh, soy, DHEA, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 in menopause.
- Osteoporosis after menopause: how to protect your bones
Why bone loss speeds up after menopause, who should have a bone density test, and the food, exercise and medical steps that protect bones.
- Cortisol and menopause belly: what the evidence says
Does cortisol cause menopause belly fat? What studies of midlife women measured, what 'cortisol belly' gets wrong, and when high cortisol needs a doctor.
- HRT and weight: what hormone therapy does and does not do
What The Menopause Society's position statement says hormone therapy is for, who it suits, its risks, and why it is not a weight-loss treatment.
From other topics
- How to lose weight after 50: a realistic plan for women
A seven-step plan for women over 50 based on what trials and long-term studies show: protect muscle, walk more, eat enough protein, and measure your waist.
- Menopause sleep problems: why you wake up and what helps
Why menopause disrupts sleep, the habits the National Institute on Aging recommends, how CBT for insomnia works, and when to see a doctor.
- Menopause belly fat: what causes it and what actually reduces it
Why fat moves to the waist during the menopause transition, what long-term studies measured, and the habits with trial evidence behind them.
- The 10 best exercises for women over 50
Ten exercises that cover every major muscle group, with photos, why each one matters after 50, and how many to do.
- Strength training after 40: an illustrated beginner routine
Eight strength moves for women in perimenopause and menopause, drawn step by step, with a 12-week plan that tells you when to add weight.