It’s not just your diet — stress might be the most toxic thing on your plate

If you have been eating well, exercising, and doing everything you are told to do for your health, yet still feel exhausted, wired at night, and crashing mid afternoon, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I explain the hidden hormone quietly hijacking women in midlife: cortisol.

It behaves a lot like sugar. It gives you a quick burst of energy and then leaves you bloated, anxious, inflamed, craving more, and completely drained.

Ambitious, high performing women like us often have the most disrupted cortisol rhythms.

Listen to the end for three simple, science backed resets you can start today to feel more balanced, calmer, clearer, and more like yourself again....And if you know another woman who is running on empty, share this episode with her. She needs this reminder too.

Here are the Highlights:

• 00:00:00 Introduction to Cortisol
• 00:03:00 Cortisol's Role in Stress Response
• 00:06:00 Impact of Chronic Stress
• 00:09:00 Stress and Women's Health
• 00:12:00 Managing Your Cortisol Levels

Clinical Studies mentioned:

Lupien SJ, McEwen BS, Gunnar MR, Heim C. Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2009.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19401723/

Konturek PC, Koziel J, et al. Stress, microbiota and gut barrier dysfunction. Frontiers in Immunology. 2020.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32435268/

Li J, et al. Impact of stress hormones on gut microbiota composition. Heliyon. 2022.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35605630/

Walker BR. Cortisol and metabolic disease: mechanisms and implications. Clinical Science. 2007

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17635148/

Czeisler CA, et al. Circadian misalignment and its impact on hormonal rhythms. Sleep Health. 2016.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27998436/

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You’ve followed the rules, seen the doctors, taken the supplements, so why do you still feel off? It took me years to figure out what stands in our way, and today I share my learnings.

Listen as I pull back the curtain on the gaps in women’s healthcare, why mainstream advice can fail midlife women, and what actually works.

If you’re tired of guessing and ready to take back control of your body then this one’s for you!

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00:00 Introduction to Big Pharma and Women's Health

06:43 The Gap in Women's Health Research

07:57 Challenges with Supplements and Women's Health

12:16 Empowering Women in Midlife Health

Gut health has become the buzzword of the decade, but is it actually worth the hype?

In this episode, I break down why your gut is far more than a digestion station. It’s the control centre for your hormones, immunity, mood, and long-term health.

You’ll hear how the microbiome changes as women move through midlife, why supplements alone often fall flat, and the simple swaps that make a real difference.

I share practical, science-backed steps you can start today that don’t involve expensive powders or gimmicks, just real strategies for feeling healthier and more energised.

Here are the Highlights:

02:15 – Why your gut is the body’s control centre.

05:40 – The microbiome shift after 35 and what it means for women.

06:57– The quick-fix trap with probiotics and pills.

08:45 – Everyday culprits that throw your gut off balance.

10:20 – The link between gut health, hormones, and menopause symptoms.

12:25 – Three practical things you can do right now.

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In this very first episode of Health Insider, I share my journey from Big Pharma scientist to nutrition practitioner and why women’s health in midlife is my mission. You’ll hear how my personal experiences with family, career, and my own health led me to question the way our system works and why prevention matters just as much as treatment.

I’ll talk about the real gaps in research around menopause, the frustrating advice many of us get from doctors, and some simple shifts you can make right now. Think protein-rich meals, morning daylight, and tracking your health in smarter ways.

Here are the Highlights:

01:04: So why did I start this podcast?

02:40: From Big Pharma to preventive health

05:45: The blind spot in women’s midlife health

08:20: My own struggles and frustrations with “normal” symptoms

11:30: Three simple fixes you can start with today

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Health Insider is hosted by gut health scientist and triple-certified nutrition practitioner Ruby Saharan. Designed for ambitious women who want the real truth behind gut health, hormonal balance, and nutrition, this show pulls back the curtain on what actually matters for your wellbeing. If you’re ready to take control of your health and feel your best, it’s time to step inside.

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