Jackie's Take: What's on My Mind in Women's Wellness ✍️ 🤔 📰 

🧬 The Cruise That Reminded Me: Midlife Women Don't Fade—We Float

I'm still floating from last week's Cruise Control—a riverboat retreat for women in travel hosted by the incredible team at Tauck. For seven days, 150 of us sailed the Danube, sharing stories, meals, and a few too many glasses of Veuve Clicquot. I was honored to be a speaker, but as is so often the case when you bring brilliant women together, I ended up learning just as much as I shared.

It started with a lesson in lagniappe. It's a Creole word for that little something extra, the unexpected gift. Tauck has built their brand on it—the surprise hot chocolate waiting after a chilly walking tour, the perfectly timed glass of champagne as I was sitting down for my fireside chat. It's not just about service; it's about anticipating needs and creating delight.

It got me thinking: what if midlife women’s healthcare had more lagniappe? What if, instead of just treating symptoms, we proactively delivered moments of unexpected care and delight? It's a question I'm still pondering and I’d love to hear how you imagine healthcare can infuse more lagniappe - reply here and let me know!

Then there was my friend, psychotherapist Niro Feliciano, who completely reframed my understanding of awe. She explained that awe isn't just a fluffy, fleeting feeling. It's a science-backed tool for better emotional health. It's the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world.

P.S. You NEED her new book, All Is Calmish as we head into the holidays!🎄 

And on the Danube, surrounded by centuries of history and the collective wisdom of 150 women, awe was everywhere.

But perhaps the most powerful moment came from Tauck's own Steve Spivak. He reminded us that midlife is not the time for women to fade quietly into the background. It's time for us to make ourselves known. To take up space. To share our wisdom. It was a call to action that resonated deeply with me, especially as I prepared to give my own talk. (My secret weapon for pre-talk clarity and confidence? A tiny testosterone "boost." It's a game-changer for focus and a topic for another newsletter.)

And speaking of making oneself known, my 72-year-old mom became the ship's unofficial longevity coach. She hiked in heels, held court at dinner, and proved that consistency beats perfection every single time. She was a walking, talking masterclass in aging with vitality.

Even Captain Sandy, of Below Deck fame, dropped a gem of leadership wisdom. "Positivity isn't naïve," she said, "it's magnetic." In a world that often rewards cynicism, her words were a powerful reminder that optimism can be a force multiplier.

This week on the Danube was more than a trip. It was a microcosm of what's possible when women come together to learn, laugh, and lead. It was a reminder that we are not meant to be invisible, but to be seen, heard, and celebrated. And that, my friends, is a lesson worth sailing for.

The Tea: What's Trending in Women's Wellness & Culture 🍵 📰 

🏆 💊 The Black Box Warning on Estrogen is Gone. Here's Why It Matters.

In a move that has menopause clinicians like me breathing a collective sigh of relief, the FDA has announced the removal of the "black box" warning from estradiol products used in menopausal hormone therapy. This is, to put it mildly, a very big deal. Here's the breakdown of what this means for you:

• A More Accurate Picture of Risk: The original warning was based on outdated data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, which used older hormone formulations in an older population of women. Decades of subsequent research have shown that for most women under 60, the benefits of hormone therapy far outweigh the risks.

• Reduced Fear and Stigma: That black box has been a major source of fear for both patients and providers, preventing countless women from accessing treatment for debilitating menopause symptoms. Removing it helps to destigmatize hormone therapy and opens the door for more productive, evidence-based conversations.

• Vindication for a Science-Based Approach: This decision validates what many of us in the field have been saying for years: hormone therapy is a safe and effective treatment for the majority of symptomatic women. The new labeling will reflect the current science, which shows that for many, HRT is associated with a decrease in risks for conditions like heart disease and dementia.

• Empowering Individualized Care: This isn't a green light for every woman to start HRT, but it is a crucial step toward empowering women to make informed decisions with their providers based on their individual health profile and goals, not on outdated, fear-based warnings.

This is a huge victory for women's health and a testament to the power of reassessing what we think we know. It's a new day for menopause care.

This Week on the WellKept Podcast 🎙️ 

The Facelift Phenomenon

This week on the WellKept podcast, Carmen and I are talking about the facelift. With celebrities like Bradley Cooper reportedly going under the knife, we're diving into how beauty standards are shifting, why cosmetic procedures are becoming more accessible, and the societal pressures we all face when it comes to aging.

Is it possible to embrace aging while still wanting to look your best? We get into it.

Listen to the full episode here on Spotify and check out a clip from our episode below.

The Group Chat Edit 📲 👯‍♂️ 

This week's "Group Chat Edit" section is sponsored by Nnabi.

👀 To Try: Nnabi's Peri Essential 5™

I have to tell you about something my patients have been buzzing about for months. When Marina and EJ, the founders of Nnabi, reached out to me, I was already hearing about their perimenopause supplement from women in my practice. I was so happy to support this female founder duo who really did their homework in creating this product.

Peri Essential 5™ is a doctor-formulated, adaptogenic and botanical blend designed specifically to support the five core systems most affected by perimenopause: the nervous system, liver and digestion, blood sugar balance, immune function, and inflammation. Translation? It helps with the symptoms we all know too well—sleep issues, brain fog, joint pain, mood swings, and more.

This is the kind of science-backed, thoughtfully formulated supplement I love to see in the perimenopause space.

🌟And just for our subscribers, we have arranged 30% off any Nnabi product with code SADDLE30. If you're looking for support that goes beyond just masking symptoms, this is worth exploring.

Shop Nnabi with your exclusive discount 🌟 

 🛍️ To Buy: For women in perimenopause, especially those who are taking testosterone or using a GLP-1, hair loss prevention is a big deal. I created this Hair Longevity Blueprint to give you the exact roadmap I use with my patients in clinic—how to be proactive and get the best hair of your life after 40.

This guide walks you through the science, the strategies, and gives you access to the products and hair peptides that I personally use and recommend. At $27, it's a bargain for the same tips and protocols I share in my practice. If you're ready to take control of your hair health, this is your starting point.

💇‍♀️ Get the Hair Longevity Blueprint here 💇‍♀️