Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary

12/01/2026

Insulin resistance goes far beyond blood sugar. It also impacts female hormones, heart health, and longevity. For a summary of my individualized, root-cause approach, check out my recent article with Naturopathic Doctor News & Review

Article: https://ndnr.com/optimizing-metabolic-health-women-insulin-resistance/

My metabolism book: https://www.larabriden.com/metabolism-book/

04/01/2026

I’m deep into acne research right now. Looking beyond skincare to things like androgens, insulin, zinc, gut health, mast cells, dairy-free, DIM, berberine, and vitamin B5.

What’s helped your skin? Drop your favourite nutrition or lifestyle tips below. Especially the ones that don’t get talked about enough 👇

02/01/2026

Happy 2026, everyone! ✨

For the first time in many years, I made it home to rural Canada for Christmas and my NYE birthday. I gathered with some of my nearest and dearest for good food, fireworks, and a joint birthday cake for me (turning 56) and my nephew (turning 28).

21/12/2025

Happy Solstice, everyone! 

Today, I'm on the South Island, New Zealand, where it's the longest day. But thinking of all of you in your longest night. 🌏

📷: Godley Valley, Tekapo by New Zealand photographer

18/12/2025

If you’ve struggled with irregular periods, you might have noticed it can be a little tricky to figure out exactly what’s going on—and, therefore, exactly what you need to do to get your period back.

In this episode, I discuss:
- the two most common explanations for irregular periods.
- how to tell them apart, and
- how hypothalamic amenorrhea is frequently misdiagnosed as PCOS.

18/12/2025

If you’ve struggled with irregular periods, you might have noticed it can be a little tricky to figure out exactly what’s going on—and, therefore, exactly what you need to do to get your period back.

In episode 18 of my podcast, I explore some of the reasons for irregular periods, including PCOS and the oh-so-common hypothalamic suppression, which is frequently misdiagnosed as PCOS.

Link to watch, read, or listen: https://www.larabriden.com/irregular-periods-is-it-pcos-hypothalamic-suppression-or-something-else/

13/12/2025

Telling women to ‘fix your flaws’ is (and always has been) a great way to sell stuff.

Mitchell & Webb nailed it years ago...

From That Mitchell and Webb Look. Season 3, Ep 2Women, sort yourselves out!Men! Shave and get drunk, because you're already brilliant!

13/12/2025

Confused by conflicting health advice? You’re not alone. It’s gotten a bit crazy out there. Don’t be afraid to trust your own instincts.

10/12/2025

When are you “healthy enough”?

If you follow a lot of health accounts, you could feel like health is a never-ending self-improvement project. It doesn’t have to be like that.

Maybe it’s time to take stock and say: "I’m healthy enough to live my life."

If that's true, then you don't have to keep striving or thinking about health all the time. Instead, you can join a singing group, ride a horse, go on a walking holiday, volunteer, study something new, or do whatever gives life meaning.

✨ Health is for living. Not the other way around.

07/12/2025

Low iron could be the explanation for your anxiety and brain fog. Especially if you’re 40-something and having heavier-than-normal periods.

Have you had your ferritin checked? It should be at least 50 ng/mL. And for an accurate result, make sure you test 8–10 hours fasted and at least 24 hours after exercise.

For more, check out:
• Low iron could cause brain fog in perimenopause: https://www.ou.edu/news/articles/2025/april/low-iron-brain-fog-menopause
• My interview with Dr Libby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIZoxhSf5EI&list=PLrmPZp_fmeiq8tb9igac-s7c45Wpoebjl&index=2

05/12/2025

Sleep is not just about the brain. Your gut is also deeply involved.

Ways a healthy gut can support sleep:

• Stronger vagal tone — the vagus nerve is the communication superhighway between gut and brain
• Higher serotonin, melatonin & GABA — key neurotransmitters for calm and sleep
• Lower inflammation & cortisol —so you can feel less “wired-but-tired”
• Better circadian rhythm — the clock of the digestive system helps to synchronise the clock of the brain

Link to the Conversation article: https://theconversation.com/good-sleep-starts-in-the-gut-270487

05/12/2025

Another study adds to the growing concern about diets very high in linoleic acid from soybean oil.

It’s an animal study, so is not proof of harm in humans. But it does add to a growing body of research showing plausible biological mechanisms by which large amounts of vegetable oil may interfere with metabolic health (as one factor among many).

Link: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-warn-this-popular-cooking-oil-may-be-quietly-fueling-weight-gain/

And if you’re thinking, “But I don’t eat soybean oil,” check the ingredient list on:
• salad dressings
• sauces
• margarines, including "olive oil" spreads
• mayonnaise
• packaged foods

Often, it will explicitly say soybean oil. And if it only says “vegetable oil,” there’s at least a 60% chance it’s soy.

And yes, many experts still defend high-dose vegetable oil as healthy. But some of those same experts will quietly admit that they don’t actually eat much of it themselves, which is interesting.