Wild is Wise

Sara Estes

Welcome to Wild Is Wise, hosted by Sara Estes, writer and founder of the women’s wellness brand Sarenova. On this podcast, Sara breaks down the complex, sometimes confusing world of women’s nutrition and physiology into clear, research-grounded insights that help you better understand your body and make informed choices. Presented by Sarenova.

  1. May 12

    New Cornell Research: Why "Normal" B12 Isn't Enough for Women Over 40

    If your B12 lab came back "normal" but you still feel tired, foggy, and slower to recover than you used to, new research suggests you are not imagining it. Cornell University researchers have been studying vitamin B12 with new tools, and what they are finding is changing what "normal" actually means for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The standard reference range was built decades ago to catch severe deficiency. Energy, mitochondrial function, and the way you want to feel on a Tuesday afternoon were never the metric. For women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, that gap is the difference between a normal lab and feeling like yourself. In this episode: Why "in range" is not the same as healthy, and how the B12 reference range was set using populations that don't reflect women over 40What new Cornell research reveals about B12, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the kind of fatigue that does not go awayThe 5 hidden reasons B12  drops in women 40–65: low stomach acid, acid reducers, plant-leaning diets, reproductive history, and gut healthThe 2 functional lab markers most doctors don't run, and why they tell a different story than the standard panel4 practical steps to rebuild B12 status with whole foods your body actually recognizesWhether you're navigating perimenopause fatigue, postpartum depletion, unexplained brain fog, or just the slow drain of "I used to be able to do this and now it costs more", this conversation is for you. "In range" is not the same as healthy. In this episode: Why "in range" is not the same as healthy, and how the B12 reference range was set using populations that don't reflect women over 40What new Cornell research reveals about B12, mitochondrial dysfunction, and midlife fatigueThe 5 hidden reasons B12 quietly drops in women 40–65: low stomach acid, acid reducers, plant-leaning diets, reproductive history, and gut healthThe two functional lab markers (methylmalonic acid and homocysteine) most doctors don't run, and why they tell a different story than the standard panelA personal story about what a "normal" lab missed, and what one functional medicine practitioner saw that the lab didn't4 practical steps to rebuild B12 status with whole foods your body actually recognizesWhether you're navigating perimenopause fatigue, postpartum depletion, unexplained brain fog, or just the slow drain of "I used to be able to do this and now it costs more", this conversation is for you. "In range" is not the same as healthy. Join the waitlist for Sarenova's Formula No. 06 launching May 27, 2026 for early access and waitlist-only perks 👉 sarenova.com For full episode sources, show notes, and free resources 👉 wildiswise.com  CONNECT WITH WILD IS WISE: Instagram: @wildiswise TikTok: @wildiswise Subscribe on YouTube: @wildiswise

    15 min
  2. May 5

    Inside Formula No. 06: The Gut-Energy Connection Women Need to Understand

    The afternoon crash is not always about sleep, and the bloating is not always about food. For many women, these two symptoms show up together but get treated like separate problems. More coffee for the fatigue. More probiotics for the gut. More supplements with longer labels and bigger promises. But the body may be asking a simpler question. Can it make energy, and can it absorb what it needs to make it? That is the real conversation inside this episode. In this episode of Wild Is Wise, Sara Estes takes you inside Formula No. 06, a five-ingredient blend created for women whose energy, digestion, and resilience have started to feel different with time. Rooted in organ nutrition, Ojibwe plant wisdom, and bioavailability science, this formula was built to support the cellular machinery that produces steady energy and the gut lining that determines what the body can actually absorb. Sara walks through grass-fed beef liver, beef intestine, slippery elm, yarrow, and BioPerine, explaining why each ingredient earned its place and why a short, honest label can be more powerful than a crowded one. Listen in to understand why tired and bloated may be one story, and how true replenishment begins when the body finally receives what it can recognize and use. For full episode sources, show notes, and free resources 👉 wildiswise.com  CONNECT WITH WILD IS WISE: Instagram: @wildiswise TikTok: @wildiswise Subscribe on YouTube: @wildiswise

    21 min
  3. Mar 24

    The Hormone Disruptor Hiding in Your Favorite Products

    That tiny word “fragrance” on your lotion, candles, and laundry detergent label sounds harmless, but it can hide dozens of hormone‑disrupting chemicals tied to fertility problems, thyroid issues, perimenopause symptoms, and hormone‑sensitive cancers. In this episode of Wild is Wise, host Sara Estes breaks down the latest research on synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens, and even microplastics showing up in women’s reproductive tissues, and explains why this matters whether you’re trying to get pregnant, riding out PMS, or navigating perimenopause. You’ll hear how going fragrance‑free became a turning point in Sara’s own health journey after three miscarriages, what recent studies are revealing about plastics and women’s hormones, and how to decode your labels so you know what you’re actually putting on your skin and breathing in every day. We cover which products to swap first, what “fragrance‑free” really means, how to find safer candles and personal care products, and realistic steps to lower your daily exposure without overhauling your entire life overnight, so you can protect your hormones at any stage of womanhood. Grab my free Fragrance Audit checklist mentioned in this episode to help you spot hidden hormone disruptors room by room and find safer swaps without overwhelm. Download it at wildiswise.com. Follow along: Instagram: @wildiswise TikTok: @wildiswise Learn more: wildiswise.com  For full episode sources, show notes, and free resources 👉 wildiswise.com  CONNECT WITH WILD IS WISE: Instagram: @wildiswise TikTok: @wildiswise Subscribe on YouTube: @wildiswise

    21 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Wild Is Wise, hosted by Sara Estes, writer and founder of the women’s wellness brand Sarenova. On this podcast, Sara breaks down the complex, sometimes confusing world of women’s nutrition and physiology into clear, research-grounded insights that help you better understand your body and make informed choices. Presented by Sarenova.