Avaaz Health

Avaaz Health

🩺 Award-winning podcast hosted by physicians. Providing the latest fact-based medical information for women.

  1. Sep 8

    Peptides: Fad or Fact?

    Peptides are being promoted everywhere.For weight loss, injury recovery, muscle growth, skin, hair, sleep, andanti-aging. But what are peptides, which ones are actually evidence-based, andwhich claims should make you pause? In this episode of the Avaaz HealthPodcast, Dr. Madhu and Dr. Nav break down the science behind peptide therapy.Our moderator Rup, guides the conversation as we discuss established peptidemedicines and the difference between regulated prescriptions and experimentalproducts being marketed online, and why popularity on TikTok or in gym cultureis not proof of safety or effectiveness. We also discuss retatrutide, a newerinvestigational medication attracting attention for its early weight-managementresearch, and we dive into the risks of unregulated “recovery,” “anti-aging,”and “glow” peptide stacks. Before considering a peptide, rememberthe three Ps: Is it proven? Is it prescribed? Is itpure? *This Avaaz Health Podcast and thisepisode are for general education only, and is not a substitute for medicaladvice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a qualified health-careprofessional about your individual circumstances. Show Notes: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(26)00099-4/abstract .FDA's Stamp of Approval: Unveiling Peptide Breakthroughs in Cardiovascular Diseases, ACE, HIV, CNS, and Beyond. Journal of Peptide Science : An Official Publication of the European Peptide Society. 2024. Al Musaimi O.Review Peptide‐based diagnostic and therapeutic agents: Where we are and where we are heading?. Chemical Biology & Drug Design. 2023. Khalily MP, Soydan M.Review New Molecules and Indications for GLP-1 Medicines. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2025. Gonzalez-Rellan MJ, Drucker DJ.RecentReview Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, et al.RecentReview Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine. 2026. Mendias CL, Awan TM.RecentReview Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2025. McGuire FP, Martinez R, Lenz A, Skinner L, Cushman DM.RecentReview Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals. 2025. Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P.Review Impact of Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Combination With Long-Term Physical Training on Strength, Musculotendinous Remodeling, Functional Recovery, and Body Composition in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine. 2024. Bischof K, Moitzi AM, Stafilidis S, König D.SR Collagen Peptide Supplementation for Pain and Function: Is It Effective?. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2022. Kviatkovsky SA, Hickner RC, Ormsbee MJ.Review Injectable Peptides in Sports Medicine: A Structured Narrative Review of Evidence, Safety, and Antidoping Implications. JBJS Reviews. 2026. Villegas Meza AD, Nocek M, Mitchell BC, et al.RecentReview Illicit Injectable Peptides and Regulatory Gaps. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2026. Piatkowski T, Ganson KT, Nagata JM.RecentOpinion Under FDA, Unapproved Peptides Likely to Become More Widely Available. JAMA. 2026. Rita Rubin, MANews

  2. Mar 16

    Not your mother's menopause

    Menopause is everywhere in the conversation right now—but not all the information is accurate. In our latest episode, “Not Your Mother’s Menopause,” we revisit this topic with the latest science-based guidance and break down what women need to know now: ✨ What actually happens during perimenopause?✨ Who should consider Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)? And for how long?✨ What exactly is genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) — and why does nobody talk about it?✨ If your libido changes, do you need testosterone? We unpack all of this in a physician-led, evidence-based conversation. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the episode on Youtube. A huge thank you to the menopause experts whose work informed this episode: • Dr. Ardelle Piper — OBGYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner • Dr. Natalie Gamache — Gynecologist & menopause specialist • Dr. Woganee Filate — Respirologist & sleep medicine physician • Dr. Suzanne Rutherford — @thefitphysician Show Notes Medical management of menopause symptoms: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/dnd-mdn/documents/health/WDH_Clinician_Guide_Menopause.pdf   Pocket Guide to Menopause Management: https://www.canadianmenopausesociety.org/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/Final-Pocket%20Guide.pdf   Step by step approach to determine the safety of prescribing hormone therapy: https://thischangedmypractice.com/determine-safety-of-prescribing-hrt/   Menopause: Don't Sweat it: Part 1 - symptoms, by UBC CPD: https://thischangedmypractice.com/menopause-dont-sweat-it-part-1/ What to know about bioidentical hormone therapy: https://menopausefoundationcanada.ca/pdf_files/What_to_Know_Bioidentical_EN.pdf Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) - a refresher: https://thischangedmypractice.com/genitourinary-syndrome-of-menopause/ Sexual counselling online: e-sense.com, IG: @esensehealth

    Not your mother's menopause
  3. Mar 2

    South Asian genes: are we doomed?

    In this episode, we discuss how South Asian genes lead to higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes, at a younger age.  We talk about what tests you should be asking for, what helps (and what doesn't), and the fascinating role of epigenetics in shaping our current health risk factors.   Mubin Syed, MD, also know as @desidoc.md on Instagram, is a nationally recognised physician with almost 30 years of experience, specialising in endovascular therapy. He is also a health historian, a medtech entrepreneur, and a medical products inventor. His personal experience as a survivor of a heart attack, fuelled his desire to educate South Asians about their higher risks of disease, diabetes and other metabolic syndromes.  He is the author of a medical guide on pain treatment and two works focusing on the modern South Asian health crisis. He has been a TEDx speaker and was featured in the “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” PBS documentary, and in CNN International/ The Guardian and HuffPostUK. And he is the author of a new book, Healing From Our History: How Colonial-Era Famines Led to a Modern South Asian Health Crisis. You won’t want to miss this week’s episode.   Resources  ASCVD risk score (not a good indicator for S Asians) (https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3398/ascvd-atherosclerotic-cardiovascular-disease-2013-risk-calculator-aha-acc  MASALA study https://www.masalastudy.org/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4987009/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-97605-z

    South Asian genes: are we doomed?

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🩺 Award-winning podcast hosted by physicians. Providing the latest fact-based medical information for women.

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