The Radiant by Design Blog with Kate Vazquez: Health and Faith for Women

Hormonal acne in your 30s and 40s often shows up as deeper breakouts along the chin and jawline. Shifting hormones, androgens, blood sugar and insulin, PCOS, perimenopause, stopping birth control, and stress can all play a role. Looking at the whole picture with your...

Can you have Hashimoto’s with a normal TSH? Yes. In the early stages of Hashimoto’s, thyroid antibodies may be elevated even when TSH and free T4 are within the normal range, according to the American Thyroid Association. But what if your thyroid labs are normal and...

Quick answer: Rage can be hormonal. Shifts after birth, in the days before your period, and in perimenopause can make anger sharper, and exhaustion adds fuel. But it can also signal postpartum depression or anxiety or another condition, so talk with your doctor,...

Quick answer: Waking at 3am in perimenopause can come from shifting hormones, night sweats, stress, or a mix of these. The time on the clock doesn't point to one cause, so notice your patterns and talk with your doctor if it keeps happening. Have you ever woken up at...

If you read my previous post about the growing popularity of GLP-1 medications, you learned that your body already produces GLP-1 naturally. GLP-1 is a hormone designed to help regulate appetite, blood sugar, and metabolism. While medications have their place in...

Over the past few years, medications like GLP-1 peptides have exploded in popularity. They’re being prescribed and recommended by influencers for weight loss, blood sugar control, and even metabolic health. You’ve likely heard names like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro...

Before diving into this conversation, I encourage you to read my first post: ➡️ The Carnivore Diet: Helpful or Harmful Long-Term? In that blog, I shared how certain gut bacteria, especially Akkermansia, depend on plant compounds like polyphenols to flourish, and how...

We are living in a time where information is everywhere. You can type a symptom into your phone and within seconds see stories of chronic illness, expensive remediation, and families leaving homes behind. It’s overwhelming. And when your body already feels fragile,...

The carnivore diet has gained popularity in recent years, with many people reporting improvements in symptoms like bloating, autoimmune flares, fatigue, and joint pain. And as a functional medicine practitioner, I understand why. When someone removes processed foods,...

If you’ve spent any time in the functional medicine or wellness space lately, you’ve probably heard about colostrum supplements. They’re praised for gut healing, immune support, and inflammation reduction. But as someone who practices functional medicine, and who also...