Mikaela Mikaela

Why rapid weight loss is bad for women

Fast weight loss can unsettle your hormones, cost you muscle and leave your body map lagging behind. Here’s what the research says, and how fast is too fast for women.

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Mikaela Mikaela

Why do we become so interested in birds in midlife?

Why do so many people suddenly become obsessed with birds in their 40s and 50s? Explore the psychology of midlife birdwatching, generativity, mortality, and the quiet joy of noticing — including New Zealand’s unique native birds.

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Mikaela Mikaela

The real science behind runner's high, and why women feel it more intensely. P.s It’s not endorphins.

That post-run "glow" isn't endorphins. It's your body producing cannabis-like molecules called endocannabinoids. New research suggests women experience significantly higher increases in anandamide (the "bliss molecule") after exercise than men, and your menstrual cycle dramatically affects when you'll feel it. Here's the science behind why some workouts feel effortless while others feel like resistance.

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Mikaela Mikaela

Hummingbird Cake with a Lighter Touch

A thoughtful spin on classic hummingbird cake using half the sugar (because it has banana and pineapple, gluten-free flour, roasted pecans, and a tangy Greek yogurt icing. All the flavor, none of the crash.

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Mikaela Mikaela

I'm a Nutritionist, I'm Curvy, and My Labs Are Optimal

I'm a qualified nutritional scientist in New Zealand. I'm 103kg, curvy, run ultramarathons and do endurance sports, and my metabolic health markers are optimal. Here's why my genetics mean I'll always need to track my food - and why I have made peace with it (even when I still have hard days)

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Mikaela Mikaela

When Your Body Says No. 5 Surprising Truths About Trauma, Healing & Metabolic Health

Our culture tells a simple story about recovery: experience hardship, feel broken, then follow a straightforward path to being "fixed." But the science of resilience reveals something far more complex and hopeful. These 5 research-backed insights will reshape how you understand healing—from the surprising role of self-compassion to how unresolved trauma disrupts your metabolism and nervous system.

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