E297: Understanding Cortisol: How Real-Time Hormone Testing Can Transform Women’s Health

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If you’re experiencing fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, anxiety, weight changes, or feeling tired-but-wired, your cortisol might be the missing piece. In this episode, we explore how real-time hormone testing can help women understand their bodies, take action with clarity, and build true stress resilience.

In this empowering episode of The Art of Living Well Podcast®, hosts Marnie Dachis Marmet and Stephanie May Potter sit down with Marina Pavlovic Rivas, co-founder and CEO of Eli Health, to discuss the future of women’s health and how continuous cortisol tracking is changing everything we know about hormones, stress, and prevention.

Marina shares the personal journey that led her to create Eli Health, the science behind real-time saliva testing, and why traditional once-a-year hormone labs fall short. You’ll also learn how lifestyle shifts—like sunlight, nature time, sleep rhythm, and balanced training—can help rebalance cortisol even when life stress is unavoidable.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why cortisol is the master hormone influencing energy, sleep, metabolism, focus, and emotional stability
• How real-time testing works and why snapshots from traditional tests don’t tell the full story
• The difference between high vs low cortisol and symptoms of each
• How lifestyle habits can reshape stress resilience without quitting your job or major life changes
• Why midlife women often experience cortisol dysregulation and burnout
  The future of hormone tracking through affordable at-home saliva testing

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Noteworthy Quotes

“Knowledge is power. When you understand your numbers, you can take control of your health.” – Marina Pavlovic Rivas
“You shouldn’t have to feel ‘crazy’ or alone. What you’re experiencing is common, but it’s not something you have to normalize.” – Marina Pavlovic Rivas
“Women deserve access to their own data without asking for permission.” – Marina Pavlovic Rivas
“It’s not about doing everything. It’s about keeping it simple and consistent.” – Marina Pavlovic Rivas

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Episode Breakdown

[00:00] – Welcome & intro
[01:18] – Marina’s story and how Eli Health began
[04:53] – Why cortisol matters for women
[06:21] – Problems with traditional hormone testing
[07:38] – Real-time cortisol testing explained
[12:40] – Symptoms of high vs low cortisol
[17:16] – Lifestyle changes that make a real impact
[27:10] – Wearables vs cortisol: what’s accurate
[35:20] – Future of Eli Health: progesterone & testosterone testing
[38:49] – Message for midlife women

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Connect with Marina & Eli Health

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinapavlovicrivas LinkedIn

Eli Health (company) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myelihealth/

Website:  https://eli.health/

 

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