When we talk about beauty, the conversation often begins (and ends) with serums and skincare routines. But as a concierge internal medicine physician, I’ve learned that real beauty is built from the inside out.
Whether I’m guiding high-performing women in their 30s or vibrant 70-somethings, my focus is always the same: creating sustainable health from within. The glow you see is a reflection of everything your body is doing beneath the surface.
Here are 9 things everyone should know about health within.
1. Beyond Standard Labs
Most women know their cholesterol numbers. But the markers that really move the needle on health often go unchecked:
- Lp(a): A genetically inherited cholesterol particle that's an independent risk factor for heart disease- yet not typically tested.
- Apolipoprotein B: A better predictor of risk than LDL alone, and another key cardiovascular marker.
- Fasting Insulin: Crucial for catching metabolic dysfunction before it shows up elsewhere. If you struggle with weight, energy, or cravings, this test matters.
Health Mantra: You can’t supplement your way out of processed food, poor sleep, and chronic stress.
2. Skin Clues
When skin looks dull, inflamed, or suddenly problematic, I always look deeper. Internal imbalances like gut dysbiosis or hormonal fluctuations often show up first on the face.
Health Mantra: Your skin often speaks first when your body needs attention.
3. Inflammation
Chronic inflammation impacts nearly every system in the body. It causes bloating, joint pain, brain fog, and fatigue; and on the surface, it creates puffiness, dull skin, and early aging.
Health Mantra: How you feel and how you look are both shaped by what’s brewing beneath the surface.
4. Nutrition
Forget quick fixes. My #1 prescription? Real food and sleep. A mostly plant-forward, unprocessed diet with clean proteins, minimal alcohol, and consistent rest creates a visible shift in energy and vitality. I personalize recommendations using both lab results and targeted supplements. I often assess things like vitamin D, magnesium, omega balance, and other micronutrient levels
Health Mantra: Nourish your body, and it will show up for you.
5. Fatigue
Chronic sleep deprivation can spike cortisol, disrupt blood sugar and thyroid hormones, and trigger everything from puffiness to breakouts.
Health Mantra: Fatigue isn’t laziness. It’s your body telling the truth.
6. Hormones
Your menstrual cycle is more than just a calendar… it's a vital sign. Painful periods, mood swings, or irregular cycles are early hormone flags. As women transition through perimenopause, those imbalances might evolve into brain fog, sleep disturbances, or anxiety. These are treatable, not inevitable.
Health Mantra: Your hormones don’t have to control you if you learn to listen and respond.
7. Redefining What Aging Well Means
I have patients in their 70s who are sharper, fitter, and more joyful than people I know in their 30s and 40s. The difference? Daily movement. Smart nutrition.
Health Mantra: Aging well isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about building resilience.
8. Gut Health
Gut health is the command center. An imbalanced gut can sabotage everything from hormone health to skin, energy, sleep, and weight. If we can’t find the answer in your bloodwork, I always look to the gut. Advanced stool testing is one of the most illuminating diagnostics I use.
Health Mantra: When in doubt, look to the gut… it rarely steers you wrong.
9. A Wake-Up Call for Men’s Health
Men often go overlooked in these conversations. But as testosterone gradually dips and stress levels rise, symptoms like low energy, weight gain, irritability, and loss of muscle creep in. And when cortisol stays high, it can make it worse.
Health Mantra: Optimal hormones aren’t a luxury- they’re a foundation for strength and confidence.
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Beauty isn’t skin deep. It’s cellular. It’s hormonal. It’s metabolic. And when you start addressing what’s happening on the inside, the outside follows more vibrantly than any quick fix ever could.