Latest news with #EliHealth
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
This ‘dictator' of hormones has a major impact on sleep and metabolism — how to tell if your levels are out of whack
Stop the stresses! Cortisol is known as the body's primary stress hormone, but it has many essential functions. It naturally peaks in the morning to help you wake up and feel alert and then gradually decreases throughout the day to eventually prepare your body for sleep. Elevated cortisol over a long while can lead to increased appetite, weight gain, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, mood swings, a higher risk of diabetes, sleep troubles and skin problems. Cortisol, known as the 'stress hormone,' is produced and released by the adrenal glands. Creative Habits – That's why it's important to know your cortisol patterns. Enter Eli Health, a Montreal-based health tech startup that recently soft-launched an at-home instantaneous cortisol test. 'We started the company six years ago, initially out of a personal need,' Marina Pavlovic Rivas, cofounder and CEO of Eli Health, told The Post. 'We started with this hormone, given the wide-reaching impact it has on health.' Here's a look at how the test works — and how to improve cortisol levels. What does cortisol do? Cortisol is made and released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Light exposure, diet and sleep also significantly influence cortisol levels. Cortisol can directly affect mood. It can lead to depression and anxiety if it's out of whack. Yura Yarema – The hormone dictates the body's fight-or-flight response, while helping to manage blood pressure and blood sugar levels and regulate immune function. 'It goes way beyond stress — it has an impact on all bodily functions,' Pavlovic Rivas said about cortisol. '[It's been] said that hormones are not a democracy, and that cortisol is the dictator,' she added. 'When cortisol is dysregulated, it has a trickle-down impact on all other hormones that also play a role in health.' How does the Eli Health test work? Eli Health recommends testing at least every two weeks to monitor your cortisol curve. A test should be taken in the morning, ideally 30 minutes after waking, and in the evening before bedtime. A monthly four-pack costs $32. It's a pretty simple test that resembles a COVID or pregnancy test — except it's with spit, which has long been used to measure cortisol levels. Eli Health recently launched an at-home cortisol testing system that includes a smartphone app. Courtesy of Eli Health First, you download the Eli Health app, which reads test results and logs data. The app walks users through the process. A test is placed under the tongue for a minute to collect saliva. 'What we like to say is to imagine that you're filling a tube,' Pavlovic Rivas said. 'Instead of just leaving the pad on your tongue passively, do like if you're filling a tube or a glass with saliva, by pushing that saliva onto the pad,' she continued. 'When you think there's enough saliva, put twice as much.' Eli Health users place their saliva on the testing pad to get a cortisol measure. Courtesy of Eli Health Then, you pull a tab on the test until you see a blue dot. Now, it's a 20-minute waiting game. A line appears during that time, but it's not like a COVID or pregnancy test where you know the outcome right away. You have to use the app to take a picture of the line to get the reading. The app tells you if your measurement is within range and generates your score. 'We're looking at the intensity of color of the line,' Pavlovic Rivas said. 'We use computer vision algorithms to translate an image and the information present in that image into a hormone level.' If you didn't get a line because there wasn't enough saliva or the tab wasn't pulled correctly, the test is useless. How to improve cortisol levels A feature in the app lets users document activities that can influence cortisol. This helps to identify patterns so adjustments can be made to achieve optimal levels. A healthy diet, moderate-intensity exercise, consistently adequate sleep, mindfulness practices, time in nature and supportive relationships can contribute to healthy cortisol levels. A line appears in the window if saliva has been properly collected. Cortisol levels are calculated in the app within minutes. Courtesy of Eli Health 'We've seen this again and again in the user base,' Pavlovic Rivas said. 'For some people, for example, just being out in nature would be enough to have a very significant impact on cortisol.' Pavlovic Rivas said that users have also noted that their late-night high-intensity workouts may not be as helpful as they thought. 'At night they feel tired but wired, don't have a great night of sleep,' she said. 'By being able to see that their cortisol curve is dysregulated with higher levels in the evening, [they can] prioritize lower intensity exercise in the evening or do it earlier in the day.' Cortisol testing is slated to be fully available to the public at the end of September. Eli Health also plans to launch its testing system for the fertility hormone progesterone — which regulates the menstrual cycle and influences mood, sleep and energy — in the fall.
CNET
17-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
Cortisol Imbalance: High Cortisol Symptoms and How to Fix Stress Levels
Cortisol is a hot topic these days, especially as many struggle to manage their stress. You may also have heard of the term "cortisol face" or "moon face," which can be attributed to high cortisol levels. "Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate your metabolism, blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure and sleep-wake cycle," explains Dr. Mark Hyman, co-founder and CMO of Function Health, which offers a cortisol lab test. "It's most known for managing the body's response to stress." But what exactly does a cortisol imbalance look like, and how does it affect the body? To find out, we consulted doctors for symptoms, causes, when to see a doctor for cortisol testing and how to regulate cortisol. What is cortisol? "Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress," says Dr. Fady Hannah Shmouni, medical director at Eli Health, which sells an instant cortisol test. "When a stressful situation arises, cortisol can help your body prepare to respond by increasing energy, focus or alertness." Shmouni states that in the short term, your body's cortisol response is necessary and helpful. However, chronic stress can cause cortisol to remain elevated, which can negatively affect your organs, including your brain. For instance, elevated cortisol can disrupt sleep, increase inflammation or impair memory. Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, a dual board-certified sports and exercise medicine physician, adds that cortisol is like your body's built-in alarm system and is often called the "stress hormone." "Cortisol is part of the glucocorticoid family, and it's released as part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, your body's stress response headquarters," Franklyn-Miller says. In the morning, your cortisol spikes to help you get moving. At night, it dips to help you rest. Where the adrenal glands are located. SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCESymptoms of cortisol imbalance "Cortisol imbalances often go unnoticed until symptoms become disruptive," explains Hyman. "If you feel wired at night, crash mid-afternoon or struggle to get restful sleep, your cortisol could be out of sync." Franklyn-Miller adds that it can be difficult to spot a cortisol imbalance, since it can mimic other conditions. However, telltale signs include persistent fatigue, trouble sleeping or unexplained weight changes. "Home wearables tracking heart-rate variability, such as Whoop, Oura or Apple Watch, can also give indirect clues, as low HRV often correlates with cortisol dysregulation due to stress and a reduction in HRV," he says. Symptoms of high cortisol "Under normal conditions, your cortisol levels peak in the morning to help you wake up and then gradually decrease throughout the day," Shmouni explains. "But if you experience chronic stress, your body may make excess cortisol, and one of the most common ways this shows up is in disruptions to energy patterns." Some common symptoms of high cortisol, according to Shmouni, include nighttime sleep disturbances, energy dips caused by blood sugar spikes and crashes, and feeling constantly tired. Hyman adds that chronically high cortisol can also lead to: Anxiety and irritability Weight gain Sleep disruptions, fatigue High blood pressure Frequent illnesses due to a weakened immune system Over time, Hyman states that elevated cortisol can cause more serious problems, like cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and cognitive decline. High cortisol is often connected to conditions like Cushing's syndrome or chronic stress, according to Franklyn-Miller, who adds that weight gain can be especially noticeable in the midsection and face (also known as "moon face"). You can experience osteoporosis and muscle loss, since cortisol can break down tissue over time, or skin changes, like thinning skin, bruising easily or stretch marks. Symptoms of low cortisol Hyman states that low cortisol symptoms often include: Fatigue that doesn't improve with rest Low blood pressure Cravings for salt or sugar Dizziness upon standing Mood swings or depression "Low blood pressure, fogginess, weight loss and muscle weakness can occur; any serious symptoms are a sign that you should consult your doctor, as they could mean a more serious adrenal issue (like adrenal insufficiency) is at play," advises Shmouni. According to Franklyn-Miller, low cortisol is often seen in Addison's disease. People with Addison's disease may notice a darkening of the causes a cortisol imbalance? "There's no single cause of cortisol imbalance -- it's a result of multiple stressors piling up," says Hyman. "This can include: chronic psychological stress (work, relationships, trauma), poor sleep habits, blood sugar imbalances, overtraining without recovery, inflammation, infections and nutrient deficiencies, especially B vitamins and magnesium." Franklyn-Miller explains that the HPA axis is designed for short-term stress, so constant, long-term activation or suppression can lead to an imbalance. Stress If you deal with long periods of stress -- caused by factors like a high-pressure job, financial struggles or family responsibilities -- Shmouni says that cortisol can stay elevated in the body instead of fluctuating normally throughout the day. "This can create a cycle whereby elevated cortisol is not appropriately managed, resulting in prolonged cortisol release," he states. "If we don't see that someone's cortisol levels decline throughout the day, with a normal awakening response in the morning, it can be a sign that cortisol is dysregulated." Certain medications or medical conditions If you deal with chronically elevated cortisol levels, Shmouni says that this may be a side effect of medications like steroid inhalers, as one example. On the other hand, Franklyn-Miller reports that long-term use of corticosteroid drugs (e.g., prednisone) can shut down natural cortisol production, causing low cortisol. As Franklyn-Miller mentioned earlier, certain medical conditions, like Cushing's syndrome, can also cause high cortisol. "Cushing's syndrome, caused by tumors or excessive steroid use, floods the body with cortisol," he reports. When it comes to low cortisol, it may be caused by adrenal insufficiency. "Conditions like Addison's disease damage the adrenal glands, slashing cortisol production," Franklyn-Miller explains. Autoimmune disorders can also cause low cortisol, as the body attacks its own adrenal glands and reduces cortisol output. Your lifestyle: Sleep, exercise and nutrition "Poor sleep, overexercising or a high-sugar diet can spike cortisol by stressing the body," says Franklyn-Miller. When planning your workout, consider your stress and sleep. If you had trouble sleeping last night and are dealing with high stress at work, it may not be the best time for an intense workout. If you find that a workout leaves you feeling fatigued or sick, you may be going too hard. In addition to a high-sugar diet, alcohol and caffeine can also affect cortisol levels. For most adults, the FDA recommends 400 milligrams of caffeine or two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee. However, certain medications or conditions can make someone more sensitive to caffeine, so make sure to consult your doctor if you're unsure. According to the American Heart Association, it's advised to limit alcohol to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that in the US, a standard drink contains 14 grams or about 0.6 fluid ounces of "pure" ethanol. For sugar, the AHA states that men shouldn't consume more than nine teaspoons of added sugar daily. For women, consumption should be no more than six teaspoons of sugar per day. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, whole grains and protein. And of course, make sure you're drinking enough to regulate cortisol "Regulating cortisol is like tuning an instrument -- it takes mindful adjustments to your lifestyle," says Franklyn-Miller, who recommends the follow strategies: Prioritize sunlight exposure after waking up: "Only 20 minutes can stimulate your circadian release of cortisol, helping with body balance." "Only 20 minutes can stimulate your circadian release of cortisol, helping with body balance." Focus on sleep: "Stick to a consistent sleep schedule." In general, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is recommended, but it depends on your age. "Stick to a consistent sleep schedule." In general, 7 to 9 hours of sleep is recommended, but it depends on your age. Manage stress: "Practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga or diaphragmatic breathing can calm the HPA axis." "Practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga or diaphragmatic breathing can calm the HPA axis." Exercise smart: "Moderate exercise, like walking or yoga, balances cortisol, but overtraining can spike it. Aim for 30 minutes most days." "Moderate exercise, like walking or yoga, balances cortisol, but overtraining can spike it. Aim for 30 minutes most days." Eat balanced meals: "Avoid high-sugar diets, which can elevate cortisol. Focus on whole foods, like vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. Omega-3s, found in fish, may lower cortisol." Hyman also recommends prioritizing fiber. "Avoid high-sugar diets, which can elevate cortisol. Focus on whole foods, like vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. Omega-3s, found in fish, may lower cortisol." Hyman also recommends prioritizing fiber. Limit caffeine: "Too much coffee can mimic stress, raising cortisol. Try cutting back after noon." When should you see a doctor about cortisol levels? "If you experience significant symptoms that interrupt your ability to participate in daily activities, or if you experience extreme changes in appetite, energy, mood or sleep, bring this up with your medical provider so that they can work with you to manage symptoms and make lifestyle adaptations," advises Shmouni. Franklyn-Miller adds, "Also, if lifestyle changes (better sleep, stress management) don't improve symptoms after a few months, or if you're on long-term steroids, get checked." He explains that the gold standard for checking cortisol is through lab tests for blood, saliva or urine samples. For these, consult your doctor.
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Two Female Venture Capitalists Bet Big On Women's Health And Sports
Left to right: Muse Capital co-founders Assia Grazioli-Venier and Rachel Springate. From femtech to sports team ownership, two women VCs prove that backing overlooked markets is good business. When Muse Capital co-founders Assia Grazioli-Venier and Rachel Springate launched their firm, they weren't just looking for returns—they were looking to make an impact. With a strong background in business development, entertainment, and technology, the pair built a VC firm focused on women's health and sports, as well as on founders and investors who bring fresh perspectives often ignored by Silicon Valley. Their model is resonating. Muse Capital has invested in companies like Midi, Cofertility, and Eli Health—pioneers in femtech and hormone health—long before women's healthcare innovation became trendy. Now, they've taken that thesis a step further with the acquisition of SailGP Italia, making Muse the first female-led ownership group in the SailGP sailing league, in partnership with Red Bull. Muse Capital isn't just betting on founders. They're betting on culture, community, and women. A VC Firm Built by Operators—And Guided By Purpose Grazioli-Venier and Springate didn't follow the traditional VC track. Instead, they brought decades of experience creating partnerships between startups and Fortune 500s, celebrities, athletes, and influencers—relationships they now activate on behalf of portfolio companies. That operator DNA is Muse Capital's superpower. The firm helped Eli Health land a free Times Square billboard, brought Maria Sharapova on board as a strategic investor in Cofertility, and provided the opportunity to be a part of the Disney accelerator for Flickplay. 'We want to be the most strategic, helpful investor on your cap table,' Springate said. 'We don't just make introductions—we execute.' Their support goes far beyond capital. Lauren Makler, founder of Cofertility, said, 'From day one, Muse Capital has been one of Cofertility's most dedicated champions. Their support of initiatives like our Level the Playing Field campaign is just one example of how they show up—offering thoughtful insight, strategic introductions, and a genuine commitment to our growth.' Muse's thesis spans three investment buckets: care, live, and play. A consortium led in part by Muse Capital's founding partner Grazioli-Venier has acquired the Red Bull Italy SailGP team, marking the first female-led ownership group in the league's history. Through her sports advisory arm, Muse Sport, Grazioli-Venier is steering the team alongside luxury entrepreneur Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo and two-time America's Cup winner Jimmy Spithill. The investor group includes Anne Hathaway, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, and other industry leaders. For Grazioli-Venier, the league's commitment to mixed-gender teams, sustainability, and commercial viability made it a compelling opportunity. Red Bull Italy SailGP sailing past the grandstand of The Rolex SailGP 2025 Championship ITM New ... More Zealand Sail Grand Prix Unlocking Venture Capital By Tapping Wealthy Women Investors While Muse's portfolio focuses on founders, the firm is also helping to redefine who gets to be a funder. Like many female-led VC firms, Muse encountered skepticism from institutions that deemed women's health or menopause a 'niche.' So they turned to their network, which included family offices and high-net-worth individuals—often women—who understood the opportunity. Muse's experience aligns with what How Women (and Men) Invest in Startups,* found: Wealthy women are well-suited to be limited partners (LPs) in venture funds because they are: But they're also relational. Women often want a trusted advisor—a financial planner or fellow woman investor—to validate their investment decisions. A VC plays that role. Irma Wang, managing director at Bridge Ventures, explained why her firm backed Muse: 'We've been very interested in the fund's focus on women's healthcare tech—a space that's been historically overlooked, but that is full of potential and actually helping to fulfill a real need. Muse isn't passive with its portfolio companies; the founders actively help shape outcomes by sharing co-investment opportunities and making high-impact introductions.' Rewriting The Rules Of Venture Capital Funding Despite progress, the venture capital landscape remains profoundly unequal. In 2024, only 2% of U.S. VC funding went to all-female founding teams, and 21.2% to mixed-gender founding teams—down from a high of 24.3% in 2023, according to PitchBook's Female Founders Dashboard. The numbers at the funder level are equally stark: Just 17.3% of decision-makers at U.S. VC firms with at least $50 million in assets under management were women in 2024, according to Pitchbook US All In: Female Founders in the VC Ecosystem.. Muse Capital is part of a new wave of female-led funds working to change that from both sides. Marina Pavlovic Rivas, co-founder and CEO of Eli Health, noted, 'Muse is the rare kind of investor every category-defining founder dreams of. They saw early where the world was headed and developed a bold thesis about how our groundbreaking technology would uniquely shape that future, long before it became evident to most.' In 2017, Muse Capital began testing their thesis—that investors could be strategically hands-on partners—by writing angel checks in women's health startups. Within just 14 months, they saw a couple of early exits—an uncommon outcome at the seed stage. Encouraged by those results, they launched their first venture fund in 2018 and followed with a second in 2022. To support portfolio growth and give LPs additional exposure, they also raised special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) for follow-on rounds. Today, Muse Capital has $52 million in assets under management. Nine of their portfolio companies have exited. Women Reshaping Venture—From VCs To LPs To Founders Muse Capital proves that when you center women's health innovation, back diverse startup founders, and engage female investors, you don't just create impact—you build momentum. The firm is still investing out of its second fund and laying the groundwork for its third, all while continuing to reshape how venture capital views risk, leadership, and opportunity. Whether helping a startup land celebrity backing or reshaping ownership in global sports, Muse Capital is showing what's possible when female VCs lead—and invest—in the future they want to see.
