Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2026 i Women's Health

CARDIOLOGY Jennifer H. Mieres, MD Professor of cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; senior vice president, Center for Equity of Care, Northwell Health DERMATOLOGY Mona Gohara, MD Associate clinical professor, department of dermatology, Yale School of Medicine Ellen Marmur, MD Founder, Marmur Medical Joshua Zeichner, MD Director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City FAMILY MEDICINE Navya Mysore, MD Primary care physician; sexual and reproductive health expert FERTILITY Sheeva Talebian, MD Fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist, CCRM New York FITNESS Ariel Belgrave, CPT Board-certified health and fitness coach; Under Armour athlete; creator of the L.E.A.N. Method; DEI wellness expert Ben Bruno, CFSC Certified functional strength coach and private trainer Sohee Carpenter, MS, CSCS Evidence-based fitness coach and certified sports nutritionist; author…

Having a consistent, keep-coming-back-to-it fitness regimen isn’t just about adding years to your life; it’s about adding life to your years. (Read that again!) The goal is simple: Stay strong, agile, and motivated well beyond your 20s and 30s. Picture running a marathon at 50, mastering pilates reformer workouts at 60, and hitting a new deadlift PR in your 70s. For the 2026 Women’s Health Fitness Awards, we’re celebrating longevity—and offering the tools that will help you build a sustainable fitness routine. Every year, we test hundreds of fitness products, and this list represents the gear that fuels our collective commitment to and appreciation for an active life. We also tapped leading experts in the longevity space who are flipping the narrative on what it means to live longer and…

For Heavy-Lifting Days R.A.D One V2 “They have a low base so I feel grounded when I’m gripping heavy weights, but they also keep my foot steady during squats and deadlifts,” says Aloian. ($150, rad-global.com) For Ache-Free Walks Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 “They offer just the right amount of cushioning for a bouncy step without compromising on support for my flat, wide feet," says beauty editor Nicole Saunders. ($155, brooksrunning.com) For Do-Everything Days Reebok Nano Gym Training Shoes It’s truly hybrid: “The sole is flat enough to lift, but flexible for jumping around in,” Andriakos says. (From $75, reebok.com) For Stable Miles Saucony Triumph 23 This sneaker “has thick cushioning for long-haul efforts but is still durable with its foam base," says Aloian. ($170, saucony.com) For Heavy Mileage New Balance…

BEST SCREEN-FREE WEARABLE Whoop 5.0 “Whoop has enabled me to tailor clients' programs to balance stress and recovery needed to make gains,” says Heather A. Milton, CSCS, exercise physiologist supervisor at NYU Langone Health. (From $239/year, join.whoop.com) BEST WATCH Garmin Forerunner 570 The 42-millimeter size of this Garmin makes it intuitive to use yet not too big. Plus, “it connects to an app where you can really dive in and geek out on a lot of data, like your VO2 max, fitness age, and race projections,” Luppino says. ($550, garmin.com) BEST TEMP TRACKER Core 2 Thermal Sensor This wearable monitors your temperature during endurance events. It helps health director and triathlete Marty Munson see how her body responds to hot temps and cool off. ($295, corebodytemp.com) BEST RING TRACKER Oura…

Mention the words Botox or filler and the image that comes to mind for many is cartoonish duck lips; a frozen, expressionless face; or puffed-up pillow cheeks—the artificial appearance of youth. It’s why some people cringe at the very idea of surrendering their face to a cosmetic dermatologist. It’s 2026. No one wants to look overdone. But those results may (hopefully) be a thing of the past. Functional medicine doctors are bringing their integrative approach to noninvasive aesthetics, harnessing technology that uses a patient’s own biological material (mostly their blood) and other naturally derived molecules for a softer, more subtle look. Yes, many of these docs are still using muscle-relaxing injections like botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid filler—after all, they’re effective in the right hands—but the focus is on addressing…

Head Case This formula blends copper peptides and natural fermented ingredients to target three phases of hair growth. If topical minoxidil is too harsh, this may be worth a try. Kat Burki Bio-Ferment Scalp & Hair Treatment, $90, katburki.com Slough Love Dr. Engelman recommends weekly scalp exfoliation (a foaming scrub makes the chore an enjoyable, sensorial one) to remove buildup and boost circulation. Joico Scalp Vitality Exfoliating Foaming Scrub, $26, amazon.com Crank the Volume When picking a styler, look for keratin proteins, which “fill in tiny cracks in the hair’s cuticle, making strands stronger,” Rubenstein says. This spritz boosts body while reducing breakage. Nexxus Unbreakable Care Thickening System Root Lift Spray, $16, amazon.com…

Unwell Hydration with Protein (10 g) The small boost of whey protein can help round out a meal or snack that’s lacking in the macro. It’s also an electrolyte drink, so it could be a worthy sip during a workout to stay hydrated, Smith-Ryan says. Fairlife 2% Chocolate Ultra-Filtered Milk (13 g) The nostalgic kiddo drink has a helpful mix of carbs, proteins, and antioxidants for post-exercise recovery, says Glassman. Fairlife uses a special filtration process that removes 50 percent of the sugar. Protein Coffee (10 g) A solid option if you struggle to eat protein at breakfast, says Glassman. A serving of Super Coffee boasts 10 grams, or you can just add a scoop or two of your go-to protein powder or milk to DIY it for up to…

For any would-be romance writers seeking inspiration for a “track meet-cute” bestseller, look no further than high school sweethearts and athletes Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall, who won hearts at the 2024 Paris Olympics when Tara joyously leapt into Hunter’s arms after earning gold in the women’s long jump. That viral moment, along with the couple’s matching his-and-hers medals (Hunter won his own gold in the men’s 400m sprint four weeks later at the Paralympic Games), cemented their place on the competitive world stage. It’s a position they’re more than happy to be in, as they intend to leave an indelible mark on the sport of track and field. “We want to make it accessible for everyone,” Hunter says of their plans to both garner more fan interest and help…

you stormed out of your boss’s office after receiving a very decent rating, rather than a perfect one, on your annual performance review. You dissolved into a wet mess of tears when your partner’s snoring woke you up at 3 a.m. for the third time this week. You screamed and flung your pen across the conference room when Kevin interrupted you during the morning staff meeting. Sound familiar? Big displays of emotions like these are known as “crashing out” in social media parlance—the latest in a long line of rebrands for what amounts to total emotional depletion. First we burned out. Then we quiet-quit. Next came the bed rotting. And now we’re crashing out. Yes, on TikTok and Instagram, having a breakdown is basically a vibe. We’ve come a long…

1/First thing you do when you wake up? After letting my dogs, Clyde and Chesterfield, outside to have a little runabout, I mix up 16 ounces of water, colostrum, hair-growth peptides, and the juice of a whole lemon. That’s the first thing that goes into my body for a good half-hour to 45 minutes before I have my morning coffee and eat. 2/Early inspiration? My grandmother. I would sit with her in the kitchen while she made spanakopita, or cookies, or Greek pastries. She made me laugh a lot, and she took such care of me. 3/Fave hype-up music? I’m a big lover of ‘90s hip-hop. 4/Best way to unwind? Nothing makes me happier than curling up on the couch with my two dogs and getting cozy, watching a great…

That’s it. Notice I did not say “power posing” or “putting on a bold suit” or “listening to a song that’s 120 bpm to get my heart pumping.” (Though I do love a good blazer.) No, the best way for me to feel stronger, more confident, and more like my true self is to chalk up my palms and rip the cast-iron kettlebells that beckon from just beyond the footballstrewn and Barbie-laden kids’ playroom, in a space all my own. Getting that instant hit of self-esteem juice hasn’t always been the outcome. In fact, I’d say that when I began my KB journey a few years ago, I was the opposite of confident. Because at first, kettlebells can feel a little funny and awkward (and downright hard). But if you stay…

BEST KETTLEBELLS Iron Bull Strength Kettlebells, Powder Coat These cast-iron bells are smooth enough for you to rotate without losing your grip. And while most KBs are labeled only in kilograms, these are also engraved with pounds, making it quicker and easier to grab the right weight mid-sweat. (From $45, ironbullstrength.com) BEST HEAVY ADJUSTABLE DUMBBELLS SMRTFT Nüobell 100 Adjustable dumbbells typically cap out at around 50 to 80 pounds, which may not cut it if you’re lifting heavier. Yes, this pick is an investment, but getting up to 200 pounds of weight in one sleek, compact set is worth every penny if you’re serious about training at home, says executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos, CPT. ($1,195, smrtft.com) BEST ROWING MACHINE Hydrow Arc The new rower is “whisper quiet,”…

BEST WORKOUT TEE Beyond Yoga Featherweight On The Down Low Tee Aloian discovered this find through her mom, 63, who wears it for nearly every workout. The ultrasoft tee is made with lightweight, moisture-wicking material. ($66, beyondyoga.com) BEST LEGGINGS Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Tight These have lasted Tina Tang, CPT, owner of Iron Strong Fitness, over a decade and haven't lost their elasticity. The fabric helps her stay cool and dry during the sweatiest workouts. (From $98, shop.lululemon.com) BEST OUTER LAYER FP Movement Mountain High Half Zip Fleece Andriakos calls it her “favorite warm layer,” thanks to the softest fleece fabric she’s ever felt. Its plush feel even holds up on walks and workouts in colder temps when she wants to stay insulated. ($98, freepeople.com)…

Ladder App BEST IF YOU: Want trainer-level accountability without the price tag WHAT SETS IT APART: The interface is arguably the best in the game, with coaching videos for each trainer’s "track," form clips, a timer, and progress-tracking capabilities. (From $15/month) Obé Fitness BEST IF YOU: Want to re-create the energy of group fitness class at home WHAT SETS IT APART: Obé is redefining the women’s health space, as it now offers lectures on hormone health and can even match your workout to your cycle, says Milton. (From $14/month) Evlo Fitness BEST IF YOU: Need programs that move with you through different life stages WHAT SETS IT APART: Founded by Shannon Ritchey, DPT, Evlo’s prenatal workouts “didn’t make me feel like I had to change a ton about my routine…

1. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Two of the most popular therapies for improving the look of skin and treating hair loss are PRP and PRF. The former is so well substantiated that it has become commonplace in the offices of traditional cosmetic dermatologists across the country (even Dr. Williams is a fan). Both PRP and PRF involve a simple blood draw; the blood is then spun down to extract the platelets, which are injected into the scalp or face to do their job. While they can be done on their own, PRP and PRF are often used along with microneedling and laser tightening to help speed up the healing process. PRF is considered a second generation platelet concentrate technology, which means (among other things) that research shows…

As a health journalist who’s spent the past 25 years digging into everything from hormones to heart health, I might be someone you’d think would have a pretty good handle on important facts. But while interviewing over 100 of the country’s leading experts to write a 704-page book on women’s health (true story: I woke up from my colonoscopy drilling the doctor about the differences between the female and male colon, and how women might metabolize anesthesia differently than men!), I lost count of how many times I got off a call thinking, Wait—how did I not know this? These days, we’re talking about previously stigmatized topics more than ever. Once-taboo subjects like menopause, painful sex, and hysterectomies are popping up on social media feeds and in dinner party conversations.…

Social media is now all about #proteingoals and #fibermaxxing, and ya know what? Both are trends we can get behind. Finally, the masses realize how critical protein is for helping build muscle. And the magic of fiber is coming to light too: Not only does it fill you up, keeping you satisfied longer, but it can also significantly improve your gut health. However much more we may be talking about these buzzword nutrients, though, our actions tell a different story: “I can say with complete confidence that women aren’t getting enough protein or fiber these days,” says Jennifer Nickle, a nutrition coach and professional chef who’s worked with high performing athletes. We get it: Cooking meals with all the right stuff can be time-consuming and feel overwhelming. That’s why we collaborated…

1 Set clear boundaries. If you’re at an earlier, burnout stage, one of the best things you can do, says therapist Margot Stephenson, AMFT, is set boundaries. While that’s advice you’ve likely heard before, Stephenson emphasizes that it should be approached as a process, not a one-and-done situation. “Most of the time, setting boundaries is really counterculture, and it can mean taking up a lot more space than we’re used to,” she says. “It might take a handful of times of reaffirming it and being forgiving of people who overstep it.” 2 Take care of your physical well-being. The solution may be as easy as making sure your body’s physical needs have been met, says therapist Madeline Eggenberger, MHC-LP: “Have I been moving my body? Have I been eating well, sleeping…

It’s 5 a.m. and Oksana Masters is up and at it, coffee in hand (the first of many), ready to hit a light workout before eating breakfast. In fact, that’s pretty much how the rest of the Paralympian’s self-proclaimed “routine and repetitive” training days will go for her two winter events, para Nordic skiing and para biathlon: She’ll work out, then fuel several times during the day before a solid night’s rest, waking up and repeating the process all over again—and it works for her. The evidence? Her 19 (!) Paralympic medals. Oksana, 36, was born in Ukraine in 1989 in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. Her significant birth defects linked to radiation exposure required multiple surgeries beginning when she was 9, including a double leg…

INSTRUCTIONS: Move through Set 1 by performing each exercise for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of rest. Repeat three times before advancing to Set 2. Follow the same pattern for Set 2. Rest for a full minute between sets (or longer if needed). SET 1 1 Squat to Press HOW TO: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height. Lower into squat. As you stand, drive through heels and press dumbbells overhead in one smooth motion. Lower weights to shoulders to return to start. 2 Skater HOW TO: Stand with feet hip-width apart. Jump to one side, landing on that foot with a soft bend in the knee while you sweep the opposite foot behind you. Push off the foot on the floor to hop…

BEST PRE-WORKOUT SNACK Think! Crispy Squares Marshmallow Crunch Protein in a rice crispy treat? Groundbreaking! But actually, this snack is incredible because it “feels so much lighter and easier on the stomach for me than a traditional protein bar,” says Ritchey. But it still contains 15 grams of protein and 17 grams of carbs, making it the perfect pre- and post-workout snack. (From $10, thinkproducts.com) BEST ELECTROLYTES Cure Hydration Electrolyte Drink Mix Luppino and Aloian say it’s the best tasting electrolyte and immediately hydrating. A bonus? No artificial ingredients. ($24, curehydration.com) BEST PROTEIN POWDER Dymatize ISO100 WH fitness editor Cori Ritchey, CSCS, has used this powder for over five years because it doesn't overpower shakes or leave an aftertaste. (From $34, dymatize.com) BEST CREATINE Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Capsules The…

anbereen Hasan grew up swimming and dabbled in pilates as an adult, but she was looking to officially start a weight-loss journey after gaining pounds in her early 50s. (“It happened to every woman in my family as they got older,” she says.) She discussed the option of going on Mounjaro—a brand name for tirzepatide—with her doctor in November 2022. Her physician was on board, as long as Hasan also agreed to begin resistance training—something she had done only briefly in the ’90s with five-pound weights—in order to preserve muscle mass. “My doctor was clear that I would have to do weight training,” Hasan says. The 56-year-old found Tina Tang, CPT, a personal trainer, strength coach, and founder of Iron Strong Fitness, in April 2023 via Instagram. She liked that…

1. Start with an over-the-counter option. Minoxidil 5% is the gold standard non-Rx topical solution, but it can be irritating. That’s why dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, sometimes suggests newer remedies, like topical peptides and turmeric, which are less studied. Additionally, there’s research showing at-home red light therapy can have an effect (but be patient—you may not notice an improvement for months), Dr. Engelman adds. 2. Check your labs. Before buying a hair-growth supplement, get blood work done to look for vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, or autoimmune conditions, says dermatologist Anthony M. Rossi, MD. (If none are present, a capsule may not help.) This can also help GLP-1 users experiencing loss. Hair growth requires nutrients, and these people may not get enough because they’re eating less, Dr. Engelman says. 3. Soothe your…

Everywhere you look, companies are taking everyday foods and asking, How can we add protein to this? Khloé Kardashian sprinkled the macro onto popcorn. Protein Pints infused it into ice cream. Drinking protein has been an option since protein powders landed on shelves in the ’50s, but the beverage space is now hitting its innovation stride. Podcaster and media mogul Alex Cooper recently dropped Unwell Hydration with Protein, an electrolyte beverage with an added 10 grams of protein, and Starbucks went all in on the protein coffee trend, using higher-protein milk and cold foam for most of its beverages. (A grande packs 19 to 36 grams, with 15 of those coming from the foam.) It’s no surprise: Protein has become trendy (yes, we’re calling a macro trendy!) over the past…

THEIR SUPERPOWER: Growing in Tandem Gabby Reece & Laird Hamilton Former pro beach volleyball player; big-wave surfer Gabrielle Reece and Laird Hamilton are sun-kissed and shredded. Peering into their decades-long relationship is satisfying, like finding out that a couple in an ad is actually happily married. “Did you know our marriage is decades?” Gabby, 55, asks Laird, 61, when he joins the interview. “I didn’t,” he says, pulling in a chair. “ ‘Decades.’ It sounds like a card game.” Both of them have spent a disproportionate percentage of their adult lives in interviews, and they speak comfortably. Gabby is a former professional beach volleyball player, model, and television host. She runs a high-intensity training program called HighX and interviews health and fitness notables on her podcast, The Gabby Reece Show. Laird…

In November 2023, a husband and wife captured the Internet’s heart with an intimate moment from their wedding day. The clip showed Ben Carpenter, 38, a fitness and nutrition educator and author, surprising his bride, Sohee Carpenter, PhD—a certified strength and conditioning specialist and body-positivity advocate—and her parents with a wedding toast in Korean. Ben had secretly taken lessons for nearly a year just to show his respect and love on their special day. That gesture racked up millions of views, shares, comments, and a spot on Good Morning America. The couple weren’t strangers to viral moments. Both were already influencers in the fitness and nutrition spaces, Ben with more than 540,000 followers on Instagram, and Sohee with more than 670,000. The duo regularly post thought provoking videos with their…

WHEN CHLOE KIM BOUGHT her Los Angeles home in 2021, she found herself with an unused, and sun-drenched, spare room. She considered converting the space—adjacent to the dining area—into a gym but ultimately decided staring at a treadmill over the Thanksgiving turkey wouldn’t be the most aesthetic choice. Instead, it became what Chloe calls her “zen room”—a “little jungle” stuffed with a rubber tree, fiddle leaf figs, a basil plant, and rare monstera varietals, including an albo, a mint, and a Thai constellation. (If you’ve ever tried—and failed—to keep one of those plants alive, you know what a serious green thumb Chloe must have.) With the addition of cozy furnishings, like a fuzzy bouclé couch and buttery Barefoot Dreams blankets, her zen room has become the perfect oasis. “If you…