Beyond the Buzz

How to prevent a hangover is a question with no shortage of products claiming to help. This episode looks at strategies people use before or after drinking — including ZBiotics, DHM, water and electrolytes — and asks how directly they have been shown to improve the next morning. You’ll come away with a clearer way to judge whether a promising mechanism is matched by meaningful human evidence.  📝...

When a consumer health product is called “science-backed” or “clinically proven,” what does that really tell you about whether it works? This episode explores the difference between a persuasive scientific explanation and evidence of meaningful benefit, including how to think about mechanisms, animal studies, biomarkers, clinical trials, replication, finished-product testing, funding, and regulato...

Do hair bond-repair treatments really fix damaged hair, or is “repair” doing more work as a marketing word? You’ll hear what bond repair can realistically mean, what laboratory studies can and cannot tell us about stronger or smoother hair, and why the missing comparison with good conventional conditioning matters when deciding whether premium products are worth the extra cost for you.  📝 Full tr...

Do IV vitamin drips actually work for generally healthy adults? This episode examines consumer wellness IV therapy for hydration, fatigue, hangovers, immune support and athletic recovery, including how IV delivery compares with simpler oral options. It also looks at the safety trade-offs of an invasive procedure and why medically indicated IV fluids or nutrient replacement are a different clinical...

Does creatine actually work, and who is most likely to benefit? This episode looks at creatine monohydrate across strength, power, lean mass, endurance, postmenopausal women, brain-health and healthy-aging claims, while keeping resistance training in the picture. It also covers daily dosing, whether loading is necessary, water-weight gain, kidney and overall safety, product quality, and the practi...

Gluten-free can sound like a healthier way to eat — even if you do not have celiac disease. But does removing gluten actually improve general health, weight, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, or digestive symptoms? This episode looks at what the evidence says about gluten-free diets for people without celiac disease or wheat allergy. You’ll hear why gluten avoidance has not been shown to improve g...

Retinol, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and collagen creams can all appear on anti-aging skincare labels — but they are not doing the same job, and the evidence behind their claims is not equally convincing. This episode looks at which anti-aging skincare ingredients actually do something, starting with the result you want from the product. You’ll hear what the research says about topical retinoids fo...

Dating apps can introduce you to people you might never meet otherwise. But can matching algorithms, compatibility scores, or clearer relationship intentions actually lead to better romantic outcomes? This episode explores what dating apps can reasonably promise — and where the evidence becomes less certain. You’ll hear how online dating can widen access to potential partners, why “does online dat...

Microplastics have been detected in human blood, tissues, and other samples. But finding a particle is not the same as knowing what it means for your health. This episode explores what human microplastic detection can tell us — and where important uncertainty remains. You’ll hear how microplastics may enter the body, why measuring exposure is different from measuring health risk, and why a single...

Are natural health products safe and effective—or does the word “natural” make them feel more trustworthy than they are? Vitamins, minerals, herbal products, concentrated extracts, and wellness blends are widely available and often easy to add to a daily routine. But these products are not interchangeable, and neither are the claims made for them. In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz...

Do collagen supplements actually work—or do broad anti-aging promises outrun the evidence? Oral collagen is marketed for smoother skin, healthier joints, exercise recovery, and aging support. That can make one product sound as though it should deliver several different benefits at once. In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz examines what collagen peptides may realistically do and why...

Are bladder leaks normal—or are they a treatable health issue? Urinary incontinence can affect exercise, sleep, travel, confidence, and everyday routines. Yet the messages people hear often swing between “just live with it” and “try pelvic floor exercises.” In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz explores why bladder leakage is common but not something people should simply accept. She i...

Can a blood test diagnose perimenopause—or does it create more certainty than it can deliver? When periods change, hot flashes appear, or symptoms feel difficult to explain, hormone testing can seem like the most direct path to an answer. But perimenopause is not usually captured by one stable lab value. In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz explores how perimenopause is typically ide...

Mental health language is everywhere online. People search for ADHD symptoms, anxiety signs, trauma responses, burnout, depression, autism traits, and online mental health quizzes because they are trying to make sense of real experiences. Sometimes that language can feel validating and useful. But when does recognition become self-diagnosis? This episode of Beyond the Buzz looks at mental health s...

Sunscreen advice can feel surprisingly complicated. One message says to use it daily. Another raises concerns about ingredients, vitamin D, absorption, or whether sunscreen really prevents skin cancer at all. In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz looks at sunscreen use through a calmer, evidence-informed lens. You’ll hear how public-health guidance frames sunscreen as one part of sun...

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere in modern eating, from packaged snacks and sweetened cereals to soft drinks, instant noodles, and ready-to-heat meals. But are they seriously harmful, or has the conversation become another food panic? In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz looks at what the evidence says about ultra-processed foods and health, and why the answer is more useful than...

After 24 episodes of Beyond the Buzz, this reflection episode steps back to look at the bigger pattern behind health, wellness, technology, and culture trends. Instead of asking whether every trend “works,” this episode asks a more practical question: is it actually worth the time, money, attention, or mental energy it asks from us? Across topics like wearables, sleep tracking, glucose monitors, s...

Questions about sex, desire, satisfaction, and relationship change can carry a lot of quiet pressure. How often should adults be having sex? Does desire always fade in long-term relationships? And when does a “dead bedroom” reflect a real problem versus a common shift across age, stress, health, partnership, and life stage? In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz takes a calm, evidence-...

Peptides are showing up in conversations about muscle growth, anti-aging, and recovery after exercise — often with the promise of a more targeted way to improve health or performance. In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz looks at what makes peptide claims so appealing, why the category can be confusing, and how to think more clearly about the difference between specific uses and broa...

Seed oils have become one of the most debated ingredients in everyday food conversations. Oils like canola, soybean, corn, and sunflower oil are often framed as inflammatory, harmful, or something people should avoid entirely. But does that claim hold up when we look at the broader evidence? In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz looks at the tension behind the seed oil debate: why the...

Continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, is no longer only discussed in diabetes care. It is increasingly marketed as a tool for understanding metabolism, personalizing food choices, and getting real-time feedback on how the body responds to everyday habits. But does using a CGM meaningfully improve metabolic health for people without diabetes? In this episode of Beyond the Buzz, Dr. Tara Moroz look...

How much does money really matter for happiness—and is there a number that makes life feel “enough”? In this episode, we look at what the evidence actually shows about income, wellbeing, and the experience of daily life. While money can reduce financial stress and improve stability, the relationship with happiness is more nuanced than many headlines suggest. You’ll hear how changes in income relat...

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests promise to tailor your diet to your DNA — offering a more personalized approach to nutrition. But how much of that promise holds up under scrutiny? In this episode, we take a closer look at what happens when genetic insights are used to guide everyday food choices. You’ll hear what current research suggests about whether DNA-based recommendations actually change be...

Detox cleanses are everywhere — from juice programs to supplements promising to “reset” your body. But what do they actually do? In this episode, we look at the difference between commercial detox cleanses and the body’s natural detoxification systems. You’ll learn how your liver, kidneys, and digestive system continuously process and eliminate substances — and what the evidence says about whether...

Deciding whether to participate in clinical research is something more people are encountering — but it’s rarely a simple yes or no. In this episode, we explore how people make decisions about joining clinical trials and other types of research. While many people are aware that studies exist, far fewer ever take part — raising important questions about what influences those decisions. You’ll hear...