Thursday Reads, and a Big Sale on Annual Subscriptions
Flaws in the microbiome-autism theory, unproven peptides, menopause hormone therapy facts, AI replacing doctors, and more
Welcome to another installment of the Rethinking Wellness link roundup! Twice a month I’ve been sharing a small selection of links from around the internet that are relevant to the conversations we have here, and usually I also offer some quick takes and occasional deeper dives for paid subscribers.
This week it’s just the links, since I’m working hard to finish writing and recording new content for you before going on maternity leave in mid-December. I’ve been interviewing some fascinating guests and scouring the scientific literature to answer your questions, and I’m really excited to share all of these new pieces with you in 2026! Many of them will be for paid subscribers (especially the really labor-intensive scientific deep dives), and right now I’m offering a special deal for 30% off annual plans (which works out to just $3.50/month when you pay annually), so now is a great time to upgrade.
Links
Here are some pieces that got me thinking in the past few weeks. I found value in all of these, but links are not endorsements of every single detail in the piece or everything the writer ever wrote.
Research linking gut microbes to autism is deeply flawed, critics say (Science)
Empathetic, Available, Cheap: When A.I. Offers What Doctors Don’t (NYT)
Related: I want AI to do my paperwork so I can have real relationships with my patients ( Mara Gordon, MD)
Arrival Fallacy: The Success Lie We Just Can’t Quit (Pooja Lakshmin MD)
Beyond the black box: What women deserve to know about menopause hormone therapy (Katelyn Jetelina and Nikki Sapiro Vinckier)
The trend of unproven peptides is spreading through influencers and RFK Jr. allies (CNN)
CDC changes website to promote debunked vaccines-autism link (Axios)
In Case You Missed It
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I hope this roundup gave you some food for thought, and I’d love to hear from you. Also, please let me know if there are any recent pieces (published within the last few weeks) you’d like me to consider for the next installment. Feel free to comment below, or submit them here.
Thanks for sharing @Christy Harrison, MPH, RD !
I currently have an annual subscription that won't expire until May. Can I get the lower annual rate at that time?
Thanks