There’s so much wellness advice out there, and many people accept it without thinking twice—specifically when it comes to supplements. But this week’s Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari episode puts a pin in that idea.
Cavallari sits down with Dr. Ryan Monahan for a conversation covering antibiotics, probiotics, peptides, GLP-1s, supplement quality, gut issues, and birth control. And what he wants you to take from the conversation is that plenty of common health habits deserve more scrutiny than they get.
They dig into why a probiotic may not be the universal answer, why some supplements could be little more than expensive filler, and why trendy wellness tools shouldn’t be treated like magic bullets. So if your medicine cabinet is crowded and your questions are growing, this one’s for you.
Why probiotics aren’t a cure-all
Somewhere along the way, probiotics became the default answer for bloating, stomach issues, sluggish digestion, and the go-to answer any time someone says the phrase “gut health.” Dr. Monahan says that the one-size-fits-all mindset is where people can get tripped up.
“I think over the last decade or so, probiotics really blew up as this kind of one size fits all.” According to him, many people assume, “I’ll just take a probiotic and I’ll be better.” But he says “that’s definitely not the case.”
He explains that many ongoing gut complaints are often tied to “pathogenic infections and overgrowth,” including bacterial, fungal, yeast, or parasitic issues. In those situations, adding probiotics may not solve the root problem. Sometimes the real need is to clear out what shouldn’t be there first.
He also explains that SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is one example where probiotics can make someone feel worse. “It can exacerbate symptoms,” he says, noting that bloating is often the first sign.
For some people, probiotics can absolutely help. For others, they may be the wrong move at the wrong time. Gut health, annoyingly enough, is nuanced.
The supplement aisle is wild right now
Walk into any wellness store or scroll online for five minutes and you’ll find powders, capsules, tinctures galore. While they all promise more, the issue, according to Dr. Monahan, is that the market is crowded with products that don’t always deliver. “It’s such a saturated market,” he says. “There’s a million supplements out there.” He adds that products can be sold with “virtually no oversight or regulation,” which makes quality hard to judge from packaging alone.
“Most supplements are fake,” he warns. He references testing that found many products missing their advertised ingredients entirely, while others contained lower dosages, fillers, or contaminants.
Cavallari shares her own frustration after lab work showed her glutathione and vitamin C levels were still low despite regularly taking supplements she believed were high quality. “It was a complete waste,” she says.
And branding can be convincing. A sleek label, trendy language, and premium price tag do not guarantee effectiveness. Dr. Monahan says if you’re going to spend money on supplements, focus on reputable companies, third-party testing, and products chosen for your actual needs. The prettiest bottle on the shelf may just be expensive dust.
Why quick-fix trends need a harder look
Every year seems to come with a new miracle solution. This time, it’s peptides, GLP-1s, and injectable wellness fixes promising faster results with less effort. But that excitement should come with questions.
When it comes to peptides, Dr. Monahan says context matters. “Which peptide do you mean?” he asks, noting that the category covers many different compounds with very different uses. Some may be helpful in certain cases, but he’s adamant that “they are a tool in the toolbox,” not an instant transformation plan.
That same caution shows up around GLP-1 medications, which have become popular far beyond their original medical use. Dr. Monahan says people should understand potential tradeoffs before treating them like a casual beauty hack. He mentions concerns including gut issues, slowed motility, constipation, nutrient deficiencies, and muscle loss if people are not supporting themselves properly.
And don’t rely on your scale as the only measure of success. “Just because the number on the scale is going down doesn’t mean that’s healthy.” Rapid weight loss can look appealing online, but body composition, strength, hormones, and long-term health still matter. A trendy shortcut can be useful for some people, but it still deserves the same scrutiny as anything else going into your body.
Birth control questions more women are asking
Birth control has long been treated as a routine part of women’s healthcare, especially in the teen and young adult years. Cavallari shares that she went on it at 15 and came off at 24, adding that she was grateful to have it at that stage of life but happy she never returned to it.
Dr. Monahan chimes in saying one of the biggest misconceptions he hears is that birth control is helping regulate hormones. In his view, “it’s suppressing endogenous production,” meaning it alters the body’s natural hormone cycle rather than correcting an underlying imbalance.
He also argues that many women are not fully briefed on potential side effects before starting it. He references concerns ranging from gut symptoms and nutrient depletion to headaches and other systemic issues, while stressing that experiences vary person to person.
That’s not to say being on birth control is always a bad thing. Some women love it, while others don’t. Some need it. Some want alternatives. The main thing is informed consent: know why you’re taking it, know the possible tradeoffs, and know you’re allowed to ask more questions than previous generations were taught to ask.
To hear the full conversation, listen to Let’s Be Honest wherever you get your podcasts.
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