After I first began Wellness Mama I couldn’t have imagined the place this journey would take me. All the analysis, connecting with you, and interviewing dozens of well being specialists. I nonetheless pinch myself that this has turn out to be such a shared journey. It’s humbling, a bit surreal, and deeply significant to replicate on every little thing I’ve realized, modified, and nonetheless consider in any case these years.
The Begin of Wellness Mama
At its coronary heart, Wellness Mama was born from a single second. I used to be holding my very first new child on the physician’s workplace after I learn a line in {a magazine} that modified the course of my life. It stated that for the primary time in two centuries, our youngsters’s era would have a shorter life expectancy than their mother and father.
That one sentence hit me like a tidal wave. I didn’t know the way, however I knew I needed to assist change that quantity. What began as a mom’s analysis challenge grew right into a mission, and finally a podcast, a enterprise, and a group I’m endlessly grateful for.
Over time, I’ve developed proper alongside Wellness Mama. My infants aren’t so little anymore and my oldest, the one who impressed me to begin Wellness Mama, is already an grownup. I’ve healed from Hashimoto’s, realized extra about how the physique really works, and found that the extra I be taught, the extra I understand how a lot I don’t know.
Over all of the years of interviews, analysis, and first hand classes, a number of truths have emerged.
The Most Frequent Knowledgeable Recommendation (and Why It Nonetheless Issues)
Throughout a thousand interviews, one of many largest takeaways is that the easy issues matter most. Sure, biohacks could be enjoyable and dietary supplements are useful. Nevertheless, the recommendation that comes up repeatedly from the brightest minds in well being could be summed up in a number of superbly easy concepts.
Prioritize Sleep
Not a single knowledgeable has ever stated that sleep doesn’t matter. High quality sleep is foundational to every little thing else. It impacts our hormones, blood sugar, temper, and even how properly we detox. Only one or two nights of disrupted sleep can throw off hormones like cortisol and insulin.
As a mother of 6 I’m no stranger to sleepless nights and disrupted sleep. The excellent news although is that our our bodies are sensible and forgiving on the subject of us mother and father in sure seasons. We have been designed for resilience, and the physique appears to have protecting mechanisms throughout occasions like these. I’ve written loads about sleep and learn how to have higher sleep over time, and yow will discover all of that right here.
Gentle is Drugs
This is likely one of the most underrated items of wellness knowledge I’ve realized. Gentle publicity impacts each system within the physique, from our circadian rhythm to our hormones and psychological well being. Getting daylight all through the day, avoiding blue gentle at evening, and watching the dawn are easy shifts that may profoundly change sleep, power, and even temper. Gentle, like sleep, is free, highly effective, and inconceivable to promote, which is perhaps why it’s typically missed.
Minerals Matter
Over time, I’ve come to see minerals because the unsung heroes of wellness. They’re the “spark plugs” that preserve our cells speaking and our our bodies conducting power effectively. We speak quite a bit about electrolytes and hydration. Nevertheless, understanding the physique’s electrical nature has given me an entire new appreciation for a way minerals help every little thing from nervous system stability to power manufacturing.
Small Constant Steps
Early in my wellness journey, I chased perfection. From strict diets and elaborate complement protocols to inflexible routines. What I’ve realized by way of each private expertise and knowledgeable knowledge is that child steps win each time. Consistency builds momentum.
Tiny, sustainable modifications are way more highly effective (and peaceable) than all-or-nothing overhauls. And the factor about all-or-nothing is that it will possibly shortly turn out to be overwhelming. So we find yourself doing nothing or getting burnt out!
Motion is Extra Than Train
Train is a necessity, however I’ve realized to think about motion as one thing a lot greater. Strolling barefoot outdoors, dancing with my youngsters, or enjoying frisbee within the yard all rely. Motion nourishes the physique in refined methods. It helps fascia, lymph circulate, and even our mobile battery cost. As one visitor superbly stated, “Movement is lotion.” It’s not about punishing exercises however joyful motion that retains us fluid, robust, and related.
The Blue Zones world wide are well-known for having the longest residing, healthiest folks. So what’s their frequent denominator? It’s not simply what they eat, their location, or what number of dietary supplements they take. Longevity isn’t nearly food regimen or health, it’s deeply tied to belonging and connection.
Folks in Blue Zones have robust communities and connections with others. We thrive once we really feel seen, supported, and cherished. This fact has formed my priorities a lot that I even opened an area wellness heart. Not only for the saunas and chilly plunges, however for the group these instruments create.
The Therapeutic Energy of Nature
The time period “nature deficit dysfunction” refers back to the silent epidemic of contemporary life. We have been meant to stay near the earth, barefoot on the bottom, and within the sunshine. Pure gentle, recent air, and time outdoors regulate our hormones, soothe our nervous system, and actually recharge us at {an electrical} degree. Even a couple of minutes of daylight or grounding every day makes a distinction.
The extra disconnected we turn out to be from nature, the extra disconnected we’re from our personal our bodies. And the excellent news is that the treatment is as simple as stepping outdoors!
Your Major Healthcare Supplier
In spite of everything these years, I’ve turn out to be extra satisfied than ever that nobody is aware of your physique higher than you. Knowledgeable steerage is invaluable, however essentially the most highly effective information comes from your personal physique’s suggestions. Your power, temper, sleep, and instinct. Each knowledgeable I’ve spoken with, in their very own method, factors again to that fact. I say it so many occasions, however we’re every our personal major healthcare supplier.
What I’ve Modified My Thoughts About
Issues have definitely modified quite a bit since I began Wellness Mama again in 2006! And I’ve modified quite a bit too. You will have observed this for those who’ve learn the weblog for any period of time. Listed below are a number of the largest methods I’ve realized and grown over time.
Meals Dogmas
Within the early years of my therapeutic journey, I approached meals with the mindset that there was one proper technique to eat. After I was deep within the means of reversing Hashimoto’s, I relied closely on strict elimination diets. Every one served its goal for a season and taught me quite a bit about how meals impacts issues like irritation and power.
However I additionally observed that the extra I restricted, the extra disconnected I felt from my physique’s pure cues. These diets helped me heal bodily at first, but it surely additionally created a refined worry round meals. Now, I see nourishment by way of a a lot softer and extra intuitive lens.
I nonetheless consider in actual, entire meals, however I additionally consider in flexibility. I eat seasonally, select meals grown near house when potential, and take note of how I really feel after meals as a substitute of following strict guidelines. I’ve realized that true wellness isn’t about perfection or restriction, it’s about resilience. The healthiest folks I do know are those who can journey, share a meal with pals, and revel in meals with gratitude as a substitute of guilt. My present philosophy: meals ought to gas, heal, and convey pleasure, not worry.
Dietary supplements
At one level, I had a complete cupboard (and spreadsheet!) stuffed with dietary supplements. I believed I might optimize my well being by filling each potential dietary hole. Whereas a few of these instruments have been extremely useful at occasions, I finally realized I used to be leaning too closely on exterior inputs and lacking the larger image. I used to be attempting to out-supplement way of life habits that couldn’t get replaced, like deep relaxation, mineral stability, and nervous system regulation.
At present, I take a way more minimalist and intentional method. My focus has shifted to supporting my physique’s innate intelligence fairly than attempting to micromanage it. As an alternative of dozens of tablets, I depend on high-quality minerals, magnesium, and occasional focused dietary supplements based mostly on lab work or life stage.
I exploit natural treatments and tinctures when wanted and prioritize meals first. I’ve discovered that dietary supplements ought to help, not attempt to compensate for being undernourished or overstressed.
Train as Punishment
In my twenties, train was one thing I did to “earn” meals or to vary my physique. I pushed onerous with lengthy runs, intense HIIT exercises, and heavy coaching. It was about chasing a sure aesthetic (that by no means got here) fairly than listening to how my physique felt. Ultimately, that method led to burnout and hormonal imbalances. I spotted I used to be lacking the actual goal of motion which is to construct capability, energy, and pleasure.
Now, I transfer to really feel alive, to not punish myself. I nonetheless energy practice a number of occasions every week as a result of muscle actually is the “organ of longevity.” Nevertheless, I’ve additionally added issues that nourish my nervous system, like every day walks, dancing with my youngsters, fascia launch, sauna classes, and time barefoot outdoors.
Motion must be numerous and intuitive, a mixture of energy, mobility, play, and relaxation. I consider it now as motion vitamin. Quite a lot of inputs that preserve the physique versatile, robust, and balanced for a give attention to connection.
Parenting and Presence
When my youngsters have been little I had a really totally different method. I believed good parenting meant doing every little thing “proper” from wholesome meals to completely managed feelings. However actual life shortly confirmed me that children don’t thrive on perfection, they thrive on presence. Attempting to regulate every little thing created pointless stress for each them and me.
Over time, I’ve realized to let go of the concept that I can (or ought to) defend my youngsters from each wrestle. As an alternative, I give attention to connection and modeling emotional regulation. My aim now could be to boost youngsters who belief themselves, perceive their feelings, and know they’re cherished unconditionally.
Meaning fewer lectures and extra listening, fewer guidelines and extra rhythm. I nonetheless set boundaries, however I attempt to do it with empathy and curiosity. This method has introduced a lot extra peace into our house, and actually, extra pleasure into motherhood.
Worry vs. Belief
For a very long time, I noticed my physique as one thing fragile and even damaged, particularly after my Hashimoto’s analysis. I considered signs as issues to repair and spent years attempting to regulate each potential variable. Trying again, I understand I used to be working from worry. Worry of sickness, worry of growing old, worry of doing it incorrect.
However the extra I realized the extra I noticed how deeply our techniques are designed for stability and therapeutic. My physique wasn’t betraying me, it was speaking with me. Now I see my physique as attempting to work for my profit and signs are lovely messages. As an alternative of attempting to micromanage my well being when one thing feels off, I get curious and attempt to pay attention. Calm and confidence are a number of the finest therapeutic instruments at our physique’s disposal.
What I Nonetheless Consider (Now Extra Than Ever)
Some beliefs have solely deepened with time:
- The physique is smart. It’s not your enemy; it’s your ally. Each symptom is communication, not betrayal.
- The fundamentals matter most. Sleep, gentle, actual meals, motion, minerals, and connection are the true “biohacks.”
- Curiosity heals. Approaching well being with surprise as a substitute of worry modifications every little thing.
- Nature is medication. The solar, the soil, the ocean…they provide what no capsule can replicate.
- Neighborhood modifications lives. The truest therapeutic doesn’t occur in isolation. We’d like one another.
- Progress beats perfection. All the time.
Life Classes and Understanding
To start with, I chased wellness like a puzzle to unravel. One lab consequence, one complement, one new protocol at a time. However after years of analysis, experimentation, and hundreds of conversations, I’ve realized that wellness isn’t one thing we obtain. As an alternative, it’s one thing we align with.
Our our bodies are continuously shifting towards stability. The most effective factor we are able to do is to assist create the situations the place it will possibly naturally unfold. Meaning much less doing and extra listening. Much less worry, extra belief. Much less rigidity, extra rhythm.
Lately, my wellness routines are an entire lot extra intuitive than they as soon as have been. My every day non-negotiables embrace issues like consuming mineral-rich water, getting morning daylight, and pursuing peace. I’m aiming for connection, with myself and with others, and dealing with my physique as a substitute of attempting so onerous to regulate it.
The Journey Forward
If you happen to’ve been on this journey with me from the beginning, thanks. You’ve watched Wellness Mama develop from a mother’s late-night analysis challenge right into a shared exploration of what it means to stay properly. If you happen to’re new right here, welcome to this kitchen desk of curiosity. We’re all studying collectively.
I nonetheless consider, as I did holding that tiny child all these years in the past, that we are able to change the story for the following era. We will increase youngsters who belief their our bodies, perceive nature, and know that actual well being is woven by way of connection, pleasure, and goal. Well being doesn’t must be sophisticated and it’s typically the best issues in life which are essentially the most impactful.
What are some methods you’ve modified and grown in your well being journey? I’d love to listen to about it within the feedback under!
