Black & white thinking tends to force all of us to put all of our eggs in one “health basket,” but health is rarely found in reductionist, either/or mindsets. It’s time we bring more nuance, discernment, and humility to the health world. We know so little, all things considered!

Change is hard, but staying trapped in dysfunction is hard, too. However, it doesn’t have to be impossible or overburden you in the process. All options are difficult in their own way, but you get to choose. The options that’s hard now & easy later, or easy now, but harder down the line?

Our nervous system is the control center of our body- every organ can be compelled by nervous system messages. It’s largely responsible for how awake, motivated, focused, excited, or calm we feel. We have a tremendous ability to regulate our nervous system with simple, accessible tools.

Over the past several years since living in CO and dealing with wildfires, I’ve experienced increased migraines when the air is so heavy with smoke. So, I wanted to share some of the ways I support my body.

It’s easy to lose sight of ALL that our liver does for us. This list represents a tiny percentage of the tasks the liver helps us with. The last phase does not involve chemical alteration but transportation of toxins out of the liver cells.

Toxins from phase 1 are joined with molecules to make them more water-soluble; this makes the toxins less reactive and destructive in the body. Once the toxins are dealt with in phase 2, they can leave the liver and enter the blood or bile ducts to be removed from the body.

Phase 1 liver detoxification is about altering the chemical structure of toxins to make them less toxic, and eventually moving them out of the body. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are present in the highest concentration in the liver and facilitate phase 1 detox by converting toxins into smaller substances or making toxins water soluble.

Many people assume that the liver’s only job is to mitigate toxins- but the liver does much more! It’s not simply the “filter” of your body (and toxins are not stored in the liver!) A better way to view it would be that of a battery pack or metabolic hub.

I work with a lot of people that have been ill for a long time. Even if they haven’t, it’s incredibly discouraging when you don’t feel good and don’t feel like you’re making progress. Remind yourself that symptoms are your body’s way of communicating a need.

Health is important and confidence in appearance is valuable, but we are so much more than health status or fitness level. It’s crucial that we operate from a place of appreciation and support for our bodies, not hatred and obsession.