Canopy Wellness

Talk about Alzheimer's and memory loss can feel scary, because many people assume it's purely genetic. Research is increasingly pointing to metabolic health, sleep, movement and social connection as important contributors.

The conversation about brain health and steps to optimize it should not begin at 70. It should begin wherever you are today.

If you are curious about ways you can begin, sign up for my newsletter or reach out for a discovery call. www.canopy-wellness.com

In a mere 6 months we’ve seen the black box warning removed from estrogen products and the renaming of Poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), a major re-brand that strongly reflects the metabolic involvement related to this syndrome.

Both changes are a major win for women and reflect shifting attitudes in what it means to be healthy.

In the case of estrogen products, women are now able to benefit from the cardio-protective, bone strengthening, cognition improving effects without the erroneous fear of increased cancer, blood clots or heart disease.

The change to PMOS feels more significant in that this is a recognition of the fact that the condition extends far beyond ovarian cysts or reproductive symptoms alone. For many women, the most significant drivers are rooted in insulin resistance, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, stress physiology, and hormone signaling throughout the entire body.

Names matter. Language shapes perception, both in healthcare and in the way patients understand themselves. For years, many women were told their symptoms were simply a gynecologic issue, a cosmetic concern, or something to “just live with.” These shifts reflect a broader movement toward recognizing women’s health as deeply interconnected, metabolic, neurological, cardiovascular, and whole-body in nature.

We are slowly moving away from reductionist medicine that isolates symptoms into silos and toward a more integrated understanding of health. And while there is still a long way to go, these changes feel like meaningful steps in the right direction.

Several times a year, I intentionally stress my body. In a good way. While not for every body (talk to your healthcare provider), prolonged fasting is a proven way to promote cellular renewal, cardio-metabolic health, cognitive health through a process called autophagy.

This natural clean up cycle declines as we age, and prolonged fasting is one of the few ways we can really ramp up production. I love specifically because they have done the work (and the science) for me, providing exactly what I need to eat in pre-portioned boxes for the 5 day fast. And it tastes pretty good too.

Because this sort of shift can be challenging mentally, I really lean on those around me for support - family meals, smelling popcorn at the movies or even the break-room at work can be challenging. This is why I've held support circles in the past so we can boost one another up.

I've had some people interested in the process and so I'm thinking of starting another circle soon! If you think this might be for you, or if you have any questions about how Prolon works or what it feel like, I'd love to hear from you. If you know you already know you love it or just want to jump in, my practitioner link is below

https://prolonlife.com/canopywellness

Type 2 Diabetes is not a switch that is flipped, rather it is the gradual loss of either your pancreas to produce insulin, or your cells to know what to do with it. And its a process that can be stopped dead in its tracks if caught early enough.

Sitting at a desk 8 hours a day, eating food on the run, shuttling 3 kids to 3 different schools and practices while trying to squeeze in meetings and life...all of these wreak havoc on our metabolic and nervous system and that plays out in inflammation and extra stress on our cells, and eventually chronic disease.

When you get your next wellness check and they tell you everything looks fine, I challenge you to look at the number. Does it fall near the high end? Where does it compare to your last level? If its trending up, has this also been happening with your weight? Cholesterol? Blood pressure? Because these are all linked in the long run.

Through a process called autophagy (literally meaning "self-eating" our body recycles the parts used to keep cells healthy? As we age, this process slows and much like forgetting trash day, the cellular trash begins to pile up.

When our cells aren't functioning optimally, our body ages more rapidly. A loss of autophagy has been linked to cognitive disorders, metabolic disease, cancers and autoimmune disorders. Effectively, our cells can't adequately fight off the onslaught they deal with daily, and inflammation takes center stage.

The good news is that there are a variety of ways to stimulate autophagy - to clear out that old junk. Most notably fasting, but exercise and intentional stressors (think cold plunge) can alter how effectively your cells turn on their clean out mode.

We'll begin to explore several of these methods in the coming weeks. If you've tried methods to stimulation autophagy, I'd love to hear!