Are You Sweeping These Symptoms Under the Rug?
Skin rashes
Persistent acne
Cavities
Heavy, debilitating periods
Brittle nails
Constant fatigue
Brain fog
GI issues
Daily acid reflux
Swollen joints
These are just a few of the health problems I struggled with throughout my late 20s and early 30s.
Are you sweeping these symptoms under the rug? It’s easy to pass these off as “normal” and ignore them...but let’s not confuse “normal” with “common”. Just because you know plenty of people who deal with these kinds of health issues on the regular and they don’t seem all that serious, it doesn’t mean that they should be ignored! Sure, there are plenty of quick-fix remedies like blemish creams, nail-strengthening polish, fluoride mouthwash, antacid medications and ibuprofen. But these all temporary fixes that merely put a Band-Aid over your problems. Shouldn’t we be asking ourselves WHY these malfunctions are occurring?
Like the warning lights on your car’s dashboard, symptoms are all crucial signals - and it’s up to you to recognize that something’s not right.
What’s the cost of ignoring these red flags over time?
Well, I can tell you - breakdown. I dealt with a pretty big health scare after years of neglecting my health...and ended up with three separate autoimmune diseases to manage. It has cost me a lot of money, time and energy to recover from them. And it’s been both a physical and emotional rollercoaster ride of a lifetime.
If only I had known sooner to recognize these red flags and realize that something was amiss. Unbeknownst to me, I was living in an apartment with black mold, depleting my nutrient levels by drinking too much alcohol (my go-to method to blow off steam at the time), not getting enough quality rest to give my body a chance to detoxify/regenerate, and suffering from a gut bacteria imbalance (the crux of many of my symptoms including cavities!). After years of research, cycling through several doctors, and learning what my body truly needed, I finally started to heal.
So consider what your body might be signaling, and what you can start doing to address each of them. There’s always a root cause to a problem, and the sooner you get to the bottom of it, the better off you’ll be!
Today, my nails are back to being stronger than ever! I haven’t had a cavity in several years, and I stopped getting rashes on my neck and chest. The skin on my face has cleared up, and my acid reflux and inflammation are finally under control.
By implementing small changes into my life over time and sticking to them, I was able to begin resolving my health issues, one by one.
So what are some of strategies that have worked for me?
Significantly increased my vegetable intake, diversified the colors on my plate and increased the amount of quality proteins in my diet
Stopped consuming gluten (for my thyroid issues specifically) and processed foods (super inflammatory!)
Cut out refined sugar and only drink alcohol on special occasions
Improved my sleep hygiene
Built in a daily exercise regimen into my schedule no matter how short
Began working with a supportive and competent functional medicine doctor
Had comprehensive blood work done to investigate causes
Limited exposure to toxins/chemicals
I wish I had a functional medicine health coach back then to give me guidance to take back my health. It took me several years to get here and regain confidence in my body…but that doesn’t have to be the case for you. I’ve made it my mission to help you restore your wellness and thrive. You no longer have to deal with your symptoms alone and you can get to the root causes sooner. Finally, it IS possible to take control of your own health and it starts with paying closer attention to your body.
If any of this has resonated with you, leave me a comment! And if you want to chat about any flags that have come up for you, shoot me a message - I’m here to support you!
Xoxo
Yoko
