Canopy Wellness

05/28/2026

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.

05/26/2026

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

05/22/2026

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.

05/20/2026

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!

05/18/2026

Those with one autoimmune disorder are more than 25% likely to develop a second, or even a third and that number is climbing. We know that autoimmune disorders have a genetic component, but did you know that there is an easy way to shift the odds dramatically in your favor?

Lifestyle and environmental factors such as the quality and quantity of sleep, the nutrients you consume and the way you move your body all play into how well your body operates. Small shifts matter.

Speaking at the MG Holistic Society community meeting, it is evident how they live this. Even if they were a little nostalgic for the oreos and donuts from meetings of yore ;)

04/27/2026

There is a pattern that emerges often in clinical care, particularly in chronic and autoimmune conditions, that deserves more attention.

A medication is started to manage a condition. Over time, another is added to address a side effect, and sometimes additional medications follow as new symptoms arise or persist. Each decision may be appropriate in isolation, but the cumulative effect can lead to increasingly complex regimens that are difficult to sustain.

This is the reality of polypharmacy. While medications play a critical role in treatment, the addition of multiple therapies can increase the risk of adverse drug events, reduce adherence, and leave patients feeling frustrated or disconnected from their care. It can become difficult to distinguish between symptoms of the condition itself and effects of the treatment.

In many cases, side effects are managed with additional prescriptions without first stepping back to reassess the overall plan. There is often an opportunity to evaluate whether each medication remains necessary, whether dosing is still appropriate, whether alternatives exist, and whether there are other ways to support the body that may reduce symptom burden.

Integrative and lifestyle-based approaches are not a replacement for appropriate medical therapy, but they can provide meaningful support. Thoughtful nutrition, sleep, stress management, and targeted supplementation may help mitigate side effects and improve overall resilience, allowing for a more balanced and sustainable treatment plan.

Medication management should not be static. It requires ongoing review, clinical judgment, and a willingness to simplify when appropriate.

What are some ways you've found to navigate side effects of important medications?

04/24/2026

Left unchecked, stress can become a weight that makes even the smallest of things feel impossible. Yet, with intention and in the right doses, stress can actually strengthen your nervous system, your immunity and make you more resilient to instability around you.

Many tools like breath-work, mindfulness, sufficient sleep and a whole foods diet help make managing stress more, well, manageable.

Adaptogenic herbs are another such tool for your tool-box. These herbs can help balance your nervous system and when used mindfully can give you a little extra energy when needed or calm when your mind won't settle down.

Though many of these herbs have been used for millennia, only recently have they been concentrated, put in a capsule and taken with multiple other herbs or medications. Please speak with your provider or pharmacist before taking any new supplement and pay close attention to how they work in your body.

04/22/2026

Earth Day is a time to recognize the important role our actions play in the health of our planet and also an opportunity to recognize how these actions may shape our health in subtle and not so subtle ways.

Many products designed to make our lives easier come with repercussions that extend well past the junk yard (hello disposable dishware and TV dinners). We now know that plastics shed micro-toxins, that artificial scents alter our hormone levels and that many products are tainted with substances we don't fully understand.

Fortunately, small changes can make a huge impact on both our environment and our health. This Earth Day, I urge you to get curious...

What can be simplified?
What can be swapped over time?
What actually makes a meaningful difference?

04/14/2026

Sleep is often the first thing we let go of when life gets busy. We stay up a little later, wake a little earlier, and tell ourselves we’ll catch up later. But the effects show up quickly as less clarity, more reactivity, and a body that just doesn’t feel quite right.

Sleep is where the real work happens. It’s where the brain processes, the body repairs, and the nervous system resets. When we consistently push it aside, we’re not gaining time, instead we’re losing the capacity to show up fully in everything else.

I share a deeper look at this in my latest article, including how sleep is shaped by our daily rhythms, stress levels, and environment and how small, intentional shifts can begin to restore it.

As a nation that seemingly prides itself on going non-stop, how would our health respond if we just rested? If you are like millions of Americans, you find yourself moving sleepily from one task to the next. In an age where work rarely seems done, taking precious time for sleep seems laughable.

04/13/2026

There's nothing like a stranger's bed to make you realize how much you need a good night sleep!
After nearly a week of traveling, joint pain, cravings and brain fog made themselves known only to quickly retreat after a few nights home.

Sleep is where we clear toxins, process events and form memories and recover from all the work we put our body through.

If you are interested in learning more about the many ways sleep supports us and tools to get more of it, I’d love to see you at or see the link in my bio for more offerings or to sign up for my newsletter 💜