01. Inflammation. Gut Microbiome. Bella Hadid's $700 morning ritual.
I just want clear skin and to eat cacio e pepe without regard.
I originally wanted to name this newsletter Light Therapy. One reason is the many overlaps between mindfulness, health, and beauty. Have you ever noticed how you look and feel your best when your laptop has been shut off for a week, and you're poolside in a quaint Mexican town? Contrasting tan lines peeking from the edges of your bikini, ambient music playing in the background, and the taste of sour lime lingering on your tongue? It's called the absence of stress.
Another reason I was so fixated on the name was the simple fact that light therapy had been an extremely helpful addition to my skincare game. Shout out to science.
I inevitably landed on Well Theorem because it represents a carefully considered approach to health and self-care, where each part of the theorem—be it understanding the science, using the right tools and technology, or choosing the best self-care practices—works together to formulate a balanced, comprehensive path to personal wellness. Listen, I just want clear skin and to eat cacio e pepe. But alas, here I am, and I know the answer is somewhere out there, buried in the science.
I’ll share with you what I’ve learned about a wide array of topics and things I’ve tried that will hopefully help you build your own daily rituals.
Now, let’s dive into inflammation.
The Science🔬
My personal battle with inflammation stems from ✨Colitis✨, a form of IBD. A real pain in the butt.
IBD and Autoimmune Diseases: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and autoimmune diseases are complex disorders with a multifaceted array of symptoms and underlying mechanisms. The medical community recognizes the need for deeper understanding as many treatments continue to focus on symptom management rather than addressing root causes. I was finally diagnosed with IBD after nearly a decade of unchecked symptoms. I was just a girl surviving a tummy ache. It took one doctor to take my concerns seriously, and I was off to my first-ever colonoscopy. I faded into the grainy dissolve of an anesthesia slumber and woke up with a list of foods I could no longer eat. ❌ dairy ❌ bread ❌ chill on the caffeine.
Inflammation is part of the body's defense mechanism. It is the process by which the immune system recognizes and removes harmful and foreign stimuli and begins the healing process. Inflammation can be either acute or chronic. Source.
The Frustrating Reality of Current Treatments
There's a recognized pattern in conventional treatment: a significant focus on alleviating symptoms of IBD and autoimmune diseases without fully unraveling the root causes. This approach often results in general treatment strategies that might not account for individual differences and underlying factors, leading to cycles of temporary relief rather than long-term health solutions.
Emerging Science and New Developments
In a later post, I’ll explore the rise of full-body scans, MRIs, and comprehensive blood tests. I want to know why my body was fighting itself. Where is the confusion coming from? And, if the confusion happened, it must be reversible, right?
What We Know Now
Emerging research is increasingly linking lifestyle and dietary factors with the incidence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Here are some key areas where recent studies have shed light:
Western Diets and Inflammation: Studies suggest that Western diets can lead to increased inflammation and a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases. These diets–low in fiber and high in sugar and fat can disrupt gut microbiota, leading to a cascade of inflammation and altered immune responses. Moreover, the loss of nutrients in our foods due to over-processing and the lack of dietary diversity can exacerbate this problem. Modern agricultural practices have reduced the variety of beneficial bacteria and nutrients in our foods, increasing exposure to harmful substances like pesticides and preservatives. This combination can weaken our digestive system and immune response, making the body more susceptible to autoimmune conditions.
The Overworked Liver: There’s growing awareness about the role of the liver in detoxifying the body and its connection to inflammation. An overworked liver, strained by processed foods and toxins, can contribute to systemic inflammation, exacerbating autoimmune conditions. Furthermore, issues like constipation can lead to the reabsorption of toxins, placing additional stress on the liver and the body’s inflammatory response. Efficient liver function is crucial for removing toxins and helping to manage immune responses, but when it's overwhelmed, the body's ability to fight inflammation is significantly reduced.
Imbalanced Gut Microbiome: The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem that plays a crucial role in our overall health, particularly in immune system regulation. An imbalanced microbiome can lead to a weakened intestinal barrier ("leaky gut"), allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses. This imbalance is increasingly viewed as a potential pathway to understanding and treating autoimmune diseases more effectively. Recent research indicates that enhancing gut biodiversity through dietary changes, probiotics, and prebiotics can help restore this balance and support the body’s natural defenses against autoimmune reactions.
Genetic and Epigenetic Factors: Advances in genomics and epigenetics are revealing how genetic predispositions, combined with environmental and lifestyle factors, can trigger autoimmune responses. For example, specific genetic markers can indicate a higher risk for certain autoimmune diseases, but lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and exposure to toxins can significantly influence whether these genes are expressed. Epigenetic changes, which do not alter the DNA sequence but can change how genes are expressed, can be triggered by environmental factors and behaviors. These changes can either protect against or increase the risk of autoimmune diseases, depending on factors like diet, exercise, and stress management. Understanding these nuances can lead to more personalized and effective treatments by targeting not just the symptoms but also the underlying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms.
The Protocol 💊
First, get your diet right and then focus on reinfusing minerals and nutrients.
Connecting the Dots ⚫️ ⚫️ ⚫️
Linking Western diets, liver function, and gut microbiome, health offers a clearer picture of how lifestyle adjustments can support disease management. By adopting anti-inflammatory diets and reducing processed food intake, individuals can help restore gut health and support liver function, complementing more conventional treatments with sustainable, lifestyle-based approaches.
Understanding the gut microbiome, the nervous system, and our body’s response to external and internal stimuli is crucial. These elements can dictate everything from our mood and energy levels to how our skin looks and feels. I want to explore how these interconnected systems form the foundation of a personalized wellness protocol and how, by understanding these, we can better address our health holistically.
Bella might be on to something 👀
Two months ago, Bella Hadid shared her ‘morning routine’ on TikTok, albeit it was a slick promotional soft launch of her upcoming wellness brand, Orebella–a response to her own 2013 diagnosis of Lime Disease. She’s been very open about her journey and the flare-ups she experiences. Stocked with bottles on bottles of tinctures and piles of supplements, the final tally reaches roughly $700 💸. A lot of what she takes are powerhouse gut healers, but let’s see what’s worth it.
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Check out 🛒
Ion* Intelligence of Nature Gut Support $52; The one and only star ingredient here is humic substances, organic compounds released from decaying plants. You typically hear about humic and fulvic acids in the regenerative soil conversation. When we think about how microorganisms thrive in soil, it’s an interesting correlation to the gut microbiome. Humic substances are known to strengthen the gut lining so that foreign particles can't trigger inflammation, helping to ensure proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and hydration. This 16oz bottle is on the pricey side but considering it’s made in the USA and derived from all-natural ancient soil, it’s worth it.
Trace Minerals Fulvic Acid $22; Speaking of Fulvic Acid, in Bella’s video, she uses another brand, but I have been impressed with Trace Minerals. Known to help digestion and the pH balance of the gut microbiome, straight from Utah's inland sea, this supplement is powered by Concentrace - highly absorbable and bioavailable ionic trace minerals from one of the richest mineral sources on earth.
Genestra Brands Intest-gen $50; You can’t read the labels, but you can tell that the tinctures at the beginning of the video are from Genestra. Intest-gen is a combination of three extracts traditionally used for their actions on the gastrointestinal tract. English Walnut's use in Phytotherapy traditionally has revolved around its digestive and astringent properties. Rosemary is used for its hepatobiliary digestive activity and acts as a liver and gall bladder drainer. The use of both Rosemary and Lingonberry involves supporting intestinal mucosa, while Lingonberry is also used for colon health. Heal that gut, bay-bee!
Kin Euphorics Non-Alcoholic Spirits Variety 12-pack $57; On my personal quest to reset my gut health, I’ve (nearly) taken the culprit, alcohol, out of rotation. But summer is right around the corner, and with happy hours, rooftop hangs, and general fun in the sun, adding a few non-alcoholic options into the mix isn’t a bad idea. Kin Euphorics has a carefully curated mix of adaptogens, nootropics, and botanics that gently enhance cognition, boost immunity, and fend off stress.
Excessive alcohol consumption leads to leaky gut, decreases gut absorption and increases the production of bile in the liver, all of which can lead to diarrhea. To explain leaky gut, I tell patients to think of their intestinal lining as a brick wall. When there are cracks in the mortar between the bricks, water can leak through. In leaky gut, alcohol causes cracks in the ‘mortar’ of the intestinal wall. Source: Dr. Tanvir Haque for UNC Health Talk.
BONUS: Golde Superfood Latte Blend Cocoa Turmeric; $29; I’ve started incorporating morning cacao ceremonies into my daily practice. That’s an enlightened way of saying I drink hot chocolate in the mornings. I play around with adding mushrooms, adaptogens, and anti-inflammatory turmeric. This latte blend promotes the production of anandamide (the "bliss molecule") in the brain, helping reduce stress – in addition to turmeric’s support of skin, gut health, and immunity.
📌 Final thoughts: Theorems consist of two parts: hypotheses and conclusions. Today’s hypothesis was that inflammation truly knows how to mess up a good time. Understanding inflammation, gut microbiome, the nervous system, and our body’s response to external and internal stimuli is crucial. The path to wellness is as unique as you are, and it’s all about finding what works best for your body and lifestyle. I’m super humbled and extremely excited that you’re following me on this journey. Let me know what you think in the comments. Have you tried any of these supplements? Is there a topic you want me to focus on next?
Keep glowing, growing, and discovering.
Until next time,
T.
Love this! A very, interesting, informative and also entertaining read. I look forward to learning more about ways, diet approaches and other methods will help with my own autoimmune issues.
Thank you for this.