PHYSICAL WELLNESS
FOUNDATIONAL INFLUENCES
Foundational influences are the underlying factors that shape how your body functions and responds to daily life. Genetics, inherited traits, and long-term patterns of illness set the stage for your wellness journey, influencing everything from energy levels to stress responses and recovery. Understanding these foundations helps you make informed choices to support your body, mind, and overall balance.
GENETICS
Genetics are the instructions written into your DNA that shape how your body develops, functions, and responds to the environment. They provide a blueprint for your body, but lifestyle and environment can influence how genes are expressed.
This section includes:
MTHFR – A common gene variation affecting how your body processes folate and detoxifies, influencing cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic health.
Genetic Testing – Tools that reveal predispositions to health conditions, nutrient needs, or sensitivities, helping guide personalized wellness strategies.
Epigenetics – How lifestyle, stress, nutrition, and environmental factors can “turn genes on or off,” demonstrating that genes are flexible rather than fixed.
Linked Concepts: → Nutrition + Methylation → Detoxification → Stress Response → Illness Predisposition
ILLNESS: SYMPTOMS VS. CONDITIONS
Illness refers to conditions that affect your body over time, while symptoms are signals your body sends that something is off. Understanding the distinction helps you respond early and support recovery more effectively.
This section includes:
Headaches – Can result from stress, dehydration, toxins, or nervous system imbalances.
Skin Conditions – Indicators of gut health, immune responses, and detoxification efficiency.
Hives (Urticaria) – Often linked to immune reactions, histamine, or mast cell activation.
Inflammation – The body’s protective response, which can become chronic and drive long-term illness.
Chronic Illness – Long-lasting conditions that require ongoing management, often involving multiple body systems.
Autoimmune Conditions – When the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
Fatigue – A signal of physical or mental stress, often reflecting underlying imbalance.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) – Overactive mast cells release chemicals like histamine, causing multi-system symptoms.
Pain – Both a symptom and a signal of underlying inflammation, stress, or tissue imbalance.
Linked Concepts: → Nervous System + Stress → Immune System Dysregulation → Detoxification → Sleep & Energy
