#they want to give me a “heavy metal detox”

[writing-forever]

My parents are fuckin conspiracy theorists

[ultimateplaylistmaker]

Still haven't recovered from "Guardian Demon"

Still feeling physically sick from it

Help

Alright my advice for "so you read the controversial dark fic people sometimes talk about and now you kinda need aftercare"

Get some fresh air if possible, get outside, disconnect a bit, it doesnt need to be for long, but a walk around the block if possible can help

Get something warm and comfortable, make some tea, some hot chocolate, some soup, warm and easy to hold.

Detox it out of your mind. If you're like me you struggle to let go of thoughts unless you can vent them or express them. Gossip with a friend about it, ask to rant about it. While this doesn't help everyone and if you aren't careful could make it worse, I personally find being able to go "LOOK AT THIS BULLSHIT" to be a good way to make my brain move on from a topic

Self care, have you taken a shower lately? eaten? hydrated? you may just be lacking some biological function and it's merging with your unease, so making sure youre clean, fed, and watered can help reduce it.

Read some fluff, listen to some happy music, watch a calming minecraft lets play, let your mind settle down, look at cute shipping art of the, remind yourself that it's a story and they are fine, pet a cat

Alternatively, if you aren't the kind of person that works on, switch to dark content you already know you like. Listen to that heavy metal song about the devil, watch a horror movie you know you like, read a spooky story that you know won't make it worse. Hell, play something like fnaf and get jumpscared a few times to get your brain onto a different less upsetting kind of lingering anxiety.

Vent content, this is similar to the detox, but more creatively focused, write an alternative end to the story, draw a picture of kokichi looking cool and powerful, make a new ending, a new story, one where it ends how you want it end, where it gives the closure you want for the characters. Hell, write about your super cool oc going into the story and rescuing kokichi! Even if it makes you feel a bit silly or self indulgent, that's good! that means youre having fun again!

Not all of these will work or be appealing, but doing a few should at least help take the edge off it. I said it kinda jokingly but it really is similar to aftercare, you read a really dark story with sexual themes and you essentially safeworded, you're going through a similar crash. You aren't being dramatic, or weak, or silly, or overreacting, or anything. Intense emotions over a period of time, even if it's just a few hours of reading, can cause crashes in your brain due to chemicals going a bit funky. It's kinda like how if you get home from a super fun party you suddenly feel really down and unhappy, that's an endorphin crash!

So even if it sounds a bit silly to say it about reading a fanfiction, but if it's fucking with your head still, you need to give yourself aftercare

[ngce]

I'm dying.

You're dying.

41% of men will get cancer sometime in their life. Given that our environment is more toxic than ever and only trending that way, let's just call it an even 50%. Mix that in with car accidents and all of the random tragic happenings of life, it's safe to say that our days are numbered.

I've been trying to take care of my health. Eating organic foods. Losing weight. Staying away from EMF. Heavy metal detox. Taking countless supplements. Acupuncture. Air purifiers. Going to physical therapy. Using a vibration plate. Hahahah it's insane

All for what?

Sure, taking care of your health matters. Live longer and have a higher quality for what? There are so many days I just waste. I am done with trying to earn God's love by my works. My good works are nothing but filthy rags. I know all of my hope can only rest in JESUS CHRIST but I want to make the most of my time. I want to honor God for the rest of my days. I am such a lazy ambitious person. There is so much TALK and not much walking in my life.

I think many of us want to live a long life. Isn't it less about the age we get to but what we do with the time we do have? I know this is a recurring thought for many people, especially for me. What terrifies me is how often I find how little my life has changed after meditating on this truth. It sounds crazy but some days I wonder if my life would be better with cancer. If it would allow me to really live my life to the fullest. I obviously do not want cancer and am doing everything I can to stay healthy but.... what if knowing I had cancer today with 3 years left to live would give me the "AHA" moment that I need to really live each day purposefully for God's kingdom instead of at this lazy pace and getting killed in a car accident two years from now?

The obvious answer is to live a focused life PERIOD. That's always the move. God, please change me. Stamp eternity on my eyeballs. Don't allow me to compromise your mission. Help me stay focused and locked in on serving you. Make me into a servant. I am done being the main character. Help me to pour myself out into others so that they'll become successful. I want to be last. Help me to love others. God, please continue to transform me. Help me to love others sacrificially. Jesus, you are the only hope I have. I am lost without You. May I be a sign that points others to You. God, make me small.

[meditating-dog-lover]

Eczema update 03/14

So my allergy patch test showed up as negative. I did not react to any of the patches, at least not strongly. I still have to wait until tomorrow just in case anything may develop, but it seems like this isn't the cause of my eczema. But the test was definitely worth taking.

I got the results for my food sensitivity test back and it was inaccurate. It says I'm sensitive to gluten, egg white, and cow milk. But I do not react or experience inflamed skin when consuming these, and I know gluten, dairy and eggs are common triggers for some people. While I do get inflammation after eating certain foods, like tomatoes, I doubt it is the ultimate root cause because I've eaten these foods in the past with no issues.

I take vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids, which are key anti-inflammatory nutrients that can help with eczema and most people are deficient in, but I'm not seeing a huge change unfortunately. I got the air purifier and its built-in sensor says the air quality in our house is clean. But our house is dusty and finding ways to effectively deep clean it while making it fun and not boring should be necessary. I vacuumed a lot over the weekend, the next step is to clean tables and counters and to clean my car.

My hands are red, inflamed, and dry. They are more red than the rest of my arm and the color shade and texture and dryness is different as well. I have a spot on my neck and by my left collarbone. I have redness around my mouth and cheilitis. Thankfully it is looking slightly better today and is less inflamed. But it still needs some time to heal of course. Perhaps the liver detox supplement is helping? Though it's too early to tell, I need maybe 1-2 months.

This got worse since I got back from Cyprus.

I can narrow this down to 2 things - gut health and detoxing. I vacuumed the house, cleaned the vents, ordered an air purifier, and started taking liver detox supplements. My patch test was negative and my food sensitivity test was inaccurate. Vitamin D, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids did not sufficiently help me, though flaxseed helps to an extent for sure.

I have a phone call with a functional doctor next week and we can go over some solutions and tests related to gut health and detoxing. I've heard of many people who cleared their eczema through detoxing. When I say gut health, I don't really mean probiotics. I mean that the gut, just like the liver, lungs, and kidneys, is a detoxing organ and can accumulate junk and toxins and pathogens from some of the stuff we eat and swallow every day. So a safe yet effective detoxification method can help get rid of these triggers and can clean the gut. Probiotics/adding good bacteria to a compromised gut isn't going to solve it. The solution is to detox the gut. Same thing with the liver, which is why I'm taking milk thistle and dandelion.

I just started Anthony William's book "Cleanse to Heal" where he talks about detoxification that is useful for those with autoimmune conditions, which he states is due to the abundance of pathogens (like viruses and harmful bacteria) and toxins (like heavy metals and pesticides). All of us are exposed to environmental toxins and pathogens on a daily basis, and for some people this can cause irritation and even autoimmunity. I started the book today and I'm already on Chapter 7, and it's almost 600 pages long. I haven't gotten to the cleansing chapter yet, but I'll get there tomorrow as it's 2 chapters ahead from where I currently am. He is a fan of juicing, especially celery juice. I made some on Sunday and hated the taste. But if there is some healthy juice or tea I can prepare that can help with the cleansing process along with the dandelion and milk thistle, then I'll give it a shot. Of course I don't want to overdo it. I am drinking herbal hibiscus tea at work, but I'm drinking it because I like the taste and it helps me relax as I read, not to "cleanse'. I don't know if that's making any difference.

To tame the itching for now, I ordered an anti-inflammatory cream from Amazon that has very good reviews (Eau Thermale Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream). I put some flaxseed oil and steroids on my hands this morning. I put steroids on because I cannot put up with the discomfort and redness anymore. But applying an anti-inflammatory topical can help because I've been using petroleum jelly all this time and it's not necessarily anti-inflammatory.

In the healing journey at the very least I can apply an anti-inflammatory topical, but not a steroid of course. It's the only anti-inflammatory I have that isn't drying and doesn't leave a white cast (like zinc oxide does, even though it's harmless). Topicals would give some immediate relief as I'm healing and recovering slowly internally. And it's fine to use topicals, I just don't believe it is the only solution (again eczema isn't skin deep, it should also be treated internally) and believe it should not be a steroid.

I am mentally all over the place now and am frustrated and annoyed. But like I did last year, I will heal myself again and again. I've never gotten my detoxing and gut health professionally evaluated. So when I do, I feel like it can offer some useful insight. And I'm exposed to stuff all the time, in my car, walking outside, in my house, the foods I eat even if they're healthy, the water I drink, filling gas, etc... I absolutely cannot avoid any of these, but I can find ways to take a break and cleanse effectively.

And I may end up spending a lot of money on this, but it is worth it in the end because I don't believe a single cent I spend on my health and wellbeing is a waste (except for the food sensitivity tests, boo).

I'll do what I can now, clean the house, avoid tomatoes (temporary goal until the inflammation is tamed), take the detox supplement, use my air purifier, use an anti-inflammatory topical (non-steroid), meet with the doctor, maybe drink some juice along with the liver detox supplement, etc... Even though I don't want to overwhelm myself with supplements.

But detoxing can help definitely, though it takes time. And I'll get my gut health evaluated to see if I a absolutely need something like l-glutamine in case there are signs of leaky gut (this can also contribute to eczema because loose gaps in the gut lining can allow pathogens and toxins to enter the bloodstream and create inflammation and autoimmunity). I doubt I have any gut problems though, it anything I barely experience gastrointestinal discomfort. So I'm assuming I just need a detox boost. I'll see what the doctor recommends.

[ghost-go-roasty-mctoasty]

I was supposed to write this yesterday but I got food poisoning 🥰🥰 so that was fun. Anyways here it is

/tw: non-con/

"It's all you"

Sam could feel deans heart beat through the blade. The blade that was currently pushing into deans neck, not a position you'd ever hope you'd ever have to be in, but yet, here they were. Dean staring Sam down with a terrifying smirk on his face, Sam's hand shaking as he struggles to keep a firm grip on the blade, his sweaty palm making it seem useless. It was pushed up against deans main artery, one good slice and he'd be done. He could hear deans blood pumping through his neck, pulsing against the cold metal. Sam's brain was screaming at him to do it already, make the cut, but could the demon blade even hurt dean? Was that just bravado in deans eyes or did he actually not care because he knew that this knife couldn't hurt him?

If he had more time he'd go over his options. It's not like there were many though. He doesn't want to hurt his brother, doesn't want to draw any blood. He could try to knock him out, but his left arm isn't that strong. If he had more time he would go over all his mistakes, put the blame on himself, try and figure out where he went wrong and fix it for next time, but staring into deans black eyes, he knew there wouldn't be a next time.

One of them would have to make a decision soon, and turns out, Dean did. He always did call the shots in this relationship, except Sam wasn't expecting this one. Dean threw his whole body against sam, both of them landing to the floor with a bang and a few grunts from Sam as the air was forced out of his lungs. Sam's head smacked against the hard ground, and Dean took that moment of weakness to pin Sam's hands above his head, but not before throwing the blade across the hallway, way too far for Sam to reach.

Dean was basically straddling him. He had a leg on either side of Sam's body and was making himself pretty comfortable in Sam's lap. His big brother was heavy on him, it was getting harder to breathe. He tried to yank his arms free but deans hold was just too strong, he tried to buck up but it was no use, Dean was holding him firmly down. Sam was on the verge of crying. This was how he was gonna die, by the hands of his own big brother. The same guy who raised him, fed him, hell, even sold his soul for him. Now he was gonna kill him. Sam tried to look away, he really did, but he wanted Deans eyes to be the last thing he would see. The pitch black covering the green was his fault. He failed his brother. He let him get stabbed. It was his fault, this death is what he deserves.

"Sammy, Sammy, Sammy" dean purred out. He used one hand to brush Sam's hair out of his face, making it fan out around his head like some sort of crown. He bent down and trailed his nose across Sam's exposed neck. It made Sam flinch but he couldn't pull away even if he wanted to, he was frozen in fear. "You smell so good." Dean whispered against Sam's skin before licking down his jaw. And that was, certainly, unexpected. Deans tounge was warm and wet on Sam's skin, but it sent shivers down his spine like he had just jumped into the Antarctic ocean. And honestly? Sam would be rather doing that right now, because the way Dean was looking down at him, well to say the least, it was absolutely terrifying.

He'd seen Dean hunt, he knows what he's like. Like predator on prey. It's scary to watch, but at least then he was the good guy going after bad. At least then Sam knew that kind of wrath would never be directed towards him. But that was then, and this is now. And right now Sam felt like a small kitten being pinned down by a wolf. Even though Deans eyes were as black as the sky, you could see the hunger and the want in them. And he knew that Dean could smell the fear coming off of him in waves, which was making this all worse.

"You remember that bitch, Ruby?" Deans hand trailed down Sam's injured arm, rubbing at his shoulder softly. "How you ran off with her, while I was in hell for you?" He gripped Sam's upper arm and yanked down, hard, kinda like how Cole did. Sam tried his best to keep his scream of pain in, but demon strength is much worse than what he experienced with Cole. But Dean continued to talk over his cries of pain. "I went to hell for you, Sammy." Pull, scream. "And that's how you repay me?" Another yank, another scream. Just as Sam thought he was about to pass out from the pain, Dean pulled his hand away.

"Dean, I'm sorry-" Sam tried, but after a swift and hard punch to the jaw from Dean, Sam decided it was best to just keep his mouth shut, even if his blood was pooling up in it now. "Oh shut the fuck up. I know you're not sorry, but that's okay." A smile from Dean, it seemed just like how Dean would smile after cracking a stupid joke and getting a bitch face from Sam for it, but it also seemed so off, so wrong. It was too cold, too out of place on Deans face. "I'll make you sorry." Sam was sure Dean could hear, and feel his heart rate speeding up.

"See Sammy, you whored yourself out to her, became her little bitch, did whatever she wanted just so you could get some of her blood." Sam tried to shake his head, to deny the accusation, but he knew they were true. And he couldn't move his head anyway, not with the way Deans hand was gripping his jaw so tightly. "Well that's just not fair to me, since I bought your soul, all those years ago." Dean tightened his grip, tears streamed down Sam's face. "So it's only fair if I make you my bitch." Now Sam was really close to hyperventilating. What was that supposed to mean? What did Dean want from him? Was there any human left in him, could Sam even try to talk to him, get through to him?

Deans eyes searched Sam's body, looking up and down, taking everything in. The amount of weight he had lost, how he wasn't as strong as he should be, the dark shadows under his eyes, his stringy dirty hair. Sam was in this state because of Dean, and Dean wouldn't deny that he felt a little bit of pride from that, he didn't even try to hide it. Sam was so messed up because of him. It was perfect.

Deans right hand was holding Sam's hands above his head, and he couldn't risk letting go. Sam might be weaker now, but that boy is fast. He needed to cut into his hand or arm or wrist, something. He needed to draw blood, but he couldn't do that one handed. Luckily, he came up with a great idea. Sam might hate it now, but he will be very appreciative later on. Probably.

Deans jaw clenched, hard. Sam tilted his head as best as his could to show his confusion. What was he doing? He only got it once he heard a wince of pain from Dean and got a look into his mouth. He had bit down on his tounge, his mouth pooling up with blood, fast. The metallic smell flooding the room so quickly, Sam felt dizzy. The scent of the blood was so damn strong, he couldn't help the way he stomach begged for it.

Truth be told, he had never gotten over his addiction. He just got better at hiding it. Every demon hunt was hard. Every time they cut into a black eyed bitch he had to restrain himself. Over the years it got easier and easier to hide, but god, the way the scent of Deans blood just filled his nostrils and made him drool for it so quickly, it was quite embarrassing. He could tell just how powerful Deans blood was. His body craved it, but his brain, his brain was warning him, flooding his mind with memories of pain and detox. It was enough to get Sam to slam his mouth shut, well, as best as he could with the way dean was holding it open. Dean frowned at him, blood staining his lips.

Dean lowered himself. Faces close, noses touching. The smell was even worse now, it was overcompensating. The want to taste it, to have the warm liquid drip down his throat was so painful, was so hard to push to the back of his mind, ignore it, don't give it. But damnit he couldn't even close his mouth, what hope was any of it?

Dean opened his mouth, and the first few drops dripped out, straight into Sam's mouth. And god, did it feel amazing. He'd never admit it, but the way he moaned didn't really hide it. It tasted amazing. Better than ruby's. He could feel the power as soon as it touched his tounge, it felt like fireworks were going off inside him. The way it travelled down his tounge into his throat was so heavenly. Sam forgot how breathtaking this whole experience was. But it was short lived. Once he came back to and left the high, he opened his eyes to find Dean grinning down at him, still so incredibly close. Sam wanted to cry. All those years of learning self control, of trying to contain himself, he did it all for Dean, and now it was Dean that grabbed him by the neck and threw him back into his addiction.

Before Sam could even say anything, Dean smashed their lips together. At first Sam didn't do anything, didn't gasp, didn't cry, didn't scream. He was frozen in pure shock. The dried up blood on Deans lips were now staining his lips. Dean was shoving his tounge, his bleeding tounge into Sam's mouth. Sam laid there in shock and horror as Deans tounge was filling up Sam's mouth with blood. He was dragging it around all in Sam's mouth, across his teeth, his tounge, Dean was basically marking his territory.

Dean had let go of Sam's jaw, but Sam didn't close his mouth, couldn't. Deans blood was dripping down his throat. He could feel it. He could feel it going all the way down, and he could feel his addiction rising to the surface again. His mind was screaming at him, trying to get him to fight, to pull away, anything. But Sam knew it was a losing battle. He was already hooked again, he could feel it. There was no point in fighting it.

Something inside of him snapped, he grabbed the sides of Deans head and started sucking on his tounge, biting down on it, trying to get as much blood from Dean as possible. He thought Dean would lash out, hit him, kill him. but he didn't. He just hummed his approval and allowed Sam to keep drinking from him. He wrapped his arms around Sam's torso and lifted him up, seating him in Deans lap now. It's not like Sam noticed, or even cared about what Dean was doing. There was only one thought in his head right now, and his whole body was overcome by want and need, greed and lust.

Dean tangled his fingers in Sam's hair as his little brother continued to drink from him, suck on his tounge. Dean was smiling. They were truly fucked up, but at least they were together. They've given so much to the world, sacrificed so much for undeserving people, why can't they have something for themselves for once? They deserve it. They deserve this.

[alisaspages]

FOOD//Peter Parker

Fem x Peter Parker

TW// eating disorder

Peter and I have been together since we were born. We’ve been dating since we were 13 after ignoring each other two years straight. He quickly confessed his love after I said sorry. We’re now 15. We’re pretty young. He’s spider-man. And I pretty much begged him to have Tony make me a multi-million dollar suit to make me spider-girl. He said no. But then I talked to Steve who got him to make me my own avenger suit. But technically I’m not an avenger yet.

My hero name is Y/H/N and Tony says my suit is made from a special metal but he won’t tell me what type. I let him experiment on me and use me as a lab rat. I came out with super strength, telekinesis, and teleportation. Bucky taught me how to use knives. Today we were all going for dinner as a kind gesture from Tony. Actually Pepper convinced him.

We went as fancy as we could. I showed up in this:

I went inside and the waitress lead me to our table. I really didn’t want to come. I only said yes for Nat and Peter. “Hi guys” I waved. Peter stared in awe and I blushed. They all looked shocked. “You look like a girl?” Tony said confused. Most times they’d seen me I was wearing baggie clothes and beanies. “Uhh thanks?” I said quietly. Peter pat the spot next to him and I sat next to him on the soft padded chair. I kissed him “hi Spider-boy.” He blushed “you look ravishing. Pretty. Gorgeous.” I giggled a little pleased by the comments and excitement “thanks love.” I held his hand under the table.

Lately I hadn’t been eating since I started gaining weight. I didn’t tell anyone. Peter came over one evening and saw me in a crop top and shorts for the first time I quickly covered myself up and he turned away “sorry. Go ahead and change I’ll wait.” Was all he said squeezing his eyes shut at the wall. He made me dinner the day after that. I gave it to my dogs while he wasn’t looking and I felt so bad.

First the appetizers came. It was nachos, I glanced at it then looked at my feet. “Y/N have some.” Steve said kindly. I shook my head “I’m gonna save myself for the main course. Thanks though.” He nodded and the waitress pulled out her notepad the second time since we’d arrived “what would you like to drink?” She asked looking at me first. I let out a loud sigh “uhhh.. water.” Peter looked at me with concern and whispered “you okay? Usually you eat a lot and order a lot of soda?” I nodded “just tired. Sorry babe.” My eyelids were heavy and usually I’d drink a monster to help at this time but I couldn’t. “Don’t be sorry. It’s my fault. I kept you up all night building my legos with Ned.” I shrugged “it’s okay.” I said kissing his cheek. When we looked back up it was his turn “uhhh coke?” The waitress nodded and was gone within seconds. My stomach grumbled and I tensed knowing Peter heard it. “C’mon love. Eat.” I shook my head “no it’s not that. Yesterday my mom made something absolutely gross and my stomach kind of hurts.” I felt awful lying to him. But I had to stay perfect for him. I was desperate to have Natashas body. Wandas. Even peppers. I would take anyone’s body over mine. I have stretch marks on my thighs, I’m over the average weight for my age, I have a heat allergy, and I’m very short. The list goes on forever. Not to mention the acne.

After ordering our main courses which mine was just a salad, Steve and Natasha looked at me funny “you love this restaurant? You love steak!” Steve said in a confused tone “Yeah… what’s wrong? You seem off.” By this point I wasn’t seeing straight. I missed going to the gym today so that I wouldn’t look so pale. It’s been at least a week. This was bound to happen sooner or later. “Yeah. Just my mom made this terrible meatloaf yesterday. I’m still recovering.” What I didn’t know was aunt May would be coming. She sent food home for me and my mom and I just put it in the fridge. She came in “Hey guys. Sorry I’m late, I couldn’t find my dress.” I choked on my water and coughed “sorry. Hi aunt May.” She waved “how was the food last night?” I shrugged drowsily “I ate my mom’s meatloaf. Sorry May.” She rose a brow “I thought that was for tomorrow?” Fuck. I shook my head “she changed her mind.” May nodded and I rested my head on Peters shoulder. Our food came and May ordered. I poked and prodded at my food and Natasha sighed loudly “okay I’ve seen enough why aren’t you eating?” I shrugged “I’m not feeling well.” She rolled her eyes “Y/N I know you better than you know yourself what’s going on?” I sighed standing up and wobbling “shut up. Stop asking me if I’m fine for gods sakes.” Oh no. Nononono. Fuck. I stumbled and Steve, Peter, and Natasha jumped out of there seats. I closed my eyes but they weren’t opening up again. I felt myself tumble into someone’s arms. Warm and stringy. Peter.

When I opened my eyes again I was connected to a couple tubes and wires but I wasn’t at the hospital. I knew this room too well. I was in the Avengers tower. “Morning.” Tony said smiling. I rolled over and he called the Avengers in. “She’s fine.” He said when Steve and Natasha bursted in right behind Peter. “How are you feeling?” Steve asked concerned. I only shrugged. I needed energy “Can I have a monster?” I asked as I sat up slowly. Peter shook his head “No. Mj called. She told me about your little diet! You can’t live off of monsters and water.” I sighed “it doesn’t matter.” He shook his head faster tears in his eyes. “No! I love you. So it does matter because I need you.” He put a hand on my cheek “why? You’re so beautiful.” I shook my head as the others came in.

I looked at them then looked at Peter. “Look at the girls. Look at Natasha. Everyone falls at their feet. Look at aunt May and Pepper. Look at Wanda. Look at them.” He looked at them confused “I don’t get it.” I shook my head looking at the floor, tears spilling out. “They are so perfect. They have nice boobs and good Ass. They are the perfect weight. They can just eat and still look like fucking Models Peter. Everyone wants to be them or is in love with them. I’d kill to look like them. Natasha knelt “I didn’t get this way starving myself sweetheart.” I looked away and Steve knelt on the other side of me “you’re so beautiful. You don’t have to look like Natasha. Or Pepper or Wanda or Sharon or anyone that isn’t you. You like being yourself don’t you?” I nodded and looked at Loki and Thor “Liz and Flash were making fun of me for it. Liz said I was hideous. Flash said I was worse than Ned. So I stood up for Ned but I couldn’t seem to do the same for me.” Loki pulled his daggers out and I shook my head “I was so frozen. It was pathetic.” Banner shook his head “that’s not pathetic. It’s okay to be scared sometimes. It’s not your fault.”

I hid my face in the crook of peters neck holding Steve’s hand. Steve was always my favourite and he was even my crush. But nobody went over Peters head. “Mj kept telling me I was pretty but it’s so easy for you guys to talk. You have hot perfect bodies. Like Steve has really hot abs. Because they aren’t like “I’ll crush you” abs but they’re “let’s cuddle and kiss” abs. Natashas body is self explanatory, and Peter. Oh Peter. You have the cutest face ever and that one time I saw you in your boxers- oh my god. Whatever! Point in fact is you’re all so perfect and ripped and you probably have really big-“ Peter slapped a hand over my mouth “okay. That’s enough talking.” I giggled a bit.

After that it took me a while to get back to my regular eating habits. But someone would always check in. I was only given rehab monsters till I could stop drinking them all together. They agreed not to tell my family as long as I ate properly. It was fun being able to eat whatever I wanted again. But I still felt conscious about my weight so Nat would help me find better ways to lose weight. We always dragged Wanda Pepper Steve May Peter and Tony to the gym. Often, Steve would bring Bucky and Sharon. I mostly just felt the urge to punch Sharon. Pepper would even bring Maria. Though I was getting healthier I was still finding that I wasn’t always feeling good. Steve said it’s because I have to stop staying up and playing with Peters lego but Nat thinks it’s just my body getting back into its old habits. Tony said it’s from listening to anything Steve says and Bruce says that it’s normal and my body is detoxing or something. Peter just likes to give me cuddles and kisses and belly rubs. Fury tells me he just wants everyone to shut up. Thor thinks I might not be able to go back to normal.

I hope you guys liked, it’s my first time writing about things like this so I hope you enjoyed it :)

[crispyjenkins]

Hi just wanted to say that I loved your fic about obi’s new armor that his troopers gave him and the implications behind it. It was amazing and just an all around great read! Though I was just wondering if you were planning on doing a sequel and if not could I request one where it is after Obi-Wan is found and recovering and the 212th are just worrying about their amazing General because holy moly did he go through a lot and little angst with some soft fluff from his family and love Cody.

(Anon, your ask got buried and I no longer know if you meant this Codywan or the Obvious/Domestic one. If you meant the other, shoot me another ask and I’ll fill that one asap!

very minor drug overdose and near death experience warnings for this one! slytheringinger300 wanted hurt/comfort and who am i to refuse      ( ˘ ³˘) i meant to get to the rest of ghost company, but it got a little repetitive, so i hope this is okay!

first part here!)

  “... never seen this suppressor before, sir, I don’t... mess with the detox... run its course... yes, sir.”

  “... updated, Wupi... days from Coruscant, and General Skywalker... rotation.”

  “... let you know, sir.”

                                                         —

  It’s Waxer that carries him back to the Negotiator, one leg and arm swung over his shoulders while Wooley collects the scattered pieces of his armour. Cody retrieves the chestplate personally, and somehow manages to convey unadulterated rage even through his expressionless helmet.

  Obi-Wan hates it when Cody is angry, it means it’s all gone wrong, and Obi-Wan never knows how to keep his commander afloat when it’s something enough to break his perfect calm.

  Woozily, Obi-Wan thinks he isn’t in much shape to be keeping anyone afloat, unable to even stop his head from bouncing against the back of Waxer’s shoulder. Blaster fire echoes around him, muzzle flashes blinding his half-open eyes, and Obi-Wan doesn’t remember there being anyone other than the Nikto, but clearly there must have been a crew of some sort. Now, why his men hadn’t taken care of them on the way in, he has no idea.

  ���Just a little longer, sir,’ some part of Obi-Wan’s brain tells him, sounding suspiciously like Cody. A very worried Cody.

  Frowning, it takes Obi-Wan significantly more concentration than it should to shape his thoughts into words. ‘I am only very drugged, darling, though regrettably not the fun kind.’

  A stumbled footstep, a fizzle of comms, and then Cody’s voice returns, ‘General?’

‘Yes, hello there. It is quite remarkable you’re able to hear me, are you sure the vode cannot be Force sensitive?’

  ‘Is now the time, sir? You hardly have a pulse, you shouldn’t—’

  Waxer shakes under Obi-Wan, or wait, no, it’s the floor that shakes, as if something has knocked into the ship, but it also knocks whatever connection he’d had to Cody completely out of his grasp. Concentration doesn’t return, and Obi-Wan decides it’s a useless exercise anyway, letting the easy listlessness that’s carried him this far carry him again.

  Cody’s voice cuts through his haze just long enough for Obi-Wan to register that they’ve reboarded the Negotiator, and that Wupi is very, very unhappy with him.

-

   “We ever tell you it was Wupi’s idea?” Cody asks, sleepy cadence prodding at the edges of Obi-Wan’s mind. “‘Never seen him get shitfaced enough to miss an appointment before.”

  Confused, Obi-Wan tries to sit up, and not only finds that he can’t, but that the Force also tells him to stay the kriff down, and he really must’ve been worse off than he thought if the Force is concerned about him personally.

  He tentatively reaches out with his mind, and can’t feel much further than the medbay, but that’s alright, he can feel Cody’s presence just fine, sat next to his bed and hunched over something in his lap. He’s tired, Obi-Wan notes, but that molten metal anger is gone, replaced with a resignation he’ll need more time to decipher; he shudders to think how long Cody’s been sitting there.

  Because he knows Cody’s been there as long as he’s been able to convince Wupi to let him, and the thought doesn’t scare Obi-Wan as much as he thought it would.

  “They’ve all been through,” Cody continues, chair creaking as he resettles himself and Obi-Wan catches a whiff of paint. “Everything is Shiny-bright again, ‘looks even better than Kix’s at this point.” No one’s armour looks as good as Kix’s, not when he keeps it immaculately clean and touches up the paint twice a month. “I had to kick Wooley out, he’s in here any time he’s off shift; I think Wupi’s going to murder him in his sleep.”

  Obi-Wan wants to snort at that, but settles for a tiny twitch of his fingers that Cody surely wouldn’t notice: Wupi’s been threatening to kill Wooley since Kamino, Obi-Wan doubts he has to worry about it these days.

  Cody sighs, something bone-deep and exhausted. “Wupi says you’ll be coming out of it soon, he didn’t want to do more than flush your system in case... General Ti says there’s a very low chance of any lasting damage, but kark knows none of us know anything about the Force, so we’ll just have to wait and see.” 

  His easy grasp of the Force even while mostly-comatose assures Obi-Wan he’ll be perfectly fine once he wakes, but he can’t actually assure anybody else until then, which is as frustrating as anything when he’s right there, just out of reach. 

  Cody moves again, setting something large on the cart next to the bed as he gets to his feet. Instead of leaving, though, he places a heavy hand on Obi-Wan’s chest, right over his sternum. “You’ve been walking around with my kar’ta for months now, General. Let’s get you set to rights so you can keep doing that.” He taps two fingers over Obi-Wan’s breastbone, where the beskar’ta would be, and Obi-Wan’s heart lurches. 

  He hadn’t... He didn’t think Cody had meant it like that, anything more than a protection charm, but then again Obi-Wan knows very little of Mandalorian armour traditions, how could he have known, oh Force, is that what the bounty hunter meant—? 

  “Your thoughts are very loud, sir,” Cody tells him with a soft laugh, though Obi-Wan is sure his shields are firmly in place. ‘Rex says I should give you the chestplate properly, but you’ll have to be fully awake for that, sir.’

  ‘Well, that’s not quite fair, Cody.’

  ‘Stop getting drugged, then. Wupi only has so much hair left.’

  Cody taps his sternum once more before his footsteps take him away, and Obi-Wan settles back to give many things quite a bit more thought. 

Mando’a: vode — “brother, comrade”, meant specifically here for the clones kar’ta — “heart” beskar’ta — “iron heart”, the elongated hex-shape common in Mandalorian armour designs (great post here comparing them to katana tsuba). also called kar’ta beskar or “heart of the iron”.

[artificialqueens]

Pale Yellow, Prologue (Group Fic) - Candy Cane

A/N: i know i havent shut up abt this for the last forever on my side blog but its just bc ive been so excited lol this is a post-apocalypse/doomsday au & lesbian au wherein after the world ends, people still find each other. without @chaoticnachokitten id be totally lost bc this really needed a beta and some extra confidence thrown in and im so lucky u were there to help me out <3 thank youuuuuu!!! this is very focused on the cast of AS2 bc it sparks joy so bada bing bada boom here we are. u can follow my side blog @sillylittlecandycane where i post wip updates and get wayyy too invested in these aus!! this is the kind of fic that im still fleshing out, so if u have any suggestions for thing i may have missed id love to hear it! anyways sorry for the long a/n hope yall enjoy <3 Summary: Nearly seven years after the apocalypse, Alaska has been a part of a few different groups. None have been like this one, and she wouldn’t give it up for anything. Little does she know that change is on the horizon. 

It’s been years since Alaska could look at her friends and not immediately see them as just walking corpses. All of them are on a time limit, they’re only delaying the inevitable. No one can fix this. No one can change what has happened to their lives. Sometimes she doesn’t see the point in continuing forward. And sometimes she sees those small smiles Detox and Roxy share, sometimes she hears how carefree Tatianna will laugh at a joke, sometimes she catches her friends holding hands just because, and she knows they have to try. Even destroyed, their world still holds love and hope. Otherwise, no one would be around.

The gun in her hand is heavy and slick with sweat, her whole body is sore from walking in heels for way too many miles. Apparently the price of looking hot during the end of the world is pain, who would’ve thought?

Alaska looks over her shoulder at Katya and Phi Phi, the Russian is clearly lost in thought, while Phi Phi has her weapon poised to aim, even though she looks almost bored. Alaska almost feels bad for asking them to come with her, but there’s no way she would’ve been able to go out alone.

The whole group understands the importance of checking out supply houses, even if it looks like a longshot. Even if all they find is expired food packets and half-used emergency kits, it’s better than nothing. Sometimes they get really lucky and find crates upon crates of supplies. Weapons, ammo, medical products, food, even bottled water… It’s not often, but it happens.

Alaska breathes a sigh of relief when she sees the emergency clinic come up in her field of view. Soon they’d be home, and Alaska could kiss her girlfriends and put her feet up. She hates being away for so many hours, no matter how necessary it is.

“Let’s go,” Alaska says quickly, speeding up her pace, barely checking to see if her friends are following her lead.

The hot, spring’s day asphalt clacks beneath her heels, the sun beats down on her bare shoulders, and she breathes in the heavy, humid air. There’s a storm on the horizon for sure, she’ll have to ask Ginger to check the weather for the next week.

The cozy, two story emergency clinic that is both the best place in the world and an eternal prison looms before her. It’s the only safe place she’s been able to find and make work, but it represents how trapped they all are.

At least they’re not alone. At least they have each other. That’s what Alaska tells herself as she opens the heavy metal doors. Once upon a time they were glass, but glass doors aren’t great for defense, no matter how nice they look on the outside.

She steps into what was a trashed waiting room when she first found this place and is now a well-managed front room. The receptionists desk is where they keep all their communications equipment, and is also where she sees Ginger, the one who runs the equipment.

“You’re back,” Ginger says, a wide smile on her face that Katya can’t help returning, “Almost thought you’d be gone for good.”

“We weren’t gone that long,” Alaska frowns, letting the door close only when Katya and Phi Phi come through it.

“We were out there almost all day,” Phi Phi says, “Left at dawn, and now it’s almost sunset.”

Alaska sets her weapon down on the counter, “I guess I just lost track of time.”

She looks up to see Detox round the corner, and could almost cry with how happy she is to see her.

“Thought I heard you guys come back,” Detox smiles.

There’s a worry and fear in her eyes that Alaska wishes only a kiss could fix. There’s no way it would, but she can try. The two hug tightly, and Alaska kisses her for a long moment. It’s so good to be with her again, even with the missing presence of their third.

“I couldn’t stay away for too long,” Alaska teases her when they pull apart, “Where���s Roxy?”

“Training,” Detox sighs, “I was barely able to get her away for lunch.”

Alaska understands the need to always be prepared, it was drilled into her once this whole mess started. She still wishes they would all take better care of themselves though.

She looks over to see Katya talking closely with Ginger, and figures she’s probably just relaying what all happened. There’s a ‘ding!’ sound from the computer, and Ginger leans over to take a look. Alaska’s breath catches in her throat when she sees Ginger’s expression.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, almost scared of the answer.

“It’s… It’s Alyssa’s sister,” Ginger says, completely shocked, “Her group- They’ve got an extreme injury.”

“How extreme?” Katya asks, trying to look at the computer scene.

“Gunshot wound to the torso at the least,” Ginger says with a frown, “They want to bring her here.”

“Can we even help with that?” Detox grimaces.

“Coco saved me, didn’t she?” Alaska says, biting her lip nervously.

“Do we have room? Supplies? It’s been a while since then, Alaska-”

“Who else would be able to help? There’s no hospitals, no working clinics or doctor’s offices,” Alaska reminds her, on the way to making up her mind.

“We don’t even know this person, all we know is that Alyssa’s sister knows them,” Phi Phi points out.

“Alyssa’s sister knows them well enough to want to reach out to us,” Alaska corrects her, “During a fucking apocalypse.”

Katya turns and stares Alaska in the eyes, “So you want to help.”

It’s a statement, and not one that’s wrong either.

Alaska takes a deep breath, then turns to Phi Phi, “Tell Coco she’s going to have a patient,”

Even though she looks skeptical, Phi Phi ducks out of the room, and Alaska is left with three of her teammates staring at her with open mouths.

“Well? Get to work, we have company coming,” Alaska drawls, leaving no room for argument.

It’s a longshot, but they owe a lot to Alyssa, and Alaska wouldn’t be where she is today without the kindness of strangers. If she doesn’t ‘pay it forward’ now, she may never get the chance, and she thinks she would regret that for the rest of her life.

[aceofstars16]

*takes a deep breath*

Okay, so I feel like I just need to ask for some prayers I guess, also just give an update on things? 

In short, my mental and physical health are both being...annoying...so peace and perseverance in that. And peace and excitement for a family reunion and just wisdom in what to do also. 

I kind of rant below but if you want to hear more of the full story I’ll put it under the cut.

I finally heard back about my heavy metal test, and it came back negative, but my doctor wants me to take it again with a different keylator...which means I have to go through all of that mess again AND wait another three weeks at least (probably) to hear back from it...again...and I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of depressed about it all...I’m just so SICK of being tired and feeling sick and just waiting to see if this next test will have the answers. And if it doesn’t, then it’s another test (and wasting more time) and if it does it could mean detoxing which can be TERRIBLE (at least from what I’ve heard...) Pretty much, both options sound terrible to me, but I want something to help.

And on top of this, there is a family reunion at the end of the month and I want to be excited about it but if I’m honest, I’m not. I’m just scared and anxious. It’s been a few years since I flew, and the last time I went on a vacation I got sick and had to fly back while feeling like crap which was...not fun at all (not to mention I have to get up super early to fly home and I’ve been struggling to get up by 9 every day...). I also had a dream last night about traveling for it and...I guess my subconscious is just as stressed out about it as I am...Honestly I’m really tempted to say “hey I don’t want to go” but then there is stress of being at the house alone/finding people to stay with me (and like, every time I do that I get stressed and anxious at least once...) and also cause I haven’t seen that side of my family in ages...it feels like my medical health, none of the options sound good...

Honestly, I just feel like my mental health is crap right now because of all of this (I’ve been down on myself a lot lately) and my counselor is off all of this month so if I want to see anyone I have to go to someone new and I honestly just feel so...overwhelmed and scared and I hate it. I’m just so tired and it’s hard to get excited about things right now (I blame a lot of things but Endgame certainly didn’t help and I hate that a stupid movie might be making all of this worse...) I just don’t even know what to do so...yeah...prayers would be appreciated...(especially cause my birthday is in less than a week and honestly I...I don’t even know, my mom said she’s okay with getting me a new phone and I should be excited but I just feel...unsure and second guessing myself and it sucks...)

[evedaye]

Regret and Anguish

Show: The 100

Pairing: Abby Griffin/ Marcus Kane

Set: Season 5 Episode 7: When Marcus makes Abby choose.

This is my leadup to Day 1 of @abbygriffindaily‘s Fall fest tomorrow. What happened before my favorite moment in season 5.

Thanks for the confidence, @isolationshepherd!

Regret-Marcus "So I need you to choose. Me or the pills."

God, the words sounded even more devastating falling from his lips than he could have ever imagined. He could pinpoint the exact second that Abby's heart cracked in half. He saw it happen, the way she flinched ever so slightly, almost as if she could feel the realization come into contact with her physically.

What was I thinking? An ultimatum! How could I be so stupid? Did I honestly believe she would choose me?

His thoughts accosted him, battering his already bruised pride. He had thought she would choose him. And that had been his mistake.

I've lost her. I've pushed her too far. I swore I'd stand by her, and now this?

Marcus paced back and forth in the cramped church, willing himself to run back and tell her it had all been a terrible mistake. That he'd never leave her. Never make her go through this torture alone. He'd be by her side, through anything.

But he'd made his decision. He had to stick by it, right?

She'll never come back. She'll hate you forever. They taunted him, digging right to the heart of his deepest fears. She has to quit. She'll die if she doesn't. She'll die if I leave.

Feeling like a caged bird, he left the church, walking the short distance back to the gas station, begging for a sign from the universe that it would be ok to take it all back. He just wanted her to live.

He looked at Abby through the window, still examining Diyoza, back in a professional mode. She showed no signs of devastation, but surely she must be feeling something. Right?

After several minutes, he saw Diyoza leave. He was determined to give her a few minutes to think alone, but then he heard a metallic crash. Then Abby, sobbing.

He couldn't stand it anymore, he had to go to her.

Anguish-Abby Once she heard the door close behind Diyoza, Abby slammed a tray of instruments down in front of her, and crumpled to the floor. She heard his words echo inside her throbbing head.

"So I need you to choose. Me or the pills."

They tore through her, blazing a path of fire that settled into a bone-deep ache as she sobbed.

She wanted to choose him. God, didn't he see how badly she wanted that? But she couldn't. They'd all die. She'd never make it through detox. Not in this state. And if she couldn't find a cure, he'd be the first.

The bile rose in her throat at the thought. Her breathing became shallow and fast, and as she struggled to force air into her lungs, her body was wracked with a coughing fit. She crawled to her hands and knees, heaving, and vomited on the dusty floor. Of course it was that moment that she heard the heavy thunk of his boots in the hall.

"Abby? Are you alright?" He ran to her side, pulling the hair back from her face as she took a gasping breath. "I'm fine, Marcus." she spat, yanking her head from his hands and collapsing against the wall. "Abby, I'm sorry. Please let me help." he begged, but she refused to look at him. "Why did you come back?" she questioned, her voice cold as ice. "I don't want to do this any more than you do, Abby." his voice was low, but steady. "I know you think you gave me a choice, Marcus, but I have no choice here. Either I choose the pills and keep functioning or we all die." "We always have a choice Abby." he repeated, echoing her sentiments from long ago. "How dare you throw that in my face now? Do you honestly expect me to let you die?" she yelled, her voice cracking. "You can beat this, Abby, you're strong." he pleaded. "Not anymore. I think you should leave." she replied, almost a whisper. With that she pulled herself off the floor, and grabbed the tray of instruments resting on the stretcher, heading to wash them in the makeshift sink. There was nothing more to say. This time Marcus listened, the echo of his boots louder than the thumping of her heart.

[naturallymended-blog]

I have seriously struggled with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) lately so this sound cloud episode was perfectly timed: Anthony Williams on Breast Implant Illness. If you haven’t listened, do that it’s free! - This is one of my rare vulnerable posts. But if I can help save one person, it’s all worth putting myself out there🙏🏼 - I sometimes forget that I never had MCS before implants. I forget what my body has gone through. I lose faith, get frustrated, overwhelmed & want to give up. But listening to this was just the validation I needed at just the right time. God’s perfect timing🙏🏼 I have a newfound motivation to keep doing everything I’m doing, living 100% toxin free, eating super clean & vegan, always actively detoxing. That it’s all necessary & working even if I don’t always feel that way. I have to look at the big picture🌎 - 5 years ago I was told by my plastic surgeon implants were completely safe, despite my questioning. I was never shown ingredients, or warned they could cause an autoimmune response, MCS, cold urticaria (hence the ugg boots while hiking lol), burden my liver, etc. “They are totally safe, they aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago!”🙄 - Solvents, heavy metals, & plastics aren’t meant to be inside the body. They burden our immune systems so that just living a normal life becomes hard. Believe me, MCS is emotionally & physically draining when your body can’t handle the oxidative stress toxins cause, & toxins are everywhere in this world sadly. (For me lately my worst exposures were painting & getting a new roof on our 5th wheel) - It’s been 2 years since I explanted & my health journey isn’t over, but I know removing them was the best decision I could have ever made. I am so thankful for my amazing explant surgeon @drurzola for giving me my life back. & for the BII community that is ever evolving & expanding. - Love your body & yourself enough to live the healthiest, cleanest lifestyle you can. Never lose faith & always remember where you started🙏🏼 & if you ever need to talk about BII, MCS, or living healthier I’m happy to help💞 & if you are thinking of getting implants just don’t. They aren’t worth your health, I promise✨ (at Rocky Mountain National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_raaOHXZi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cbi4lnna2ne0

[buckyscrystalqueen]

The Healing Powers of Harry Potter

Pairings: Crowley x Reader

Warnings: Swearing

Word Count: 3,740

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘It will only take us a week.’

‘Stay away from the dungeon.’

‘We can’t leave him here alone in his condition.’

‘Stay away from him.’

‘We don’t know what he could be capable of as he detoxes.’

‘DO NOT GO NEAR CROWLEY!’

You rolled your eyes at the two Winchester men as they went back and forth, Sam trying to justify why you, a hunter and a legacy Woman of Letters couldn’t go on the hunt with them in Florida while Dean demanded repeatedly that you stay away from the detoxing King of Hell they had locked in their little torture room.

“You two are unbelievable.” You said as you shrugged and turned on your heel, heading back to your room as the boys left for the Sunshine State. You weren’t all that upset with being left behind; you had just gotten done with a long case of your own when Dean had called you back to help them out. A week off to rest was just what you were looking for. You weren’t going to lie; a week babysitting the infamous King that you had yet to have the pleasure of meeting seemed so boring but hey, in the hunting world a week off is a week off no matter what it looks like. After taking a quick shower and throwing on some comfy clothes, you grabbed one of your favorite books and a bottle of water and went straight to the dungeon.

“Well, well what HAVE we here?” Crowley asked cockily as you pulled open the shelves. You smiled politely while you walked over to the table that sat in the corner of the room and took a seat behind it without so much as a word. You opened the book, took a sip of water and cleared your throat.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were…”

“What are you doing?” Crowley demanded his voice heavy with agitation. You looked up at him with your eyebrow raised.

“I am here for a week of babysitting you while you finish getting better. Now, I’m aware that being trapped in a cement box is not enjoyable for you nor is it really my cup of tea to sit in here but I figured since reading the Harry Potter series is how I planned on spending the week anyways, I would at least give you some sort of entertainment as well.” Crowley balked slightly at you and you gestured to the book. “May I continue?” The man huffed, obviously annoyed but gestured for you to go on as he crossed his arms in front of him. You gave him a short nod before turning back to your book and starting over.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

As you read through the first day, you watched Crowley’s demeanor change ever so slightly despite how horrible he must have been feeling. When you first started, reciting parts of the book here and there from memory, he simply glared straight ahead as if he was bored with the entire thing. By the time you stopped around noon to grab a bite to eat, you could see his shoulders had relaxed slightly and the sour look on his face was waning ever so slightly. By the end of the day, however; you had him softened enough to peek his interest.

“Alright, I have to get some sleep. I’ll come back down in the morning and finish this book and start in on the next.” You said as you stood up from the table, cracking your stiff back slightly. Crowley didn’t say a word until you had walked out of the shelves; your hands on one side to push it back in to place.

“Leave the book.” Was all he said as you pushed the first side into place. You smiled at him and picked up the book from the shelf. You opened it to the chapter you were on and handed it to him without a word. He hummed in thanks as you grabbed the second shelf.

“Good night, Crowley.” You said softly as you closed the door behind you, latching the metal barrier in place before leaving the dungeon for the night. You paused only a moment with a soft smile as you heard the distinct sound of a page turning. “Welcome to Hogwarts.” You whispered as you closed the door, leaving the demon King to his reading.

----------------

“She reminds me of you.” Crowley said softly from his chair just after lunch the next day. You looked up at him from the floor where you were sitting against the shelves with an eyebrow arched. “The girl; Hermione.” You smiled and closed your book slightly against your knees.

“You think so?” He nodded. He was still looking straight ahead but he was leaning against the arm of the chair, absentmindedly rubbing his beard as he listened to the story with a look of concentration on his face.

“She deals with those two bloody morons the same way you do. She is very intelligent, as you are.” He paused for a moment more, deep in thought about something before he shrugged. “Though this entire concept is rather absurd, continue.” He said with a wave of his hand. You giggled softly, not taking offense to his demanding nature and opened your book back up to continue reading.

As you began to read once again, you missed Crowley’s glance over to you. He watched for a moment as you pushed a stray strand of hair back behind your ear before licking the tip of your finger to flip the page. Your eyes shone like diamonds as they danced across the page while you got lost once more in your own magical world. Your thumb danced in a small circle across the upper corner of the page before you turned it. He forced himself to look away, not wanting to appear too invested in the story as he let your voice paint images of Chambers and the Hogwarts grounds in his mind.

-----------------

“Snape did it.” You looked up at Crowley from where you were resting on a cot you had dragged into the room the day before and smiled.

“You sure about that?” Crowley leaned forward, his shirtless forearms resting on his knees as the chains from his handcuffs swung back and forth against the smooth fabric of his slacks. He nodded slightly.

“Who else would put his bloody name in the cup? Wasn’t Dumbledore; Harry isn’t stupid enough to do such a thing. It had to be Snape.” You smiled and shrugged as you grabbed the corner of the page between your fingers.

“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” You mocked with a slight giggle and he sighed.

“You could just tell me, you know.” He said as he leaned back in his chair. His hand moved up to his neck to rub at the spot the metal shackle had been uncomfortably resting on a few hours before as he looked at you expectantly. You looked up at him through your eyelashes with a wicked grin.

“And if I did that it would ruin the whole book, now shall I go on or does the peanut gallery have more to say?” You teased. Crowley glared at you for a moment before he gestured you on and you smiled and continued to read.

------------  

“OK I’m calling it a night.” You said through a yawn as you laid ‘Order of the Phoenix’ down on the cot in front of you. You sat up and stretched; your back protesting greatly from being in the same lounging position for hours. Crowley looked over at you, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“Will you stay?” He asked, his voice hardly a whisper. He looked down at his lap as he picked at his finger nail. “I mean… never mind.” You smiled as you got up and handed him the book with a nod.

“I’ll stay. You can read to me.” He took the book from your hand and looked up at you; the first time he had really looked at you all week and smiled weakly. He nodded once before looking away. You walked back over to the cot, pushing in just inside the circle before lying down in the doorway while he picked up reading aloud where you had let off until you fell asleep.

You were yanked from sleep a few hours later by a tormented shout and the sound of your book flying across the room and slamming into the concrete wall. You sat bolt upright and looked at the King of Hell who had his face in his hands as he sobbed.

“Hey… hey! Fuck, how could I forget Sirius?” You scolded yourself as you jumped off the bed, jogged the couple of steps to the center of the devils trap and crouched down in front of Crowley.

“He just found his family!” Crowley yelled. You tried to keep the soft smile off your face as you wiped the tears off his cheeks.

“I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t think…” Crowley shook his head as he took a hold of your hand in his.

“He just wanted a bloody family. That’s all he wants. Everyone deserves a family that loves them.” You had heard about the breakdown Crowley had had with Sam in the church and your heart broke for him.

“Crowley, it’s just a book. They are just fictional characters.” He shook his head.

“That’s not the bloody point.” He snapped, his hands gripping a little tighter around yours. “He just wants someone to love him. To tell him that he is doing the right bloody thing. He has done all of these things to try and save the world and no one gives him the real credit he deserves. Then he gets something good and it’s ripped from him by a monster. Why can’t someone give me a bloody chance? I’m not a true monster. Yes, I have done some bloody heinous things but that does that mean I can’t be forgiven. I deserve that, don’t I?” He demanded. A small smile crossed your face as his eyes searched yours and you nodded as he realized what he was saying was no longer related to the book.

“Yea, hun you do. But it’s not something that can be demanded right away. It takes a long time to rebuild walls once they are broken. Give it time.” He nodded, his thumb gently caressing your hand. With your free hand, you pat his knee and stood up but he held on to your hand as you tried to walk away.

“Don’t go.” He is voice was almost unheard and you looked back at him. “I just… I… I want…” You smiled and turned to face him a little more; knowing exactly what he wanted.

“If I take off your handcuffs and break the circle, can I trust you to stay here so you can make a bigger mattress appear?” He nodded vigorously and let go of your hand. With a reassuring smile, you grabbed your book off the floor and put it on the cot; shoving them both outside the circle. The paint came off the floor easily and true to his word, once the handcuffs came off, Crowley stepped to the edge of the trap and a full size bed appeared in the middle of the circle with a snap of his fingers. He turned back to you with his wrist held before him and you shook your head and shoved the engraved metal in the pocket of your hoodie.

“Don’t make me regret this.” You said as you walked over, grabbed the book off the cot and walked back over to the bed. You leaned up against the headboard as Crowley got on the other side, gently laying his head on your thigh. You opened the book, cleared your throat and continued reading. With silent tears, Crowley wrapped his hands around your calf, his thumb rubbing back and forth across your skin as you finished reading the 5th book for him.

-----------------------------

“This Ronald character is a right git.” Crowley said. You laughed as you looked up at him from where you were lying next to him on the bed. “Seriously, anyone with bloody eyes can see the Hermione worships the bloody ground he walks on, for whatever bloody reason that is, and he is off gallivanting with this bloody flower hussy.”

“Lavender.” You corrected and he simply rolled his eyes and scowled.

“She’s unimportant. Although Hermione should smarten up and see she belongs with Harry.”

“Yea well Ginny can’t marry her own brother so Hermione is stuck with Ron.” You said. The second the words fell out of your mouth, you cursed yourself as Crowley’s eyebrows shot in the air.

“I bloody knew it!” He shouted. You laughed and buried your face in the soft black satin sheets on the bed. “I knew Harry would end up with her!” You looked up at him with mock annoyance.

“Can I read the damn book, or what?” You giggled as he sat up straighter with a look of smug victory at finally getting a hint of what happens out of you.

“Yes darling, you may continue.” You smiled as you looked back down at the book and continued reading while Crowley kept his eyes, glued to your face, devouring every word.

------------

“Last book.” You said as you dropped down on the bed in the dungeon. “This one and the 4th one are my favorites.”

“I enjoyed the 4th one.” Crowley said as he lifted his arm up, allowing you to lean your shoulder against his side. “And despite killing Dumbledore, I am still rather fond of this Snape fellow. I still maintain he is simply a misunderstood mad man.” You hummed as you flipped to the first page.

“You will love this book then.” Crowley hummed as he rested his arm on the pillows behind you and his fingers beginning to absentmindedly card through your hair as you embarked on the final leg of the journey you had brought him on. The week had flown by and you knew that this was most likely the last day you would get to spend peacefully with the man you had grown to care for. You mentally sighed at the idea that come morning, you would be forced to return to the real world once more; back to work as a hunter and forced far away from Crowley.

No matter how much you didn’t want it to, the day dashed by and before you knew it, you were falling asleep tucked up tight on the pillow next to Crowley. He continued to read to you as he had the past three nights while his fingers danced through your hair, stopping only to turn the page. It was a little after three in the morning when the Winchesters finally returned to the bunker. “What the fuck is this?” Dean demanded as he stormed into the dungeon followed closely by Sam. Crowley scowled at them as he looked up from the book.

“She’s sleeping, I’m reading. Do not wake her.” He growled as his hand landed protectively on the back of your head.

“Oh no; this is absolutely not happening.” As Dean stepped into the circle to wake you up, Crowley flicked his wrist and sent him flying into the wall.

“Let- her- sleep.” He growled once more. He stared at the two shocked faces and smiled smugly. “Yes, that’s right. I have my powers. (Y/N) has a very kind, trusting heart.”

“Crowley, I don’t know what you’ve done with her but…” You growled on the bed; the sound interrupting Dean’s words as you flipped your head to the side to glare at the brothers.

“Will you jack asses talk about it tomorrow? He didn’t do shit, I’ve been reading to him so neither of us were bored all week and he’s just at the good part of the last book. Now, fuck off. I’m a big girl and can handle my own shit like I have been doing all my life. Continue.” You said as you looked back up at Crowley with a nod before you laid your head back down on the pillow. You could hear Sam and Dean both sputtering at your response as you found a comfortable spot once more. “And put Dean down.” Crowley groaned slightly as he reluctantly let Dean drop to the floor. You looked up at Crowley, poked his side and pointed to the book once you had his attention.

“Alright, alright. Where was I?” He asked himself as he looked back down at the book, taking a moment to find his place before beginning to read to you once more. Sam and Dean both exchanged a look of utter confusion as they watched the King of Hell read the Deathly Hallows to you, his fingers once again running through your hair. It took them both a couple moments to find their feet before they walked out of the dungeon to go to bed.

------------------

“Can I still trust you to stay here while I go talk to them?” You asked as you stretched on the bed the next morning. Crowley sighed as he traced the picture on the cover of the book in his hand with his fingertips.

“Yes, as long as you are the one coming back in here. Your company is astronomically more enjoyable.” You smiled as you rolled into a sitting position near his knees.

“All I did was read. I’m nothing special.” You pat his knee, got off the bed and headed toward the smell of fresh coffee into the kitchen. You smiled at the two boys as you sat down at the head of the table between them. “Morning boys, I take it Florida went successfully?” You asked.

“What were you doing in there? I told you to stay away…” Dean started and you looked over at him.

“Look, you don’t get to tell me what to do. You don’t know me like that. I have hunted with you a couple times and I am a Woman of Letters because of a drunken night my grandpa had. That’s the only way you know me. So you demanding shit on those grounds ain’t gunna get you very far. At the end of the day, I do what I gotta do to protect me. The demon you cured, who got addicted to human blood before he was chained in your basement didn’t and doesn’t pose a threat to me.”

“(Y/N), he’s the King of Hell.” Sam said and you shrugged.

“What’s your point, Sam? Crowley may be the King of Hell but last time I checked he has done nothing wrong to me AND he has helped you two out in the past on top of trying to help you two find the First Blade before he fell off the train tracks for a bit. Crowley is a good ally to have on your side and trapping him in a basement isn’t a good way to get on his good side.”

“(Y/N), you can’t trust him!” Dean snapped as he banged his fist on the table angrily. You pinched your lips together and looked over at him.

“And the funny thing is Dean, people said the same thing about you and Sam. Told me that signing up to help you would be my way of signing my death warrant. Like I said; I do what’s best for me. I only answer to me. So if I think helping Crowley get over his addiction by spending a week reading Harry Potter with him in a dungeon is what it’s gunna take to keep my ass alive in the long run, then I’ll be damned if I let two people I don’t know from Adam try to stop me.” You stood up from the table and shrugged. “Now if that’s all, I’m gunna head out for a couple of days… and I’ll be taking your little prisoner with me.” You strolled casually out of the room as the boys took a moment to let what you had just said sink in. When you heard their chairs scrape across the floor, you ran to the dungeon before they could stop you. 

“Here’s your get out of jail free card, just take me with you.” You said as you dashed into the room. You could hear Sam and Dean shouting at you as Crowley got off the bed with a smirk on his face. “Don’t get any ideas; you’re under my watch now.” You told him as you snagged your hoodie off the bed.

“I would do nothing of the sort, darling. I’m rather fond of you.”

“Yea, you just like that I’m pissing off the Winchesters.” You told him as you stepped in front of him. He smiled down at you as the boys rounded the corner.

“(Y/N), don’t do it!” Dean demanded. You glanced back over your shoulder at him with a smirk.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he finds your Blade.” You said as you placed your feet between Crowley’s and leaned into his chest. Before Dean even had a chance to move, the room around you suddenly changed into an all-black, slightly chilly room.

“Pissing them off is an added bonus.” Crowley stated as he turned your head back to him. He leaned down and gave you a gentle, chaste kiss and a small smile played on his lips. “I’m more than willing to play nice for you, darling.” You smiled and gave him another kiss before pulling away to throw your hoodie on.

“Well that’s good to hear. Now, since my other books are in the bunker, can you get me a copy of ‘The Hunger Games’ since now I won’t be hunting any time soon?” You crawled on to the bed and pulled back the covers. You looked at your new reading partner expectantly as you made yourself comfortable. He chuckled softly as he snapped himself into a pair of black, satin pajamas, strolled over to the bed and handed you the hard back book with a smile. Once he was settled, you leaned against his side and began to read once more.

[frogsagainandagain]

favorite lyric from every fob song

i’m so sorry this is so long please skip this is mainly for me to be able to reference

*songs with incredible lyrics throughout that it was extra hard to choose one or two

honorable mention:  and maybe next time/i’ll remember not to tell you something stupid like I’ll never leave your side

calm before the storm:  you said, between your smiles and regrets: “don’t say it’s over.”

switchblades and infidelity:  walking out on the show is walking out on you/and walking out on you’s still the best thing that I ever did.

pretty in punk:  well I’ve seen your boyfriend/and i don’t think he treats you right/but that’s none of my business is it?

growing up*:  i’ve dried my eyes, now it’s “rushmore”/i’m deep with futures like chicago/no, glenview never meant a thing to me/she never meant a thing to me

the world’s not waiting (for five tired boys in a broken down van):  we’re all “hasbeens” and “never-were’s”

short, fast and loud: good god i wish i was tall

moving pictures:  where can I go when I want you around/but I can’t stand to be around you

parker lewis can’t lose (but i’m gonna give it my best shot): in the meantime just talking with my shoes/converse with my converse

tell that mick:  stop burning bridges and drive off of them

dead on arrival:  i know I’m not your favorite record/but the songs you grow to like never stick at first

grand theft autumn: you need him/i could be him

saturday:  and i read about the afterlife/but I never really lived

homesick at space camp:  landing on a runway in chicago and I’m grounding all my dreams/of ever really seeing california

sending postcards:  when you go i will forget everything about you

chicago is so two years ago*:  she took me down and said:/“boys like you are overrated. so save your breath."          bonus:  with every breath i wish your body will be broken again

the pros and cons of breathing:  i want to hate you half as much as i hate myself

grenade jumper:  living like life’s going out of style.

reinventing the wheel:  i can’t wake up to these reminders of who i am:/a failure at everything… 18 going on extinct.

patron saint*:  and when it all goes to hell/and when it all goes.

my heart is the worst kind of weapon:  we are salt - you are the wound

it’s not a side effect:  and think of all the places/where you’ve been lost/and then found…out/in between my sheets/in between the rights and the wrongs

our lawyer:  we’re only good cause you can have almost famous friends

gin joints:  i used to waste my time dreaming of being alive (now i only waste it dreaming of you)

dance, dance: joe trohman is lame

sugar:  isn’t it messed up how i’m just dying to be him?

nobody puts baby in the corner: you look so good in blue

dark alley: joke me something awful just like kisses on the necks of "best friends”

atavan halen:  i’ll be stuck fixated on one star/when the world is crashing down

sophomore slump*:  cause i swear i’d burn this city down to show you the light

champagne:  they say, “you want a war? you’ve got a war.”/but who are you fighting for?

i slept with:  douse yourself in cheap perfume it’s/so fitting, so fitting of the way you are

sixteen candles*:  she said, she said, she said, “why don’t you just drop dead?"       bonus:  so say what are you waiting for?/kiss her, kiss her

get busy*:  i used to obsess over living,/now I only obsess over you

XO:  to the "love”, i left my conscience pressed/between the pages of the bible in the drawer

snitches and walkers:  show me a starry-eyed kid/i will break his jaw

the music or the misery*:  it’s true romance is dead, i shot it in the chest then in the head.      bonus:   and if you wanna go down in history then i’m your prince      bonus bonus:  i went to sleep a poet, and i woke up a fraud

thriller:  i can take your problems away with a nod and a wave/of my hand, ‘cause that’s just the kind of boy that i am

take over, breaks over:  don’t pretend you ever forgot about me.

arms race:  i wrote the gospel on giving up/(you look pretty sinking)

me & you:  the best way/to make it through/with hearts and wrists intact/is to realize/two out of three ain’t bad/ain’t bad

hum hallelujah*:  i thought I loved you/it was just how you looked in the light.

golden:  and i knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me

thnks fr th mmrs:  get me out of my mind and get you out of those clothes

don’t you know:  i could learn to pity fools as I’m the worst of all/and i can’t stop feeling sorry for myself

the after life of the party:  put love on hold,/young hollywood is on the other line

tunnel of love:  got postcards from my former selves saying: “how’ve you been?”

doldrums:  you’re wrong/are we all wrong?

fame > infamy:  “there’s too much green to feel blue”

you’re crashing*:  the headline reads “the man hangs”, but the jury doesn't                bonus:  baby boy can’t lift his headache head

ringing in my ears: new york eyes, chicago thighs

ginasfs:  threw caution to the wind,/but i’ve got a lousy arm

hard to say:  but don’t get the wrong idea/we’re gonna shoot you

lullabye:  when you wake up the world will come around

disloyal order*:  what a match, i’m half doomed and you’re semi-sweet        bonus: boycott love/ detox just to retox 

i don’t care:  say my name and his in the same breath/i dare you to say they taste the same

winona:  bop bop ba dop

america’s suitehearts: why won’t the world revolve around me?

headfirst slide:  i don’t just want to be a footnote in someone else’s happiness

(shipped) gold standard:  plant palm trees on lake michigan before it gets cold/i gotta feel the wind chill again before i get old

(coffee’s for closers)*: i will never believe in anything again/though change will come

donnie: i’m the one/who charmed the one/who gave up on you

27:  you’re a bottled star/the planets align/you’re just like mars/you shine in the sky

tiffany blews: dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city

wams*:  what makes you so special?/i’m gonna leave you/i’m gonna teach you/how we’re all alone

nosebleed:  goes to the desert the same war his dad rehearsed/came back with flags on coffins and said,/”we won, oh we won.“

west coast smoker:  got my degree in the gutter,/my heart broken in the dorms of the ivy league

pavlove:  i want to make you as lonely as me/so you can get, get addicted to this

the phoenix:  wearing our vintage misery/no, i think it looked a little better on me

light em up:  a constellation of tears on your lashes/burn everything you love, then burn the ashes

alone together:  but i don’t think i’m coming home and i said/i’ll check in tomorrow if i don’t wake up dead

where did the party go:  my old aches become new again/my old friends become exes again

just one yesterday:  letting people down is my thing, baby/find yourself a new gig/this town ain’t big enough for two of us

the mighty fall:  two’s a whole lot lonelier than one

miss missing you*:  baby, you were my picket fence           bonus:  i will sing to you every day/if it will take away the pain

death valley:  undress to impress/you can wear the crown but you’re no princess 

young volcanoes:  come on make it easy/say i never mattered  (basic ik)

rat a tat*:  i’m the lonelier version of you/i just don’t know where it went wrong \

srar:  how’d it get to be only me?/like i’m the last damn kid still kicking/that still believes 

the king is dead:  the may never think and wonder why, dear christ/every time i see you i just want to paint the walls white

art of keeping up disappearances: erase the conclusion/but never meant to clear up/any of the confusion

hot to the touch:  if it’s never been broken/can’t believe in it/now you’re just a problem/for someone else to fix

love, sex, death:  but out of every pretty pretty miscalculation/you have got to be my all-time favorite

eternal summer:  i can’t do this again/i need more oxygen

demigods:  what if we were demigods?/they’d take to our knees/raging at the half of our sins

american made:  when i was younger i couldn’t wait for the days to pass/now i know they’ll never last/and i just want my childhood back

caffeine cold:  don’t breathe life into a monster then/complain when he destroys it all again

irresistible:  too many war wounds and not enough wars/too few rounds in the ring and not enough settled scores/too many sharks, not enough blood in the waves

ab/ap:  i think i. i fell in love again/maybe i just took too much cough medicine

centuries: heavy metal broke my heart       bonus: we are the poisoned youth

the kids aren’t alright*:  and i still feel that rush in my veins./it twists my head just a bit too thin./all those people in those old photographs I’ve seen are dead.

uma thurman: the end of the fucking song

jet pack blues*:  did you ever love her? do you know?/or did you never want to be alone?

novocaine:  if you knew, knew what the bluebirds sang at you,/you would never sing along

4th of july:  you are my favorite "what if”/you are my best “I’ll never know”

favorite record:  and i confessed, confessed to you/riding shotgun underneath the purple skies

immortals:  i try to picture me without you but i can’t

hotel in nyc:  a birth and a death on the same day/and honey I only appeared so i can fade away/i wanna throw my hands in the air and scream/and i could just die laughing on your spiral of shame

young and menace?? champion?? i’m sorry who?? what?? huh???

hold me tight or don’t:  i got too high again/when i realized i can’t not be with you/or be just your friend/i love you to death but i just can’t/i just can’t pretend/we were lovers first/confidants but never friends/were we ever friends?

the last of the real ones:  'cause you’re the last of a dying breed/write our names in the wet concrete

7-9 legendary:  i want to choke (u)/and get sick off of you/like secondhand smoke

alpha dog:  i want to put the midwest home again

austin we have a problem:  i gave you pretentious./i gave you indifference, but you only wanted undressed and defenseless.           bonus: hey! everyone’s an underdog.

catch me if you can:  oh dear lord,/please let me into heaven, for just an afternoon.

from now on we are enemies:  a composer but never composed/singing the symphonies of the overdosed

guilty as charged:  i got greater expectations than oliver twist

hand of god*:  it’s not gossip if it’s the truth/i’m sick of always writing songs for you to slit your wrists to

lake effect kid*:  i’ve got the skyline in my veins/forget your night times/summer love on a gurney with a squeaky wheel/and joke us, joke us/till lakeshore drive comes back into focus

mskwyditd (demo)*:  we sold our souls in dark hotel rooms/we slip tongues and lie like “i will see you soon”

star 67:  maybe we could talk this over/but i swear to god/and i’ll have this phone to my head.

we don’t take hits, we write them:  and my life is holding our heads to this gun/you and your new boy think you can come in and keep me off, but you’re wrong

yule shoot your eye out:  and all i want this year is for you to dedicate your last breath to me/before you bury yourself alive

[gethealthy18-blog]

351: A Parent’s Guide to Precocious Puberty & How to Slow It Down With Dr. Anne Marie Fine

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/351-a-parents-guide-to-precocious-puberty-how-to-slow-it-down-with-dr-anne-marie-fine/

351: A Parent’s Guide to Precocious Puberty & How to Slow It Down With Dr. Anne Marie Fine

Child: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Everlywell, at-home lab tests that you can get without a doctor’s order! I’ve used many of their tests and I like to recommend a couple that have been especially helpful. They have an at-home allergy test for 40 of the most common allergens using the same CLIA-certified labs used by Allergists/Doctors. The labs are reviewed by an independent physician and this lab test measures IgE levels of common allergens including pet dander, mold, trees, grasses, and more. But you can do it from your own home and through a finger stick. I also really like their food sensitivity tests that test for IgG reactions. This was a big key for me in my health recovery, as there were foods that didn’t show up as an allergy that were causing inflammation. I used an elimination diet, but this food sensitivity test also filled in the missing piece of the puzzle for me. Through healing my gut, I’ve been able to remove all sensitivities except for eggs. Finding out I was highly sensitive to eggs made a huge difference for me, as I ate them often as an inexpensive protein source. I feel so much better now that I don’t eat eggs and I would never have known that without this test! I also use their at-home Vitamin D test to keep an eye on those levels. Check out all of their tests at wellnessmama.com/go/everlywell. Use code MAMA10 for 10% off orders

This episode is sponsored by Joovv, a natural red light therapy in your very own home. We may not think of light when we think of essential nutrients that our body needs, but light is absolutely necessary! This is the reason I go outside as soon as possible after waking up in the morning, and the reason I spend time in front of my Joovv. Light is energy and our bodies need light in certain forms in order to sustain healthy cellular function. Red light in particular, especially in certain wavelengths, has very specific benefits for hair, skin, and cellular energy. I like Joovv because they are third-party tested for safety and performance and use a Patented modular design which allows you easily treat your whole body in under 20 minute and lets you use anything from a small system to a larger system that you would find in a Chiropractors office. Joovv uses clinically proven wavelengths of light that provide energy to the body. They have Bundle pricing discounts which allow you to save more money when purchasing larger setups. Get free shipping at joovv.com/wellnessmama and use code WELLNESSMAMA for a free gift!

Katie: Hello and welcome to the “Wellness Mama” podcast. I’m Katie from wellnessmama.com and wellnesse.com, that’s wellnesse.com with an E on the end, which is my new line of completely natural and completely effective personal care products like hair care and toothpaste and now hand sanitizer. So make sure to check that out. This episode is a big one for any parents with preteens or kids that are getting close to that age because it’s all about precocious puberty and how we can help make sure our kids don’t go through puberty too early and what we can do to support them when they do.

Dr. Anne-Marie Fine is my guest today. She’s a doctor, award-winning researcher, and best-selling author, and the founder and CEO of IAMFINE, which is based on her personal and clinical experience with chronic disease called by environmental toxicity. And environmental toxicity is a big factor when it comes to precocious puberty. We’re gonna go deep on that today. But she also works with those with autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, brain fog, cancer, etc., and she’s done a lot of research on the rising environmental concentrations of 80,000 new chemicals in our environment and how this expresses in every phase of life, from preconception and pregnancy to precocious puberty, and even to health and hormone problems as adults.

So, a very information-packed episode that I know you will enjoy. And without further ado, let’s jump in. Dr. Fine, welcome. Thank you for being here.

Dr. Fine: Well, thanks for inviting me. I’m happy to be here.

Katie: I am really excited to chat with you about a topic that is coming up more and more with my readers and my listeners, which makes me think that it must be on the rise. And that topic is precocious puberty. And I think that there’s a lot of factors that go into this. And I think a lot of them have to do with an area of research and work that you do all the time. So, I guess, to start, for anyone who’s not familiar with that term, let’s define what the term precocious puberty is.

Dr. Fine: Precocious puberty is a label given to the fact that the boys and the girls are reaching certain signs of puberty, like pubic hair and changes in breast development, and breast budding, and genitalia. It’s really the age at which this is occurring in the boys and girls. And the problem is that the age at which this is happening has been declining pretty much globally. And so, people want to know why because there are implications for early puberty. And the other thing about precocious puberty is that the mainstream conventional medical doctors are just simply changing what’s normal to what they’re seeing in the practice. And so, now they’re saying that precocious puberty is the appearance of any sign of secondary sex characteristics in boys younger than age 9, and in girls younger than age 7.5 or 8. Whereas normal puberty in a girl is what they’re saying now is anywhere from 8 to 13 years of age, when really, 12 to 13 for a girl is, for about the last 50 to 75 years has been more of the norm, not 8 to 13 years of age.

Katie: Wow. And from what I’ve read, that change in age, and the percentage of people who are going through puberty earlier, that’s rising relatively drastically, like you said, compared to previous generations. What do you think are some of the factors in that pretty rapid change?

Dr. Fine: Well, the one that I’m not gonna talk about too much because I wanna really get into the chemical contributors like endocrine disruptors, but one of the other environmental factors involved in earlier puberty is the rise in obesity. And that has been fueling it as well. And our fat cells actually make estrogen. And so, that’s something that has been looked at as well. But there are many chemicals that I want to talk about, like pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, cleaning substances, cosmetic products, dyes, plastic solvents that are termed endocrine disruptors, meaning that they have the ability to change how our hormones work in extremely tiny doses. And this is the key, extremely tiny doses. And that’s how our own hormones work. Very tiny doses of hormones actually have large effects.

So when you have these teeny-tiny doses of chemicals in the environment, particularly at certain vulnerable ages of development, like in fetuses, for example, when certain…when your reproductive organs are actually becoming into being. They’re actually developing and the brain is developing. When you have exposure to these substances, you’re going to get something that may not manifest until puberty, or may not manifest. The breast cancer and prostate cancer increases risk. You may not see that until these people are adults. But some of the origins of these instigators are actually in fetuses. And that’s why it’s really important to do a preconception detox for women who are wanting to conceive because it starts there. We really have to look at where the baby starts.

Katie: Okay. So, let’s go, kind of, almost maybe on a timeline. Because obviously, parents who are dealing with, like, children now are worried about this phase being imminent. They don’t have the ability to go back and do preconception over. I know, I’ve read so much since I had my firstborn kids. I wish I could’ve changed things then. So I definitely want to make sure we see…you know, obviously, we’re not judging or trying…..anyone who’s not there. But let’s start there, like in a perfect world, what would we do before we even conceive to help give our kids the best hormonal start?

Dr. Fine: Before conception, the best thing to do is to see a doctor trained in Environmental Medicine who will take a very thorough history, including an environmental history to get likely exposures and where the person lives. There’s so much we can do with looking at, you know, with the internet, you can look up places by zip code and see what the main chemicals are in that environment. And then those people, and it really should be men and women, the sperm actually does carry environmental contaminant information into the new baby. Traditionally, we have focused on the mother though. And then those prospective parents need to be tested to see what contaminants, what kinds of chemicals is really high in them. And so, the program is going to be designed personally for those people.

So, it’s not… The same people don’t do the same thing. There is no reason to do, like, a heavy metal detox on somebody who doesn’t have a problem with heavy metals, right. So, you want to see what problems, what environmental exposures those people have so that you can really zero in on them and make sure that you’re doing a good detox. And then as far as some of us have already had kids, oh, wow, do I know that? Because I’m a mother too, and I’ve already had my kids. And I had them long ago before women were told anything about what to avoid, even when you’re expecting. And so, when I was pregnant, the only thing we were told was avoid alcohol and caffeine. That was it. And I have to tell you, I ate so much tuna when I was pregnant.

And, you know, that’s high in mercury. And I wound up with these kids who had ADHD, and I’m like, “I wonder what happened because, you know, I thought I was doing a good job.” But I did a course correction in childhood. I tested them for heavy metals and mercury. And when I saw it was high, I was able to go in and do some heavy metal chelation or detoxification. And I was really pleased to do that because when you’re a mother, one thing to remember, because you may have a lot of younger mothers listening right now, is when you have your children at home, that’s an ideal time to work with them. If you’ve missed something, like I most certainly did, to do the course correction and take care of it. Because once they’re 18 and leave the home, you know, your word is not the gospel anymore.

As a mother, it’s a lot harder to be able to go back and to do something. Unless of course, it’s their personal motivation, then, of course, that comes into play. So, I really feel that you made such a good point. A lot of us didn’t have that option. I certainly had never heard about it. And so, you just need to as you have children, and even in your own cells, as you grow, you always have the opportunity to make course corrections and to go back and to test and to really do a deep dive into what could be causing your particular health concerns. And then to be able to, you know, decrease your body burden of chemicals. So, it is not too late.

And also I want to say, I want to make this clear as well because this is what I see in my practice, sometimes, the mothers, they come in when they’re already pregnant. So, that’s not an ideal time, right? Or they’ve waited so long to get pregnant because of career concerns or financial concerns that now they’re concerned about, you know, getting to be too old and not being able to conceive. And they may not feel, you know, the need to take time out before they conceive to do preconception care. And so, those are some real…those are real-life issues that do crop up, but it is something that I do recommend. But, you know, it’s something that you have to, sort of, fix it in your head before the time arrives when you’re already pregnant, or you feel like, “I’m so old. I’ve just gotta get pregnant.” That’s really more important, right?

Katie: Yeah, exactly. And there’s a message of hope too, for anyone listening. I always try to remind everyone, you know, I didn’t figure out most of this stuff, sounds like you as well, until I was an adult and had autoimmune disease, and then had to undo all the damage and figure out what was wrong. And so, if we’re talking about this for our kids, even us starting when they’re children at all is an advantage over waiting until they’re adults. You know, so anytime, like the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second-best time is today. We always can start with what we know now.

And so, I would guess also, there’s kind of a spectrum. So, I think of it as like for autoimmune disease, for instance, I’ve kind of explained it that we all have a bucket and you can fill the bucket with any number of things. You could put marbles, or sand, or pine cones, or whatever it may be. But when you reach the top, it’s going to overflow. The idea being when you fill up that bucket and it gets overwhelmed, you’re gonna end up with some kind of problem and it’s gonna manifest differently for each of us. And I think of environmental toxins kind of in the same way.

The body is able to handle small amounts of these things and it’s pretty resilient. But when you reach a certain level of exposure, it’s going to bubble over. And so, you can tell me if that analogy maybe doesn’t work here, but that’s my thought with kids. And so, if we can mitigate their exposure and do things when they’re young to help them avoid filling up the bucket in the first place, that’s an advantage. Or if we can do things to help them take things back out of the bucket, that’s another advantage. And the earlier we can do that, the better. But anytime is a great time to start.

Dr. Fine: Absolutely, Katie. I so agree. We call that the rain barrel theory. And it’s true, it doesn’t matter what’s in there. Lots of things go in there, environmental toxins go in there, but also stress goes in there, and poor nutrition goes in there. And once it reaches the top, the next thing in, no matter what it is, if it overflows, that’s what’s going to trigger the disease. And so, the idea, it can be super specific if you are testing for it and looking carefully for it, but also, the pervading theory is that anything you can do to lower your bucket would be helpful, and to start at any time is helpful.

And by the way, even if you, you know, are super careful with your pregnancy and childhood, as we live and accumulate years, and our earth continues to be polluted, even when we’re careful, we are always accumulating body burden of chemicals. And so, it becomes necessary to make it a part of your daily life, but also, every now and then, to do a detox and lower that body burden before it overflows. Or a lot of people will wait until they have the actual, for example, autoimmune disease or something, and then they will go ahead and do it, or they get cancer or something like that. But it’s not a one and done. And so, it’s something that we really have to put in our toolbox and in the back of our head that this is an area that we need to pay attention to throughout life.

Katie: Absolutely. Okay. So, let’s go deeper on into chapters, especially for the subset of parents listening who are asking me these questions via email or direct message, who want to know, you know, if my kid…maybe they didn’t even expect this, my kid is at these younger ages and starting to show symptoms of potential precocious puberty. Like, what do they need to know about endocrine disrupters so explain what those are and where they are most often found when we’re talking about our kids?

Dr. Fine: Okay. So, let’s talk about specifics with the early puberty. Two of the biggest contributors to this precocious puberty are, I would say, BPA and phthalates which are plasticizers. So, the whole category of plastics is something that I’m gonna focus on here. And I’m gonna talk about them separately, but I’m gonna just tell you a few of the places where they are. Children’s toys contain phthalates, like that rubber ducky in the bath. Those rubber, soft rubber toys are phthalates. The shower curtain in your bathroom, if it’s vinyl, it’s got phthalates. And the problem with phthalates is that they’re not bonded to that underlying material. They are constantly falling off into the air. And so even your dust in your home has phthalates in it.

And so, believe it or not, Katie, this is so easy and free to do for everybody. But we need to dust more often and more carefully in our house, and that will keep environmental toxins down. You would not believe what’s in your dust, okay. And then in our cleaning products, we also have phthalates and our personal care products because phthalates are also used as incense, as scent fixatives. And so, the easy way to know that is to look at the ingredient list. And if you see the word fragrance or perfume on the ingredient list, that’s your cue that most likely those substances contain fragrances. You will never see phthalate on a label of anything. It’s just not required to be listed. Fragrances are a protected trade secret, and the word fragrance can hide up to 80 or 100 different chemicals and you don’t really know what they are, okay. So, let me just go through a few more of these and then we’ll back up a little. So, that covers the phthalates pretty well.

And then also, I wanna talk about plug-in air fresheners. Everyone listening should just after they hear this, they should just unplug them and throw them away because they contain phthalates. They contain formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen. They contain benzene, which is another carcinogen. And they are just emitting these into the air. And so you’re breathing them into your body. Phthalates can also be absorbed transdermally. So, if you have a scent emitter in your house, even those little sticks that you put in the jar of sense, if your skin is bare, and you’re…and it’s…I mean, you can’t even see it, but you are absorbing this stuff multiple different ways.

When you go to a department store and you’re walking in, and you’ve got the perfume sprayers, and I hate that. And so I always say, “No, thank you.” And I feel pretty virtuous about that. But then I discovered probably three or four years ago, that even if you yourself did not put any of it on your own skin, just walking through that cloud of perfume, every inch of your skin that was exposed you are absorbing that which means fragrance is like the new secondhand smoke. If you’re sitting in an office, for example, and you yourself don’t wear scents because you don’t want the endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates, but let’s say you’re…the other people in the office are wearing scented…and it’s not just perfume, perfume is an obvious one, perfume and aftershave are obvious, but it’s underarm deodorant. It’s body lotion. It’s makeup. It’s hairspray. It’s many other things.

And so, if someone in your office is wearing it, you’re exposed even though you yourself did not consent. And you were educated enough to say “No,” and you’re using unscented products such as laundry detergent, dryer sheets, all of these things have phthalates. Our homes are just pumped through with endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are contributing to many things. Not just precocious puberty, they’re contributing to…they make you fat. They predispose you to diabetes and other health problems.

And also, I wanted to mention that the Endocrine Society, which is the world’s largest professional association of medical and research endocrinologists. So these are very conventional doctors, and even they have come on board and they consider reducing endocrine-disrupting chemical impacts to be one of their highest public health goals. So, when they came out with that a few years ago, you know, that was pretty profound that it’s being recognized everywhere.

So then, the other one that I want to talk about is the Bisphenols, Bisphenol A, BPA. And BPA is also part of plastic and predisposing to precocious puberty. And it’s found in the polycarbonate water containers. It’s found in thermal receipts. Thermal receipts is actually a really large source of this. And just like the phthalates, this chemical is not bound very tightly to the underlying material. And just touching it, this has been proven in studies, within seconds, if you take that person’s blood which they have, within seconds, not very many, you have BPA in the bloodstream. So, things are easily transferred, the BPA transfers from the thermal receipt onto your skin, into your body. And if you have used hand sanitizer prior to handling the receipt, you get about 10 times more BPA into your blood because the hand sanitizer contains things that are known penetration enhancers.

And that’s something to be thinking about these days because the use of hand sanitizer has increased. So, where do you find the thermal receipts? You’re going to find them in pretty much everywhere, the grocery store, the bank, the post office, if you get receipts at the gas station, you know, airline tickets. They’re pretty much everywhere, fast food places, other restaurants. But here’s the thing, we don’t have to accept them. So, just say no. Unless you are buying something that you might have to return, you know, you can just say, do you need the receipt for your restaurant meal? Take a picture of it on your phone or have it emailed to you. It’s no…it does you no good to take those things.

And then the other problem for ladies especially is when we stuff those receipts in our purses, that BPA is just coming off and touching everything in your purse. And when you stick your hand in your purse to find your cell phone, or your glasses, or your wallet, every time you put your hand in your purse, you’re just coating your hands with BPA. And so, I’ll just leave this tip here right now so I don’t forget it. But what I have my patients do is the ladies, I have them empty out their purse at home, get rid of all the receipts, take a cloth that’s wet with hot water, wipe out the inside of the purse, wipe everything off, every…the wallet, the phone, the makeup kit, everything. And then, get a Ziploc bag or something like that and put it in your purse. And if you must take a receipt, put it in your Ziploc bag segregate it from touching anything else in your purse.

Now, for the men, they’re discovering that, you know, same thing happens. The man puts it in their wallet. So, money is now contaminated with BPA and BPS. So, you know, it’s something that avoidance is really key here. You have to be really careful and aware of BPA. It’s insidious. The CDC has been tracking chemicals in our blood for decades. And at last count, it’s like BPA was in 95% of U.S. people, even though their half-life is pretty short. So, if it’s been found in 95% of Americans, that just means we’re exposed so ubiquitously that you could take our blood at any time and we would have it just because, you know, the stuff we were exposed to maybe two days ago, that’s gone. But now the stuff we were exposed to today, now that’s in there.

So, the BPA story I had…you know, I have a patient, we have to be really careful because sometimes I get patients who are looking at certain things in their environment, like the water supply and saying, “I can do better.” Yes, we can all do better, right. So, that’s good. And then they were ordering it from one of the water purification, I’m not gonna name them, who deliver it to your house on a regular schedule. And it’s purified, and then you can look up the water on their website and see what’s in it and what’s not in it. And it’s really interesting. I looked up this particular water, it actually was…it was pretty good water. But all of the containers were made of polycarbonate, BPA. And so, you don’t know how long that water, that good water, you know, about how long it’s been sitting in there touching the BPA which is coming off into it.

When they’re on these hot trucks being delivered, you don’t know how long they’re on there. You don’t know how long they sat on a shelf in the warehouse before it was even shipped to you. And what’s interesting is I called the company to talk about this, basically to ask them were they aware that this was not a good idea, and they basically said, “Yes, we’re aware that our containers contain BPA. However, we don’t feel that there is a health issue there. And so we are…you know, we’re still gonna use it.” And so, they haven’t really caught up to the science. And it’s really, unfortunately, mommas, it’s up to us to be our own FDA and to be able to be more discerning about what we allow into our homes. And so that…so, the idea of getting purified water is a good idea. There’s so much crap in the waters.

I’ve got a whole…I teach doctors environmental medicine. And one of my…one of the talks that I’ve gotten the most positive feedback on is the one that I did on, “What is in our water?” You would not believe it. But anyway, so with water, you do not want to drink bottled water of any kind, no matter how good you think the water is supposed to be on the inside. You want to have water that is in a glass bottle. And that’s really important. And that’s something that as families…and by the way, when I was a young mother, I did not know this. And so that was something that was overlooked. But thankfully, I eventually was able to get a reverse osmosis water system and not worry about that. And so, we have to just…like Katie said, you just have to start where you are. There’s no value in saying “Oh, woe is me….. I did it wrong.” No, you just start where you are. And you make the better decision and then you move forward.

Katie: Exactly. Well, and looks like I’ll just jump in on the water note because I think you’re right. And I have posts about this that I’ll link in the show notes as well at wellnessmama.fm. And I know you have resources as well. So, those will all be linked in the show notes. But when I started learning about this, getting rid of plastic can seem so overwhelming. And I’m a big fan of the 80-20 rule. So, for me personally, I figured out based on the current research, the biggest sources of exposure, like you mentioned, are inhalation via the air, and our water supply, and especially plastic water bottles, which are also horrible for the planet. So, we prioritized getting a water filter, actually a whole house filter we have at this point, and under the sink filter, and switching to using reusable metal water bottles, which is also much more eco-friendly as well. And that’s one change that makes a big, big, big difference.

And so if we can just move away from drinking out of disposable single used plastic in general, that’s a huge thing. We also put air filters in our house and don’t use air fresheners, of course, and switch to things like plastic-free in the kitchen. And I have resources to help walk people through all of that. But again, it’s like any incremental change you can make in this is a big deal, especially when we’re talking about kids. And that doesn’t mean you have to, you know, do it all overnight. This can definitely be a process, but it’s an important one to be aware of, certainly.

Dr. Fine: Yeah. And so, that’s what you wanna focus on when you have the kids at home, I think we wanna get back to how do you…what do you do with these kids who have precocious puberty? You have to look at, “Oh my gosh, I’ve gotta call out this one company.” Well, maybe not by name. But I think we have to take a really deeper look at what is in our homes because that’s where you as mothers, that’s where we make the most difference. The home is our domain. And we are the ones who are able to set it up in the way we want. And so, we really want to…like you said, Katie, we really want to root out all of the plastics, and all of the scented.

Honestly, I think the plastics and the scents in our home, those two…and to dust more, because I didn’t even talk about the flame retardants and all the other things that are in your house dust. But I believe, dusting twice a week, getting rid of plastic, getting rid of all of the scented products in your house, and eating organic, those things together are really going to be important for limiting things in your children that are endocrine disruptors. And we haven’t really talked about pesticides, but I want to add something here. The pesticides have been shown to lower children’s IQs. And in the animal kingdom, they are seeing hermaphrodite frogs, and coming about because of the feminizing effect.

We didn’t really talk about boys too much. But we have a twin problem with precocious puberty in the girls, and the feminization of boys via chemicals in the environment that act like estrogens. And so, pesticides are one of the vehicles that do this. But also, the phthalates are feminizing on the boys. And the studies are showing that the male infants are having changed male genitalia. And the way it’s changed is it’s showing a feminization of that male baby which, you know, in our audience of mothers who already have children, that may not be relevant right this minute, but I’ll tell you where it’s relevant.

Mothers, have you noticed that they are now marketing to our teenage boys? They’re marketing these products, these body scented products. And the marketing is very, very strongly suggesting, for example, that, you know, if the boys use these products, they can get not only one girl, but two girls. I mean, I have this in my slides for my doctors, it’s really wild. And these products, if you look at them carefully, they not only contain phthalates, they are so strongly scented, they have lots of phthalates in them. And phthalates are decreasing testosterone. So, you may not…that problem may not lead to a precocious puberty in a boy, but the lack of testosterone most certainly leads to abnormal male development.

And so, that’s something else that we want to consider in our homes. We want to think about the decrease in testosterone and sperm counts. And, I mean, the reproductive organs and systems in both boys and girls have been under attack for a while. And we are just now starting to see more of this. I wrote an article a couple of years ago for Thrive Global, in it where I basically…the title of it, if you want to look it up, is “The Handmaid’s Tale Becomes a Reality.” Because that is an Emmy Award-winning TV show that shows what happens when they polluted their environment with pesticides and chemicals. And they are now having trouble reproducing.

They have to get the handmaids in to be…someone who has been proven to have been able to carry a child. Basically they’re outsourcing the baby-making, right? And this show is incredibly popular. And it boggles the imagination because people act like it’s entertainment, but it’s really not because this is what we’re seeing in our patient population. We’re seeing a rise in infertility and a rise in assisted fertility techniques. And we’re seeing a rise in birth defects and a rise in, you know, developmental problems in our children. And so, all of this is stemming from these chemicals that have insidious negative implications at teeny-tiny doses, but that we’re getting those teeny-tiny doses all the time.

And that’s why, Katie, I wanna…you did say something that I do wanna kind of pounce on here. Air filters. Love air filters. 20 years ago when I started practicing medicine, I used to recommend them for my asthmatic patients. Not anymore. I think everybody should have them in their homes, in their bedrooms, in their children’s bedrooms. So, at least when you’re sleeping, you are able to filter out many of these things. We do not have good air. And the air in your home is between 5 and 10 times more toxic than your outdoor air, which is super toxic, and that’s because your home is off-gassing a lot of different things.

But that’s…we’re getting a little bit away from what we were talking about. But I wanted to bring that in too because you mentioned it. So, air filters, avoiding plastic, avoiding scented products, dusting really well, vacuuming with a really good vacuum cleaner. Most of them are just, I don’t know if you’re aware of that, they are just…you vacuum and then it’s like the dust just kind of goes out of the bag. You’re not…you’ve gotta have a good HEPA filter in there, so that when you are vacuuming you are truly getting rid and capturing the dust particles because the dust in your home is toxic. And then pesticide-free is something that you want to also focus on.

Katie: Totally agree. And I think, when it comes to endocrine disrupters and hormones in general, you know, getting rid of the bad stuff is a very important, big huge part of the equation. And then once you tackle that step, it’s then figuring out ways to support the body as well. Because I think it’s a balance when you’re talking about holistic health of removing the bad and then giving the body the good. And so, I think that’s another key area I would love to talk about and hear your thoughts. And a few of the things I’ve noticed and I do have kids in the almost puberty age, I haven’t had any, like, make that jump yet, we’re right on the cusp of it.

And so, thinking of things like supporting the body nutritionally with tons of micronutrients during that time, especially we know things like leafy greens bind to extra estrogen in the body. So, we wanna make sure our kids are getting a wide variety of different sources of micronutrients from ideally fresh local produce whenever possible. And just being cognizant of them getting enough nutrients because puberty, of course, is a time of increased demand on the body and very rapid growth. But I’m curious if you have any dietary or supplementation recommendations for both supporting kids from not going through puberty too early, which of course, you know, avoid processed foods and foods that contain plastic, like we talked about, but then also when it is the right time for them to go through puberty, how can we nutritionally support them best through that process?

Dr. Fine: I recommend, and this is kind of an area that I didn’t focus on too much before, but when I said no plastic, that includes processed foods that are packaged in plastic. Because in Puerto Rico years ago, they were finding premature puberty in female girls. They were finding little girls sprouting breasts, and getting their periods at 2, 3, and 4 years old. So, that is way worse than what we’re seeing here, right? And so, they tested these girls in Puerto Rico, what on earth is causing that? And they discovered it was phthalates, okay. And so, what they discovered, they had to kind of be detectives and say, “Well, where are the phthalates coming from?”

And one of the things they concluded was that Puerto Rico is an island, everything is shipped in, and everything is shipped in covered in plastic, plastic, plastic, plastic. So, your food being covered in plastic, your meats, your fat, fatty products like meats are being covered in plastic. You want to eat fresh. Well, okay, let’s just go back to the meat. If you’re buying meat, I recommend buying the grass-fed organic kinds of meats from the kind of place where it hasn’t been sitting there in a case wrapped in plastic styrofoam on the bottom and plastic on top. Go to the kind of store that is just sitting open in a case. And then you can wrap it, or the butcher will wrap it in a butcher paper. And then, you know, you take it home and you cook it. And then that way, it’s not just sitting in all of those wrappings of plastic for so long. So, I do recommend that.

Whole foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables for sure. I see that the children today are not really getting very many. And the problem is, as you alluded to, our detoxification systems in our bodies, they run on nutrients. The nutrients are the cofactors that…we have detoxification enzymes in our bodies, and if you are nutritionally deficient in some of them, they’re just not gonna run. And so, by saturating their diets with the micronutrients and the greens, in particular, I really like the dark leafy greens, but I really like broccoli, garlic is really good for supporting detox enzymes. I’m not a big fan of a lot of kale because kale is high in thallium, which is a heavy metal. And I’m seeing that the people who are eating a lot of green smoothies, because, of course, I test my patients, right? And so, a lot of the green smoothie eaters are coming up super high in thallium. And thallium is a very toxic heavy metal, and it’s in our organic and commercial kale now.

And why is it there? Because certain chemicals are polluting the agricultural water. And when you say a vegetable or fruit is being grown organically, those organic standards do not include the kind of water that’s being used. So, I’m having people be careful with kale right now. But I do love the isocyanides, I like the cruciferous vegetables. I like the cauliflower, the garlic, the berries are always really important, anthocyanidins and berries are really important for detox and good health. And so, your colored, I just said colored vegetables and I just realized cauliflower is white. The colored fruits and vegetables are what you really want to emphasize but cauliflower, it turns out, is a superfood, so don’t let the white color fool you. Just make sure you get plenty of other colored fruits and vegetables in there as well.

And then I have people stay away from sweetened drinks, even fruit drinks. I don’t like…I think having kids drink predominantly water is the way to go, purified water. And by the way, we need…your liver requires water to detoxify properly. And if you are dehydrated, you cannot detoxify properly. And I see a lot of people just not drinking enough water. I would have to say, most of the people I see are dehydrated. And so, let’s not forget that because that’s so simple, make your kids drink water.

So, did you have any other questions about the food? And then, of course…oh, one more thing, I do wanna say this, the food supply has gotten contaminated as well, not just with pesticides and herbicides. Do you know that the almonds are now being fumigated with propylene oxide? And I test for that. And so, I see that in my patients too. I just…it is just kind of criminal, people are eating almonds thinking they’re good, that there’s FDA requirement, that they’ve gotta be fumigated and that’s kind of a nightmare. So, you have to be…you have to really do your homework and find the clean foods.

And sometimes the animal foods are the most highly contaminated with something called POP, persistent organic pollutants like PCBs. And so, you want to make sure that even if you are a meat-eating family, you want to make sure that those meats, like if you’re gonna give salmon, it’s gotta be wild salmon because the farm salmon is the highest source of PCBs in the diet. And butter is the next one. Butter, the epidemiologists, when they go into a new area and they want to sort of get a quick and dirty idea of how much PCBs are contaminating that area, they will test the local butter. And that would be something that’s not dependent on whether or not that butter is organic. Because it’s not a pesticide, it’s something that is, even though PCBs have been banned since the ’70s, they’re in our earth’s soil and water, and the cows are eating grass off of the earth.

So, it’s not something that just getting organic butter is gonna make sure you don’t get any PCBs. So, animal products are the high…and they’ve shown this in all the…when they look at women who are vegan versus women who are not, one of the big differences they see is persistent organic pollutants. The vegans who aren’t eating animal products are really far cleaner from that one thing. So, you wanna make sure there’s plenty of plant foods in the diet. And if you’re going to eat the meat, you want to get as clean as you can with as few wrappings as you can.

Katie: Exactly. Yeah. I think those are all very, very important tips.

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Before we move on, just to kind of piggyback on what you just said. I think a couple of other areas as parents that we can focus on that are really helpful are, one area right now of emerging research is, for instance, light exposure. And this is an area people tend to maybe discount because we can’t see the immediate effects or feel them as drastically as what we can feel what we eat, but there’s all kinds of research about exposure to artificial light at certain times of day impacting hormone levels. And also lack of exposure to natural light, and how that can affect proper hormone patterns. And this is true in adults and also in children.

And so, I always try to mention this to parents because if you were talking about young children, fixing light patterns can really help their sleep quality and how long they sleep. If you’re talking about teenagers, same thing, but it can also have an impact on those hormone shifts. And then for us as adults, we can see, and eye measuring can see differences in sleep quality. So, a tip there, I say is if possible, get outside and get your kids outside for at least half an hour as soon as possible after waking up because that natural light can signal important receptors in the back of the eye that are really important for not just circadian hormones like melatonin, but also for the proper hormone cycles, whether it be in children or adults.

And the same thing with avoiding artificial light at night. So this is another form of indoor pollution that often gets ignored, but when kids are getting exposure to blue light late into the evening, it confuses their body’s natural hormone responses. So, avoiding screens, using natural forms of light that don’t have blue light after dark, that’s been another key that was really helpful to us. I’m curious if you have any tips as well for exercise because we know the stats that kids today are not moving as much as kids in previous generations, but then there’s also evidence that, you know, too much exercise too young can be harmful. So, when we’re talking about balancing hormones and supporting kids in these different ages, any advice for what types of exercise to focus on with them?

Dr. Fine: Oh, the exercise thing kind of plays right into what I said at the beginning of our talk where rising levels of fat and obesity is also contributing to precocious puberty. And so, it’s very true once they took the physical ed out of the school, and the kids got really invested in their devices. Childhood Education has really dropped off a cliff and I don’t think that’s healthy. And by the way, you know, exercise is good for…it’s good for brain development, and it’s good for so many different things. I think, one of the things I’ve seen as a mother too is that the kids who…right now I’m talking girls, most girls and boys do some sort of sport when they’re young like soccer. And what I noticed in the girls who once they hit puberty, they stopped and didn’t pick up anything else, versus the ones who stuck with it or picked up a different sport, the girls who stopped are the ones who, honestly, by the end of high school they were already kind of plumping up, right?

And if you look back over, you know, my childhood, for example, there just wasn’t…kids just played from the time…they had recess at school and then they played from the time they got home till it got dark. There was so much exercise in a day. And I believe, as human beings, we evolved on a lot of exercise. Now, it wasn’t…as you alluded to, it wasn’t like training for marathons every day, that’s too much. But it was movement. And it was outside in the sunlight because I am seeing that research on natural sunlight on our skin. And it is very important not just for vitamin D, but those that full-spectrum lighting from the sun has health benefits that we’re just now beginning to understand.

So, I’m a big advocate of kids spending a lot of time outside playing. It might not even be a sport, but you can play outside when you’re little. It could be a sport. I don’t like sports with the head injuries, like the heading in soccer. I’m not a big fan of head injuries, like, from football or soccer or things like that. But having said that, I like soccer because, you know, there’s running and kicking, I think that’s a good sport. So, I think it should…if they’re not athletically inclined, I think riding a bicycle or playing outside is highly, highly recommended. And by the way, exercise is important for detox as well. It’s part of the things that you’re increasing circulation. Hopefully, there’s some sweating and that’s how you can dump some of your toxins out. But exercise and sunlight are very, very important.

The blue light thing is really key too because the kids are staying on their devices late into the night, and then that messes up their sleep. And you’ve got to have proper sleep. At any stage in your life, you’ve gotta have proper sleep or your body doesn’t work right. Guess what’s one of the things our bodies do in sleep? They detox. There’s no…they don’t have to metabolize or digest your food. They don’t have to, like, send energy to your limbs to move. Your body is working on detox while you sleep. Your skin, your brain is detoxing while you sleep. And so, we have to naturally maximize our body’s ability to detox on its own, as well as avoid the things that we know are gonna make us go in the wrong direction. And then thirdly, we need to buckle down and just, you know, get the proper guidance to do a really good detoxification several times, I would say, in your life.

Katie: Definitely. Yeah, I definitely agree with that. Are there any supplements offhand that come to mind that can help either with avoiding precocious puberty or that are helpful during puberty? And I know, I got one question from a reader. There’s an additive called inositol I think that’s used in certain teen multivitamins, and if that’s safe or recommended or not? I know my default with my kids right now is to focus on just gut health, so I give them high-quality probiotics and prebiotics. And then also, just supporting again from a nutrient perspective with as much whole foods as possible, and making sure they’re getting enough protein which supports proper hormones, but any other suggestions you would make?

Dr. Fine: You know, it’s really difficult to make a broad-spectrum recommendation for supplements. Because when I see children in my practice, it’s like they’re coming to me for a reason, and so everything I do is very specific to that one person. And so, to come up with something broad-spectrum and say everybody should take this. Really, I think, a probiotic is a good idea, Katie. I think gut health is super important. But beyond that, I’m a little bit…especially with the kids, I really like to push the good food, the nutritious food like you are. I really like to push that and not… I remember using, like, powdered greens, you know, with my kids and powdered fruit. I did use something like that. But without knowing what… I mean, the kids today are really having a lot of health challenges. And so, a lot of them could benefit from supplements. But to just say every kid, every preteen or teen needs a certain supplement, I don’t think I would be comfortable with that. Except for probiotics, I think that you could make a strong case for that. And, you know, as long as it was a really good one.

Katie: Absolutely. And I will also say one that I do with my kids, I order at-home tests for vitamin D. So, even if you’re not, can take the kids in for a full workup which I actually would recommend that as well, but I do test all of my kids for vitamin D and then make sure they’re either getting in the sun or getting vitamin D. Because we know vitamin D is actually a pre-hormone, not just a vitamin, and so that one seems extremely essential for proper hormone regulation. I’m guessing you probably see that in your patients as well, low vitamin D levels correlating with hormone issues.

Dr. Fine: Well, what I see, I’ve practiced in Arizona and Southern California for my whole 20-year practice. And I just was so shocked to see how low everybody’s vitamin D was. I just, I mean, we’re in sunny areas, I just can’t understand it, except that nobody’s outside. But, yes. Yes, I have seen that and there are other issues with low vitamin D having to do with immune status and immune health that are also very important. I’m curious with your…well, you probably don’t wanna say, but the vitamin D issue is such a conundrum because I will tell you this, in Arizona, I used to have my patients commit to 10 minutes of sun on as much skin as they could bear around noon, which is a certain time of the day when certain rays were at its highest.

And, you know, 10 minutes, that’s not a lot. And, much to my surprise, when I retested them, it didn’t really bring it up. And I just found that shocking, that the vitamin D level… So, I will say that I’ve had to supplement lots…probably most of my patients with vitamin D supplementation, even though I theoretically and philosophically would rather people get it from the sun. For some reason, I’m not seeing sunlight producing the levels of vitamin D that I would like to see in people. And I mean, I’ve seen levels as low as 17 in my cancer patients, right? You know, that’s pretty low.

Katie: Yeah, I think this is definitely something that’s epidemic. And I know it’s controversial, but I do spend time daily in the sun, not ever to burn, but just to get vitamin D. And I think healthy sun exposure is really important. And I do that with my kids as well. But I’m also, I will supplement with vitamin D, and also along with it, vitamin K at times just if their levels are low. Just because I know how important that one is for the immune system, for hormones, for so many aspects of that. And we’re getting really close to the end of our time. We might have to do a whole other episode just on precocious puberty at some point, but I know there’s a lot…the other aspect of this that’s not just specifically health and lab-related is, how can we support our kids in this age with body image and emerging from puberty with a healthy body image on the other side? And I’m curious how you navigated that with your own kids, especially since I’m still in this phase and haven’t really figured it out totally myself yet.

Dr. Fine: Oh, that’s such a good subject. Oh, that is so, so tricky, because we’re fighting media portrayals of unattainable…especially for the girls, unattainable body images. And the girls are starting to think they’re fat as young as age 8 or 9. So, I have a daughter and a son, so I got to do both. I really…how did I do it? I just never focused on…I tried to build body confidence by looking at and praising how well the body works, like “Look at you run. Look at you go. Oh, you wanna take karate?” Really praising how the body functions as opposed to how it looks. And so, there really wasn’t in my bringing up my kids, there really wasn’t…I didn’t really emphasize, “Oh, you look so beautiful today.” Right? I didn’t really talk about. I didn’t really say that. I focused on other attributes.

And I think I did it on purpose because I know that even when I was growing up, there was all kinds of body image, and anorexia, and bulimia, and all of this stuff, and it seems to start…well, years ago, it started in teenagerhood, but now it’s like preteens and young teens are starting, men and women are starting to have these unrealistic ideas of how their body should look. I think that the media today is more accepting of diverse body types than ever before. And I think that’s really a good thing. But I would just focus on body functionality, body health, you know, other things instead of, “Did you gain weight?” You know, “That dress is looking really tight on you.” I would never point that out to a girl.

Katie: For sure. I have taken the same approach with my daughters and my sons. I’m just focusing on the body being an amazing, incredible tool and like a machine that we can use to do incredible things versus how it looks. And it’s sad, but I had to realize this and learn this lesson as an adult over even the last few years, I would say is when I finally actually learned it and started to love my own body for what it can do and not just how it looks, or what I perceived as how it didn’t look, how it was supposed to. And that’s even after growing six babies from scratch in my body, and all of these other things it had done. It took me being that old and working through a bunch of trauma to get to that point where I could actually appreciate it. So, I think the mindset piece is key as well. And hopefully, giving our kids a foundation to respect their bodies and to treat them well out of respect and love, not to pry them out of lack, it’s a big key.

Dr. Fine: Yes, I agree. Good job.

Katie: Awesome. Well, our interview has flown by. I know that you have a gift that you wanna give to the subscribers which I will put in the show notes that I don’t say your email or anything out loud and that you also have a course all about detoxification for people who this is very top of mind for whether it be preconception or precocious puberty, whatever it may be. So, those links will be in the show notes at wellnessmama.fm. And I know you’re also available online and at drannemariefine.com is that right?

Dr. Fine: Yeah, drannemariefine.com, that’s my website. And, yeah, I’m offering a complimentary 15-minute call to see if this is a good fit for exploring how a personalized detox can work for you. I’m also, on my website, I just wanna point out that my…the book that I wrote and the products that I have are in the realm of clean beauty. So that’s another passion for me, and something I didn’t bring up so much with the boys and girls. But, wow, if they’re putting stuff on their face, the girls’ makeup, especially the teen makeup is very toxic. And you’ve gotta take a really strong look at that. And the boys’ products are, like I mentioned, varying into a very, very disturbing trend. And so, we have to be careful with that too.

Katie: I agree. Well, thank you so much. This has been such an information-packed episode. Hopefully, it helps a lot of parents and a lot of teenagers and preteens as well. And I’m really appreciative of your time today.

Dr. Fine: Well, thanks, Katie. Thanks for having me. It was fun.

Katie: And thanks to all of you as always for listening, for sharing your most valuable asset, your time with both of us today. We’re very grateful that you did. And I hope that you will join me again on the next episode of “The Wellness Mama Podcast.”

If you’re enjoying these interviews, would you please take two minutes to leave a rating or review on iTunes for me? Doing this helps more people to find the podcast, which means even more moms and families could benefit from the information. I really appreciate your time, and thanks as always for listening.

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/podcast/anne-marie-fine/

[nightsongalchemy]

Nothing could have prepared me for this… Nothing could’ve prepared for me for the amount of trauma and fighting I would have had to endure over the past three years of my life fighting chronic illness and conditions. Although there have been so many happy memories since my health crisis in June of 2017, the amount of tears I’ve cried could easily fill an ocean.

I’ve seen between thirty and forty doctors over the past three years. One doctor diagnosed Lyme, another diagnosed Fibromyalgia, another said Intestinal Permeability Syndrome, yet another said Gittleman’s Syndrome, a few had different diagnoses, but most either had absolutely no idea what was going on. One said it was genetics so I would be stuck this way for the rest of my life. Another conventional doctor even told me it was all idiopathic! I was shamed by three different doctors when I wanted to get the #MirenaIUD removed which was directly related to all of the problems I was having. It took my own perseverance, research, and self diagnosing with the help of Anthony William’s, the Medical Medium, information to take on the chaos that was my health.

Summer of 2017 my body went into a health crisis. Since then, my days have been spent surviving the fallout of an extremely aggressive late-stage Epstein-Barr Virus, heavy metal toxicity, low-grade streptococcus, and a severe reaction to the Mirena IUD. My immune system was broken, hormones imbalanced, and my body was starved of glucose due to a doctor prescribed ketogenic diet.

My symptoms included seizures, dementia, memory loss, chronic brain fog, compromised immune system, muscle weakness and numbness, chronic fatigue, nerve spasms/twitching, cramps through hands and feet, confusion, hallucinations, disorientation, mood swings, diminished cognitive function, inability to think or accomplish simple tasks, irrational thoughts and personality changes, crying spells, severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, vertigo, slurred speech and stuttering, migraines, inner ear pain, tinnitus, heart palpitations, TMJ, nausea, chronic pain all over, un-healing arm/hand tendon injuries, un-healing knee injuries, un-healing pinched/injured nerves, hair loss, acne, rosacea, sensitivity to light, disordered eating, loss of perception of passing time, extremely painful periods (endometriosis), PMS, constantly getting the cold/flu/sinus infections, systemic allergy attacks, digestive disorders, constant bloating, constant belching, intestinal cramps/spasms, low hydrophilic acid, eye floaters, light and sound sensitivity, weight gain, insatiable hunger, sluggish liver, food and chemical sensitivities, night terrors, and edema. Then, after a couple years being beaten down and fighting - PTSD.

Good news is that a lot of these symptoms have disappeared, bad news is I still fight most of these symptoms every day just to a much lesser degree. It’s been a long road and a roller coaster since I started the Medical Medium protocols August of 2017 wherein the symptoms would constantly take three steps forward and two steps back. Enduring the symptoms, detoxing, and the viral flare-ups have been beyond a traumatizing nightmare. Traveling long distances as a passenger in a car is a ride of vertigo and vestibular seizures. Pain in general, pain from old endometriosis surgeries gone wrong that never healed properly, repetitive injury pain, and too much stress often trigger seizures as well. I have good days and I have bad days. Some days I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. If you see me and I look fine, I’m most likely doing everything in my power to hide the pain, suffering, and trauma.

However, the most disheartening trauma that has come of all of this - after almost three years of fighting and working through the pain from the tendinosis in both arms, pinched nerve in the left elbow, and the injured thumb tendon/joint on my right hand - I have been forced to stop tattooing, drawing, painting, playing the harp, and most computer work entirely until I heal the injuries. Most of my correspondences, including this one, are talk to text. I can’t spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard and I can barely hold a pencil. This has been devastating. This whole update has taken weeks to fully write out with my limited abilities.

Working consistently with an occupational/physical therapist for the past four months, I’m refusing to give up. Even as I write this, I feel fire and positivity running through my veins. With a smile on my face I will rise from the ashes, and I will continue to work as hard as I can through diet, supplements, gentle exercise, heat/ice, stretches, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage until my injuries are fully healed and my health is fully restored. I will continue to be the artist and musician I was always meant to be. It all comes down to a matter… of time.

Until then, my tattoo and illustration books need to remain closed until the tendon injuries heal. I’m so very sorry to all of you beautiful clients waiting to get your tattoos started or finished. It breaks my heart everyday. I’m sorry to all of you who are waiting patiently for your illustration commissions as well. I’m so very sorry for all of this. For those of you who still have appointments scheduled, I’m still playing it day by day until I’m cleared by my physical therapist, so I’ll continue to be in touch about rescheduling. Martin Velez Human, the tattoo artist I’ve been working with at Gypsy Moon Custom Tattoo, has been a God sent while my injuries have been healing! If you’re looking to get a tattoo in the near future, please send me a message and I’ll set you up with a consultation with him.

By the grace of God, I’m still continuing to make music with my band, Sweet Maple Singers. Although for the time being I cannot play the harp, I will keep singing my heart out. I’ve taken this time to receive vocal training and work hard with my beautiful fiancé and bandmate, Robbie Mann, to strengthen our vocal performance, harmonies, and arrangements to give all of you the best show we can. Being able to sing and make music with him and Ryan Cramer the past few weeks has given me new hope and the drive to keep on fighting for my life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you two.

Thank you to all my incredible friends, family, clientele and future clients for all of your unwavering patience, understanding, support, and love. I don’t know what I did to be so blessed. If you can spare a little prayer for speedy healing and recovery it would mean the world to me. For those of you suffering with chronic symptoms or conditions - please don’t give up and know you’re not alone. Take it one day at a time, have compassion for yourselves, and know you will heal. I love all of you so much, and may your day be blessed with enchantment and magick!

Love your elven bard,
Jasper✨🧝🏻‍♀️🌙✨

#keepsmiling #nevergiveup #risingfromtheashes #medicalmedium #medicalmediumprotocols #healingchronicillness #healthwarrior
(at Gypsy Moon Custom Tattoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rXcZOHPY1/?igshid=14v8krjy6zhxi

[dreddymd]

Here Are 7 Reasons Why You Need a Cleanse

Source: Here Are 7 Reasons Why You Need a Cleanse

by Dr. Edward Group

Do you often get tired or feel like you have “brain fog”? Do you have skin blemishes you can’t seem to get rid of? Or maybe you just feel bloated or constipated now and then?

When you eat sugar, gluten, meat, dairy, and other foods that aren’t good for you, your body lets you know with bloating, constipation, bad skin, or other issues. But food isn’t the only issue. From the minute you open your eyes in the morning to get ready for work, our modern world is awash in toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and allergens like mold.[1, 2]

Did you know that you can reverse or improve some of the damage caused by toxins and poor food choices by doing a detox or cleanse? If you’ve never done a cleanse before, read on.

7 Reasons To Do a Cleanse

Maybe you’ve heard about cleansing or detoxing, but don’t know if it would help. Here are some reasons to cleanse! Cleansing or detoxification is a time-tested way to start anew and kick-start healthy habits. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios?

1. I Can’t Seem to Lose Weight!

Modern-day fitness gurus want you to believe that the key to losing weight is a formula of calories in and calories out — with some exercise thrown in for good measure. But eating less and working out isn’t always enough.

Detoxification can get rid of toxins that hold you back from reaching your ideal weight. Removing pollutants from your diet, even temporarily, not only reduces body fat and waist circumference, but also promotes normal cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood glucose levels![3]

Cleansing, sometimes known as a detox diet or detoxification, can reduce cravings for sweet foods, and we all know that excessive sugar leads to weight gain.[4] Fewer sweets can drop weight in and of itself! The even better news? Cleansing for even a short period of time can result in continued weight loss a couple of weeks later.[5]

Cleansing is also an excellent starting point for changing how you eat. Think of a cleanse as something that launches you into a healthy lifestyle with better eating patterns!

2. I’m Tired All the Time

Do you dread the sound of the alarm clock every morning? Many of us work every day with little to no energy, feeling sluggish and exhausted — but can’t figure out why.

Detoxing your body can change your energy levels and sleep quality for the better.[4] This is what Debi D., a sales manager from Camas, Washington, discovered when she gave up sugar.

“My sleep is better,” says Debi. “Before, I was waking up several times at night and was feeling sluggish in the afternoon, so I needed sugar as a pick-me-up. Now, without sugar, I feel rested all the time and don’t get that afternoon slump.”

It’s not just a sugar detox that will bring you more energy. Nearly any type of cleanse will have you removing harmful toxins and food choices, bringing you more energy — though you may experience a “healing crisis” for the first days of the cleanse itself.

3. I Feel Bloated & Constipated

Digestive issues like bloating, constipation, gas, or diarrhea signal that something needs your attention in your body. A detox is like hitting the reset button for your gut. Did you know that a cleanse can also clear out accumulated fecal matter in your large intestine (colon)?

Fruit and fruit juice cleanses, in particular, can improve the composition of the gut microbiota — the balance of good versus harmful microbes living in the gut.[5] Your gut microbiota influences not only digestion, but also mood, skin health, and the immune system.[6, 7]

Because any good cleanse involves eliminating unhealthy dietary choices — including soy, gluten, meat, dairy — it gives your digestive system a break. When you reintroduce foods (ideally one by one), you can identify which ones cause the digestive issues that you want to avoid.

Many people report that after a cleanse, their bowel movements are more regular, which reduces gas and bloating — especially if you use a high-quality probiotic afterward.

4. I Want to Look & Feel Younger

When you remove toxins that have taken up residence in your body, you’ll start to notice a difference in your skin and overall demeanor. Eating more organic fruits and vegetables during your cleanse will boost your antioxidant intake, eliminating damage from free radicals and reducing inflammation.

Debi discovered that the radiance from her younger years returned after a detox.

“My skin was better and started to glow! My skin was also more supple. My face and hands were no longer puffy. I even noticed that the black circles under my eyes disappeared,” Debi says.

Some of this “glow” may come from the balancing of our body systems. For example, cleanses promote normal blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides,[3] which can’t help but show on the outside!

5. My Brain Feels Foggy

Have you ever felt like your brain is in a dense fog that won’t let you concentrate or remember things? Some daye, even simple tasks like writing a shopping list may feel overwhelming.

This so-called brain fog [8] can come not only from hormones, obesity, and stress, but also exposure to toxins (and stress acts as a toxin!).[9, 10] Toxins can enter your body, including your brain, causing inflammation.[11] If you’re not eating the right foods, you’re not giving yourself the nutrients it needs to function at its best.

“The biggest thing I noticed was an improvement in my ability to concentrate throughout the day,” says Courtney K., a director of operations in Austin, Texas. “With my typical diet, I would have spikes of being laser-focused, then was unable to focus on anything. Since the detox, my ability to concentrate has been far more consistent.”

“I’ve also noticed better memory retention,” she adds. “Before the detox, I had a terrible short-term memory. Now, I’m more likely to remember things without needing to take extensive notes.”

6. My Allergies & Runny Nose Won’t Stop

The toxins and chemicals in the air around you can irritate the lining of your nose and make you reach for a box of tissues all the time.[12]

There is also a connection between your gut and your sinuses.[13] A disturbance in your gut microbiota may affect your sinuses and cause a runny nose.[14] Eating dairy, which I don’t recommend, can increase mucus production and even the incidence of asthma.[15]

“I used to have congestion related to seasonal allergies and food. I used to take an allergy pill every day. I would get headaches sometimes with the congestion,” says Shannon J. of Sarasota, Florida, who saw big changes after a seven-day body cleanse.

“It definitely helped reduce congestion and what is usually a morning mucus problem for me,” she adds. “The cleanse helped me figure out my congestion happened when I ate gluten. My symptoms went away after the cleanse, and my morning congestion was gone.”

7. I Feel Stressed All the Time

Do you get anxious while waiting in line or when driving? Do you have stomach aches or recurring headaches? These can be signs that you experience too much daily stress. Stress increases your risk of getting sick and causes a variety of other issues, such as headaches, digestive concerns, anger, and more.[16]

Sometimes you feel stress because you’re not giving your body the best food for optimal health. But sometimes toxins in the environment can build up, manifesting in headaches or other issues.

A detox not only eliminates harmful substances — bad food choices and toxins — that make you feel poorly, but it gives you a chance to start over. Cutting out alcohol during cleanses is also important.

Many people use fasting and cleansing as a spiritual time, or a time to reflect on their life and priorities. During any cleanse, I recommend engaging in supportive therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation.[16] These will also bring more calm to your life.

What Is the Best Cleanse?

If you’ve never cleansed before and are looking for something simple, I recommend starting with the Body Cleansing Diet. This is simply a way to remove dairy, meat, gluten-containing grains, and processed products from your diet while introducing more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds into your meal plans. You will also cut back on processed foods, opting for those in a more natural state.

If you’re ready for something more regimented, you can try Global Healing’s Colon Cleanse Program

. This 6-day program involves following the Body Cleansing Diet — or for the more advanced all-fruit diet — while taking Oxy-Powder®, an oxygen-based intestinal cleanser and Latero-Flora

, a single-strain probiotic that purges harmful organisms from the gut.

Points to Remember

Our world is filled with chemicals and toxins that affect your body. The food you eat can make things worse. Have you ever wondered if a cleanse is right for you, but not know what it can do for you?

A cleanse might help if you feel tired or stressed a lot, experience occasional but frustrating constipation, bloating, or other digestive complaints, can’t seem to lose weight, or have brain fog. A cleanse can give your skin a healthy glow, even making you appear younger!

By eliminating dietary foods that commonly trigger gut reactions, like gluten, dairy, meat, and artificial preservatives, you create a healthier ecosystem in your gut in a short time. This can improve your digestion, provide more energy, and bring you better sleep.

Have you ever tried a cleanse? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

References (16)

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