I turned 39 a few months ago. It’s funny because I distinctly remember turning 19 and thinking it was all downhill from there and then each subsequent yearly milestone brought a different feeling. 20 was new, 25 felt too close to 30, 33 felt great, and so on and so forth. I can’t pinpoint the moment when I stopped looking at my age like a stopwatch, a race against time; but I can say that this birthday was different. I am excited to be closer to 40. I am looking forward to the 50-year-old version of myself. This health and wellness journey I’ve taken myself on over the past two decades, albeit the first ten years weren’t as focused as the last ten, has inadvertently shown me that age is relevant on your driver’s license but seemingly irrelevant when it comes to how you feel.

These past few months of digging deep into my insulin resistance, PCOS, oxidative stress, and digestive issues, with LifeHub, have once again reminded me that nothing substantial or life-changing happens quickly. Patience is key.

Through my increased intake of glutathione, both orally and intravenously, my addition of NAC and my continued use of Metformin, my insulin resistance has improved, moving me further away from Type 2 diabetes. I haven’t altered much on the diet and consumption front, but I’ve been steadily reducing my alcohol intake for the past few months (another challenge being in the F&B industry and having just launched our new Sunday’s Whisky) and cutting out carbs to regulate my blood sugar levels (which is the hardest thing for me). My personal goal of reducing my intake of anything that could spike up my blood sugar levels is mainly to see how much of this I can control with diet.

My epigenetic test results show that I am more susceptible to inflammation, oxidative stress, and have a lower detoxification capacity compared to other people. This is because of the genetic variation I inherited from my parents. Getting my genetic test done was important because the results have shed light on my insulin resistance and PCOS situations. High oxidative stress for prolonged periods of time can lead to inflammation in the body, which is closely related to insulin resistance. In the ovaries, insulin resistance can manifest as PCOS. All of this information aligns with what I’ve been treating. DNA wins!

Although I can’t alter the genes I have, there are various lifestyle strategies to ‘switch off’ the gene from expressing itself, or compensating for such expressions. For example, I can increase my intake of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli/ kale) to help boost detoxification, incorporate a more Mediterranean-style diet (a ‘rainbow’ array of vegetables; more salmon and tuna; moderate nut intake) and take supplements like DIM and glutathione. And now that I know there are action points I can take to alter my gene expression, I can track progress. I can check certain inflammation markers yearly so that I know the supplements and lifestyle strategies are working. At LifeHub, there are multiple functional health tests available for your specific health needs, these just happen to be mine.

Since embarking on this journey, I’ve discovered that there are a lot of women who have exactly what I have. And most of them, or at least the ones I’ve spoken to, have somewhat given up on the battle against PCOS and insulin resistance. If they’re not diabetic and they’re no longer pursuing having children, these issues seem small if they’re not directly affecting daily life. Some of them have tried Metformin and couldn’t stomach it (it can make you feel nauseous), while others gave up the hassle of tracking fluctuating cysts. I am hoping that the functional, holistic approach of incorporating NAC and strong antioxidants is going to help my body regulate itself.

I often find myself struggling with the commitment of balancing everything internally when there is no fundamental textbook to guide you. “Ignorance is bliss” and “out of sight, out of mind” are phrases that run through my mind often. Why can’t I be like my dad who refuses to see a doctor for preventative care and chooses to believe he’s fine? Side note: I do not endorse this behaviour and still try to convince him to get a colonoscopy every time we FaceTime (he’s 69). I suppose I am simply hard-wired to get to the bottom of things; to dig deep enough to find the answer or at least the root problem. Can’t stop, won’t stop.