Our journeys in health and wellness are constantly evolving. There are times in our lives when everything is seamless and other times when we are thrown curveballs and have to make adjustments because the needs and desires of our bodies are completely changing. As most of you know, I take lots of pride in my health and wellness; embarking on constant movement, whether that is yoga or a fitness class, clean eating, including mostly a plant-based diet, and when my body needs a little bit more protein, I throw in some fish to fuel, I cold plunge, do cryotherapy, acupuncture, lymphatic drainage massages, take a variety of wellness supplements, and lastly, to calm my mind, I read, journal, and carve out space and time to meditate.

Recently, I have been suffering from a very intense lupus flare, which due to an infection, spiraled all of my symptoms. Unfortunately, my kidney function has been on the decline and while I do everything necessary for optimal health regularly, sometimes that simply isn’t enough. Unfortunately, I had to resort to an intense and aggressive treatment of Western medicine, which transformed my entire body, and mental state and left me feeling completely exhausted, frustrated, helpless, and overly emotional.

Despite knowing that this is just a phase, the process, and journey as a whole, is heavy. Regardless, I have maintained all of my wellness essentials because at the end of the day, when my kidney function gets back to normal, those are the things that will keep me in complete balance. With grace, patience, and positivity, I know that this, too, shall pass. Please keep in mind that while I share what works for me, it does not necessarily mean that it will work for you; however, this is more of a guideline on some wellness essentials to consider incorporating into your routine. Likewise, it’s of utmost importance to tune in to your own body’s needs when navigating your wellness journey.

My final takeaway is to carve out space to stay completely committed and completely connected.

Below, Im sharing a personal glimpse of the extreme swelling and edema I experienced during this most recent flare. Thankfully, the worst is over, and my body was able to heal.

During my most recent flare, I took the utmost care in nourishing my body with natural foods and drinks to boost my immune system. Some of my favorites include the Urban Remedy line of protein drinks. I love Ginger or Tumeric teas and tonics for their powerful anti-oxidant potency. The Republic of Tea makes these portable packets that I enjoy keeping handy, always one in my bag. Coconut water and the Harmless Harvest new line of Coconut smoothies are a natural source of electrolytes and full of micronutrients. I kept my Takeya 64 oz Tritan water bottle with me to stay optimally hydrated throughout the day; the clear bottle helps me track my water intake and keeps me motivated. Lastly, I found a collagen Matcha Latte mix that quickly made it to my favorites list.

You can check out many of these items on my Amazon storefront under Drinks OTG!