HOW PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES CAN FIND AND GROW FLEXIBLE SIDE GIGS FROM HOME

For parents with disabilities balancing care routines, symptoms, appointments, and unpredictable energy levels, traditional jobs can feel built for someone else’s body and schedule. Disability employment challenges like rigid hours, unreliable transportation, and workplaces that don’t accommodate needs can turn “steady work” into a cycle of setbacks and guilt. Side gig opportunities can change that by offering work from home options and income flexibility for disabled parents that adjusts to real life instead of fighting it. With the right expectations and a clear view of personal limits, earning from home can be a practical, skills-based option.

Understanding the Real Value of Side Gigs

A side gig is a small, flexible income stream you control, built around your capacity and your family’s needs. The core idea is not just “make extra money,” but to choose gigs that improve access, reduce stress, and fit your daily rhythms. It also means checking practical and legal basics early, like taxes, payment terms, and how earnings could interact with benefits.

This matters because income from one source can disappear fast when health or caregiving changes. Side gigs can spread risk, but diversification does not guarantee success, so smart setup protects you from expensive surprises later.

Think of it like packing for a long day out with kids. One snack helps, but a small kit with backup options keeps you steady when plans shift. Side gigs can range widely, and some earn anywhere from a few hundred to much more, depending on what you choose and sustain. With the basics clear, budgeting, marketing, and simple operations become easier to build into your routine.

Build Business Know-How to Grow Beyond One-Off Gigs

Once you understand the practical and legal pieces of flexible work, the next step is building the business know-how that helps income stay steady and grow. One longer-term option is earning an online business degree to strengthen your business acumen and feel more confident running the “behind-the-scenes” parts of a side gig. A business degree can help you build skills in accounting, business, communications, or management, useful whether you’re handling your own finances, promoting what you do, or organizing day-to-day operations. If you want a structured pathway, this online bachelor’s option earns a quick look because it’s focused on foundational business knowledge and leadership-ready skills. Online degree programs can also make it easier to keep working full-time while staying on track with your studies.

Side Gigs You Can Start from Home

A good side gig fits your real life, not someone else’s hustle culture. Use this menu to match your skills, energy patterns, and accessibility needs, then apply the business basics you’re building (simple budgeting, a repeatable process, and a clear offer) so your income doesn’t depend on luck.

1. Start with remote freelance jobs you can scope in “small packages”: Pick one service you can deliver in 30–90-minute blocks, like proofreading 5 pages, designing a simple flyer, updating a resume, or writing two product descriptions. This works because you can price clearly, track time, and repeat what sells, key business know-how for stability. A quick reality check: 70 million Americans already do freelance or contract work, so you’re not inventing a weird path, you’re joining a big, active market.

2. Offer virtual tutoring opportunities with a tight “session plan”: Choose one subject or support area and build a 30–45 minute format (warm-up, teaching, practice, recap). You can tutor academics, test prep, language conversation, or study skills, and it’s naturally schedule-friendly because sessions can happen during naps, evenings, or weekends. Keep a simple spreadsheet for income/expenses and session notes so you can improve results and raise rates over time.

3. Sell craft-based side gigs using pre-orders and limited drops: If your energy fluctuates, pre-orders protect you from overcommitting because you make only what’s purchased. Start with 3–5 products you can produce with adaptive setups (seated work, one-handed workflows, voice-to-text labeling) and build a “materials cost + time + margin” price so you’re not underpaying yourself. Photograph items in consistent light and write one reusable product description template to save spoons.

4. Lean into adaptive technology work options as your edge: Roles like transcription with accessible controls, caption writing, document formatting, accessibility checks (readability, alt text, clear headings), and customer support can be very compatible with assistive tech. If you use screen readers, dictation, alternative keyboards, or switch devices, treat your setup as part of your workflow, document it so you can deliver consistently. Create a one-page “how I work” note you can share with clients to set expectations and reduce back-and-forth.

5. Choose flexible scheduling gigs that can pause and restart easily: Look for work that doesn’t punish you for taking a week off, such as selling digital downloads you make once, moderation/community support in short shifts, or asynchronous admin tasks (inbox clean-up, calendar organizing, file naming). The business skill here is operations: write a simple checklist for each task so you can stop midstream and pick up without re-learning the steps. Set a weekly “minimum baseline” goal, like 3 hours total, then add extra hours only on higher-energy weeks.

6. Build a two-gig “portfolio” for steadier income: Pair one client-based gig (tutoring, freelance writing, virtual assistant work) with one product-based gig (craft items, digital templates, printables) so a cancellation doesn’t wipe out your week. Use basic budgeting to set a target like “cover one bill reliably” first, then expand. Keep contracts, invoices, and a simple record of business expenses from day one so you feel organized when it’s time to talk taxes and payment terms.

Side-Gig FAQs: Taxes, Contracts, and Marketing

Q: What taxes do I need to plan for with a small side gig?
A: Assume you will owe income tax plus self-employment tax and set aside a small percentage from every payment in a separate savings bucket. Track income and expenses weekly so you are not scrambling later. If you are unsure, a local tax professional can help you estimate quarterly payments.

Q: Should I be a sole proprietor or start an LLC?
A: Many people begin as a sole proprietorship because it is straightforward when you are testing an idea. An LLC can be a good next step if you want clearer separation and added protection as you take on more clients. If you feel stuck, choosing the simplest option for the next 60 days is still progress.

Q: What should be in a client contract for remote work?
A: Get the scope, deadlines, payment terms, revision limits, and cancellation policy in writing before you start. Using a clear title of agreement helps set expectations and signals professionalism. Save signed copies in one folder with your invoices.

Q: How do I stay legally compliant without getting overwhelmed?
A: Keep it small: register what your area requires, use basic invoices, and separate business spending from personal spending. For anything high stakes like liability, intellectual property, or partnerships, it can be worth seeking professional legal guidance.

Q: How can I market my gig safely and cheaply as a beginner?
A: Pick one simple channel for two weeks, like a single social profile or a one-page portfolio, and post proof of your work with clear boundaries. Ask one happy client for a short testimonial and reuse it in your bio, proposals, and listings. Consistency beats volume, especially when energy is limited.

Build a Steady Side Gig Routine That Fits Your Life

When parenting and disability needs already take so much energy, starting a side gig can feel risky, confusing, and too easy to drop. A flexible, values-first approach, choosing work that fits your capacity, using simple boundaries, and getting the basics right on taxes, contracts, and marketing, keeps the focus on what’s sustainable. Over time, that builds confidence in entrepreneurship, helps with leveraging skills for income, and turns one good idea into building sustainable income streams. Side gig success comes from small, repeatable steps that respect your body and your family. 

(Guest post)

7 SELF-HELP BOOKS FOR WOMEN OVER 40 WHO ARE READY FOR A NEW CHAPTER

There’s something about reaching your 40s and beyond when you are a mom that changes the questions you ask yourself. Maybe it’s because we finally have enough life behind us to recognize what matters and what really doesn’t. 

For most of my adult life, after my years in the music business and a few other career stops, so much of my identity has been connected to raising my kids and taking care of other people and simply keeping life moving.

I'm a mom of two, a bonus mom to three and a nana to five. I've spent years raising kids, loving my family, worrying about them, cheering them on, solving problems and doing all the things moms do that nobody really puts on a résumé.

As our kids grow and start to move on with their own lives, we often start asking question like: Who am I when everyone doesn't need me in quite the same way anymore?

It's a weird feeling because you're incredibly proud that you've raised these humans to become independent adults. That's the goal, right? But nobody talks enough about the identity shift that happens to the mom when they actually do.

At the same time, I've been thinking a lot about my career and everything life has thrown my way. I've had chapters I absolutely loved, including years working in the music business, which gave me experiences and memories I'll always treasure. I've worked in marketing, social media and other industries. I've reinvented myself professionally more than once.

I've also navigated health challenges that changed what work and everyday life sometimes look like for me.

I've been a caretaker. I've had seasons when I've needed to figure out how to work from home. I've started projects, changed directions, searched for new opportunities and continually looked for creative ways to earn income and build something meaningful.

Some things worked, some didn't. Some chapters were exciting, while others were just about getting through the damn chapter. 😂

That's life.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, I've realized something:

I'm entering a different season now.

I'm no longer the young woman standing at the beginning of adulthood thinking I have endless time to figure everything out. I'm much closer to the third act of my life. That's sometimes difficult to say out loud.

But I'm also beginning to see that awareness differently. It doesn't have to be depressing. It can be clarifying because when you finally understand that time isn't infinite, you become much more intentional about how you want to spend it. It's crazy to me that I am already 10 years older than my mom when she passed asway and I don't take one single year of my life for granted. My only wish is that the knowledge and wisdom I have acquired in my life, came a little sooner! Don't we all wish for that though? Hindsight is always 20/20!

I don't want to spend the next chapter trying to become the person everyone else thinks I should be or who society deems an "older woman" should be. I want to keep learning. I want to create. I want to work on projects that excite me.

I want to earn money doing things that feel meaningful. I want to take care of my health. I want to be present with the people I love.

I want to laugh a lot. I want to stay curious. I want to do the things that bring me joy, because seriously, what is life if we cannot be happy and share that with others?

And I want to continue discovering who I am outside of all the roles I've played for everyone else.

Maybe you understand that feeling too. Maybe your kids are growing up. Maybe your career doesn't fit anymore. Maybe your body is changing. Maybe you've experienced illness, loss, divorce, financial struggles, caregiving, menopause, burnout or simply the realization that the life you built at 30 isn't necessarily the life you want at 50.

And maybe you've caught yourself wondering:

What now?

Who am I in this chapter?

And is it too late to create something different?

I don't believe it is. In fact, I'm starting to think one of the greatest gifts of getting older is finally having enough life experience to know what matters and enough courage to start letting go of what doesn't.

That's one reason I've always loved books about personal growth, psychology, mindset, spirituality and understanding ourselves better.

I don't read them because I think there's something wrong with me that needs to be "fixed." I read them because I'm curious and because I believe that we are all here to grow spiritually and on a personal level. And because sometimes another person's words help us understand something we've been feeling but haven't been able to put into words ourselves. This is one of the main reasons I also love to write, not only to help others but as a form pf self-talk and personal development.

And every once in a while, a book finds you at exactly the moment you need its message.

So, if you're somewhere in your 40s, 50s or beyond wondering what the next chapter looks like, these are some of the books I'd put on your nightstand.

Not because they have all the answers, but because they might help you ask some really good questions.

And sometimes, that's exactly where a new chapter begins. 💛

These are some of the books I recommend for women navigating change, rediscovering themselves, building confidence, setting boundaries, creating healthier habits and realizing that it is absolutely not too late to write a new chapter.

1. The Let Them Theory - Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins

Best for: Letting go of what you cannot control

If you've spent a good portion of your life worrying about what other people think, trying to keep everyone happy, fixing other people's problems or feeling responsible for things that were never really yours to carry, this one belongs on your list.

The premise is beautifully simple: sometimes you need to let them.

Let people misunderstand you. Let them have their opinions. Let them make their choices. Let them show you who they are.

Then bring your attention back to the part you actually have control over you. That's an incredibly important lesson at any age, but I think it hits differently in midlife.

There comes a point when protecting your peace becomes more important than proving your point.

Read this if: You're exhausted from trying to control outcomes, relationships or other people's opinions.

My takeaway: Your energy is valuable. Be intentional about where you spend it.

[Find Book here: The Let Them Theory]

---

2. Untamed - Glennon Doyle

Best for: Rediscovering who you really are

One of the most powerful questions we can ask ourselves in midlife is:

How much of the life I'm living did I consciously choose and how much did I inherit from expectations placed on me?

Untamed explores what happens when women stop living according to everyone else's expectations and begin listening to themselves again.

For women entering a new chapter, that message can feel incredibly freeing.

After decades of being daughters, mothers, partners, employees, caregivers and everything in between, we sometimes have to rediscover the woman underneath all those roles.

Read this if: You're asking yourself, Who am I now?

My takeaway: Reinvention isn't necessarily becoming someone new. Sometimes it's remembering who you were before the world told you who you were supposed to be.

[Find book here: Untamed]

---

3. The Gifts of Imperfection - Brené Brown

Best for: Learning to accept yourself as you are

Perfectionism can disguise itself as ambition, responsibility and having everything together.

But constantly trying to be enough for everyone can become exhausting.

Brené Brown's work explores vulnerability, shame, courage and what she calls wholehearted living.

For women entering midlife, there's something incredibly liberating about realizing that we don't have to earn our worth by being perfect.

We can stop auditioning for our own lives.

Read this if: You're hard on yourself, struggle with perfectionism or constantly feel like you should be doing more.

My takeaway: The goal isn't becoming perfect. It's becoming comfortable being fully yourself.

[Find book here: The Gifts of Imperfection]

---

4. Atomic Habits - James Clear

Best for: Actually changing your life instead of just thinking about it

Transformation sounds exciting. Habits aren't nearly as sexy. 😂

But our lives are largely shaped by what we repeatedly do.

Atomic Habits focuses on making small behavioral changes that compound over time instead of relying solely on motivation or dramatic overnight transformations.

That's especially helpful when you're starting a new chapter.

You don't need to reinvent your entire life by Monday morning.

• Start walking.
• Drink more water.
• Read ten pages.
• Write in your journal.
• Apply for the job.
• Start the business idea.
• Go to bed earlier.
• Keep one promise to yourself today.

Then do it again tomorrow.

Read this if: You know what you want to change but have trouble following through.

My takeaway: You don't create a new life in one giant leap. You create it through small decisions repeated consistently.

[Find book here: Atomic Habits]

---

5. Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife - Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Best for: Seeing midlife differently

I love the idea behind this book because it directly challenges the cultural narrative that midlife is simply the beginning of decline.

What if it isn't?

What if this stage is an opportunity to reassess your relationships, work, purpose and priorities using decades of experience you didn't have when you were younger?

There's something incredibly empowering about changing the question from:

"Am I getting too old?"

to:

"What can I do with everything I know now?"

Read this if: You're wondering what's next and want a more hopeful, thoughtful perspective on aging.

My takeaway: Experience isn't baggage. Used intentionally, it becomes wisdom.

[Find book here: Life Reimagined]

---

6. Quiet - Susan Cain

Best for: Women who have spent years believing they need to be louder to succeed

This one is especially meaningful for introverts, sensitive people and anyone who has ever wondered why our culture seems to celebrate the loudest person in the room.

Quiet explores the strengths introverts bring to relationships, leadership, creativity and work.

Midlife can be a beautiful time to stop trying to turn yourself into somebody else and instead understand how you're naturally wired.

You don't necessarily need a bigger personality.

You may simply need to start valuing the one you already have.

Read this if: You're introverted, thoughtful, sensitive or have spent years comparing yourself to more outgoing people.

My takeaway: You don't have to become louder to become more powerful.

[Find book here: Quiet]

---

7. It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now - Barbara Sher

Best for: The woman who thinks she missed her chance

The title alone deserves a place on this list.

One of the sneakiest lies we tell ourselves as we get older is:

"It's probably too late for me now."

Too late to change careers. Too late to start a business. Too late to travel. Too late to fall in love. Too late to get healthier. Too late to learn something new. Too late to become the woman you've been imagining.

But there's a pretty obvious problem with that thinking:

You're still here, which means your story is still being written.

Read this if: Fear about your age is keeping you from beginning something.

My takeaway: Starting later is still starting.

[Find book here: It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now]

---

The best book depends on the chapter you're in You don't need to read every self-help book ever written. Sometimes you just need the right message at the right time.

If you're struggling with other people's opinions, start with The Let Them Theory.

If you've lost touch with yourself, try Untamed.

If perfectionism is exhausting you, pick up The Gifts of Imperfection.

If you know what you want but aren't taking action, read Atomic Habits.

If you're questioning what midlife can look like, try Life Reimagined.

If you've spent years trying to become someone you're not, read Quiet.

And if a little voice keeps telling you that you've waited too long?

Read It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now.

But more importantly, remember this:

You are not starting over. You're starting from experience.

You have knowledge you didn't have at 20. You've survived things your younger self couldn't imagine. You've loved. Lost. Failed. Learned. Changed. Grown. You've discovered what matters to you and probably discovered quite a few things that don't.

So maybe this chapter isn't about becoming someone completely different. Maybe it's about finally giving yourself permission to become more fully yourself.

Turn the page. There's more to your story.

And you get a say in what happens next. 💛 Enjoy it!

---

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products and resources I believe may be helpful to my readers.

THE MIDLIFE RESET: Your Feel-Good Formula

The article below contains information that may help you to feel like yourself again. As with any wellness journey, you have to be willing to commit to change and accept the challenge of investing in yourself for at least twenty-one days.

This is for you if you are in midlife transition, postpartum, or going through a hormonal imbalance. As women, we go through a lot of ups and downs emotionally and physically and as much as we try, by the time we get to midlife, there are just some things we need help with. If you often finding yourself asking:

• Where is the old me with energy?
• Why am I so tired?
• Why do I feel like I’ve lost myself?
• How do I get my energy back?
• Is this menopause or am I just falling apart? 
• When did feeling good become so hard? 

Then you are probably ready for 21 Days to More Energy, Mental Clarity, Better Sleep & a Calmer Mind because midlife and postpartum isn’t the end of feeling amazing. It’s the beginning of putting yourself first.

Introducing the Rise + Vibe Midlife Reset.

If menopause or hormonal imbalance has changed you, it doesn’t have to define you.

I am here to share what will help you to:

• Feel clearer.
• Sleep better.
• Stress less.
• Wake up with more energy.

Start The Feel-Good Revolution with just 21 days because happiness starts with feeling well. 

Rise + Vibe isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about waking up with more energy thinking more clearly…handling stress with greater ease and becoming the version of yourself that’s been there all along.

One day. One habit. One drop. One scoop at a time.                                                                         

This is about having clean energy and not that jittery feeling when you drink coffee. This is about your brain fog lifting and having the desire to actual do things and not snap at people. 

Women don’t actually want to “just survive,” They want to feel good and thrive! They want themselves back.

When you feel well, you live well and it affects everything else in your life. Are you ready for the Feel-Good Club? 

It’s time you get back on track and become who you know you can be!  It’s time to feel good now!  

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products I personally use, genuinely believe in, or feel may provide value to my readers. Thank you for supporting

THE INVISIBLE BALANCING ACT SO MANY WOMEN CARRY

There is something people don't talk about enough when it comes to women balancing careers, family and everything in between. It's not just the meetings, deadlines, responsibilities or job titles. It's the life behind the scenes. 

For many women, especially mothers, the workday doesn’t end when they leave the office or close the laptop. It simply changes. One minute they're dealing with a boss or managing projects, solving problems, caring for patients, students, or clients. 

The next, they're making dinner, picking up kids from daycare or school, helping with homework, driving to sports practices, scheduling appointments, folding laundry, checking in on aging parents, and trying to keep everyone emotionally supported.

Whether you work in healthcare, education, business, retail, customer service, entrepreneurship, or any other profession, this invisible shift is familiar to countless women. As women we wear many hats, and even more so as moms.

The responsibilities may look different, but the emotional and mental load often feels remarkably similar. And somehow, many women are expected to do it all and do it well!

 

The Reality No One Sees

Behind so many successful women is an enormous amount of unseen effort. It's the early mornings before the rest of the house wakes up. It's answering emails from the school pickup line. It's remembering everyone's appointments while trying not to forget your own.

It's showing up with a smile after a restless night because your baby wouldn’t sleep, someone needed you, or because your own mind simply wouldn't slow down.

There is also an unspoken pressure many women quietly carry. The pressure to excel at work. The pressure to be present at home. The pressure to keep everything running smoothly. The pressure to make it all look effortless.

That kind of lifestyle requires far more than ambition. It requires endurance. And for some women who are dealing with health issues or mental wellness during midlife or hormonal imbalance, that endurance is often tested.

 

The Balancing Act That Often Goes Unnoticed

There is another part of this conversation that deserves more attention. For many mothers, the challenge isn't simply balancing work and family. It's balancing both while quietly wondering if being a mom has changed the way others see their potential.

Most employers genuinely want to support working parents, and many workplaces have become far more flexible than they were years ago. Yet, many women still worry about being overlooked for opportunities, passed over for promotions, or assumed to be "less available" simply because they have children.

Whether or not those assumptions are intentional, they can weigh heavily on women who are already giving everything they have.

The reality is that motherhood develops skills that rarely appear on a résumé.

Moms become expert planners, problem-solvers, negotiators, organizers, caregivers, teachers, crisis managers, and leaders. As moms we have to learn to adapt quickly, prioritize constantly, and make hundreds of decisions every single day. Those aren't weaknesses. They're strengths.

And yet many women still feel the need to prove they can be fully committed to their careers while also showing up for the people who matter most at home. That balancing act can become emotionally exhausting.

Add changing hormones, interrupted sleep, everyday stress, financial responsibilities, and the invisible mental load of keeping a household running, and it's no surprise that so many women end up feeling depleted. It can truly be exhausting. Not because they're doing something wrong, but because they're carrying more than most people ever realize.

Success Shouldn't Come at the Cost of Your Health

This is where I think many of us need to pause. Somewhere along the way, running on empty became something to celebrate and being exhausted became a badge of honor. Pushing through became the “norm,” but our bodies have a different way of communicating.

·       Persistent fatigue.
·       Difficulty concentrating.
·       Feeling emotionally drained.
·       Poor sleep.
·       Constant stress.
·       A lack of energy or motivation.

 

These experiences aren't simply things to ignore or accept forever as “just part of getting older.” They're reminders to slow down, pay attention, and ask ourselves what our bodies might be asking for, because what's the point of building a successful career if your health quietly disappears along the way? And this doesn't only apply to mothers.

It applies to every woman who has spent so much time caring for everyone else that she has forgotten how to care for herself.

 

The Oxygen Mask We All Need

You've probably heard the familiar message before every flight. "In the event of an emergency, secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others."

For many moms, that advice feels completely backwards. Your instinct is to help your child first or your spouse or the person sitting next to you. But there's wisdom in that instruction.

You cannot continue pouring into everyone else if your own cup is empty.

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's what allows you to continue caring for the people who depend on you. When you feel healthier, more rested, and more supported, everyone around you benefits too.

 

Wellness Isn't a Luxury - It's Part of the Foundation

We spend so much time talking about productivity, performance, promotions, and success. We spend far less time talking about what allows those things to be sustainable.

• Mental clarity.
• Emotional resilience.
• Quality sleep.
• Movement.
• Good nutrition.
• Managing stress.
• Supporting your body's changing needs through different seasons of life.

These aren't luxuries.

They're part of the foundation that allows us to live, work, and care for others well. When we begin supporting ourselves instead of simply surviving, everything else often becomes a little more manageable, not because life suddenly gets easier, but because we're better equipped to meet it.

 

Why This Matters So Much to Me

This is one of the biggest reasons I'm so passionate about holistic wellness. Not because I believe women need one more thing to add to their already full lives. Actually, quite the opposite. I believe women deserve simple, realistic ways to support themselves within the lives they're already living.

·       Small daily habits.
·       Better nourishment.
·       More intentional self-care.
·       Supporting energy naturally.
·       Creating space to rest without guilt.

 

None of these things make life perfect, but together, they can help us feel more grounded, more resilient, and more like ourselves again. Raising tiny humans, while balancing other responsibilities isn't always easy but you don't have to do it alone!

If you're reading this and quietly thinking, "This sounds like me," I want you to know something. You're not failing. You're not weak. And you're certainly not alone!

So many women are carrying responsibilities that the world never fully sees. You deserve the same care, compassion, and support that you so freely give to everyone else. Success doesn't have to come at the expense of your health. Your career matters, your family matters. And so do you.

A Gentle Reminder

Today, I simply want to leave you with a question. When was the last time you checked in with yourself instead of simply pushing through? Maybe today is the day you pause. Maybe today is the day you choose nourishment over guilt. Rest over constant hustle. Support instead of survival.

If you're looking for simple, natural ways to better support your health, energy, overall mental wellness, and everyday resilience, I'd be honored to share what's helped me and many other women along the way.

No pressure.

No perfection.

Just encouragement, practical ideas, and a reminder that you don't have to figure it all out by yourself. I understand what you may be carrying.

WHAT THE CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK REMINDS US ABOUT PROTECTING OUR GUT HEALTH

With all the talk recently about Cyclospora, which is a microscopic, single-celled parasite, that causes watery, "explosive" diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and nausea.  People typically get infected by consuming raw produce or water contaminated with the parasite.  It's a little nerve-wracking when you enjoy eating leafy greens, lettuce, berries and other raw produce.

I mean we can't live in fear, but the reality is that it is happening. Specifically, now in July 2026, there are several states investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in 5 states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Even if you never eat at Taco Bell, parasites are still an issue in the human body. 

For some reason, in the United States, we were always led to believe that this was a "third-world country" problem.  But truth be told, parasites play a major role in a lot of health problems. Just go look at the CDC's website.

An outbreak like Cyclospora is an important reminder that our digestive system is our body's first line of defense against many things we consume every day. Protecting our gut health is key.

Our gut does much more than digest food. It plays a role in:

•  Supporting a healthy immune system
•  Helping absorb nutrients from the foods we eat
•  Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome
•  Supporting the natural barrier between the contents of the   intestines and the rest of the body

When parasites like Cyclospora cayetanensis contaminate food or water, they can disrupt normal digestion and lead to symptoms such as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, nausea, bloating, and loss of appetite. Most healthy people recover, but symptoms can linger for weeks if left untreated.

Regardless of whether there is an outbreak or not, below are some tips we can always do to try to be as healthy as possible anytime.

What can we do?

While we can't eliminate every risk, there are practical steps we can take to support both food safety and gut health.

🥬 Wash fresh produce thoroughly.
Even produce that appears clean should be rinsed under running water before eating.

🧼 Practice good kitchen hygiene.
Wash your hands, cutting boards, and utensils before preparing food.

💧 Drink safe water.
When traveling to areas with questionable water quality, use bottled or properly treated water.

🌿 Eat a variety of fiber-rich foods.
Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains help nourish the beneficial bacteria that make up your gut microbiome.

🥣 Include fermented foods if they work for you.
Foods like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and fermented vegetables can contribute beneficial microbes to the diet.

😴 Prioritize sleep and manage stress.
Chronic stress and poor sleep can influence gut function and the balance of the gut microbiome.

💧 Stay hydrated.
Water supports healthy digestion and becomes especially important if someone develops diarrhea.

The recent Cyclospora outbreak isn't a reason to fear fresh produce. Fruits and vegetables remain some of the healthiest foods we can eat. Instead, it's a reminder that food safety and gut health go hand in hand.

A healthy lifestyle doesn't make someone immune to foodborne illness, but supporting your digestive system through balanced nutrition, hydration, regular movement, quality sleep, and good food-handling practices can help your body function at its best.

Sometimes the biggest takeaway from events like this isn't fear, it's awareness. Small, consistent habits can go a long way in supporting overall wellness, beginning with the remarkable ecosystem inside our gut. 🌿

I have always been passionate about helping people focus on wellness, and even more so now, with a focus on supporting gut health, reducing everyday toxic exposure where possible, and giving the body the nutrients it needs to function at its best.

If you've been interested in learning about a gentle detox, and heavy metal support protocol, I'd be happy to share the approach I've been using and recommending as part of a wellness-focused lifestyle.

We can't control every microorganism we're exposed to, but we can control how well we care for the incredible body we've been given. A resilient body begins with everyday choices supporting gut health, nourishing our cells, practicing good food safety, and creating healthy habits that help us thrive. Wellness isn't about living in fear; it's about living prepared.  

 Visit RiseandVibeBundle.com to learn how you can:

• -Improve Gut Health 
• -Aid in Detoxification 
• -Reduce Chronic Inflammation 
• -Increase Antioxidant Protection 
• -Enhances Mineral Absorption

 

Get a jump start on improving your gut health today! 

--

Lissette R.

Freelance Digital Marketing & Social Media, 

Graphic Design/Sales, MiaMoon Designs  

Holistic Health Advocate, Awaken Your Best Life

"Leave a Footprint Worth Following"

"Feel Well, Live Well."

(DISCLAIMER:  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Also contains affiliate links for rise and vibe bundle.)