The Healthspan Advantage This Community Already Has
- Dr. Tessa Damm
- Feb 10
- 2 min read
I felt a quiet pause as I was introduced that evening.
Not because I doubted the value of what I was about to share. I know, with clinical certainty, that mastering metabolism can change the entire trajectory of a woman’s life.
The pause came from something else. This room of women already had one of the most powerful drivers of healthspan figured out.
Connection.
As a physician, I’ve spent decades caring for people at the far end of the disease spectrum. Critical illness. Organ failure. Lives narrowed by conditions that did not appear overnight.
Now, my work lives at the other end of the continuum. With women who feel “mostly fine.” Busy. High-functioning. Capable.
And often unknowingly living with early metabolic dysfunction that quietly sets the stage for the outcomes we fear most.
Diabetes.
Heart disease.
Stroke.
Dementia.
Many cancers.
When I walked into the monthly networking event of the Gunnison Valley Women’s Network, I could feel it immediately. This was not just a networking event. It was a sacred space.
Women across generations and professions. Listening. Laughing. Making eye contact. Asking thoughtful questions.
That kind of social and intellectual engagement is not a “nice extra.” It is foundational to a life well lived.
Yes, we talked about protein. And fat. And why guessing is not a strategy when it comes to your biology.
We talked about metabolism as the engine that drives energy, clarity, resilience, and longevity. And why nine out of ten adults are metabolically unhealthy without knowing it.
But what struck me most was this: The women in that room already understood something medicine often ignores. Health is not built in isolation.
Community matters.
Curiosity matters.
Belonging matters.
Those are pillars of healthspan just as real as muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function.
To be welcomed into that space was an honor. To share ideas, ask questions together, and learn alongside one another was a gift.
The Gunnison Valley Women’s Network is not just building professional connections. They are quietly doing the work of extending not just lifespan, but a life worth living.
And that is something very worth celebrating. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, you’re welcome to continue it with me at my Substack, The Healthspan Rebellion, where I share ongoing reflections on metabolism, longevity, and living well.
--
Dr. Tessa W. Damm
Physician & Founder of Metabolic Transformations™
Comments