Some background
In my early 20s, I experimented with loads of ‘diets’. Honestly, calling my eating habits a ‘diet’ is generous. From severe calorie restriction, to pumping my body with chemically enhanced protein shakes, I tried it all. Whatever I had to do to stay slim while still entertaining a party-lifestyle, that was my goal. And to be honest, it worked...for awhile at least. We can only run on empty for so long. After a couple of years, my body had had enough. I began having uncomfortable gut issues, cystic acne, decreased energy, and migraines.
What to do? I was exhausted with all the health fads and sick of counting calories. There were just so many differing opinions about what was “healthy”. I just wanted a straightforward answer and I wasn’t finding one in any of the health magazines stacked on my bedside table. Thankfully my parents raised me on whole foods & home-cooked meals. So I went back to my roots. I began eating and cooking real, whole foods. I stopped counting carbs and learned to enjoy a slice of pizza once in awhile. I took time to chew and savor my food. Sleep became a higher priority, so did my morning yoga routine. Sure enough my body answered with a resounding "THANK YOU!" I noticed improvements. It wasn't a magic pill, but I was on my way.
"We can only run on empty for so long."
A few years later
I moved to Basel, Switzerland to start life with a wonderful man who won my heart on the shores of Portugal (that’s another story). In Switzerland, I found a more intentional, natural way of life. One that greatly reduced my stress-load. I learned that stress relief comes in many forms, spending time outdoors, connecting with new friends, taking time to just sit and be silent. My body felt like mine again, I was finally able to let go and breathe.
And then the unthinkable
In 2017, that same wonderful man- my now husband- was diagnosed with an aggressive, form of sarcoma cancer. To say this diagnosis came as a surprise would be a massive understatement… we were devastated.
In my husband’s case, like many others, the exact cause could not be identified. Chemotherapy & radiation were the recommended treatments. Despite our major misgivings against such invasive and debilitating therapies, they seemed to be our only option. Unfortunately, none of the alternative methods were backed by enough research... or so we were told. And the tumor was growing. The stakes were simply too high to take a chance.
During my husband’s treatment, we researched incessantly. Our main concern was boosting his immune system to keep him strong and well during therapy. Once we began digging we were astonished at the amount of studies and medical trials we found! One after another supported the same conclusion that “What we eat & how we live really does make ALL the difference.” So we made changes. No more sugar, no more synthetic processed junk, ever! We started buying only organic. Green smoothies packed with immune boosters like chaga and astragalus became breakfast. We started taking time to meditate and learned healing breathing techniques. And we prayed, A LOT.
The treatment was a hellish experience but my husband only got sick once during his 5 months of therapy. The cancer shrunk more than the doctors’ expected and 8 months after the initial diagnosis, they were able to remove the tumor. He’s now in remission.
So what am I saying?
"Conventional medicine was never meant to stand alone as our only form of care. Functional medicine and holistic health are needed to bridge the gap and keep us well."
I’m saying that Hippocrates was right. Food is medicine! And how we live everyday directly affects our longterm well-being. I'm also not claiming that nutrition alone cured my husband. Absolutely not. The advancements in conventional medicine are incredible and we should all be grateful to have access to such life-saving technology. However, conventional medicine was never meant to stand alone as our only form of care. Functional medicine and holistic health are needed to bridge the gap and keep us well.
And that’s what led me to study Holistic Health at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I had seen the healing power of whole food and stress-relief firsthand. I wanted to learn more and help others do the same.
Today...
I see a generation of over-stressed women approaching what should be the best years of life. Marriage, starting a family, career advancement, self discovery; these should be times of joy. But they're not. Why? Because symptoms like gut issues, migraines, weight gain, low energy, and insomnia are getting in the way. Instead of medicating this issues to sleep, I want to help women learn to use these symptoms as guiding lights the way back to health and a more vibrant, connected way of life.
