My Story

I feel more energetic and clear minded now than I’ve ever felt before.  I had rheumatic fever twice as a kid so had to take massive amounts of antibiotics, and while they saved my life, they ruined my gut health and caused many long term consequences.  A car accident at the age of 24 started degeneration in my neck and lower back so by the time I was 51, I could barely move and felt like I was 90.  After trying just about everything around from pills to acupuncture and beyond, I happened upon the Functional Medicine approach to eliminating foods that cause inflammation in my body.  WOW!  In just a few days my pain started to diminish and I started to feel like I was living life again.  My friends all thought I was weird back then thinking that food could be the root of my pain but I found more and more evidence of it and support from the Functional Medicine community.  

My new diet initially eliminated all grains, dairy, sugar, soy, and peanuts.  What’s a girl to eat?!  Perseverance kicked in and I found amazingly creative ways to make whole, real food that was satisfying and nourishing for my unique body while I healed.  My sugar monster quietly receded, my head cleared, my energy emerged and I was back in control of my life.  Simple achievable steps, and a painful reminder from my body keeps me moving forward when temptation gets the best of me and triggers inflammation.  Learning how to reintroduce food and eat right for my body was key to my success.  I’m still changing for the better every day and loving the journey forward.

Functional Medicine taught me about the importance of supporting a healthy gut microbiome through food & lifestyle choices.   Yes, my food choices were critical to regaining health but with the addition of sleep hygiene, meditation, exercise, forest bathing and gratitude I started to joyfully flourish.  Learning how to ferment foods properly and adding back in the missing microbes of my youth has also put a kick in my step.  I know, it sounds like it takes a lot of time but finding creative ways to support my body and mind in this oh so busy world was key.

I lost both my mother and her mother to complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease and I found out that I have the dreaded genetics that make me susceptible too.  Finding out my APO status has empowered me to learn how to keep those genes from getting turned on and flourish.  Happily, the changes that I started making back in 2013 were exactly what I needed to do to reduce inflammation and support my body and mind.  

I became a Certified Fermentationist in 2016.  This certification taught me all about the importance of good microbes for our gut health and the science behind it all.  I love teaching people how to ferment properly and ways to use their ferments in unusual ways.   Probiotic potato salad anyone?

My personal health journey made me realize that Functional Medicine was where my heart lived so I became a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach January 2018 and a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach July 2018.  November 2020 I completed a CHEF Culinary Coach certification adding the skills to incorporate empowering people to cook nutritious food in their own home.

 

I volunteered on the APOe4.info site during and after my coaching certification and completed the ReCODE 2.0 Bredesen Protocol training November of 2021.  I regret that I didn't have the tools to help my mother with cognitive decline but am thrilled to be able to not only age well myself but also assist you on YOUR journey in figuring out your best WELLness.

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