My curiosity for functional nutrition started at a young age. I was 12 years old when I started experiencing my most painful autoimmune symptoms. This included large ulcers on my mucous membranes that would last for weeks, in addition to signs of inflammation throughout my body. My mother, who had always valued real whole foods, would bring me green protein smoothies in bed on days I couldn’t eat, and frequently present me with new supplements and herbal remedies to take.
With so much going on in my body and environment, I had no ability to say whether any of these things were working. Although I valued them and sincerely believed in their power, to me, it felt like I was in perpetual pain. Needless to say, I became very depressed. The isolation that I felt in my both my pain and my identification with my illness were truly all-encompassing—I lived in that place. I experimented with alcohol and drugs at this time in my life, as a means to escape the sensations that I was feeling. Still just a teenager, I didn’t have the resources within me to be present with my experience, or the awareness that all of this was very normal.
Over the years, I have been on a journey of self-discovery and uncovering how we (humans!) really learn and transform. With dedicated shifts in my diet and lifestyle, I am fortunate to be as healthy as I have ever been. I don’t underestimate the impact of yoga, meditation, and mindset to my healing—with stress in all its forms being a common trigger for autoimmunity. I also hold dear to my heart the recipes that I have developed over the years that continue to nourish my mind, body, and soul. Delicious foods are important to our culture, and I am so thankful for my years in the restaurant industry, giving me the experience to achieve delicious in the context of what makes me feel my best.
Today, I use mindfulness to help people cope with their pain, process emotions, and overcome emotional barriers. Mindfulness practice can help us deepen our relationships with the ones we love, remind us what’s important to us, and give us a pathway back to our own hearts. It teaches us the skillful means to come into the present moment, no matter our external circumstances. It teaches us to be gentle with ourselves, how to include ourselves in our circles of compassion, and then how to widen our circles to include others.
Remembering that my ultimate goal is to help people live fully, I can’t help but want to touch on all of the things that I have learned over the years that help me do just that. I hope that in some way this helps you on your own journey.
With love,