No Twinkies or Ho-Hos in our house…

As a kid, I felt SO deprived of the sugar and junk food all the other kids were eating. You can bet NO ONE would trade for my lunch of a meatloaf sandwich on homemade whole wheat bread, a hard-boiled egg, an apple, and, if we were lucky, a Fig Newton. Sadly, we teenagers didn't fully appreciate Mom's healthy homemade lunches!

Once I got to college, my healthy eating went out the window. Even though I'd taken Nutrition 101, I ate whatever junk food I could get my hands on. I was a "junk-food-vegetarian"!

Like many college kids on a budget, my diet consisted almost entirely of Captain Crunch Berries for breakfast (with juice on it because I didn't like milk), ramen noodles for lunch, and neon-orange mac-n-cheese from a box for dinner.

I'd become a vegetarian after seeing the Diet for a Small Planet documentary, and my diet WAS vegetarian, right?! Yikes! It makes me cringe just thinking about the lack of nutrients I was getting.

With a diet like that, it's no surprise my health started going sideways as a young adult.

Little did I know that I was allergic to dairy and eggs and couldn't digest gluten. My hormones were also so out of balance while taking birth control pills that I popped Advil like candy each month. No wonder I developed an ulcer and, years later, was diagnosed with celiac disease.

A note about medications: Oral contraceptives and ibuprofen aren't without risks. Both can affect the gastrointestinal system, and certain medications can alter the gut microbiome. My own experiences have made me particularly interested in understanding these effects and their potential long-term implications.

My wellness journey continues...

After years of searching for answers to my own health challenges, often without much help from conventional healthcare providers, I began exploring approaches beyond conventional medicine. That search eventually led me back to school, a midlife career change, and a whole new direction.

After 30 years in the high-tech world as a web and graphic designer, I became a Holistic Health & Nutrition Coach. In 2020, I returned to school again to deepen my knowledge of naturopathic and functional wellness and became a board-certified Naturopathic & Functional Wellness Coach. I also became a Reiki Master and a Certified Emotion Code Practitioner to further explore the mind-body-spirit connection that's so important to holistic health.

But here's the thing: my education hasn't given me all the answers, either. I'm still learning about my own body, still connecting the dots, and still discovering how much there is to understand about health. And honestly, I think that's one of the most valuable things my wellness journey has taught me.

Today, I combine what I’ve learned through my own journey with my education and experience to help others find answers and feel their best.

Do you know where toxins lurk in your life?

One of the most shocking things I learned in my studies is just how many thousands (somewhere between 80,000 and 800,000!) of environmental toxins we are all exposed to EVERY DAY.

From phthalates and other chemicals used in personal care products to certain pesticides and herbicides in our food, these exposures can add up. Some chemicals can interfere with hormone function, while others have been associated with other health concerns. And that's only part of the picture.

It changed the way I look at everything from personal care products to laundry detergent. I've become much more aware of the ingredients in the products I use and the ways I can reduce unnecessary exposures in my everyday life.

Learning about environmental toxins has become one of my biggest passions. I love discovering healthier alternatives and sharing what I learn along the way. (Download my FREE e-book "Hiding in Plain Sight.")

The omnivore's dilemma

Even after studying nutrition and functional medicine, I keep learning new things about my body. I love being a health detective, paying attention to the clues and cues my body gives me, and figuring out what they might mean.

One of my biggest lessons came from a change I never expected to make.

My husband, Kirk, and I were vegetarian/vegan for more than 30 years. But a few years ago, we discovered that we were both nutrient deficient. We were particularly low in protein, iron, B vitamins, and other key nutrients and trace minerals.

These deficiencies actually landed Kirk in the hospital for a bit, so we knew we needed to make some dietary changes.

Ironically, my naturopath and acupuncturist had been encouraging me to add some animal protein to my diet for YEARS, but at the time, I didn't want to.

Eventually, we added wild-caught fish and organic, free-range poultry back into our diets, worked on rebuilding our gut microbiomes, and added supplements to help address our deficiencies.

We aim to get most of our nutrients from food, but we also take some supplements, including liver capsules. I understand the nutritional value of organ meats like liver, but you can't pay me to eat them as food! Supplements are my workaround.

Every body is different, especially as we age

I still believe in eating a predominantly plant-based diet, but my experience has taught me that there's no single approach that works for everyone. Our nutritional needs and ability to digest and absorb nutrients can change throughout our lives.

Vegetarians and vegans, in particular, need to pay attention to getting adequate protein, iron, B vitamins, and other essential nutrients. But nutrient deficiencies aren't limited to any particular diet. Factors such as low stomach acid, digestive issues, and impaired absorption can make it harder to get what we need from food.

As we added animal protein back into our diets, my once-thinning hair started growing thicker again. That spoke volumes to me. And after more than 30 years as vegetarians/vegans, we both feel physically healthier and have more energy now that we eat some animal protein.

That being said, we strive to eat as ethically, sustainably, and humanely as possible. And we always give gratitude to the plants and animals that help sustain us.

Hopefully, you're getting the picture that a wellness journey takes a lifetime and changes along the way, as you do. Mine certainly has!