Tell us about your background and how you found yourself starting your own business focused on holistic health and nutrition.

I grew up an athlete and from a young age was conscious about what I ate, but in high school I had a lot of digestive issues. I went to college and got my first degree in health and exercise science and came out of school thinking I had landed my dream job training professional athletes. From that experience and being a body builder as well as still dealing with gut health issues, I started doing my own research and realized that it was all about what I was putting in my body that mattered most, for both my physical and mental health.

I was so eager to learn more about how I could heal my body naturally and feel the best results I was after and decided to go back to school to get my master’s in nutrition. After graduation, I moved to Portland, Oregon, and worked under a naturopath for several years while building my business that I have now on the side. I learned even more that the ultimate goal is to get the body into balance, and that doing so in a natural way is the best way to improve health and see and feel results. This led me to Shifting Nutrition and helping my clients today.

Why do you think it is important to combine good nutrition with education for your clients?

I am all about using whole foods as medicine to change lives, not a quick fix in 30 days. I find if clients understand why – the purpose behind it – it makes all the difference. The education piece on why we are doing what we are doing and eating what we are eating is what makes new healthy habits stick and become sustainable in the long run. In order to continue to do something we must understand WHY we are doing it. For example, why eating a wide variety of vegetables is important; not just the different vitamins and minerals, but how eating a wide variety of plants brings different nutrients. Or why taking a probiotic supplement can benefit your overall health. The wider the variety of beneficial bacteria present in our body, the better our gut health. I truly believe knowledge is power!

Do you recommend probiotics for all your clients? What benefits do you see to adding probiotics to your daily regimen?

I recommend probiotics for the majority of people. Some are ready; others need some time before introducing probiotics. It depends on where they are in their journey. The overall goal of taking them is to balance the ecosystem within our bodies and influence the activity of the healthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, which research now shows is necessary for improving our overall health. Many Americans eat a diet and live a lifestyle that causes dysbiosis, a bacterial imbalance within primarily the stomach and intestines. This can stem from too much sugar, food additives, lingering pesticides, drinking too much alcohol, and even high levels of stress and anxiety. Common symptoms my clients experience include bad breath, upset stomach, constipation or diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. So, yes, for most people I believe a probiotic can help.

The gut-brain axis is a critical connection in our bodies, and you mention it in several of your posts. How do you help educate your clients about this connection that they may not have heard about before?

When we get the feeling of butterflies in our stomach, this tells us the gut and brain are very connected. What we call the gut-brain axis is how the two organs communicate. Our gut contains 500 million neurons that send signals back and forth in both directions. They are also connected through chemicals called neurotransmitters, which control feelings and emotions. GABA and serotonin are transmitters present in the gut that link to mood, sleep, and feelings of anxiety. We also have trillions of microbes in the gut, which make chemicals that affect how our brain and the rest of our body works including how our immune system responds. This axis shows the importance of taking care of our gut health in order to bring the body into balance and start to diminish some symptoms.

How do you see EndoMune Metabolic Rescue benefitting clients or people looking to lose weight?

I do recommend Metabolic Rescue for naturally curbing appetite and cravings. I guide my clients to work with their bodies, not against them.  When we are in tune with our bodies we are more in tune with our appetite and better at reading our body. We learn more about our true eating habits. Why are we eating? Out of boredom, because someone else around us is eating, or eating just because it’s time for a meal rather than feeling hungry. Reading our body better will naturally start to lower overall caloric intake without our feeling restricted. I am all about the mindset when it comes to food, and I think feeling restricted is one of the biggest things people struggle with. Taking EndoMune Metabolic Rescue, which is not harmful yet beneficial toward reaching their goals, I think is great.

What changes did you see in your own body when you started taking EndoMune Advanced and Metabolic Rescue?

I loved them pretty quickly; it only took a couple of days to notice a difference. The strains and combination were exactly what I wanted and was looking for in a probiotic, which is entirely important when choosing a brand. I had some inflammation and digestive issues like bloating and gas calm down, and my bowels were more regular. Over the haul, it eased cravings and I noticed my natural energy improve. My immune system seemed stronger, as I did not catch the colds my boyfriend caught.  I knew it was doing the job.