As a Bellingham, WA local I am an avid outdoors woman, enjoying the wonders of nature we have here in the Pacific Northwest. If I am not working, you can find me sharing a delicious meal with family or friends, behind a camera lens, knee deep in research articles, or adventuring with my husband and son.
My interest for nutrition began when I was an undergraduate at Western Washington University. In my free time I read nutrition textbooks and cookbooks, and even worked at a local health food store. I began to notice my health change for the better and consequently inspired those around me to do the same. My passion for nutrition never ceased and I went on to study it further at Bastyr University, completing their Master's in Nutrition Program and their Didactic Internship. Initially, when starting my private practice I wanted to work with all types of patients and health conditions to further enhance my general knowledge. Eventually, I began to focus my attention on gut health. Not only because many people are struggling silently with chronic digestive issues but because the consequences of an inflamed gut are far reaching. If we do not digest and absorb our food properly, we are not benefiting from the healthy (or not so healthy) foods we eat. Nutrient deficiencies, leaky gut, food intolerances, hormone imbalances, and much more can develop. More and more research has been highlighting how the gut microbiome can impact the development of chronic disease. As Hippocrates once said, "Health and disease begins in the gut". Recently, I became a new mom, which brought to light the lack of quality nutrition support for women wanting to conceive, during pregnancy, AND postpartum. I was distraught to find out that often nutrition is rarely talked about when women are struggling to conceive AND during the postpartum phase. During the 6 months leading up to conception, during pregnancy, and the year following birth, proper nutrition (and absorption) is essential! However, often this population is not getting the expert nutrition guidance needed to support optimal health for mama and baby. More often women are getting mixed messages, "you can eat whatever you want during pregnancy" and "bounce back to your pre-pregancy body with this fad diet and exercise routine". All of which can cause more harm than good. Nutrient status, gut health, lifestyle, and environmental factors are especially important in women who are struggling with amenorrhea (lack of period), infertility, and/or have had multiple miscarriages. Simply taking an over the counter multivitamin will not work! Therefore, with my in depth knowledge of the gut and women's health, I have helped many patients meet their health goals, including alleviating irritating gut symptoms and helping women conceive successfully after many years of trying. It is my passion to provide expert nutrition guidance and make a lasting positive change in someone's life! |
"Our bodies are beautiful machines that need tender love and care to work optimally."
"A healthy outside starts from the inside."-Robert Urich