My Story

I was born and raised in the beautiful Rocky Mountains so maybe it's no surprise that, today, my soul longs for all things natural: organic gardens- natural foods- and the great outdoors!

I recently found out- thanks to a DNA test- that my ancestry is Bohemian, Swiss and Welsh. Well! That explains it, doesn't it?! But, like each and every one of us, I am so much more than my heritage. I am also a survivor. A survivor, as it turns out, of catastrophic health issues and other difficulties.

Having been fairly healthy most of my life and not the least bit concerned with what I was eating- not interested in vegetable gardens and certainly not a "health-food nut," I was amazed to discover, in 2009, a budding interest in growing my own food and healthy eating. And so, randomly, I began to research all things related to the consumption of natural foods and how that related to health. Little did I know that approximately 6 years later my casual research would turn into an all-consuming fire as I battled severe symptoms that appeared to several doctors (and a few specialists) as baffling. And therefore, no long-term or effective treatments were prescribed. After a few years of prayer and voracious research, I visited my GP and asked her to do some hormone testing.

But let me back up. Let me tell you some of the crippling symptoms that began, incrementally, up to 15 years prior to the full onslaught of symptoms in 2015.

Passing out on the toilet due to a vasovagal response to overwhelming pain (and subsequent head bruises from the tub and floor I smashed into)
Chronically low blood pressure and fainting
Unsightly cystic acne all over my face
Yeast infections (candida overgrowth)
Debilitating migraines
Brain fog
Long & short-term memory loss
Severe stomach nausea and diarrhea
Painful cysts in lower abdomen
Possible ulcers

Every time I fainted on the toilet, I was tested for STD's ("Classic case of an STD," said one OGBYN) and every time the tests came back as negative. After a while, I told them not to bother testing for that. But they tested anyway, of course.

Meanwhile, I was studying. Reading everything I could get my hands on. Mostly from Naturopathic doctors at this point. I absorbed every book, article, & video and started piecing things together. I knew my hormones were way out of whack (what caused that, exactly, is still a mystery, though I have solid theories) and that is what brought me into my doctor's office. I asked her to test my hormones and do some ultra sounds. Sure enough, my estrogen levels were double, and almost triple what was normal. She told me that because my count was so high, she suspected cancers, tumors, and other disease entering into my body soon. I believe it had already started. She had some treatment. Chemicals and pills mostly. She never one time mentioned diet.

At this point, I knew enough to know that I wasn't going to go the chemical or pill route. I told her as much and let her know that I was going to research natural solutions, instead. About a year later we did more hormone testing and I was completely in range. But I knew that already. I could tell by how my body was responding to all the natural "treatments." And what were these treatments? Very simple things. Including managing diet through clean eating and limiting stress.

Today- unless I misbehave in my diet, or if my stress levels become abnormally high- I am symptom-free. And I feel as though my body has been reconstructing and recalibrating itself. All without the use of any pharmaceuticals. It's amazing!

And the more I read, the more I've come to realize that these principles apply across the board. I would venture to theorize (along with thousands of naturopaths and patients) that applying the basics of a healthy diet and limiting stress levels (and a few other things such as getting a good night's sleep & lots of fresh air and vitamin D) would eliminate almost all disease!

At the time of this writing, I have thirteen years of healthy-eating learning under my belt. Though I'm always, always, always learning better applications and strategies, I have established a streamlined routine that is flexible and will go a long way in helping you, too. It would be my privilege to share with you some of the things I have learned along the way. And I can help you understand how to facilitate your own ongoing research toward your own healthy healing.

I am not a doctor. And I'm not trying to act as one. But I am a success story and, in some cases, that may be better. Do I still visit my doctor for a check up every year? Sure. I value my local GP. (I have a new one now). But I have learned that, ultimately, my overall good health is in my hands and in the hands of the good Lord.

And that's just my health story. Don't even get me started on my organic gardening story!