Functional Moms

It started with my daughter…In 2012, my 9-month-old daughter was diagnosed with multiple life-threatening food allergies, including peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and eggs. She was also chronically ill with viruses, colds, and ear infections. She was my third child, and I didn’t understand how she could always be so sick. Physicians gave me little hope that she would outgrow these allergies and her constant sicknesses resulted in multiple rounds of antibiotics.But I was sick too…Around this time, I became very sick myself with a bacterial gut infection after a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection. Since my twenties, I had suffered from digestive issues and had visited gastroenterologists and general practitioners, hoping to get some help. I was diagnosed with IBS and sometimes prescribed medications that didn’t really seem to eliminate my issues.Then my 5-year-old son…Shortly afterward, my 5-year-old son was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and behavior issues. He was suffering from learning disabilities. Around this time, I sought help from a functional nutritionist who opened my eyes to the possibility that the food my family was eating could contribute to our chronic health problems.What did all of these health problems have in common?Even though I considered myself to be a health-conscious eater, I didn’t realize how food impacts our bodies, contributing to inflammation and disease. Our guts had been damaged by pesticides, food additives, antibiotics, and excess sugar. However, the journey to better health was confusing for me. I had to learn and search for new ways of eating, mostly through trial and error. Sometimes I wanted to give up or just return to our old ways of eating and living. Changing lifestyle habits isn’t easy; the process takes time and perseverance. The payoff has been huge, and my family is much healthier than ever.Partnering to help other familiesAs a result of my family’s healing journey, I studied to become a functional medicine certified health coach (FMCHC), graduating in February 2022 from the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy (FMCA). Health coaching is a personalized way of helping people realize their optimal health by allowing the client to explore how lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress and relationships, nutrition, and movement influence their state of wellness. I provide a supportive space allowing individuals to set their own vision and work at their own pace with me as an educator, guide, and accountability partner. We rarely have the opportunity to share our dreams for the future with someone who can help us make them a reality through realistic goal setting and support when things get challenging.