I wasn’t feeling good for a really long time (think decades)...and when I saw my kids start down the same path I knew enough was enough.

As luck would have it, my husband was playing for the Lakers around that time and they had just hired an amazing Doctor and holistic Nutritionist (Dr. Cate Shanahan) to work with the players to optimize their nutrition.

Working with Cate ignited a spark inside me. I saw firsthand the power of nutrition to change the way we feel and to control our epigenetics (that’s a fancy way of saying your genes don’t have the final say, the environment you’re in influences the expression of the genes).

After that I dove into the research, read countless books, worked with some incredible doctors and was able to get myself, and my family on the path to true health.

At the time I already had a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, which was an amazing foundation upon which to build my education as a holistic nutritionist. So much of what we eat, what we do, and how we feel is based on psychology. 

Next up, I attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and learned from some of the world’s best doctors such as Dr Mark Hyman, founder of Cleveland Clinic’s Functional Medicine Clinic; Dr Frank Lipman, founder of Be Well Medical Center; Dr Andrew Weil, Director of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr David Katz, Director of Yale University Prevention Research center, and many more. 

I studied practical lifestyle management techniques, innovative coaching methods, over 100 dietary theories, preventative health, Ayurveda, acupuncture, herbal remedies, homeopathy, traditional foods, supplements, and more.

But that wasn't enough for me.

Next up was a certification in the AutoImmune Protocol. My AIP training was deeply entrenched in the science of the immune system which allowed me to gain a better understand of exactly what goes wrong in a patient with autoimmune illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma and more, but more importantly, how to fix it using strategic diet and lifestyle modifications. 

And finally, I completed a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Human Performance. 

And of course I won't stop there either. The world of nutrition and health is ever evolving, and being a great holistic nutritionist necessitates constant learning. Good thing I like to learn.