10 Lessons from My Journey Through Every Diet: Vegan to Carnivore and Beyond

For years, I delt with the frustration of navigating the complex world of health and nutrition. It felt like every new diet brought with it a fresh set of rules and contradictions, leaving me wondering if I’d ever truly feel like myself again. I knew my struggles weren’t unique, but that didn’t make them any less challenging.

Driven by a quest for clarity, and results, I tried virtually every diet trend out there—from juice cleanses and extreme fasting to raw veganism and carnivore.

Here’s What I Discovered About Nutrition:

1. Protein Reigns Supreme

Amidst all the diet chaos, one truth became undeniable: protein is the most crucial macronutrient for your health. It’s the building block for your hormones, metabolism, immune system, gut turnover, circulatory system and muscle and tissue repair.

2. Red Meat: A Nutrient Powerhouse

Contrary to common misconceptions, red meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. It’s rich in essential nutrients that you can't get from plant-foods, and even other animal-foods. I make sure to eat red meat at least once per day, if not more. 

3. Carbs Are Not the Enemy

Carbohydrates have been unjustly demonized, and have actually been tremendously helpful in healing my thyroid and improving my body composition. I learned through my HTMA test I had a slow metabolic rate and my body would run more efficiently with more carbs. When chosen wisely, they are a vital source of energy and essential nutrients.

4. Embrace Healthy Fats

Fat isn’t your foe. Healthy fats play a critical role in hormone production, brain function, and overall health. Did you know your brain is made of mostly fats? 

5. Minerals: The Essential Life Force

Minerals are fundamental to every cell’s function. The determine how every system in your body functions. Ensuring adequate intake is crucial for maintaining energy and vitality.

6. The Importance of Prebiotics

Prebiotics are essential for a healthy gut. They nourish beneficial bacteria, supporting optimal digestion and overall gut health. I've actually found prebiotics to be way more helpful than probiotics, especially in my gut-troubled clients. 

7. Probiotics from Supplements: Not Always Effective

Pills and supplements don’t always deliver the gut health benefits they promise, especially probiotics. We first have to ask "what is the role of probiotics in the body?". Answer: to detoxify pathogens and toxins in the gut. Many clients struggle with them and often it's because they simply are not ready for that level of detoxification. Whole foods and natural sources often provide more effective results.

8. The Dangers of Chronic Under-Eating

Consistently eating too little can wreak havoc on your metabolism, tank your thyroid, adrenals, mess with your sleep and make your body feel unsafe. Trust me, I know! I tried to survive on 1200 calories for almost a decade. Now I eat about 2,200 and enjoy better body composition, more energy, healthy hormones, more energy and restful sleep. The female body must feel safe to heal –– and that includes feeding her. 

9. Hydration Goes Beyond Water

Water alone doesn’t equal proper hydration. Electrolytes and minerals are needed for maintaining balance, allowing nutrients and water to actually enter the cell and supporting bodily functions. This is why you could drink a gallon of water and still have lab markers and symptoms of dehydration. 

10. The Human Body Doesn't Make Mistakes

Everything the body does is with intention and purpose –– and that purpose is survival. For example, the body doesn't accidentally make too much cholesterol. In many cases, it serves important physiological purposes for healing and repair. I've learned that we need to trust that the body knows more than we do, and our job is to understand it's methods. 

Trust Your Body Over Fad Diets

In a world flooded with conflicting dietary advice, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if the answers lie in something much simpler—nature? Instead of chasing every new diet trend, let's consider how nature intended us to eat. By looking to nature, we can understand what was readily available to our ancestors and why certain foods are only available seasonally.

Interestingly, some diet fads echo the natural cycles of eating. Intermittent fasting mimics periods of food scarcity, while paleo diets reflect the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. These trends, when not taken to extremes, can offer insights into how our we are meant to thrive.

Our bodies are a part of nature and thrive when nourished by it. The same principles that govern the natural world apply to us. Just as plants and animals flourish when they follow their natural rhythms, so do we. Fad diets often overlook this intrinsic connection, promoting extreme measures that can disrupt our natural balance.

By grounding our approach to nutrition in the timeless wisdom of nature, we can navigate the noise of conflicting nutrition advice and find a sustainable, balanced way to eat. Trusting nature and our bodies over fleeting trends leads to lasting health.

How This Journey Transformed My Practice

As a Functional Nutritionist, my perspective has evolved significantly from my early education. I’ve invested thousands of dollars and years of research into understanding what truly supports health and wellness. Much of my knowledge comes from personal experience, experimentation, continuous education and the continuous refinement of my approach.

And in that experience, I’ve honed a practical approach to nutrition and health:

• Prioritize high-quality protein sources (animal-foods)
• Support mineral balance and adequate hydration
• Customize fat and carb intake based on the metabolic season your body is in
• Choose whole foods the majority of the time 
• Eat locally and seasonally when possible 

My experiences have shaped my mission to revolutionize the way we do healthcare, and empowering women to reclaim their health!

If you'd like some support and expert guidance along the way, here's some ways I can help.