This is when I decided to develop a better understanding of functional nutrition, biochemistry, and nutritional science by attending university to study my BSc degree in Health and Nutrition. The degree was heavily research-based, and through rigorous study of the most recent scientific evidence, I began to build the knowledge base and the confidence to guide my own nutritional choices as well as others’.

Before I started university I suffered from a range of hormonal issues. From painful periods to recurring cysts in my breasts and ovaries, I reached a point where my fatigue prevented me from getting out of bed and I struggled to get through the day without napping. Over time, my health declined; I experienced terrible brain fog, poor focus, anxiety, and frequent headaches. It felt as though both my brain and body were constantly stuck in survival mode. 

This is when I started looking for help. I visited doctors in Harley Street who ran comprehensive testing and prescribed expensive supplements. I saw an improvement for a week or so, before my health came crashing back down. When conventional medicine couldn’t provide me with the help I was looking for, I started reaching out for natural remedies. After visiting several herbalists, homeopaths, and nutritional therapists, I found that my symptoms were somewhat more manageable, but none of the practitioners I saw were able to identify the real cause of my problems. 

I began to feel as though my scientific education at university had been lacking something. Almost every medical and natural health practitioner I saw on my own health journey focused on individual symptoms and seemed unable to connect them with one another. 

I decided to take my health into my own hands and help myself by attending an open day at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. Their holistic approach blew me away. I decided to enrol in their course and get to know my body better, understand the relationship between each body’s systems, and learn how they work together.

As I deepened my studies and began expanding my knowledge base, I started implementing small changes. I completely changed my diet although my diet had always been healthy, I learned that it was not what my body needed at that time. I understood that my  body required certain nutrients that my diet had been missing and simply taking a multivitamin was not enough. I adjusted the doses of these required nutrients, taking into account my diet, lifestyle, stress level, and the environment I lived in. 

While I began to see improvements through making these changes, it wasn’t until I did functional tests that I was finally able to identify what was causing my symptoms. Running an extensive stool test revealed the poor condition of my digestive system and gut health, which contributed to my fatigue, brain fog, and chronic headaches. My poor gut health also contribute to my hormonal imbalances, which in turn explained my painful periods and recurrent cysts. I later ran a DUTCH test, which further identified adrenal problems as a cause of my terrible fatigue. 

Having a clear picture of what was happening in my body and finally understanding the root causes of my symptoms allowed me to implement the right protocol without second-guessing what my body needed. I made a full recovery by making changes to my diet, supplementation regimen, and lifestyle. Today I feel vibrant, energetic, and pain-free. I’m no longer in survival mode, and it feels amazing!