While I was just starting my studies, I discovered through my lectures that what I was experiencing in my gut, was a very en vogue condition called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). So off I went to get tested. We tested for SIBO, gut bacterial imbalance in the large intestines, yeast/fungal overgrowth in the large intestines…and I was positive for all of them. Full house!

And if I thought I felt like shit then, I was not prepared for how shit it was going to feel for the first month of taking herbal antibiotics. Nobody warned me about die off. That’s when the bacteria start rebelling and dying. Basically they release allll the toxic gas they have in that stage. And you look and feel like shit from about 1 week in, till about week 3 or 4. 

It really messed with my head too, as we now know that bacteria can also cross the blood brain barrier. Some days I had suicidal thoughts. But I always maintained an objective point of view, because I was aware this wasn’t ‘me’ or my usual pattern of thought. 

Fortunately, things slowly got better. I lost a lot of stubborn fat, which I had been trying to get rid of for years, because I was reducing my inflammatory load through my new diet and lifestyle. I got super strong at the gym and started hitting personal records. I even mastered doing unassisted chin ups (who wants to see the video??). 

So ultimately, this was a blessing in disguise. 

I may have never broken through these health plateaus. 

What if I was never sick and never really looked into my health? Without any delusion? 

What if I didn’t have my nutrition therapy education and just relied on doctors’ useless diagnosis (‘it’s all in your head’ and ‘what is SIBO?!’ were the usual responses). 

I am very grateful for my studies which have taught me not only a wealth of nutrition based knowledge, but also how to research studies – and how to properly assess the strength of a study. They also taught me that even if a great study claims a particular result, it is not the be all and all. 

Through the tools I gained from my education, I was able to drastically improve my own health and became even more passionate about helping others with theirs’, especially those with gut health problems. I have a special place in my heart for you, because I know how much it can impact you, mind, body and soul. 

If you have been diagnosed with IBS and you’d like to work with me on improving your health and working towards living your best life, contact me here.

I’m feeling so much better, and I’ve come a long way…which means I can be less stringent with my diet, but that’s because my health can handle it. It is also because my diet and lifestyle are still fundamentally healthy, because I know that’s what gives me the best overall performance in life. And that gives me some leeway for when I go a bit…hedonistic.