GENTLE NUDGES

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Our story goes back many years so it may take a minute to read.

And it's me, Jackie writing on behalf of the both of us in case you don't pick up on that right away (wink).

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Most of you know by now that I'm

"Mama" to 4 perfect little people (my best teachers), a wife to the most amazing man ever (seriously, even on the bad days, I'm usually to blame) and I am currently pioneering my way to good health. 

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The journey to regain my health actually began 11 years ago when my oldest son was really, really sick. At just 3 years old, he had been to see every doctor under the sun- The Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, Allergist, Infectious Disease etc... No one could tell us why our little boy was so sick.

He was on antibiotics monthly for chronic pneumonia and looking back on video, my poor dude couldn't even breathe out of his nose- like ever.

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After endless testing, Leukemia was finally ruled out, which was a huge relief. 

Talk about life's stressful moments... Nothing compares to those moments of waiting.

Yet, we were still left with no answers.

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Until....  I made a trip to Med Express for a sore throat and met a Dr. who would help change the trajectory for not only my son's health, but mine too.

She is an allopathic (conventional) physician but came from a family of natural medicine doctors in her homeland of Germany.  Her Father was the founder of a homeopathic (alternative medicine) remedies company that began in the 50's called Arcana. 

As a rebel, she rejected homeopathy and came to the states to train in western medicine- only to find that the truth was in her roots all along. Discouraged, what she found is Americans looking for an easy pill and a quick fix to their chronic illness. It went against everything she believed in. 

She shared her wisdom, both conventional & alternative and helped catapult my passion for natural heath. After that visit at Med Express, she sent me home without the protocol for a script and instead told me to put potatoes on my neck. Huh?

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Under her unofficial advice and "care", within a matter of weeks, my son was no longer sick. I literally just stopped feeding him string cheese, yogurt and whole milk. 

We had health once again- for the most part. 

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I began diving into every book I could find, every online community that would shed light on natural healing, and as I learned, I grew in my knowledge of food as medicine. I began to clean out my cupboards and would only buy organic, non-gmo and chemical free food, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, deodorant, soaps and toothpaste, you name it!

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We lived like that for a while.

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Then came baby #2 and quickly thereafter baby #3.

Life got crazy- real fast.

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After baby #3, there was a major shift in my body. 

6 weeks postpartum I broke out in psoriasis. If you've ever seen it- it's horrifying- not to mention it's a major vanity-check. You have red splotches all over your body. You cannot hide them. 

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The dermatologist told me they " know my body is attacking itself and that I have an autoimmune disease, but they don't know what causes it and there is no cure". They sent me home with a bag of potions & lotions and a pharmacy phone number where I'd have to order special medicine that is not available anywhere else. 

I threw the bag away, went on a heavily restricted diet for 6 weeks- determined that my diet could cure me....

and it did.

 

But- I never fully regained my health.

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For 4 years, my symptoms included  "classically symptomatic" of M.S. among many others.

I'd have numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I lacked (and still do somewhat) mental clarity. I suffered widespread, arthritic-like pain and dexterity challenges, chronic fatigue and often had soaking night sweats. My periods were erratic and my lymph nodes were perpetually hard and swollen. I had (and am still overcoming) adult acne-which is now considered an auto-immune disease as well and systemic inflammation throughout my body, unexplained dizziness and floaters in my eyes.

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I've sought the counsel of Family Physicians that have ordered wide panel tests. Eventually, an Internal Medicine Physician ordered a CT to look for lymphoma.  

Second scariest moment of my life.

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Nothing. No REAL answers.

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Possible "touch of Hashimotos" (which is an autoimmune disease)... but nothing conclusive.

I'm healthy? 

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I've had OBGYNs do expensive, broad hormone panel. "Possible poly cystic ovarian syndrome and maybe slightly elevated hormone levels" but nothing definitive. 

What? 

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As I trace back my history of health, it's never been very good.

I grew up in the 80's-90's in a smoking home, raised on a diet of lasagna and Stouffer's mac n cheese, General Mills cereal and lunch meat with chips (no offense Mom- you didn't know better).

Pepsi and Sprite were staples in our pantry. Before the age of 7, I had what probably amounted to a dozen or more more doses of antibiotics for strep throat and ear infections (which I now know destroyed my gut microbiome) and in first grade, they simply removed my tonsils and adenoids and put tubes in my ears (apparently they didn't know back then that tonsils and adenoids are functioning parts of your immune system).

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After 3 decades of eating the standard American diet among other poor lifestyle choices, I had fallen victim to self-inflicted harm and the manifestation of my body's illnesses began pouring out.

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I did not have choice in taking antibiotics nor had I ever learned about using food as medicine.

I was a typical sheep.... 

or lab rat as I like to think of most people who just "follow Dr.'s orders", 

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But now I realize I do have a choice.

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So I learn. And then I learn more. I have immersed myself for the past 11 years in natural health- reading many many books, watching Ted Talks from thought-leaders and physicians,  watching documentary after documentary and having intense conversations with Nutritionists, Chiropractors and Cancer Survivors just to name a few. And now my goal is to help you navigate your way towards a healthy lifestyle. 
 

 I am very much still on a journey to completely heal my body.

I practice everything I preach to you (ideally 100% percent of the time-but life happens and occasionally junk makes its way in).

But look- I am SO far from perfect. I am still figuring this thing out. I am busy too- too busy most days. 

That's why I started this platform- because I understand the need for efficiency in healthy eating & living and I happened to have learned a thing or two along the way that I feel blessed to share! Navigating through the information is overwhelming at times. This is when I use prayer, logic and trial & error. Then I record how my body responds. 

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To date, I have no official diagnosis in my body (thank God) and I intend to keep it that way.

I consider all the need for testing "Gentle Nudges".

I got the picture.

Since all the scary is behind us (thank God) we are now equipping ourselves with all the education and experience to help equip YOU! 

We are empowered by the impact these lifestyle changes have made in our life and our passion is to spread the knowledge!

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WELLNESS STRATEGISTS

 Dennis is certified in plant-based nutrition through E-Cornell and has a Master of Science in health and human movement.

He currently serves as a strength and conditioning coach for the US Army.

Jackie has self-studied for nearly a decade, is certified in whole food plant-based cooking and has been the driving force behind the change.

The kitchen is her lab and her family, friends & neighbors are the test subjects.

Studying together, we continue to pursue truth and optimal health.

You should join us! 

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