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About Whitney

girl sipping coffee next to plants

Hey girl, hey!

Welcome to Rooted in Healing. My name is Whitney and I run the show around here. This isn’t just your average health and wellness blog. While my #1 priority is helping women heal autoimmunity through diet, lifestyle, and mindset changes, I also care a lot about the environment, eliminating toxic chemicals from the home, and social justice. I try to infuse those things throughout the pages of this website so you get an authentic feel for who I am. The world doesn’t need another autoimmune blogger. It needs someone who is going to show up raw, unfiltered, and authentic, so you don’t see an unattainable, cookie cutter version of what it’s like to live with chronic illness.

Girl reading book on leather couch

DID SHE JUST SAY THE WORLD DOESN’T NEED ANOTHER *BASIC* BLOGGER/NUTRITIONIST?

Education

I received a certification in Nutritional Therapy from the Nutritional Therapy Association out of Olympia, Washington. This holistic nutrition program focuses on correcting weaknesses in the body by addressing poor nutrition and lifestyle factors. I learned how to support my autoimmune clients through food and targeted supplementation, while maintaining a strong focus on their bio-individual needs.

My bachelors degree is in Women’s Studies from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. I studied the complexities of race, class, and gender, and learned the way those things intertwine to create systemic oppression.

girl cooking in kitchen

Reverse your autoimmune disease through diet and lifestyle changes by working 1:1 with Rooted in Healing Nutritional Therapy

My Story

My journey started in 2015 when I noticed a bald patch on my head.

I had been depressed and tired for many years and this was the first visible indication there was something wrong with me. I freaked out, scoured dr. google for answers and eventually learned I was dealing with an autoimmune disease. I went to several different doctors and specialists but no one would help me find a root cause other than “you’re just stressed” or “why don’t you increase your anti-depressants?” I was given a referral to a dermatologist for cortisol injections, but something told me that wasn’t right.

 hair before and after nutrition therapy  bloating before and after nutrition therapy

I never made it to the dermatologist’s office, but I did manage to get on the schedule of one of the top endocrinologists in Denver. I felt sure she would have the answers! Except, all she told me was that I had thyroid antibodies and they were within the “normal” range. She also said it was a waiting game and that she wouldn’t be able to treat me until my thyroid was destroyed enough to warrant hormone supplementation.

I was devastated. She was basically telling me I was sick and there was nothing that could be done until I was… sicker? When I shared my frustration at the lack of preventative care, she told me she could just put me on supplemental hormones now, if I wanted. Prior to my appointment I had been reading about healing autoimmune disease through diet and lifestyle changes. I mentioned this to her she laughed in my face.

It got better.

I eventually found a functional practitioner who diagnosed me with hashimotos, alopecia, PCOS, SIBO and endometriosis. No wonder I had been feeling so crappy! The migraines, bloating, constipation, brutal period pain, and hair loss all stemmed from a severe imbalance in my body. It was through changing my diet, lifestyle and deepening my spiritual practices that I was able to rebalance and find healing.

That’s why I fully believe in a mind, body, spirit approach to health. 

Finding someone who believed me and was willing to help me PREVENT illness instead of wait around and succumb to it was exactly what I needed. I had hope for the first time in over a year and was eventually able to reverse many of my symptoms, including lowering my thyroid antibody count, growing my hair back, and getting off anti-depressants for the first time in 15 years.

girl laughing in her living room

After learning the power of food and how broken both our food and healthcare systems are, I decided to go back to school to study nutrition. I opened my practice at the end of 2018 and have worked dozens of women to heal their autoimmune and gut issues since then. I also run a group coaching program, The Rooted Way, which helps women recenter and build community while reversing autoimmunity.

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Hey, I’m Whitney! I’m a holistic Nutritional Therapist trained to help women reverse autoimmunity through diet and lifestyle changes. I love puns, DIY’ing, wearing wool socks, and avoiding situations where people say “omg how do you live without BREAD?!” Hope you enjoy my corner of the interwebz! 

Featured

stuffed acorn squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash Paleo Recipe (AIP, Whole 30, Gluten-Free)

how to treat hair loss holistically

How to Treat Hair Loss Holistically

paleo chicken and rice soup

Paleo Chicken Soup (AIP, Whole 30)

Pumpkin Pie Pudding, Dairy-Free & AIP

Upside Down Paleo Peach Cobbler

AIP STIR FRY SAUCE

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Instagram post 2177294629236410305_6033083021 Have you ever felt guilty because you didn’t stick to your protocol? Or obsessed about sticking to it? Or ashamed because you weren’t caring for yourself as well as (insert some rando on the internet who pretends she eats kale at every single meal?). That’s not healing. In fact, I’d argue the shame you experience around food/health is equally detrimental to your well being as eating the f*cking cookie. If you do it, MOVE ON. Start fresh. You’re gonna be fine boo! .⠀
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I was just interviewed by @hollyfisherhiggins for her Mindspeak podcast and we dive into some really important points around navigating healing diets. Give it a listen, leave a review, and then have some gosh darn grace for yourself as you navigate the rest of your journey. K love you! ⠀
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#hashimotos #hashimotoswarrior #autoimmuneprotocol #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmunewarrior #candida #pcosfighter #pcosdiet #alopeciaawareness #alopeciasupport #endometriosisawareness #endometriosiswarrior #autoimmune #bloatedbelly #chronicfatigue #chronicallyill #hairlosssolution #autoimmuneawareness #healthcoaching #nutritiontips #aipdiet #aippaleo #realfooding
Instagram post 2176624115115469185_6033083021 Just a friendly reminder that this AIP, soy-free stir fry sauce is ready in a couple minutes, is bursting with flavor, and goes well with literally everything. Use the search function to find it or head to "recipes" at rootedinhealing.net. ⠀
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. #hashimotos #hashimotoswarrior #autoimmuneprotocol #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmunewarrior #candida #pcosfighter #pcosdiet #alopeciaawareness #alopeciasupport #endometriosisawareness #endometriosiswarrior #autoimmune #bloatedbelly #chronicfatigue #chronicallyill #hairlosssolution #autoimmuneawareness #healthcoaching #nutritiontips #aipdiet #aippaleo #realfooding
Instagram post 2175921301900953475_6033083021 <ED/body image trigger warning> Felt this so hard today when I was eating and someone said “you’re so tiny where does all that go?” 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
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It immediately took me back sitting at the kitchen table of my babysitter’s house, when someone was looking at a picture of me standing next to my best friend,  then commented on how skinny and pretty she was, but said nothing about me. To the countless times I found myself hysterically crying on my bedroom floor because I thought I was too “fat” to be loved😑. To the days I’d be late for first period because I obsessively changed outfits a million times as a result of believing my looks = my value. To how honored and loved I felt the time I lost weight during a growth spurt and a relative told me how “tiny” I looked. To sitting across from friends and trying to only eat as much as they ate so I wasn’t giving another person a reason to think I was gross. To the moment in my parents bathroom months before my mom died  when she said “are you eating?” And I reveled in the fact that someone finally noticed I had been starving myself. To the day a few months ago at a restaurant when a waitress said “I’ve seen football players who couldn’t put a meal away the way you did.” .
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Words have the power to bring back a waterfall of memories and emotions. ALL OF US have been impacted by beauty standards. All of us. And all of us are working really fucking hard to unravel the psychological impact of growing up in a culture obsessed with thinness. So do everyone a fucking favor and don’t comment on people’s bodies whether they are small or large or lopsided or queer or black or white or “asking for attention.” Also, don’t comment on where there food is gonna go inside their body. Like. Why do I even have to say that 🤦🏻‍♀️
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#bodypositivemovement #eatingdisorderawareness #bodyimagemovement #mybodymychoice #smashthepatriarchy #ntp #holisticnutritionist #mindbody #bossbabetribe #entrepreneurspirit #hashimotosdisease #autoimmuneprotocol #pcosweightloss
Instagram post 2175180043184208199_6033083021 THE EASIEST, MOST GORGEOUS SIDE DISH! Y’all ready for this caramelized sweet potato dish topped with AIP garlic aioli? Hope so. Up on the blog at rootedinhealing.net. .
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#hashimotos #hashimotoswarrior #autoimmuneprotocol #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmunewarrior #candida #pcosfighter #pcosdiet #alopeciaawareness #alopeciasupport #endometriosisawareness #endometriosiswarrior #autoimmune #bloatedbelly #chronicfatigue #chronicallyill #hairlosssolution #autoimmuneawareness #healthcoaching #nutritiontips #aipdiet #aippaleo #realfooding
Instagram post 2174285214287847932_6033083021 With the onset of depression creeping in during my #heavymetal detox, I decided to dive into some research on inflammation and major depressive disorder... because that's how I feel. Majorly f*cking depressed.⠀
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For some background, at the age of 15 I was diagnosed with #bipolar disorder, #anxiety, #depression, and #adhd and never felt long-term relief through pharmaceuticals. Psychiatrists were constantly changing my medication but I still dealt with panic attacks, moodiness, and depression through them all. I was shocked to discover changing my diet in my late 20s due to autoimmune disease also resolved ALL of the mental health issues I'd dealt with for half of my life. ⠀
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It's no surprise after digging into the literature today. A 2017 meta-analysis of 82 studies found that major depressive disorder was associated with increased levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, which is exactly what we work to suppress through the #AIP diet. While not every person with depression will have increased inflammation, those without it are more likely to respond well to pharmaceuticals. ⠀
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What can you do? If you're still feeling depressed after pharmaceuticals, try an elimination diet (in addition to pharmaceuticals and your current mental health care). Our modern diets are highly inflammatory and lacking vital nutrients. Elimination diets remove common food sensitivities and reintroduce them one at a time.  A good place to start is by removing gluten, dairy, caffeine, eggs, soy, fast food, added sugar, and alcohol for 30 days to see how you feel. If you're already eating relatively healthy but are still struggling with depression, you'll want to take this a step further with a Whole 30 or paleo diet With a focus on blood sugar regulation. For me personally, grains are one of my biggest triggers of inflammation (which may not be a surprise now that we know I have #mycotoxinillness).⠀
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While not all depression is linked to inflammation, reducing your exposure to inflammatory foods and toxins is a great way to start peeling back the layers of a root cause (along with therapy!). Have you found mental health healing beyond pharmaceuticals? Let me know!
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