Welcome, everyone! 

Thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad you’re here!

Just a little about me

My name is Melissa, and I love food, nature, traveling, and spending quality time with my daughter and our dog, Ladybug. We’re currently enjoying our time in North Texas. Professionally, I’m a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Lactation Consultant, and Registered Nurse.

 

Why I’m here

I became a nurse in 2011 and have had the opportunity to work in A LOT of different environments. Throughout my nursing career I noticed a few things:

  1. No one was really getting healthier even though they were doing their best to do all the things with the info and advice they had, which often times contradicted itself.
  2. I realized that the medical industry is a disease + symptom management system as opposed to a healing system (sadly, healthcare is a business with the incentive to make money).
  3. There is a gap between wellness and disease with a large gray area in middle that many people fall into. They’re not “sick enough” for medical intervention, but they’re also not feeling 100%.
  4. Prevention is the best medicine and education is one of the most effective tools to promote prevention.
  5. Dietary symptoms often progressed to disease and were treated with non-dietary methods over and over again, which don’t address the problem or root cause.

The most significant thing I realized was that I was on the wrong end of the problem. If I wanted to really help people, I couldn’t do it in a fast-paced hospital setting. So I transitioned to holistic nutrition.

There is definitely a time and place for conventional medicine. I probably won’t wait for my beloved herbs to reattach my arm if it gets cut off, but real health means we nurture our wellness and growing the health that we have right now to prevent unnecessary disease states, which starts with awareness of what you do or don’t put in your body, how you think, and even your beliefs.

After working with many different populations, that seemed to be the hardest part: to know what’s healthy, what’s not healthy, and how to eat. Add in over-stimulated + over-stressed bodies + food marketing, and you nearly need a degree to figure out what’s actually good for you.

That’s where I can help.

Here’s a few things that a lot of people don’t know about me

I grew up on microwavable Chef Boyardee, frozen lasagna, Dr. Pepper, and Domino’s Pizza. I weighed more in 5th grade than I do now, and in my early adult years I had an elevated fasting blood sugar, high cholesterol, reproductive problems, a terrible caffeine addiction, and the worst sugar cravings ever.

That was 70 lbs ago.

I totally get how confusing and intimidating it can be to transition from one lifestyle to another. On paper, transitioning is simple, but not easy–UNLESS you have the right tools, support, and mindset.

So if all the health food hype confuses you, you’re in the right place.

Okay, but what is Nutritional Therapy?

Nutritional Therapy is the practice of achieving health and wellness by reversing the negative effects of the modern diet through properly prepared, nutrient-dense whole foods, well-balanced lifestyle modifications, transformative education, and comprehensive assessment.

Many dietary symptoms go undetected or are treated with non-dietary solutions which may provide temporary relief, but does not address the root cause of the imbalance, which is often times nutritionally influenced.

Our bodies are made up of complex interconnected systems that when given the proper tools, nutrients, and circumstances, have the incredible ability to overcome blocks so the body can restore, regenerate, and correct itself.

Nutritional Therapy Practitioners, or NTPs, work with you to balance the key foundational systems to address the causes of these dietary symptoms based on your unique bio-individuality:

  • Digestion
  • Blood Sugar Regulation
  • Mineral Balance
  • Fatty Acid Absorption
  • Hydration
  • Lifestyle Factors

Imbalances in these systems can affect how you feel, your mood, other systems such as the reproductive or immune system, and even your family’s eating habits + future health in ways you might have never connected or thought.

The good news is that even if your body’s not perfect, it is amazing, and can do some pretty awesome healing if we give it the opportunity. This is really where nutritional therapy helps you shine. 

Welcome to Nerd Out Nutrition. Cheers to better food, better thoughts, better vibe, and better communities for one awesome life.

Here you’ll find:

RECIPES

You can find easy staple recipes on my blog. All of the recipes are simple and easy to make–even chocolate! They are all gluten-free, milk-free, and mostly corn-free, soy-free, nut-free, and grain-free.

Food Education + Food-First Strategies

You won’t find fad diets here, but you will find a bigger picture that includes how certain foods can affect behavior, your body, and the environment that help you make your own decisions about the food you decide to eat. Sometimes all it takes is a little information makes your decisions a lot easier.

Self-Care Tools

Physical health is important, but emotional and mental health are just as important, if not more. If your emotional health is neglected, it will show up in your body. You’ll find simple tools that help bring awareness and keep track of self-care.

Better Food Resources

There are a lot of products out there that make big promises, but how do you know which ones are legit and which ones are gimmicks? The Better Food Resources section provides you with my trial-and-error experience with products and foods to help guide you when making your own decisions that are best for you. You’ll find things from bulk spices to personal care products to meditation apps and helpful educational courses.

Thanks again for stopping by! Let’s stay connected :). Find me @melissayoonmartin on instagram.