My journey led me here

Hi, my name is Allison, founder of Healthy Roots. I was just 6 months old when my body started telling a story that would take me decades to understand. Lactose intolerance appeared immediately, bringing frequent stomach aches, ear infections, low energy, and skin issues. I didn't understand why my body reacted this way, and from these early interactions, a challenging and confusing relationship with food began to take shape.

As a teenager, things intensified with my first major health crisis. An autoimmune condition that brought hormone imbalances, mood swings, fluctuating weight, constant fatigue, and difficulty managing stress. I turned to healthier eating, exercise, and supplements that brought some relief but never addressed what was really happening beneath the surface. I felt lost trying to figure out what my body really needed.

In my attempt to manage these symptoms, I was drawn deeper into nutrition. Working as a weight loss consultant gave me the chance to explore how food affects the body, and I began to see food as medicine. I desperately wanted to understand how to nourish my body as more food sensitivities emerged. Gluten, sugar, alcohol, even onions, garlic, and peppers were causing digestive upset, IBS symptoms, and inflammation throughout my body. Elimination diets and gut discomfort consumed my life as my food anxiety worsened.

My 30's brought plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and inflammation that made everyday movement painful. Countless doctors and many lab tests showed nothing wrong. Supplements became my endless search for relief. One for energy, another for mood, something for digestion, thyroid support, stress management, and pain relief. Everything I tried offered temporary relief at best.

Nutrition was clearly my path forward, both professionally and personally, motivating me to deepen my knowledge. Researching nutrition programs led me to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) Health Coaching program. IIN uniquely integrated wellness, lifestyle, purpose, and connection into one transformative approach that addressed the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and emotions. These were the exact missing pieces I needed for my own healing and to help others find theirs!

Through IIN, I finally understood that our bodies want to heal; they just need the right support. Once I realized my body wasn't broken but simply trying to communicate, everything shifted. As I learned to listen and respond to my body's needs, I discovered that managing stress transformed my digestion and processing emotions eased inflammation. Living this way, I began to heal and became my first client. Empowered with nutrition strategies that supported a healthier gut microbiome, detoxification tools that strengthened my immune system, and practices that grounded me spiritually, I had found my body's path to healing.

The transformation was profound. Within months, decades of inflammation began to subside as my gut health dramatically improved, and some foods that were once eliminated were tolerable for me again. More profoundly, I was reconnecting with strength I hadn't known in years. My vitality proved itself on a trail overlooking Hawaii's majestic black sandy beach. There I was, climbing a rocky trail that would have left me in agony before, but instead I was smiling! This peaceful moment filled me with deep gratitude. Amazed at this freedom, I felt at home in my body.