4 Things I Wish I Knew When Starting My Holistic Health Journey

Starting your health journey can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially if you're navigating chronic health issues or mysterious symptoms. Between back-to-back doctor appointments, conflicting advice online, and the mental load of managing your symptoms, it's easy to feel stuck and exhausted.

You're not alone. I've spent the past two years digging for answers to hormonal imbalances, gut issues and other symptoms like chronic fatigue. While I’ve made a lot of progress, the path has been anything but linear. That’s why I’m sharing four things I wish I knew when I first began—lessons that can help you feel more empowered and less overwhelmed as you start your own journey to better health.

1. Find the Right Doctor for You

Your healing starts with feeling heard. One of the biggest game-changers in my journey was finding a functional medicine provider who blends conventional training with a holistic approach.

I’ve worked with both conventional and functional MDs and nurse practitioners, and what made the difference was the functional medicine practitioners’ willingness to look at the whole picture—not just one symptom at a time. Functional and integrative practitioners often offer longer appointments and more personalized care, so you have more time to dig into your symptoms and try to figure out the root cause.

That said, you’ll still need to be your own advocate, so come prepared with research, questions, and curiosity. 

2. Get the Right Labs to Understand Your Body

Functional lab work can uncover the root causes of your symptoms and typically evaluate more than a standard panel offered at your primary care checkup. These are some of the most helpful tests I’ve personally done:

• Comprehensive Blood Work – We checked my vitamin levels, inflammation markers, and food sensitivities among other things.

• DUTCH Hormone Test – Doing a full-cycle dried urine test revealed my hormone fluctuations, cortisol spikes, and signs of estrogen dominance.

• Comprehensive Stool Analysis – This helped identify gut dysbiosis, low stomach acid, and bacterial imbalances.

• SIBO Breath Test – With many SIBO symptoms, this helped us narrow down my protocol and come up with ways to address my ongoing bloating, constipation, and IBS-like symptoms.

These labs gave me clarity and direction when symptoms felt mysterious and never-ending. Make sure your practitioner helps interpret the results and tailor a plan specifically for you.

3. Prioritize Whole, Nutrient-Dense Foods

If you're used to the Standard American Diet, switching to a nutrient-dense lifestyle can be overwhelming—but it doesn't have to be.

My recommendation is to start small:

• Prioritize whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins.

• Choose organic and grass-fed options when possible.

• Make simple swaps: think coconut water over soda, popcorn instead of chips, and olive oil + lemon rather than processed dressings.

Additionally, aim to diversify your meals for a healthier gut microbiome. If you’re on a restricted diet (like low FODMAP or dairy-free/gluten-free), work with a practitioner or nutritionist to slowly reintroduce foods when you’re ready.

Most importantly, remember that consistency is better than perfection.

4. When In Doubt, Go Back to the Basics

Unfortunately, most chronic disease stems from a dysregulated nervous system. Until you feel safe, no supplement, protocol, or lab result will heal you. Trust me, I learned this the hard way—I was doing everything right on paper, yet still feeling off. The habits that helped most? Returning to simple (and often free) adjustments:

• Go for a walk after meals

• Sit outside and get natural sunlight

• Move your body to feel good, not look a certain way

• Practice deep breathing

• Put your bare feet on the grass (grounding!)

• Call a friend, journal, or rest (need tips on slowing down? check out my prior blog post)

The simplest habits often create the most powerful healing. By building a strong foundation, you’re in a much better position to recover and stay healthy. The goal is to create a sustainable lifestyle rather than burnout in the healing process.

At the end of the day, healing from chronic illness takes time—and patience. Give yourself credit for every step you take toward better health. 🙂

Looking for more support, tips and realistic inspiration for holistic healing?

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