Melanie Stewart
Holistic Nutrition Educator and Corporate Health Coach
Author of the Yum Tum Books
Member of the NANP
Inspiration * Motivation * Application
I am a Holistic Nutrition Educator, Health and Wellness Coach and Healthy Eating Specialist. This was not my original plan for my life; however, if you have ever had a loved one who was sick, you might know the relief you felt when they were made well. You might also know the devastation of losing them. I know both of these.
My first born child from age 1 to 2 was sick. Five doctors and 5 different diagnoses later, he was still sick. He had an inconsistent rotation of symptoms that apparently suggested to no one – including me, it could be nothing more than a food allergy or intolerance.
Fortunately, I made acquaintance with a woman who was really well versed in nutrition. She immediately suggested a potential food allergy and advised removing five common allergens from his diet. Within 48 hours his symptoms were lessened and within 10 days he was symptom free.
She lit a spark.
I spent the next several years studying nutrition and learned all I could for myself and for my family. I also became the friend that could help, unofficially of course. And that's all it was for years, until October of 1998 when my youngest brother was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer of unknown origin. Though he had no real symptoms and no interruption of function, he was in stage 4b - the final stage of metastasized cancer.
The doctors were unsure how to treat him, save for chemotherapy. During his treatments, I noticed how they were feeding him. Chemotherapy as you may know, kills fast replicating cells which includes cancer cells, your hair follicles and the cells of your intestines. If his intestines were distressed in this way, it seemed logical to me that the appropriate diet would be easy to digest and supportive to the immune system. If you've ever been in the cancer ward at a hospital, you know it is neither.
I questioned his doctor about the meals they were providing and although it terrified me, I will be forever grateful for his honesty in that moment. "I don't know the first thing about nutrition," he told me. All he was taught, he explained, was the correlating drug for the obvious symptom.
My spark became a flame.
In May of 1999, six months after his diagnosis, and on a day between Mother's Day and our mother's birthday, my brother died from "complications of chemotherapy." He was 26 years old.
In 2002, I went back to school and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science. I then earned a Master's degree in Holistic Nutrition. In honor of my brother, I wanted to save the world! I wanted to help prevent disease, cure disease and prevent the pain our family had suffered.
Inspired by his doctor's admission and equipped with an in-depth educational foundation, my goal is to impart nutritional training which aligns with the body's natural ability to heal allowing recipients to take control of their health and wellness..
Fortunately, it requires just a bit of rearranging to work with our perfectly designed system!
Disclaimer: The information on this website is in no way intended to diagnose or treat specific medical conditions. It contains basic information, that is publicly available, and includes generic information about food, food preparation, nutrient data, physiological mechanisms of action or interaction. All content is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech laws in all the civilized world. It is not intended as individualized advice or as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Any suggestions I make are not a substitute for you own personal research. Always consult your own licensed medical practitioner if you are in any way concerned about your health. You must satisfy yourself of the validity of the professional qualifications of any healthcare provider and, as always, do not discontinue any medications without your doctor’s consent.