Our special guest on this week’s episode is Vanessa Fitzgerald! Vanessa is an amazing holistic health coach who helps people become their best selves. She joins us to talk about her practice, and some health/lifestyle tips to clean up our guts and minds. So stay tuned!

Alexis started following Vanessa on Instagram (@veeshoney) about 5 months ago and completely fell in love. Her feed shares gut health info and clean eating tips, but what really drew Alexis in was her Adderall detox. Her open discussion and work detoxing clients is inspiring.

Vanessa was diagnosed with ADD at 17, and prescribed Adderall. She continued taking the drugs into her 20s, and found herself relying heavily on the drug. After some pivotal life change at age 30, she decided it was time to break up with Adderall for good.

“People who are happy and free aren’t on speed. — VF”

Her withdrawal process was a total rollercoaster ride. Adderall is a form of amphetamine, and takes a toll on all major body systems. Needless to say, breaking up with Adderall wasn’t the easiest decision. But it was the best decision.

Finding natural motivation within ourselves is difficult. This is why so many turn to drugs like Adderall to keep motivation high. But it turns out, we don’t need drugs to naturally motivate ourselves. Instead, we have to look at our lives and ask,

“Am I happy with what I’m doing?”

If the answer is no, make a shift and find your passion. No drugs are required for passionate lives.

Alexis had a similar experience with Adderall, and found her motivation at an all time low when detoxing. She had to find alternatives to gain energy, and knew that clean eating was the first step.

Clean eating is especially a great fresh start for those in recovery. Foods that bog down the gut will bog down the mind and emotions as well. Nourishing your body leaves room for things like anxiety and depression to naturally lift.

Healthy food doesn’t have to be a luxury, either. Make budgeting for health a priority, and start with small changes. Are your doctor’s and health insurance bills racking up? Maybe evaluate the care/meds you are receiving and cut out what is unnecessary.

Similar to healthy food, holistic healing isn’t far out of reach. Vanessa sees people from all walks of life in her practice. Her clients have made health a priority, and financially make it work. She highly encourages clients to re-evaluate certain medications, especially Adderall. If you are sober, Adderall has to go too!

“I want to change my diet, but where do I begin?”

Finding the right diet takes trial and error. Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t go right the first time. It’s all about progress, not perfection. Remember to slow down, take deep breaths, and stay present. Leave room to forgive yourself, instead of feeling guilt.

Vanessa recommends keeping a food journal start out. Write down everything you eat and drink, and notice patterns in symptoms. If something’s not working, cut it out. This way, you become your own healer, and a coach like Vanessa is simply your guide.

Here are some health fads that Vanessa calls total bullshit on!

Veganism. It’s just not for everyone. It’s all about balance.
CBD…in EVERYTHING. It’s just added into too much.
Kombucha. The bacteria can cause overgrowth in the small intestine. Yikes.

Lymphatic drainage is one of the best right now. Techniques like dry brushing your skin can improve immune function and aid in weight loss.

Because of certain genetic mutations, Alexis is not able to metabolize CBD. After getting tested by her doctor, she discovered she has MTHFR, a mutation that inhibits vitamin B absorption. Also, be sure to avoid CBD if you know you have COMT mutation. It can create emotional and mental imbalances.

Alexis has tried CBD, antidepressants, and plenty of remedies, but hands down, clean eating works best. Simple changes in your diet can make all the difference, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Shoutout to one of my favorite sponsors Cured Nutrition. This episode is brought to you by Cured Nutrition, a wholistic supplement company based in Boulder, Colorado. If you’re in tune with the wellness industry, I’m sure you’ve noticed how selecting the right CBD products can get seriously confusing. Cured Nutrition has made it easy. In addition to their 100% locally-sourced Colorado hemp extracts, Cured also guarantees a rigorous quality control system.

Fully aligned with complete transparency, they publish all the details directly onto their website: curednutrition.com. You guys are going to love this brand because I love this brand and I LOVE their products. Use code ALEXIS25 at checkout for 25% off your purchase and tag me once you get your products.

Try a visit with a holistic health coach like Vanessa if you feel stuck. If you are looking for quick food changes, try cutting out sugar, dairy (specifically cheese), and wheat. These foods stress a lot of people’s adrenals, and cause a variety of health issues.

The best part about Vanessa’s work is that she finds underlying causes instead of just treating symptoms. She is thorough with each patient, and takes the time to understand their bodies. If you want permanent positive change, you need to get to the root of the problem.

A clean diet = a clean gut and happy mind. Trust the process and see how good you’ll feel along the way!