Miranda M. sitting on a bench holding a bouquet of sunflowers

Miranda M.

Philadelphia, PA

I have many more good days than bad in terms of my mental health.

Wow, wow, wow! I was a total skeptic at first, not going to lie, but the Whole30 has changed my life and how I think about food in relationship to my body. I’ve always been a “health conscious” person, but years of struggling with IBS and clinical depression made me feel like I was just “getting by” on most days. I wanted to sleep often (thanks, depression *eye roll*) and everything I ate made me feel bloated and uncomfortable for hours.

In comes the Whole30, and suddenly, my mood is better, I’m not tired every hour of every day, and my bloating issue is gone. At first I was a skeptic, but truly; putting more whole, nourishing foods into my body has made me feel a sense of control and clarity in terms of my mental health and relationship to my body. I feel amazing, I don’t bloat anymore, and I have many more good days than bad in terms of my mental health.

I still take my depression medication (which is so important if you need it), but that coupled with a nourishing diet of whole foods has completely transformed my mentality. I feel refreshed. I feel a sense of hope. I feel in control of my body and its responses to food. Whole30 is an amazing journey that has taught me the value of eating *real* food and how that reflects onto every aspect of my life. I’m glad I did it and I can’t wait for round two.

Published by Nuala

Danielle Nuala Schoen (Nuala), lives amongst community in the mountains of western North Carolina. She is a massage therapist (LMBT) and RYT-200 yoga instructor with a background in social work. Nuala is passionate about redefining health and wellness in order to center the self-determination and self-actualization of each unique individual, and thereby, the actualization of the collective.Nuala enjoys ecstatic dance, contact improvisation, creek dips, travel, and sharing Whole30 meals with her loved ones.