When you start your journey to heal your body through nutrition, Reader, it’s easy to expect a steady upward trajectory. But in reality, healing is rarely a straight line—it’s full of ups, downs, and unexpected turns.

One of my long-term clients, who I started working with when she was 66, has experienced this firsthand.

Her journey through digestive issues, inflammation, cravings, and blood sugar dysregulation has included periods of progress, some big setbacks, and getting in touch with how her body recovers again and again.

The Starting Point: Chronic Health Issues and Inflammation

When we began working together in early 2021, she was experiencing numerous chronic conditions, including:

• Diverticulitis with significant digestive distress
• Depression
• Skin issues
• Fatigue
• Memory issues
• Persistent sinus congestion and infections

Her goals were to resolve her diverticulitis, improve memory and energy, and establish a more consistent diet that would help her feel vibrant and productive.

Our initial strategy focused on reducing inflammation and strengthening her digestion to get her out of the crisis she was in with diverticulitis and heavy antibiotic use.

Her gut was feeling so sensitive that she was eating jars of baby food!

I suggested that she add gentle meat stock, a little bit of probiotic-rich fermented foods like kimchi, and essential sea minerals.

While she saw some improvements in digestion, her body reacted strongly to the starches she was still eating —especially black beans, bananas, and potatoes—which led to bloating, intestinal pain, and blood sugar fluctuations.

Highs and Lows: Setbacks, Discoveries, and Adjustments

Her journey was anything but linear.

At times, she experienced significant relief—regular bowel movements, reduced inflammation, and improved skin health. Odd little things like stronger fingernails and less earwax were early signs that her body was responding well.

Then setbacks came up in the form of food sensitivities, gout flares, and periods of extreme hunger with food aversions.

Introducing fermented foods, including kefir and fermented cabbage brine, brought both benefits and challenges at different times. These often helped her digestion, but could also trigger brain fog and fatigue. The “dose” of her fermented foods varied, again showing us that even the healing foods that the body wants can’t always be increased in a linear way.

Stress, environmental factors, respiratory illnesses, and even skin cancer cropped up over the course of three years.

A significant fall in late 2022 led to a long recovery period with limited physical activity, while exposure to environmental toxins—including mold and chemicals from a nearby freeway —contributed to persistent inflammation. Through testing, she uncovered issues like candida overgrowth, B2 deficiency, and toxin accumulation, which helped refine our approach.

Breakthroughs

By 2023, she had really gotten better in tune with her body and developed a deeper understanding of what worked for her.

She was consistently eating balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and fermented foods, and incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients like liver and salmon.

A major turning point came during a trip to the UK, where she realized that her digestive health had significantly improved—she could eat without bloating and felt mentally sharper. This validation reinforced that all the work she had done was paying off.

Towards the end of our sessions together, she continued testing and fine-tuning her diet, reintroducing foods like eggs and fruit that could trigger cravings and digestive reactions at times.

She’s noticed a significant difference in her cravings, energy levels, and digestion. While there are still challenges—such as blood sugar fluctuations and occasional die-off reactions from probiotics—she now has the tools and awareness to navigate them effectively.

Healing Takes Time and Patience

This client’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing is not about perfection—it’s about progress. The body is constantly adapting, and what works today may need to be adjusted tomorrow. Through persistence, patience, and a willingness to listen to her body, she has transformed her health in ways that once seemed impossible.

If you’re struggling with chronic health issues and feel like progress is slow, remember: healing is a journey, not a destination. There will be challenges along the way, but each step—no matter how small—brings you closer to figuring out what works for you.

Gut restoration doesn’t happen through a 30-day reset or cleanse. It’s built cell by cell through eating and digesting the foods that your body is physically built from.

If starting – and sticking with – a gut protocol is on your agenda, ​click here to learn all about my 6-month Body Wisdom Restoration package,​ and see if it might be right for you.

If you’re {potentially} interested in working with me one-on-one, I invite you to attend my next free get-to-know-me ​Gut-Curious Zoom Call​​ on Tuesday, April 1st, at 4:15pm Pacific time.

I’d love to be able to share your non-linear healing story in a future newsletter!

Warm wishes,

Jenn

​Body Wisdom Nutrition​

P.S. If you’d like to work with me one-on-one this year, the next free get-to-know-me ​Gut-Curious Zoom Call​​ is happening Tuesday, April 1st, at 4:15pm Pacific time. No joke.