Without being dramatic, working with Mariu changed my life. I had bounced from doctor to doctor, was overpaying for health insurance in order to see better quality practitioners, only for them to over-test my blood and over-prescribe me supplements. I was bloated after every meal regardless of how clean it was, I was burping and belching constantly, I had heavy, unmanageable periods, mood swings, and stubborn acne that no dermatologist could remedy. I tried Whole30 several times, had gone to allergists, done acupuncture and lymphatic drainage work - I felt like I had tried everything in the book. And then came Mariu. 

After our first conversation, I felt confident that a symptom-free life was possible. She was so reassuring, knowledgeable, and passionate about helping to alleviate my discomfort. I knew I had work to do, but Mariu didn't make it feel intimidating. It was approachable, and worth it. 

She was very quickly able to tell me that I was likely suffering from a leaky gut, and we got to work. She put me on only the appropriate supplements to help heal my gut's lining, and had me keep track of all of what I was eating and drinking, and how those things made me feel in my "food and mood journal." It was so helpful to be that intentional and mindful about what I was consuming, and have someone like Mariu not only hold me accountable, but cheer me on. Upon reviewing my food and mood journal, she provided me with suggestions of how to better balance my meals and nourish my body. I then completed her No Bloat Code program and adhered to her protocol for the next several weeks. The No Bloat Code was thorough but concise, digestible, and covered everything there is to know about taking good care of your gut. It was everything I wish we were taught in school about nutrition and what it means to be truly healthy. I am no chef, but the recipes Mariu provided were easy to follow and delicious. Within just one week, I noticed how drastic of a difference eating three complete meals made in the stability of my moods, and how much chewing my food thoroughly aided in my digestion. After following the initial protocol and taking note of how it was making me feel, I then eliminated the foods that were inflammatory for my leaky gut while taking the necessary supplements to heal it. This is when the real transformation occurred. 

It didn't happen overnight, but over the course of the next few weeks, I began having regular bowel movements, no burping or bloating, and then less and less breakouts, my periods became manageable for the first time ever, my libido was higher, and best of all - I was consistently happy and rarely irritable. I felt, and still feel, like I have a grasp on my quality of life. Even once I reintroduced the foods I thought I might never be able to again, my symptoms were, and still are, practically gone. This means I can eat freely (within reason), indulge when I feel the occasional craving, and not feel physically terrible after I do.

Working with Mariu meant I got my life back. I was no longer beholden to my symptoms. It was not easy work, it required being a very mindful consumer, but once you get into a rhythm of being able to nourish yourself and feeling good when you do, there is absolutely nothing more rewarding. It is so wild to me how easily our society teaches people to coat our problems instead of getting to the root of them. Mariu not only found the source of mine, but championed me to resolve it from every angle. When I watch Adele sing, I think to myself, "this is what she's meant to do." That's how I feel about Mariu being a nutritionist. She is meant to aid people on their journey to becoming healthy. I couldn't possibly recommend working with her more.