Hi, I'm Nelly!
Functional Nutritionist, Herbalist & Holistic Health Coach
If you don't already know me then hello and welcome to Vital Alchemy.
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"VITAL" meaning - necessary to the existence, continuance or well-being of something; full of energy; lively & "ALCHEMY" meaning - the art of ultimate transformation, inner liberation and change; existing in a state of enlightenment or soulful awareness.
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If you finally want to get on top of your health and lifestyle goals then you've come to the right place. I have been incredibly passionate about wellness my entire life and after chronic disease & serious health issues of my own have I truly experienced the power of holistic healing, herbal medicine and of course, nutrition. True health, beauty, happiness & fulfilment starts from within.
This is how I'm here to help...
I strongly believe that is there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to your health which is why I'm here to change the way you achieve your goals. Even though we are all human, we are biologically and genetically different from one another, have different requirements and different lifestyles. This of course means that what works for one person most likely won’t work for another. Therefore it is vital for you to work with a professional to discover what works for YOU and YOUR body.
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I offer assistance for a wide range of health concerns, including:
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Gut health & digestion
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Auto-immune diseases
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Hormone imbalances (PCOS, endometriosis, irregular/absent periods, thyroid health)
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Skin issues (acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea)
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Allergies & intolerances
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Stress management & mental health (anxiety & depression)
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Prenatal, pregnancy & postpartum support
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Fertility (male & female)
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Insomnia & sleep issues
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Low energy, memory loss & brain fog
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Weight management
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Disordered eating
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Blood work analysis
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Functional & genetic testing and so much more
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I am more than just a nutritionist who gives you a cookie cutter meal plan...
I will work alongside you to get to the root cause of your health issues. There is no point in giving you a treatment plan that isn't sustainable and let's be honest - you probably won't follow anyway. Together we will develop a personalised and professional program for long term results to cater for your specific needs - no one else's!
The "root cause" approach...
My goal is to provide you with a foundational understanding of functional medicine, nutrition & holistic healing. I will educate you on the physiology of the body, the importance of nutrition, how the mind and body work together & the overall benefits of a long term, thriving lifestyle.
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This includes:
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Creating a healthy lifestyle that's personalised to you & your goals (not just a band-aid fix!)
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Getting to the root cause of the issues & imbalances in your body to give you long term results.
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Develop a strong, healthy relationship with food that doesn’t restrict or limit you from living and enjoying your life.
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Educate you on how to intuitively build a healthy relationship with your body and understand it's needs and signals.
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Teach you about how herbal medicine and supplements work to support your body.
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Help you to see past the smoke and mirrors when it comes to marketing and nutritional contradictions or misconceptions behind certain food groups.
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Refer you to other incredible practitioners or healing methods to assist you on your journey.
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Provide you with the tools and knowledge to develop the mindset, understanding and determination to be the best version of YOU on your own!
We are a virtual practice with a functional nutrition & holistic healing approach...
The good news is you can be anywhere in Australia or around the world as all my consultations are done online via Zoom. You will receive the same expert advice, support and accountability to achieve your health and nutrition goals, all from the comfort of your own home, office or wherever is convenient for you!
1:1 Functional Health Coaching
My goal is to provide you with a foundational understanding of functional medicine, nutrition & holistic healing. I will educate you on the physiology of the body, the importance of nutrition, how the mind and body work together & the overall benefits of a long term, thriving lifestyle.
Customised Treatment Plans + Support
I will work alongside you to get to the root cause of your health issues. Together we will develop a personalised and professional program for long term results to cater for your specific needs, no one else's! I also offer around the clock email support in between appointments to ensure complete guidance and confidence during your health journey.
Functional Testing + Blood Analysis
I use specialised, functional testing that measures how the body’s biological and biochemical processes are working as a whole. The tests can measure pathways, enzymes, nutrients, co-factors, hormones, amino acids, genes, neurotransmitters, gut bacteria, parasites & so much more. These can be done from the comfort of your own home.
My story...
My journey to vital alchemy wasn't smooth - it was far from it actually. During my teenage years I experienced hormonal imbalances, acne and severe depression and anxiety. Although I grew up with a mother who had interest in alternative medicine, I was only ever handed pills and supplements from healthcare professionals - including the contraceptive pill which escalated all of these issues into further havoc.
I always considered myself a quite "healthy" person, but when I reached my early twenties, my stressful, traditional "western" lifestyle led to an even longer list of illnesses such as chronic bloating and gut issues, hypothyroidism, PCOS, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and the worst
(but best) thing to ever happen to me - an autoimmune disease called psoriasis.
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My symptoms were getting worse and worse every day...
To the point where I genuinely thought I was never going to feel like me again. By this point I was a 22 year old girl who felt like she was trapped in a sick, elderly woman's body. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars seeking answers from many specialists, but was constantly dismissed, gaslighted or told "this is normal", "sorry there's nothing we can do" or "you're just going to have to learn to live with it".
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I was offered the contraceptive pill (again!), steroid creams, medications... the usual bandaid approach to cover up my symptoms. I had naturopaths give me herbs, Chinese medicine doctors give me acupuncture, homeopaths give me tinctures, you name it, I've tried it. Although these are all great tools for healing, I was missing that one extremely important thing - finding the ROOT CAUSE.
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I still remember the day I decided to take my health into my own hands. It was 2am, I was sitting alone in the dark on my kitchen floor crying and covered in blood from itching my skin. I said to myself "I don't know why this is happening to me right now and I don't know if I will ever understand but I need to trust that it's happening for a reason." On this night a random video popped up on my feed of a functional medicine doctor on YouTube talking about leaky gut. This is the moment my whole life changed.
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From this point moving forward I dedicated why whole entire life to my health. Through *lots* of trial and error, I was able to heal my gut and reverse my chronic illnesses. After experiencing the power that nutrition and functional medicine had for my body, I just knew I had to learn more. Shortly after, I decided to study nutrition - not with the intention to practice some day but purely because I was so gobsmacked with how powerful holistic health is and I was craving as much knowledge as I could possibly gain to further improve my health. Once I became fully encompassed in this whole new world and started researching the science behind functional blood analysis, lab testing and other healing methods, I instantly knew that this is what I was put on this earth to do. The answers that I needed to heal were literally in front of me ALL along - I just didn't have anyone to help me find them.
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Now it is my mission to serve people like me and you who just want answers once and for all. I have literally walked the exact road that I guide my clients through (although I had to take many more wrong turns to get to the end!) The reason why I do what I do today is because all I had ever hoped and prayed for was to have someone willing to dig a little deeper for me. I know how you feel and I know it can be tough at times, but I also know that it is SO worth it when you finally take control of your life and have the right person in your corner to support you.
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I have turned my pain into my purpose and if I can tell you one thing it's there is ALWAYS a way out, I promise.
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Investing in your health will be the best investment you will ever make. Trust me, I'm not special. If I can do it, you can do it too. All you need to do is start.
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What makes us different?
Like many others, I am living proof that food really is medicine and what you put in your body can meaningfully impact our overall health and wellbeing. Optimum health is not about restriction or deprivation, but about finding a healthy balance with food that your body loves and allows you to thrive. If you've ever been told that your illness is "unexplained", your symptoms are "in your head" or "it's just something you'll have to live with" I'm here to tell you the opposite.
Your missing puzzle piece is the right person who knows where to look. As a practitioner, I pride myself in being persistent enough to keep investigating and searching for answers until I find them. Although my approach to health is very holistic, all of my programs, protocols and test interpretations are backed by up to date science and research.
Remember, your body is incredibly smart & CAN heal! All it needs you to do is take the lead.
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I am so excited to get to know you & start your journey to ultimate Vital Alchemy!