Nutritional Zest

Nutritional Zest Voted one of Austin’s Top 3 Nutritionists in Austin Fit Magazine. Gut & personalized nutrition

Heidi didn’t need another diet. She needed answers, ownership, and real support.For years, her body was waving red flags...
01/08/2026

Heidi didn’t need another diet. She needed answers, ownership, and real support.

For years, her body was waving red flags: constant aches, nonstop digestive issues, tension so intense it interfered with daily life. Like most women, she thought the solution was simple.

“Just tell me what to eat.”
“Give me a checklist.”

Here’s the truth most people avoid 👇

Healing is not about following rules harder. It’s about understanding your body instead of guessing.
What changed everything wasn’t another trendy plan. It was testing. Personalization. Real data. Real conversations. Real adjustments. No cookie-cutter advice. No shame. No pretending stress, sleep, boundaries, and burnout don’t matter.

Yes, her digestion improved. But the bigger shift?

She stopped running on empty.

She learned how her body actually works.

She learned how to support it long-term instead of fighting it.
Three years later, she’s not “on a plan.”

She’s informed. Confident. In control.

She makes choices without guilt because she understands the why behind them.

If you’re still jumping from diet to diet, symptom to symptom, hoping the next thing finally works, I’ll say this plainly:

Your body isn’t broken. Your approach probably is.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start working with your body👇

Comment READY below or DM me or book a call to explore personalized support that actually fits you. Link in bio.

Everyone is obsessed with GLP-1 like it’s something you have to inject or force.But GLP-1 is not a weight-loss drug.It’s...
12/27/2025

Everyone is obsessed with GLP-1 like it’s something you have to inject or force.

But GLP-1 is not a weight-loss drug.
It’s a communication signal.

It tells your brain when you’ve eaten enough.
It tells your pancreas how to respond to glucose.
It tells your nervous system you’re safe enough to slow down.

When that signal is broken, appetite feels chaotic, cravings feel loud, and blood sugar runs the show — no matter how “disciplined” you are.

Here’s what no one talks about:
Your body already knows how to make GLP-1.

Bitters don’t work because they’re trendy or “natural.”
They work because they activate bitter taste receptors in the gut, liver, pancreas, and brain — kicking off the exact hormone cascade your metabolism has been missing.

This isn’t about eating less.
It’s about restoring signaling.

And if you’re trying to white-knuckle your way through hunger, cravings, or food noise, you’re fighting biology instead of fixing it.

That’s not strength.
That’s misdirected effort.

💥 Comment “GLP-1” or DM me and I’ll send you the breakdown on how bitters fit into a real metabolic strategy.

💥 Or book a call if you’re ready to stop guessing and actually correct what’s driving your blood sugar, appetite, and energy.

Your body isn’t broken.
Your signals just need support.

All-or-nothing thinking looks like discipline from the outside.But inside? It’s exhausting.It’s the reason one “off” mea...
12/22/2025

All-or-nothing thinking looks like discipline from the outside.
But inside? It’s exhausting.

It’s the reason one “off” meal turns into a full spiral.
Why missing a workout becomes skipping the whole week.
Why you keep restarting instead of stabilising.

Your body does not need perfection to change.
It needs predictability.

Hormones don’t reset on Mondays.
Your metabolism doesn’t collapse because of one decision.
GLP-1, blood sugar, digestion, and stress regulation respond to what you do consistently, not flawlessly.

The problem isn’t that you “fell off.”
It’s that your plan leaves no room for being human.

Sustainable health lives in the middle.
In minimums you can keep.
In routines that flex.
In decisions that move you forward instead of punishing you for being imperfect.

If you’re done with extremes and ready for real momentum, this is the work.

👉Comment “STUCK” below or DM me to learn how to stop swinging between extremes
👉 Or book a call with me to build a plan that works in real life, not just on perfect weeks

Perfection is loud. Consistency wins quietly.

Your hormones don’t just happen to you.They respond to the signals you give them every single day. ✨Most people assume t...
12/15/2025

Your hormones don’t just happen to you.

They respond to the signals you give them every single day. ✨

Most people assume their symptoms are genetic — slow metabolism, stubborn weight, fatigue, mood swings, bloating. But genetics are only the blueprint. Your daily choices decide whether those genes stay quiet or turn on.

What actually shifts your hormones?
🍽️ Blood sugar stability: Every spike and crash tells your adrenals to work overtime. Balanced meals calm cravings, inflammation, and cortisol.
😴 Sleep quality: Even one poor night disrupts insulin, raises stress hormones, and increases hunger.
🧂Mineral balance: Magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, these are the raw materials your hormones need. Deficiencies show up as anxiety, PMS, fatigue, slow detox.
☣️ Toxin load: Mold, metals, and chemicals don’t just “pass through.” They change how your liver, thyroid, and gut communicate.
🧠 Nervous system patterns: Hormones can’t regulate when you’re constantly in survival mode.

This is why two people with the same genetics can live completely different health stories. 🌱

Your hormones are listening — every meal, every habit, every stress response.

If you want different outcomes, start with the choices you control.

COMMENT CHOICE below or DM me, or book a discovery call with me to rebuild your hormone balance through personalized daily habits.

Most women don’t realize how much their symptoms are connected to their toxic load.Bloating, fatigue, stubborn weight, b...
12/12/2025

Most women don’t realize how much their symptoms are connected to their toxic load.
Bloating, fatigue, stubborn weight, brain fog, skin issues — these aren’t random. They’re signals that your detox pathways are overwhelmed.

A Total Tox Burden test looks at the three categories that place the highest stress on your system:
heavy metals, mold/mycotoxins, and environmental chemicals.
When these accumulate, your liver slows, your gut becomes reactive, hormones lose rhythm, and your energy drops. This is why you can be doing all the “right” things and still feel stuck.

When we ran this test, the patterns became clear. High metals. Elevated mold toxins. Environmental exposures blocking detox pathways.
Once we saw the data, we created a precise plan that supported detox without overwhelming the body — and everything started to shift. Digestion, energy, mental clarity, inflammation… all began to improve because we were finally addressing the right problem.

Testing removes the guesswork. It gives you clarity, direction, and a personalized protocol that your body can respond to.

If you’re tired of guessing and want real answers, comment “TEST”, DM me, or book a discovery call to see if this is the right step for you.

Your symptoms make sense, and they are absolutely solvable with the right information.

Your gut is not just a digestion machine.⁣⁣It’s an immune system hub, a hormone factory, and the command center for infl...
12/08/2025

Your gut is not just a digestion machine.⁣
⁣
It’s an immune system hub, a hormone factory, and the command center for inflammation, brain fog, cravings, mood, and energy. And every day, the foods you choose are either healing your gut or harming it.⁣
⁣
Foods that Harm:⁣
When the gut lining becomes irritated or inflamed, it loses its ability to digest efficiently and communicate properly with your immune and endocrine systems.⁣ Ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, industrial seed oils, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners can disrupt the microbiome, weaken the gut barrier, and trigger blood sugar swings that keep your body in a reactive, inflamed state.⁣
⁣
Foods that Heal:⁣
Nutrient-dense, whole foods help repair the gut lining, regulate glucose, reduce inflammation, and support the trillions of microbes that drive your metabolism.⁣ Choose fiber-rich vegetables, polyphenol-rich plants, fermented foods, high-quality proteins, omega-3 fats, herbs, and spices that actively calm the gut and nervous system.⁣
⁣
Small shifts make a massive difference.⁣
Every healing food you add brings your body one step closer to stable energy, better digestion, balanced hormones, and a calmer mind.⁣
⁣
Comment HEAL below or DM me — or book a discovery call with me to learn how to rebuild your gut and metabolism from the inside out.⁣
⁣

Your circadian rhythm is one of the most powerful systems in your body, and most people never realize how much it contro...
12/05/2025

Your circadian rhythm is one of the most powerful systems in your body, and most people never realize how much it controls. ⁣
⁣
Your digestion, hormones, sleep quality, blood sugar, cravings, and metabolism all work in timed patterns. ⁣
⁣
When those patterns fall out of sync, your body starts sending symptoms: low energy, cravings, anxiety, irregular cycles, stubborn weight, bloating, poor sleep.⁣
⁣
Here’s the part most people miss:⁣
It’s not just what you eat. It’s when.⁣
It’s not just how you sleep. It’s when you wind down.⁣
Your body wants rhythm. Predictability. Consistency.⁣
This is how your hormones stabilize. This is how your gut repairs. This is how your metabolism becomes efficient again.⁣
⁣
When clients finally support their body clock, everything shifts faster: fewer cravings, regulated mood, lighter digestion, steadier energy, and easier weight loss. It’s often the missing link.⁣
⁣
If you want to optimize your metabolism, balance hormones, and feel good in your body again, start with your rhythm.⁣
⁣
Comment BODY CLOCK below, DM me, or book a discovery call to get personalized support.⁣
⁣

Most women assume constant bloating, sluggish digestion, or unpredictable bathroom habits mean they need more gut supple...
11/28/2025

Most women assume constant bloating, sluggish digestion, or unpredictable bathroom habits mean they need more gut supplements. ⁣
⁣
But if your system feels like it’s “offline”, the real root usually isn’t your gut. It’s the stress chemistry sitting upstream of everything.⁣
⁣
When cortisol stays elevated, your digestion isn’t weak, it’s blocked. Your stomach acid, bile, enzymes, and motility all get dialed down because your body thinks it has bigger problems to handle. And until your nervous system shifts out of that state, no probiotic, detox powder, or cleanse can override the physiology of stress.⁣
⁣
The truth is, your gut isn’t failing you.⁣
It’s protecting you.⁣
⁣
And once you lower the stress load, the gut finally does what it’s designed to do: heal, reset, and work with you instead of against you.⁣
⁣
If your digestion still feels “off”, this is your sign to stop guessing and start addressing what’s happening upstream.⁣
⁣
Comment GUT below and DM me to book a discovery call and get the support you actually need.⁣
⁣

How Lifestyle Shapes Your Gut, Hormones, and Energy
11/25/2025

How Lifestyle Shapes Your Gut, Hormones, and Energy

If you’ve been eating well, moving your body, and still feeling stuck with stubborn weight or constant fatigue, your met...
11/22/2025

If you’ve been eating well, moving your body, and still feeling stuck with stubborn weight or constant fatigue, your metabolism might not be the issue. Your leptin might be.

Leptin is a hormone made by your fat cells that tells your brain when to eat, when to burn, and when to rest. When it’s working, your metabolism hums along beautifully. When it’s not, your body starts storing fat, your hunger cues go haywire, and energy drops.

Here’s what many women don’t realize: leptin resistance often develops during perimenopause and menopause when estrogen levels decline, cortisol rises, and inflammation builds. Add in poor sleep, blue light at night, or late-night snacking, and your brain stops “hearing” the signal that says we have enough.

This is why despite your best efforts, the scale won’t move, cravings increase, and you feel “off” in your own body.

The good news is that you can reset leptin through small, rhythm-based habits like morning sunlight, a protein-rich breakfast, and sleeping in total darkness.

💬 Comment “Leptin” below or DM me to book a free discovery call to create a personalized plan to bring back your energy, metabolism, and confidence.

If your cholesterol crept up during peri/menopause, it’s not just your diet — it’s your hormones.Here’s what most women ...
11/21/2025

If your cholesterol crept up during peri/menopause, it’s not just your diet — it’s your hormones.

Here’s what most women aren’t told: estrogen and leptin work together to regulate how your body processes fats. When estrogen levels decline during menopause, leptin signaling starts to fail, and that creates a ripple effect in your lipid metabolism.

Leptin is a hormone that tells your liver how to handle fats. When it’s working properly, your liver clears out LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) efficiently and keeps triglycerides in check. But when leptin resistance develops, often from stress, poor sleep, or blood sugar swings, the liver stops clearing LDL effectively. Triglycerides rise, HDL drops, and “mystery” cholesterol increases start showing up on your labs.

This isn’t about eating less fat. It’s about restoring hormone communication so your metabolism can function the way it’s meant to.

Normalizing leptin sensitivity helps improve lipid metabolism, lower inflammation, and support heart health, especially during menopause.

If your labs aren’t reflecting your effort, it’s time to look deeper.

💬 Comment “LEPTIN” below, DM me or book a free discovery call to uncover what your body is really trying to say.

If your metabolism feels slower, your energy crashes mid-day, or you’re gaining weight even though “nothing has changed,...
11/20/2025

If your metabolism feels slower, your energy crashes mid-day, or you’re gaining weight even though “nothing has changed,” your body isn’t broken — it’s just out of rhythm.

Your metabolism, digestion, and hormones all follow the sun.
When you time your meals, movement, and protein with natural light, everything begins to realign — energy improves, cravings calm, and weight starts to shift naturally.

This is your blueprint for getting back in sync.

✨ Save this post for when you’re ready to reset your rhythm — naturally.

💬 Comment “RESET” or DM me to book a free discovery call and learn how to bring your body back into balance.

Address

3530 Bee Caves Road, Suite 102
Austin, TX
78704

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nutritional Zest posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Nutritional Zest:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Helping you live up to your full potential

My passion for functional nutrition grew from my own personal health journey. For years I lived in a state of constant stress and ignored my body’s cues for what foods it really needed. Eventually, my body broke down.

I could barely make it through my day. I would wake up and peel myself out of the bed, motivated only by the fact that once I got through my work day I could crawl right back in. I called it “living in survival mode”. And even though I was beyond exhausted, I couldn’t sleep through the night because my mind wouldn’t shut off, aka “tired but wired”.

Digestion was also a nightmare and I was constantly bloated—my stomach would pop out so much after a meal that I couldn’t fit into my clothes.

And, even though I was barely eating, I started gaining weight. A lot of it. My thyroid began failing, and I developed a goiter and hypothyroidism, and was an anxious, mental wreck in a constant brain fog.