The Background Story: Alecrim Wellness

I was born and raised in Brazil and I am the great-granddaughter of an Amazon Indian. I

grew up eating mostly homemade, fresh, whole foods. I remember my mom sending me

to a neighbor to buy watercress—I'd watch them cut it fresh from the wet soil and hand

it to me in a bag to take home. I often saw my grandmother make meals by preparing a

live chicken from her backyard. For common ailments like sore throats, digestive issues,

or colds, we turned to herbs from our garden.

After moving to the U.S. in 1987 at the age of 21, my diet and lifestyle changed

drastically, and I began eating frozen, processed foods and takeout. I was a flight

attendant with United Airlines for almost 20 years, life was busy, and I didn’t prioritize

what I put on my plate. Over time, I developed severe PMS, IBS, acid reflux, and

constant bloating. I became obsessed with making sure that I had access to a bathroom

and was often miserable during my flight attendant years, frequently calling in sick due

to my symptoms.

During perimenopause, things worsened. Stress would trigger my IBS, and I found

myself in and out of doctors’ offices without answers. One doctor told me my symptoms

were just due to age, while another suggested it was all in my head. Not once did

anyone ask me about my diet or lifestyle. I don’t blame the doctors, I blame the system.

Medical training focuses on diagnosing and treating symptoms, often with medication,

but very few doctors are trained in nutrition. And without identifying and addressing the

root cause, the problem doesn’t go away, it only gets worse.  

I once had a doctor tell me, “Daise, we doctors walk the hospital halls in pain—we just

learn to ignore it.”  But I wasn’t willing to ignore my pain. I wasn’t willing to settle. Was

this really how I had to live for the rest of my life, relying on medication and feeling

uncomfortable?

That question pushed me to start researching. I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative

Nutrition (IIN) and began applying what I was learning to my own life. I became my first

client. I went back to basics and back to how I was raised. I focused on eating fresh,

colorful, homemade meals, filled my plate with a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs,

and made time for self-care. I also surrendered what I couldn’t control to God and found

peace in that. This new lifestyle allowed me to heal the microbiome of my gut, the most

important part of our immune system.

I deeply believe that food is medicine. Everything we eat either heals us or harms us.

Many illnesses can be prevented and sometimes even reversed with the right diet and

lifestyle.

God created an abundant garden full of healing foods rich in antioxidants and anti-

inflammatory properties. Let’s enjoy it! Connect with nature, God’s creation, because it’s

not only beautiful, it has the ability to heal us.