My Story

From Village Food to Processed Diets

I grew up in a small village in Bulgaria, where most of our food came from our own gardens. Meals were simple, seasonal, and deeply connected to the land. Obesity and chronic illness were rare, and food was not something we analyzed—it was something we trusted.

At the time, I didn’t realize how much that environment shaped my health. I only understood it years later, after my body began to struggle.

When Medicine Didn’t Have Answers

As a teenager, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Like many young women, I was offered hormones and medication as the primary solution. I was told this was something I would simply have to manage.

But instead of feeling better, I often felt worse—physically and emotionally. My symptoms persisted, and I felt disconnected from my body, unsure how to support it beyond prescriptions that didn’t address the underlying issue.

In my late twenties, I faced infertility. It was one of the most difficult chapters of my life and forced me to look more closely at my health in a way I hadn’t before. After transitioning to a vegetarian diet, I eventually became pregnant with my daughter. That experience was my first glimpse into how deeply food can influence hormones, fertility, and overall well-being.

The Move That Changed Everything

In 2011, my family and I moved to the United States. I expected many changes—but I didn’t expect my health to decline so quickly.

Despite eating what was considered a “normal” diet, I became very sick. Digestive issues, inflammation, fatigue, and discomfort became part of my daily life. Foods I had eaten for years without issue now triggered symptoms.

This was confusing and frightening. I wasn’t eating fast food every day or ignoring my health. Yet my body was clearly telling me something was wrong.

That experience forced me to ask deeper questions—not just about what we eat, but how food is grown, processed, and prepared, and how dramatically these factors can affect the body.

When Food Becomes a Stressor

What I eventually realized is that many modern foods—especially ultra-processed ones— can overwhelm the body, even when they appear “healthy” on the surface.

My body was reacting not just to ingredients, but to additives, processing methods, agricultural practices, and the loss of traditional food preparation. The same foods that once nourished me in Bulgaria felt entirely different in a new environment.

This was the moment I truly understood that food is not universal. What supports one person—or one body at one time—can be deeply stressful to another.

Turning Personal Experience Into Purpose

Motivated by my own health journey, I pursued formal training in nutrition, studying Nutrition and Healthy Living at eCornell University and completing Health and Wellness: Designing Sustainable Nutrition Plans through Harvard Medical School.

But beyond credentials, I brought something equally important into my work: lived experience. I knew firsthand what it felt like to follow the rules, trust the advice, and still feel unwell.

Today, my approach is rooted in bioindividual nutrition and culinary medicine. I help clients understand how their unique biology, environment, and life history influence their relationship with food. Instead of rigid plans, I focus on personalization, root causes, and sustainable change.

Why I Do This Work

I don’t believe food should be confusing, restrictive, or frightening. I believe it should feel supportive, grounding, and empowering.

My goal is to help people reconnect with food in a way that honors their body’s signals— whether they’re navigating hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, inflammation, or simply feeling disconnected from nourishment.

Health is not about finding the perfect diet. It’s about listening, learning, and choosing what truly supports you.