Alexa Federico is the founder of GirlinHealing.com, a recipe and wellness site for the autoimmune community and the author of The Complete Guide to Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis: A Road Map to Long-Term Healing. She is a Nutritional Therapy Consultant and AIP Certified Coach. She works with individuals 1:1 either remotely or in person who have autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses, using a real foods lifestyle to help individuals improve their symptoms.When not working with her nutrition clients or cooking up new recipes, Alexa loves a good book, watching The Office, and spending hours in a coffee shop.
I caught up with Alexa and asked her a few questions that I thought you’d love to read!
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Alexa, please share a little about your personal health journey and the role that the autoimmune protocol has played.
When I was 12 years old, I started experiencing several different symptoms over the course of a few months. From GI symptoms, to joint pain, mouth sores, night sweats, fatigue, and more. I was underweight, malnourished, and very sick by the time I was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease.
I continued eating my regular diet, which was largely the Standard American Diet, because my doctors claimed food was not a factor. Although my parents always suspected we should be altering my diet, they didn’t know where to begin. After that first year I began a radically different protocol working with an unconventional doctor. The protocol was similar to AIP with some differences tailored to my needs. It has been 13 years since I was diagnosed and my diet and lifestyle continues to change as I change. However, I have been able to reintroduce a lot of foods because of the healing that has occurred.
What made you want to be a health coach?
It was disappointing and discouraging that the hospital caring for me gave little-to-no credit to diet in disease management. I had made a complete turnaround weeks after starting my new diet changes, and yet my doctor didn’t believe that this caused the improvement!
I knew that there were other people being diagnosed with IBD every day that were not being told the whole story. I grew more passionate for true healing as I kept discovering nuggets of unconventional wisdom. The pull to become a health coach was undeniable.
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The depth of information, practical tips, and the accessible way Dr. Sarah shows me how to apply complex science to improve my health is truly remarkable. -Wendy
What certifications do you have and why did you choose that program?
I am a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certified through the Nutritional Therapy Association. I started the program in 2017; one year after I had graduated college. I decided on the NTA because their stance on nutrition was closely aligned with the same principles that keep me healthy. With more research I learned that the NTA material was rooted in true science, not trend-based diets or a building a lean physique.
Towards the end of earning my NTP certification I enrolled in the Autoimmune Paleo coach program. When I heard that this new coaching program was created, I didn’t hesitate to sign up! This was a perfect program for me because I knew I wanted to work closely with clients who have autoimmune diseases, mostly IBD like myself. I wanted to learn more of the “why” behind the food eliminations so I could inform my clients better. I find people are more likely to stick to changes when they understand why they are doing it. Belonging to a niched group of health coaches who have a special interest in autoimmune health was a bonus.
Share a little more about your practice. How can my readers contact you to work with you?
Currently my practice is 100% online. My clients usually have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and are interested in learning about how food affects how they feel. I work with people one-on-one and open enrollment for my group program, The IBD Healing Method several times a year. If anyone is interested in chatting about working together, they can email me at [email protected] or go to my website here.
The Gut Health Cookbook!
180+ delicious recipes featuring 61 gut health superfoods!
The Gut Health Cookbook is fantastic! Thank you for researching and creating The Gut Health Cookbook! Such wonderful recipes! I’m so excited to try them all! -Sue
What is your #1 tip that you give all of your clients?
My #1 tip for my clients is to move slowly and take small steps toward a healthier lifestyle if it seems overwhelming. Moving forward slowly is much better than not moving forward at all.
If you are a healthcare professional interested in this high-value certification, join my Healthcare Professionals e-mail list by clicking here (make sure to select the Healthcare Professional list and any other lists you’re interested in!). I will e-mail you with more information on how to become an AIP Certified Coach.
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