http://www.becomenutritionwise.com/

Nutrition Wise, 401 S. Banker Avenue, suite C, Effingham, IL (2026)

08/08/2026

This week, I had the opportunity of sharing the benefits of gut health testing with my BNI group.

Why look at your gut health? 🤷‍♀️

🦠 What if your gut is giving you clues about your health?

If you struggle with IBS, bloating, digestive issues, difficulty losing weight, or hormone-related symptoms,

sometimes the answer isn’t simply “eat healthier” or “take a probiotic”.

Your gut may need a closer look. 👀

That’s where GI-MAP testing can be a valuable piece of the puzzle.

A GI-MAP is a comprehensive stool test that looks at multiple aspects of the gastrointestinal environment, including:

🔎 Digestive & gut function

🔎 Beneficial and potentially problematic microorganisms

🔎 Parasites and certain pathogens

🔎 Markers related to intestinal inflammation

🔎 Pancreatic digestive function

🔎 Immune response in the gut

Why might this matter?

💨 IBS & digestive symptoms

If you’re dealing with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort, testing can provide additional information to help guide a more individualized nutrition and gut-health strategy.

🦠 SIBO & microbial imbalance

While a GI-MAP does not diagnose SIBO, it can provide information about the broader microbial environment that may be relevant when evaluating digestive symptoms.

⚖️ Weight management

Gut health is one piece of the bigger picture when it comes to metabolism, appetite, digestion, inflammation, and sustainable weight management. Understanding your individual gut environment can help us move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

🌸 Hormone health

Gut health and hormone health are interconnected through digestion, metabolism, inflammation, and the body’s handling of hormones. Supporting the gut can be an important part of a comprehensive approach to hormone health.

✨ The biggest benefit?

PERSONALIZATION.

Instead of guessing what your body needs, testing can give us additional information to consider when creating a nutrition and lifestyle plan designed specifically for YOU.

Your gut is unique.

Your symptoms are unique.

Your nutrition plan should be unique, too. 💙

If you’re tired of being told that your digestive symptoms are “just IBS” or that you simply need to “eat less and exercise more,” let’s take a deeper look at the bigger picture.

📩 Interested in learning whether GI-MAP testing may be appropriate for you?

Send me a message or schedule a complimentary phone consultation with Nutrition Wise.

🙌🏼 Now accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna!

🌐 becomenutritionwise.com
📞 618-402-8347

08/07/2026

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! 🤱🩵🩷

This week provides the perfect opportunity to share all of the wonderful nutritional and health benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby! 🩵

08/06/2026

🌞Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Even at the height of summer, I’m seeing so many of my clients who have suboptimal vitamin D levels.

Even my own vit D level came back suboptimal in July…. And I supplement! 😱

💛 Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in many functions throughout the body. It acts more like a hormone than a typical vitamin and is unique because your body can produce it when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

💪 It helps:

✔️ Strengthen bones & teeth

✔️ Boost your immune system

✔️ Improve mood & mental clarity

✔️ Reduce inflammation

✔️ Support muscle function & coordination

🧪 Signs of Deficiency

• Fatigue

• Frequent illness or infections

• Bone or back pain

• Depression or low mood

• Hair loss

• Slow wound healing

• Muscle pain

Sources of Vitamin D:
🐟 Fatty fish, egg yolks & fortified foods

☀️ Sunlight (just 15–30 mins a few times/week)

💊 Supplements (ask your provider to check your levels!)

**Since there are few food sources of vitamin D, and many of us spend the majority of our days indoors, it’s important to monitor your levels and supplement as needed.

➡️ Want to feel your best? Start by checking your vitamin D levels—your whole body will thank you!

➡️ Your healthcare provider can check your vitamin D levels with a blood test (25-hydroxyvitamin D).

**NOTE! 📝
An OPTIMAL vitamin D levels is 60-90 ng/mL (reference ranges are 30-100 ng/mL, but a higher level is optimal for our overall health and prevention of chronic illness)

08/05/2026

While most of what we teach and preach is good nutrition, moving our bodies is just as important 🙌🏼

Oftentimes we think of physical activity as a means to improve our physical appearance, but it is so much more important than that. 💪

Benefits:
✅ improves mood

✅ reduces stress

✅ strengthens muscles and bones (and helps prevent/reduce sarcopenia and osteopenia🦴)

✅ helps prevent chronic illness

✅ helps regulate blood sugar and hormone levels

✅ improves sleep

✨ For those who suffer from IBS, reducing stress is key! ✨

👉low impact exercises may be better tolerated for those with IBS

👉 Make regular physical activity part of your routine 💪
*
ibs exerciseandibs

08/05/2026

While most of what we teach and preach is good nutrition, moving our bodies is just as important 🙌🏼

Oftentimes we think of physical activity as a means to improve our physical appearance, but it is so much more important than that. 💪

Benefits:
✅ improves mood

✅ reduces stress

✅ strengthens muscles and bones (and helps prevent/reduce sarcopenia and osteopenia🦴)

✅ helps prevent chronic illness

✅ helps regulate blood sugar and hormone levels

✅ improves sleep

✨ For those who suffer from IBS, reducing stress is key! ✨

👉low impact exercises may be better tolerated for those with IBS

👉 Make regular physical activity part of your routine 💪
*

07/31/2026

How could we let National Avocado Day pass without posting a little pun?

Some fun ways you can enjoy your avocado on this special day are…. 💭

🌮 Homemade Guacamole with Diced Avocados!
🍳 Avocado Toast with Egg or Cottage Cheese!
🥗 On Top of Salads, Quesadillas, Sandwiches, etc!
🥑 Or Simply By Itself!

No matter how you enjoy your avocado today, it comes packed with tons of health benefits! Such as…

👉 A great source of “healthy fats”
👉 An excellent source of fiber
👉 Helps to lower cholesterol levels
👉 Supports gut health
👉 Increases satiety with meals
👉 Supports cardiovascular health
👉Provides tons of essential vitamins and minerals!

07/24/2026

🌱 What Is the GI-MAP Test and Why Do We Use it in BHRT? 🧬

Your gut is the command center of your health — affecting everything from digestion to immunity to hormones and even your mood!

But how do we actually see what's going on in there?

👩‍⚕️ That’s where the GI-MAP (GI Microbial Assay Plus) test comes in.

This advanced stool test uses DNA technology to give a detailed snapshot of your gut microbiome — the good, the bad, and everything in between.

🔍 What can the GI-MAP reveal?

✅ Levels of beneficial bacteria

✅ Overgrowth of harmful bacteria or yeast (like candida)

✅ Parasites and viruses

✅ Inflammation markers (like calprotectin)

✅ Leaky gut indicators (like zonulin)

✅ How well you're digesting fats and proteins

✅ Immune function in the gut (secretory IgA)

✅ H. pylori and other hidden infections

💡 This test can be a game changer if you struggle with:

• Bloating or IBS symptoms

• Skin issues like acne or eczema

• Fatigue or brain fog

• Food sensitivities

• Autoimmune flares

• Hormone imbalances

Instead of guessing, the GI-MAP gives us real answers — and a roadmap for PERSONALIZED healing. 🌿

Curious if this test and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) could help you? The Basic Blueprint at Behold Aesthetics & Wellness Center is the place to start! 🙌🏼

07/20/2026

🎉 Big News from Nutrition Wise! 🎉

Taking care of your health just got a whole lot easier!

Nutrition Wise is now accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna insurance plans for Medical Nutrition Therapy! 🙌

If you've been putting off working with a registered dietitian because of the cost, now is the perfect time to invest in your health while using your insurance benefits.

We are currently accepting new patients who are ready to:
✨ Improve their gut health
✨ Manage their IBS
✨ Lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way
✨ Manage blood sugars, blood pressure, or cholesterol
✨ Feel more energized and confident
✨ Build healthy habits that actually last

✨ Coverage for eating disorders coming soon! 🫶

As a Registered Dietitian, I provide personalized nutrition counseling that meets you where you are and helps you reach your health goals with practical, evidence-based strategies.

Many insurance plans cover nutrition counseling with little to no out-of-pocket cost.

📞 Call us at 618-402-8347
🌐 Visit becomenutritionwise.com

Know someone who has been wanting to improve their health?

👇Tag them below or share this post—they may have nutrition benefits waiting to be used!

07/20/2026

July 20th is National Lollipop, Fortune Cookie, and Ice Cream Soda Day! 🍭🥠🍨

Many will find it surprising to see Dietitians post about these so-called “junk foods…”

Because yes; eating whole foods, meeting your nutrient needs, and being mindful of your food choices is great!
~> However; finding balance and including your favorite "fun foods" in moderation is just as important! 🙂

❌Healthy eating is not an all-or-nothing lifestyle!

✅ It is okay to have dessert with your family on the holidays, get the coffee you want when meeting up with an old friend, treating yourself after a long work week, or simply incorporating these foods into your diet because they bring you joy! 💛

✅Your overall dietary patterns are so much more important than one simple choice or one fun food. 🥑🥗

Remember: Balance will look different for everyone depending on your dietary needs. So working with a Dietitian can be incredibly helpful when figuring this out!

07/10/2026

On Chronic Disease Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of understanding the impact of chronic diseases on individuals, families, and communities 💚

Did you know....
That 7 out of the top 10 leading causes of death are chronic diseases?

Primary Goals Of This Day Are:

⏰ Prevention: Many chronic diseases can be either delayed or prevented entirely with healthy eating, moderate physical activity, and regular wellness check-ups!

👩‍⚕️ Improving Access To Care: Not all chronic diseases can be prevented… So ensuring equal access to healthcare is essential for early detection, informed decision making, and management!

🫂 Building Support Networks/Reducing Stigmas: Living with a chronic disease can be isolating and take a toll on your mental health. Support from those who are also navigating this new way of living can make the world of a difference for the individual and their families!

Nutrition Wise

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