MY JOURNY
I am thankful for the most challenging obstacles I have endured, because they have led to discovering the healing power of nutrition and how to Grow Forward.
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So let it be.
Jodie Stephenson
My Journey to Healing, Health & Native Nutritional Therapy
My body was numb, and my level of consciousness was distorted as I lay helpless on the living room floor. Paralyzed and terrified, I waited for the ambulance, unable to move or speak. Doctors quickly decided to airlift me to a larger hospital, fearing my condition was critical. After countless tests, the doctors discovered a benign brain tumor was causing me to have countless seizures that left my body and mind cripple. Within a month, I was in surgery, praying for healing and a second chance at life. A NEW PATH FORWARD... Moments like these change everything. I chose to let mine shape me for the better. With a B.S. in Exercise Science, I had always been passionate about fitness and healthy living. But after brain surgery, I saw nutrition as a powerful component for healing body, mind, and spirit. Determined to recover, I immersed myself in learning how food, environment, and lifestyle choices could restore health. Just months after surgery, I enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Association and became a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. DEEPING MY KNOWLEDGE & HONORING THE BODY My hunger for knowledge only grew as I witnessed improvements in my own health. I went on to study advanced topics in digestive, metabolic, and hormonal health through the Institute of Restorative Health, deepening my understanding and belief that true wellness begins in the gut. When we listen and properly nourish our bodies, we replenish every system and cell and restore balance. By supporting digestive function, restoring microbial balance, providing my body with the nutrients it truly needed, and removing inflammatory triggers, I experienced a transformation—clearer thinking, calmer digestion, radiant skin, efficient metabolic energy, and renewed strength and resilience. Today, by the grace of God, modern medicine, and nutritional therapy, I am seizure and medication-free. BRING HEALNG TO OTHERS My journey not only restored my health but also blessed me with a vibrant, thriving family. Now, my mission is to help others experience that same renewal. At Native Nutritional Therapy, I use a functional bio-individual approach to uncover imbalances and your body’s unique nutritional needs. With digestion as the foundation, we help you unlock the strength, clarity, and vitality already within you. Discover your journey to optimal health—and Grow Forward with Native Nutritional Therapy.
MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY
Don’t conform to your diet, but let your diet conform to you and your nutritional needs.
Diet is more than what you eat, it is a way of life or a manner of living. What we eat changes the way we feel; the way we feel changes the way we think; the way we think changes the way we live; and the way we live changes the world. Food is an incredible life force that nourishes our existence. Not only does it provide essential nutrients for our being, but it also provides community, tradition, entertainment, and pleasure. Native foods should be embraced because of their restorative elements that provide a holistic approach to well-being.
WHY DIGESTION MATTERS
​The digestive system is the foundation of our health. Just as a tree depends on strong roots anchored in nutrient-rich soil, our bodies rely on a well-functioning digestive system to properly absorb and utilize nutrients. Every time we consume food, the digestive system takes on a complex and demanding role—it must communicate, break down, absorb, assimilate, produce, excrete, defend, acidify, alkalinize, rebuild, repair, and eliminate.
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The function of the digestive system is deeply interconnected with every organ, tissue, gland, cell, and microbial community within us. Even a single disruption in this system can trigger a cascade of imbalances, affecting the entire body. That’s why nutrition, digestive dysfunction, and inflammation deserve top priority when addressing chronic symptoms or disease.
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Prioritizing gut health doesn’t just relieve bloating or discomfort—it lays the foundation for vibrant energy, mental clarity, glowing skin, a strong heart, resilient joints, balanced hormones, an efficient metabolism, a powerful immune system, and most importantly, renewed joy in daily life.
The digestive system is intricately involved in a series of complex, interdependent functions. Even a single disruption can trigger a cascade of imbalances throughout the body.
Digestive Function
Communicate
Assimilate
Defend
Repair
Break down
Produce
Acidify
Mobilize
Absorb
Excrete
Aklalinize
Eliminate
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY
​I believe the human body is a beautiful work of art—deserving of love, respect, and nourishment. Nutrition and digestive function are foundational pillars to our health because every cell in the body depends on them for optimal metabolic function. Additional branches that sustain the tree of wellness include lifestyle practices and environmental factors that significantly affect our body's balance and the flow of biochemical processes.
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In my practice, I take a whole-body approach, honoring each client’s unique biochemistry and individual needs. I emphasize bio-individuality by carefully listening to the client, identifying root causes, and staying grounded in both modern functional nutrition and timeless, traditional healing wisdom. ​
Food and diet are deeply intimate aspects of our lives—what we choose to nourish ourselves with becomes part of who we are. To empower you to make aligned, nourishing choices now and into the future, I offer a supportive, educational space (in-person or virtual). In this space, you'll receive personalized tools, resources, supplement recommendations, and ongoing guidance to help you navigate your health journey with clarity and confidence.
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Nutritional therapy does not diagnose or treat disease. Instead, it focuses on uncovering hidden imbalances and blocking factors, while nourishing the body, realigning function, and eliminating barriers, so the body can naturally heal.
GROW FORWARD MINDSET
What does Grow Forward mean?
WHAT DOES GROW MEAN?
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To grow is to live with awareness, to know your why, and to align your path with purpose. Growth means learning from past experiences and decisions, and using them to make wiser choices, no matter their difficulty.
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Growth is about transforming challenges into opportunities, and viewing the past not as a barrier, but as fertile ground for personal development and the pursuit of your life’s calling.
WHAT DOES FORWARD MEAN?
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To move forward is to willingly continue your journey, even amid discomfort, fear, and uncertainty. It means choosing to look beyond obstacles with a mindset grounded in courage, integrity, and hope.
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This forward movement creates transformational experiences, fueling a continuous cycle of growth, renewal, and momentum.
MY MINDSET & MANTRA
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"Grow Forward" became my daily mindset and my mantra during vulnerable moments of my life.​ Several weeks after brain surgery to remove a tumor that was causing seizures, I felt the onset of another seizure. In fear, I turned to prayer and called out to my Heavenly Father. In that moment, I felt the Holy Spirit wash over me, and the words "Grow Forward" planted themselves deeply in my soul.​ Not only did my fear dissolve, but so did the seizure symptoms. What remained was a profound sense of peace and reassurance. I strive to Grow Forward every day, in my physical, mental, and spiritual health. Knowing my WHY fuels my WILL to face life’s challenges with purpose and resilience.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO GROW FORWARD?
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It is my mission to help you Grow Forward in your health by encouraging your WHY and your WILL for life.
To Grow Forward means to develop with intention, to allow the past to inform but not define, and to live by conscious design and purpose.
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS NOW
