But the truth was 5 years into my drastic dietary changes, my symptoms still hadn't improved. I drank coffee like I needed a caffeine IV just so I could get through the work day without crawling under my desk for nap time. There were days that my migraines became so severe all I could do was lay in my bed with a pillow over my head. My unruly stomach dictated my plans. Stress was about the only constant in my life. My joints ached more like I was in my eighties - rather than in my twenties. At night, I would wake with heart palpitations thinking I was having a heart attack.

Lucky for me, I met a doctor that had more than just a traditional medical education, and he encouraged me to try a natural approach.