Blog
Processed Foods Are Destroying Your Spirit: How To Heal
Welcome to a journey that dives deep into not just the science behind what we eat, but how those choices ripple out—affecting our bodies, our minds, and even our spirits. Inspired by a heartfelt episode of Threads of Enlightenment, this post unpacks one mother’s journey from the world of biotechnology to discovering just how much food can either lift us up or hold us back. If you’ve ever wondered about the hidden dangers in processed foods, or felt that nagging disconnect between your health and your happiness, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dig in.
Table of Contents
The Spark: Quitting Biotechnology to Heal
For a long time, my life revolved around science. Chemistry, biotechnology, the search for answers in tightly controlled labs and data sheets. But that changed when I saw the struggles my daughter faced with autism and severe inflammation. Sometimes life steps in and reroutes you, and this was my reroute. I quit biotech and threw myself into understanding food—not just as fuel, but as something deeply connected to who we are at our very core.
The shift wasn’t just professional. It started in my heart.
Food and Spirit: Transforming Autism and Inflammation
If you’ve ever watched someone you love suffer, you know the desperation to do anything that helps. My daughter’s autism brought with it intense brain inflammation. Managing her food intake became my mission, especially when she was young enough for me to wholly control what went on her plate.
The results? Life-changing. I saw her spirit blossom—a child once locked away in suffering began to express herself, engaging with the world and actually telling me, “These are the best days ever.”
That’s when it hit me: food doesn’t just change bodies, it can change souls.
How We Serve: A Mission Rooted in Calm and Compassion
Every family, every journey is unique. But at the heart of healing is the desire to uplift others out of pain and trauma.
“I started off very much with the food journey, helping people really identify how the maybe toxic, inflammatory foods were not helping them and almost contributing to their suffering and their pain.”
Real compassion means showing up for people—the ones who are struggling and searching for calm. For me, calmness and a gentle energy became just as important in my coaching as sharing scientific facts about food. People are seeking guidance; they’re tired of just surviving. We want to thrive together.
Family Origins: Trauma, Protection, and Growth
Let’s take it back to the beginning. So much of who we are is shaped by our families—by their traumas, by what they resolve or don’t resolve. I grew up as the eldest of three, often sliding into the “protector” role, especially with my sister. Trauma was woven right into the fabric of our family life; my parents battled their own demons and weren’t always present or calm.
That chaos, that unresolved pain, followed me into adulthood. When I had my own children, I hadn’t healed yet. This cycle plays out in so many families. It’s tough but true.
If you’re a firstborn, you may recognize the protector in yourself—always trying to shield the younger ones from the fallout. I did, and the responsibility shaped not just me, but how I related to the rest of the world.
Science, Career, and Choosing a New Path
I always loved chemistry. Something about mixing up molecules and watching things shift and change sparked a wonder in me, even as a kid. That interest took me all the way through undergrad, graduate school, and into the world of biotechnology. My goal? Help people through drug development, medical advancements, making real contributions.
But after autism touched my family, biotech started to feel soul-sucking. It was just corporate grind, and my “why” shifted. That’s when food chemistry called to me—how could what we eat change not just our bodies but our spirits?
The Food Crisis: America’s Processed Plague
Let’s face it: the food supply in America is broken.
As soon as corporations muscled into the food industry back in the 1950s, things changed. Today, processed foods dominate shelves. They’re not just unhealthy—they’re designed to keep us sick. From chronic inflammation to weight gain to brain fog and even emotional struggles, it’s all tied back to what we eat.
Have you ever gone abroad and noticed you feel better elsewhere? You’re not imagining it. Food in “third world” countries is often much closer to the earth, unpolluted by the laundry list of additives, chemicals, and hidden glutamates found in the States.
“The food supply in America has nothing to do with health. Absolutely nothing. It is not designed for health. It is designed to make one sick in order to support other industries—the health industry.”
Think about that next time you’re weighing organic against “local.” Big corporations have even infiltrated the organic world. It’s not just a label—it’s about real practices, soil health, and care from farmers who value your wellbeing.
Healing Through Food: What Actually Changed
This isn’t just theory. When I changed my family’s diet—going hard on whole foods, balancing nutrients, ditching processed junk—the results happened quickly.
What improved for me?
-
Stable blood glucose
-
No more lightheadedness or palpitations
-
Regulated metabolism without trying to lose weight
-
Brain fog—gone
-
Fewer headaches and allergies (even dust and pollen!)
-
A calm, happy disposition instead of anxiety
-
More energy, easier exercise
-
A deeper appreciation for the small moments in life
For my daughter, the best day ever was every day. Explosive tantrums that lasted hours simply stopped. Language, social interaction, and facial expressions blossomed. The entire vibe in our house went from walking on eggshells to real joy and connection.
When she was young enough for me to control her diet entirely, the transformation felt miraculous. With older kids, it was tougher—they’re out visiting friends and making more choices for themselves. But the shift was just as clear.
Food Chemistry: The Enemy Called Glutamate
A lot of my work has focused on glutamate, especially hidden MSG (monosodium glutamate) in processed foods. You won’t see it on labels—it’s intentionally disguised because it’s addicting and helps drive profits for food corporations.
My book, Fat, Stressed and Sick: MSG, Processed Foods, And America’s Health Crisis, digs deep into how glutamate triggers inflammation, disrupts mood, and even worsens trauma responses.
It’s not just a physical thing. Negative, repetitive thoughts and fear create more glutamate signaling in our bodies—a survival response that keeps us on edge, anxious, and disconnected.
Finding calm, focusing on breath, and cultivating joy actually help settle glutamate and bring peace—both mentally and physically.
“Our thoughts alone can contribute to a lot of excessive glutamate signaling. Just being surrounded by peaceful nature can help.”
Local, Organic, and Real Food: Where Healing Starts
So what do you do about it?
Start where you are. Seek out small, local farmers markets. Connect with farmers who care about their soil, who aren’t just pushing monocrops for profit. Many great farmers skip the bureaucracy of organic labeling but still uphold sustainable, healthy practices.
Ask questions. Look for diversity in crops, a focus on the soil as living and breathing, and a genuine passion for feeding people well.
These are the farmers who feed your soul, not just your stomach.
Motherhood, Science, and Personal Transformation
What’s it like doing all this as a mother, a scientist, and a person trying to heal? It’s messy, powerful, and sometimes downright exhausting. But walking with my daughter on the food journey made all the difference—for both of us.
We ate the same meals; no one felt excluded. I realized just how much food impacted me when brain fog disappeared and I began to live with a higher energy, clearer thoughts, and way more happiness.
The change is fast—within a week for some symptoms. Lifelong headaches, allergies, congestion—gone. Stable moods, healthy weight, joy in daily life. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a foundation for everything else.
When my daughter’s tantrums stopped, her language and social interaction took off. She went from fear-driven loops to laughing, playing, and connecting—showing her feelings on her face, loving being around people.
The Power of Community: From Home to TEDx
Sharing these results with friends, family, and autism support groups in my community, everyone encouraged me to spread the word further. That’s how my nonprofit, Unblind My Mind, took shape—raising the alarm about glutamate, processed foods, and how knowledge is the first step to taking back your health.
I started speaking at local groups. Eventually someone asked, “You ever thought about doing a TED Talk?” And just like that, I took my message to a larger stage—proof that one passionate voice can ignite a movement.
I’m no stranger to public speaking, but writing a whole book? That was tough. Worth it, though, when people come back and say, “This changed my life.”
Spiritual Connection: How Food Opens the Door
It’s not just physical. There’s a spiritual side to this journey.
Cleaning up our family’s diet was phase one. It led to less pain, more energy, better moods—a solid foundation. Only after the body felt better did the spiritual journey really open up for me.
Years later, with less suffering and more openness, meditation and spiritual practices flowed in. Connecting with breath and peace is easier when your body isn’t in crisis.
“The more that we connect that electrical signaling in our body to the universe… We’re resonating on the same frequency, and it feels very peaceful and calm.”
Even science supports it. Our bodies are electric; so is the universe. When we’re inflamed, triggered, or stressed, we lose touch with that universal resonance.
As I sat with my sister during her battle with cancer—even though she ate healthy, trauma was still unresolved—I saw firsthand how spirit, trauma, and food intertwine. Our souls are always connected, even after physical death.
Moving Forward: Your Next Step
If there’s one message I’d shout from a mic to the whole world, it’s this:
“Let’s find our higher vibration so that we can all spiritually connect with the universe and live a life of thriving. Food is a part of that. Good thoughts are a part of that. Compassion is a part of that.”
So what now?
Steps To Start Healing
-
Notice what you eat. Keep a log for a week.
-
Start small. Swap one processed meal for a whole food meal.
-
Read labels. Beware of hidden glutamates and additives.
-
Find local farmers. Shop at markets and ask about practices.
-
Cultivate calm. Use deep breathing, meditation, or nature walks.
-
Connect with your community. Support, share stories, and learn together.
-
Question everything. Just because it’s labeled “organic” doesn’t mean it’s safe.
-
Honor your spirit. Food isn’t just fuel—it’s energy, connection, and healing.
Final Thoughts: Food, Spirit, and Humanity
The journey to healing is not just about cutting out processed foods—it’s about admitting the connections between what we eat, how we think, and how we grow. It’s about compassion, community, and supporting each other through both pain and joy.
If you want to dive deeper, check out Fat, Stressed and Sick: MSG, Processed Foods, And America’s Health Crisis and connect with local communities making change.
Remember: It’s the food. It’s the food. It’s the food.
If you do one thing after reading this, let it be rethinking what you eat. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.
“Let’s find our higher vibration so that we can all spiritually connect with the universe and live a life of thriving… Food is a part of that.”
Links to explore:
Join the conversation, share your story, and let’s support each other in this ongoing path to true health—and deeper happiness.
Thanks for tuning in. Take care, eat well, and keep seeking enlightenment.
