Emily Shares Her Wellness Wisdom
You know those people who exude positive light? Whose presence feels like a warm hug? Emily is one of those people. We used to work together at GMG, and I’m truly so grateful we met.
She’s a Certified Holistic Health Coach and studied at the prestigious Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She’s also a freelance influencer marketing manager and social media manager for various health and wellness companies – in addition to being a wellness influencer herself!
She is pure sunshine – her sparkling smile and warm aura truly lights up both the room and your IG feed. She shares everything from transformative mindset advice, nutrient-rich recipes, and the skincare routine she does to get that coveted glow.
I wanted her to share her inspiring story and valuable advice, so we can all continue our journey of becoming our healthiest, best selves.
And now, please allow me to bestow her wellness wisdom upon you:
Emma: Let’s take it back in time a bit; tell me about your health and wellness journey and how you healed yourself from the inside out.
Emily: My story began when I moved to Brooklyn. I was in a partying phase where I was drinking to excess, not prioritizing my mental health, and just trying to be someone I wasn’t. I was also dealing with uncomfortable, painful eczema and was prescribed steroid cream. Because your body builds up a tolerance to these creams, they stopped working for me after a while. Even the oral steroid administered at the hospital wasn’t helping to clear the eczema anymore. I believe the reason for this is that dermatologists and doctors aren’t trained in nutrition. They just treat the external symptom, not the root cause, which in my case was an internal imbalance caused by my unhealthy habits.
At the start of the pandemic, I decided to take my health into my own hands and took steps to heal from the inside out, starting with cutting the steroid creams and taking a break from drinking.
My boyfriend also introduced me to Anthony William, the Medical Medium. Overall, his philosophy was incredibly helpful, most notably the emphasis on whole foods and celery juice every morning. However, some principles weren’t as helpful, like feeling the need to cut out entire food groups, and like I could never indulge, even in moderation. I also got to a point where I was taking 20 supplements per day! Although everything I was doing was “healthy,” it almost became an unhealthy obsession.
I then realized I was still missing a critical component of the healing equation: mental health and self love. So one day, I made a decision to love myself. I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror – eczema patches, scars, and all – and said positive affirmations to myself, and gave my body more love and compassion than I ever had before. This mind-body connection that I continued to deepen was the real unlock to healing myself, and was when the physical blotches started to clear.
Another monumental moment for me was during a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a warm, sunny day, and I started to break a sweat. I then started crying tears of joy, because that meant my adrenals (sweat glands) were working again. Let me explain a bit: sweating is one of the body’s natural detoxification methods. When our body is in misalignment, our adrenals won’t work properly. And when we can't get those toxins out, they will show up on our body. In my case, it was through eczema.
As difficult as my journey has been, I needed to go through it to get to where I am today. I continue to drink celery juice everyday and prioritize a diet rich in whole foods, with a more balanced, intuitive, and self-loving mindset. It’s my greatest hope that my story can help other people as well.
Emma: That is an incredible story, Emily, thank you for being so open and vulnerable. I’d love to know, what are the habits you prioritize daily?
Emily: I make mindfulness a priority in both my morning and evening routines. In the morning, I sit down and meditate for 2-5 minutes to clear my head before the day. In the evening, I do a legs up the wall meditation to support lymphatic drainage, and also wear a weighted sleep mask while I do that!
Emma: I definitely need to incorporate more mindfulness into my routine. I love how you made a habit like meditation realistic and attainable. Moving along to physical wellness, let’s talk about nutrition. You’re the queen of smoothies. What’s your favorite smoothie recipe?
Emily: I love the Medical Medium heavy metal detox smoothie. It has cleansing ingredients like wild blueberries, cilantro, barley grass juice powder, Atlantic dulse, and spirulina. I had it everyday early on to kickstart my healing journey.
This superfood-packed smoothie is another favorite of mine that I whip up pretty frequently. Here are the ingredients:
Banana
Dragonfruit
Mango
Spinach
Liquid multivitamin
Colloidal silver
Elderberry syrup
Liquid chlorophyll
Sea moss gel
Papaya powder
Acai powder
Watermelon juice
Emma: I love it! I definitely need to try that smoothie. Let’s talk trends. What’s a wellness trend that you think is not worth it, or even harmful? And then one that's worth the hype?
Emily: The “that girl” trend sends me off the wall. No hate towards those creators; I think they are insanely skilled (and honestly maybe deep down a part of me is jealous of those picture-perfect 15-second clips.) However, I think this trend can be extremely detrimental in terms of comparison. So many of us deal with mental health issues, many of which stem from social media and the inevitable comparison that comes with it, especially with these types of aspirational videos.
Another trend that’s harmful are those ACV shots, because they can kill your throat and stomach lining. The hype is all around gut health, but straight ACV is so potent that it’s doing more harm than good. A better use for ACV is to dilute it in water, or I also love using it as a clarifying shampoo once a week.
One thing that is definitely worth the hype is celery juice. I will always stand by the healing properties of this magical, vitamin and mineral-rich beverage. You have to do it right though: drink it on an empty stomach, and don’t cut it with lemon or even water. Although those things are healthy, they should be enjoyed 30 minutes after your celery juice. After a month, you’ll get used to the taste and start to see and feel the healing benefits.
I also love oil pulling with coconut oil. This practice is beneficial because it reduces bad bacteria and bad breath. It’s super simple: you put a spoonful of oil in your mouth, swish it around for 5-10 minutes, spit it out, and brush your teeth.
Emma: Noted! I think it’s so helpful to hear a professional’s perspective on those trends in the wellness space. How do you like to practice balance?
Emily: I never restrict myself. I can honestly say I eat mostly healthy because that’s what my body likes – and I actually love the taste of healthy foods that are colorful and brimming with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Some people live by the 80/20 rule, which is 80% healthy and 20% indulgence. For instance, my guilty pleasure is frozen mac and cheese (LOL.) But, I’ll never think that since I ate a treat like that yesterday, that I need to wait five days to indulge again. I think balance is more of a mindset, and based on actually learning to listen to your body and eat intuitively, which is something that takes time and mindfulness to develop.
Emma: That is so true and so helpful! Now, what advice would you give to someone who wants to become a health coach and wellness influencer?
Emily: To simply start – there is never going to be an ideal or “perfect” time. Also, to give yourself time to build your empire; it’s not going to happen overnight. I would just focus on showing up as consistently as you can, but also be mindful of when you can’t show up and honor that without judgment. Being relatable isn’t about being “that girl” and setting an unattainably high standard all the time – it’s showing your messy parts, too.
Emma: I totally agree. I think it makes you relatable and authentic, which is something people like to see. What is something anyone can do to benefit their mental and physical health, no matter where they are in their journey?
Emily: For mental health, writing stuff out is one practice that is so helpful for me – I always like to “brain dump” before reacting to a situation, just to get my feelings out, whether it's positive or negative. This helps me stay calm and mindful in every situation and act with intention.
In terms of physical health, I would advise those just starting out to not take too many supplements. I encourage my clients to view supplements as an addition to a healthy routine, not as a miracle cure-all. If you’re just starting your journey, focus on going back to basics and prioritize meditation, quality sleep, hydration, and a whole foods-based diet. Once you have those fundamentals down, then you can introduce extras like supplements to enhance your routine.
Emma: To end off, what’s one thing people can do to change their life today?
Emily: To start being accountable and self aware of your harmful patterns, but also your positive ones, too. It’s hard to look inward, but accountability and self awareness is the only way we create positive change in our lives.
Emily is currently taking clients for 1:1 health coaching sessions. You can follow her on Instagram here!
