Howdy, y'all!

Thanks for checking in and checking me out! My brand is Counter-Culture Health and my jam is inspiring you to counter our cultural norms (think standard American diet, standard American products and low standards all around) for kick ass health!  But first, a little more about me...

​

I'm Niki and I was born in Texas, where everything is truly bigger and maybe better?! ;) Texans are an overall friendly bunch and I'm proud to be a native of this big a** state! I've traveled the world and lived in amazing places (from a trendy city to a tropical island) but what I knew for sure is I always wanted to end up back in Texas. Yeehaw!

​

I was born in the 80's (pic to prove it!) and my single mama did EVERYTHING and ALL THE THINGS to provide for me. She worked super hard and we had everything we needed (I miss those simple days) but unfortunately, our culture does not make it easy or convenient to eat healthfully and so I had the packaged, processed foods from our polluted food system. I didn't die or grow another eyeball because of it and I turned out pretty well BUT now that I know better, I want to do better for me and my whole family.

​

My first love, besides food, was dance! I grew up in a dance studio and on stage throughout my childhood and then went on to be a professional performer. This was another aspect of my life where I needed to be tuned into a healthy lifestyle. I would read articles, do all the fad diets and blend up weird concoctions to chug down to stay in shape. It was complicated, complex and confusing so i knew there had to be a better way. Thank God I found that way down the pipeline. But before discovering this path, I got sick.

​

I got sick and I stayed sick for many years and battled bizarre episodes of dizziness, spaciness and fatigue. I was hyper-sensitive to air, light and certain foods. Deep sigh. I eventually discovered (after three long years of living in many doctors offices) that I had internal mold poisoning from living in a house with water damage and you guessed it, mold! I have spent the last six years regaining my health and healing my body and mind. I was guided on a path to healing that included cleaning up my diet and environment and it did wonders for my health...body, mind, and spirit!  Although I feel super solid most of the time, I still battle chronic illness episodes due to the original "introduction " (not nice to meet you!) to those environmental toxins. Toxins in any form (environmental or chemical) can impact our health and the food and beauty industries are polluted with them (more on this later). Because I went through this dark time I'm now able to share ways to create a lifestyle that is meant to counter the crap we're being fed, literally!

 

I love yummy, healthful things that go in your body like real food. I 'm a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner through the Nutritional Therapy Association who souped me up with great knowledge to share. Food can nourish, heal, and connect us! In a time where we are overloaded with information and being social typically involves using a screen, I believe we can be reconnected to each other and to the earth by sitting at the table and enjoying food! Real. Whole. Food. BOOM!

 

Now someone pass the grass-fed, cows milk BUTTER, please!

    

While I love sharing health goodies that go inside your body, I also love sharing healthful products that go on your body (think safer skincare and better beauty products) too! After dealing with environmental toxins poisoning my body I learned that other toxins, that are linked to cancer, asthma and infertility, are in many household and beauty products we use on our bodies everyday. I am now an educator and advocate in countering the currently low standards of those industries. 

 

Although I still struggle at times, I choose to keep

growing, learning and being aware

of all the goods that help make me feel... well, good! Turns out those things (think real food, purer products, and healthy mindset) can improve anyone's health (chronic illness or not) and can help you become happy, healthy, and whole!  I'll guide you in learning how to take care great care of yourself so that you can take great care of others (family, friends, community) and our precious planet too! Woo!

 

Happy, healthy & whole,

Niki