Meryl 

"I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was a sophomore in college at the University of Delaware back in 2011. I was living in a sorority house with 52 girls at the time, and had never experienced any health challenges before, and it came on very suddenly. I remember at the time feeling sick, confused, isolated and hopeless - feeling like, “why me?” as I watched all my friends get to party, eat whatever they want, I often had to stay in, miss classes, go to doctors appointments, and was utterly exhausted much of the time. It was a scary time, not knowing what was happening inside of my body and losing so much weight. At the time, there wasn’t a ton of information out there on what to do, and the information that existed was confusing and conflicting - even from doctor to doctor that I visited. What kind of foods should I eat? Can this ever heal? What medications work? It was definitely a “dark night of the soul” experience, but a time where I really learned so much about myself and how to listen to my body. When I was a senior in college, I started to make new friends with more health-conscious people and incorporate more holistic practices into my lifestyle. I also met with other "crohnies" on my campus and felt less alone in my struggles.

I was connected with a wonderful nutritionist to help me gain back some weight, and I was able to get a handle on my gut issues via proper nutrition, avoiding irritants, learning meditation and other stress-relieving practices, and I developed a whole new relationship with my body. I learned that my body is extremely wise - and tells me when something in my life is out of alignment. I learned the importance of getting to the root cause of symptoms rather than just using band-aid approaches. There is so much stress all around us - from the pressure to perform and go-go-go, the toxins in our food and water, the state of the world, etc. Sometimes the sensitivities can feel like a curse, but I mostly see it as a gift.

Many of us with gut issues are like canaries in the coal mine - an accurate response to a toxic environment. At this current time, I feel the healthiest and strongest I ever have because I have been invited to make my body and well-being a priority. I move my body daily, I know which foods work for me and which don’t. I know how to set better boundaries so that I can protect my health and take care of myself and my body. I know the signals my body gives me when I am not honoring it and how to get back on track."

Karla

"In 2019 I was diagnosed with SIBO and gastritis, it inherently lead to pelvic swelling and bloating for over a year. My whole world was turned upside down, at one point all I could wear were dresses because I couldn’t fit into my clothes. For months I had to opt for a wardrobe that wasn’t as cute and stylish for the sake of comfort. I’m so grateful ginger + dandelion is redefining fashion for all women, each style is curated to make you feel good, confident and most importantly comfortable."