Hi, I'm LaKrista!  I'm an, RN, Holistic Nutritionist, Health Coach, Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner, and owner of Native Wellness.

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In 2008, I graduated from nursing school with a drive and a passion for helping people.  Fast forward about 5 years into my career and I found myself burning out... and fast.  I came to the realization that no one was getting better, medication lists kept getting longer, and my gut was telling me something had to change.  I wanted to be that change.

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In 2014, I woke up with some strange pains in my left wrist.  The physical therapist I worked with at the time told me that I had carpal tunnel and gave me a brace.  The very next day, the pain was in my right wrist, but my left didn't hurt at all.  The pain continued to jump from one joint to the next until one day my lips, face, hands, and feet started to swell.  By the end of the day, my feet were so swollen, I was unable to walk.  I went to the ER only to be sent home discouraged with a possible diagnosis of Lyme disease.  After multiple appointments and medications, I was finally diagnosed with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I was completely devastated.  I was 27 years old and in terrible pain all the time.

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In 2016, I became pregnant with my 3rd child and had to stop all of my medications.  As you can imagine, all of my symptoms intensified very rapidly.  My midwife sent me to a Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner and within a few weeks, my symptoms had drastically improved!  I couldn't believe it!  I started referring everyone I knew!  The only issue is that she was almost 2 hours away and the people I had referred were struggling to get to her.  I knew there had to be a solution. Remember when I said I wanted to be the change?

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Not long after, I quit my job and took off to Florida for training to become a practitioner and I never looked back!  Now I practice full-time as a Nutrition Response Testing Practitioner and have continued to expand my knowledge over the years.  I've also acquired my Holistic Nutritionist and Holistic Health Coaching certifications.

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"Medicine is not healthcare.  Food is healthcare.  Medicine is sick care.  Let's all get this straight for a change."

-Karen Pendergrass