Though Bryant was in her early twenties, she was loosing proper neurological function; and she was terrified.
Bryant had health problems for most of her life; sleep trouble, immune dysfunction, digestive problems, and skin issues. But in May of 2008, these problems were magnified when she unknowingly moved into a house with toxic mold and soon after she found out she also had Lyme Disease. These combined ailments damaged her nerves, joints, digestive system, and most significantly, the frontal lobe of her brain.
Her health issues went from debilitating to disabling and potentially life threatening within a short amount of time.
She recalls; "Experiencing neurological problems is what woke me up. I wouldn't take it anymore, I refused to be sick. I had put up with all of my other ailments. I had accommodated to a level of poor health and accepted my limitations (with intermittent bursts of trying to find a doctor who could help). The neurological problems hit and I was done with that approach. I refused to stay sick."
It was then she realized she had to take her health into her own hands. So she set out. Determined to get her health, and her life back.
The lack of medical care turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After taking her health into her own hands she spent hours researching and realized she had a lot of the same symptoms as an MS patient. Through her research she found a study that revealed that a low fat diet can help MS patients and that gluten can cause some neurological problems.
Bryant took on a low fat diet, cutting out oil and gluten. She made these changes in her diet and immediately started to feel better. After experimenting with different foods to figure out what worked and what didn't she cleaned up her diet, went raw, added green juices and went to a holistic health clinic.
There weren't options available for Bryant- so she found and created her own. This decision to completely overhaul her diet was a new beginning for her.
"Food saved my life."
Bryant on her life now: "I am unrecognizable compared to myself in 2008. I know my body inside and out, and I know how to take care of it. I can do anything I want and I'm getting healthier all the time! I am so grateful! I know how to find information, advocate for myself, and improve my health. And, what I'm really excited about is that I'm helping others do the same. I know firsthand that lifestyle changes can change the course of a person's health and life, and that it doesn't require a lot of resources to make that happen. "
Because of the things she went through, Bryant has recently set out on a new path in life, dedicated to helping other people know that if you change your food, you can change your life. She has left her job to pursue a career in her true passions- writing and speaking. Her movement is called Free to Be Well, and through it she will share her experiences and educate and empower others to take charge of their health."
If you are interested in connecting with Bryant, feel free to contact her here:
www.twitter.com/freedtobewell
www.facebook.com/
Thank you Bryant! For sharing your story and your journey, we are all better off. It was an honor capturing this beautiful moment in your life. Thank you for bringing chard to a photo shoot and challenging me in new ways.
Powerful words, beautiful photos, thank you.
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