Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to your role as Head of Education at Living Alchemy?
I’ve always been fascinated by the intelligence of nature.
My background is in holistic nutrition and herbal medicine. Joining Living Alchemy, a Canadian-founded whole food fermented supplement brand, let me weave together science, tradition, and education – all my deepest passions!
Living Alchemy focuses on whole food fermentation. Can you explain how this process benefits our gut health and our overall well-being?
Fermentation is real living whole food; it unlocks the full potential of plants. Beneficial microbes pre-digest nutrients, making them more bioavailable, while creating compounds like organic acids, enzymes, and key vitamins and minerals. This nourishes the gut, supports digestion, immune health, and even mood.
When we feed our gut this way, the body thrives. If you want to dive deeper, I just launched and co-authored a book that is now available for pre-order The Book of Fermentation. This explores this ancient practice in beautiful, practical depth - plus easy recipes to get started at home!
There’s growing research linking the gut microbiome to the oral microbiome. How do you see these two systems influencing each other?
The gut and oral microbiomes are 1 continuous ecosystem – each impacting the other.
A balanced mouth reduces the gut’s burden, while a healthy gut influences saliva, cravings, immunity, and even taste. If one is off balance, the other reflects it.
What role can probiotics and herbal supplements play in supporting a healthy mouth, from gum health to fresh breath?
Probiotics reintroduce beneficial microbes that crowd out bacteria linked to gum disease or bad breath and help balance oral pH. Herbs like clove, tea tree, neem, turmeric, have long supported oral health by reducing inflammation.
What self-care rituals help you unwind and recharge outside of your work?
My everyday essentials are sipping herbal teas, breathwork, being in silence which means being in nature and working barefoot in my garden to stay grounded.
I also love the meditative act of growing my own food and fermenting foods at home. I come from a family of multi-generational farmers, so this has always been a part of my roots. A bubbling jar on my counter reminds me that life is always transforming and it brings me back to the life connection we need with the soil - nature’s probiotics!
A few favourite recipes of mine that we included in our book, and my garden currently has been growing in abundance with are fermented pickles, zucchini relish, carrot chutney, and sauerkraut.
Are there any small, daily habits you swear by for keeping both your gut and oral microbiomes in balance?
I start my day with mountain spring water and tongue scraping, an Ayurvedic practice that supports oral health by removing bad build up. I recently introduced water flossing after brushing and my teeth have never felt cleaner, stronger and even whiter - I swear by adding this into your regime.
I eat fermented foods daily, at least 1-2 oz with every meal, whether garden-fresh sauerkraut or homemade yogurt to nourish my good bacteria and improve digestion.
I end my day with always taking my Living Alchemy Your Flora Probiotic supplement, just before bed to promote a healthy microbe colonization and support the natural detoxification pathways while at rest.