How America turned me into a health nut

There are many things I love about living in the United States, but food and health care are not on that list.

When I moved to America six years ago, the first thing that struck me was how incredibly sweet everything tasted. I’m not just talking about cookies and doughnuts—everything from bread and yogurt to meat and pickles had an unexpected sweetness. Even the same products I used to buy in Istanbul tasted much sweeter here.

I had no idea how unhealthy popular food chains like Panda Express, Taco Bell, IHOP, Waffle House, Wendy’s, and Olive Garden could be. I tried them all.

If you’re not living in a big city in the United States, finding healthy food options can be a real challenge. Physically and mentally, I began to feel awful.

Every time I ate out, I felt bloated, heavy, and somehow depressed.

Gradually I began eating less and less and started losing weight. I was skinny, but far from healthy.

People around me began commenting on my appearance like "you should gain weight", "you should eat more", "you look like a child".

As someone who was raised on the Mediterranean Diet, I was experiencing a food culture shock. So, I started cooking my own food to maintain a healthy diet.

But even when I cooked at home, I noticed that most grocery store items contained added sugar. I had to be very conscious of what I was buying.

Experiencing both ends of the spectrum helped me realize the profound impact food has on our well-being and that health is our greatest asset.

One day, I experienced a sharp pain in one of my ovaries. I tried to get an appointment with a gynecologist, but the earliest available date was two months away. After waiting for two months, the gynecologist performed a manual exam because there wasn’t any ultrasound machine or imaging equipment available for proper diagnosis.

Honestly, this was quite shocking to me, especially in the wealthiest country in the world in 2020. I was told to schedule an appointment at a scan center, which was another two-month wait.

It became clear to me that I needed to prioritize my health if I was going to live in the United States because I just couldn't afford to be sick.

I decided to educate myself about health and nutrition and I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

I went through this health journey alone, so I understand how hard making changes can be without support or guidance. If you’re looking to change your diet and lifestyle to feel better and improve your quality of life, I’m here to help.

Selen