1) Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is Megan Hunter. I have been married for 23 years to my husband, BJ, and I'm a mother of five children. I am a Registered Nurse and Diamond Wellness Advocate with doTERRA. One of my greatest passions is inspiring people to reach greater physical, mental, emotional, and even financial wellness. I truly believe that through consistent effort, positivity, belief (in yourself & in your dreams), and investing in your health by living a more wellness lifestyle through the natural solutions found through essential oils, nutrition and decreasing your toxic load, you can have the support that your body and mind needs to achieve all of your goals and feel AMAZING.
2) What's your background?
I obtained my Bachelor of Science Degree from Brigham Young University and my Nursing License in 2001. I practiced as a Registered Nurse in the Maternal Newborn hospital unit both in Utah and in Southern California. I took a break from nursing to be home with my children for several years and then in 2013, I was introduced to doTERRA essential oils for the first time. A friend took the time to teach me (a skeptical nurse) to give me essential oils to try in a time of need. After profound experiences through the use of doTERRA essential oils that affected my own health, my family and those around me, I naturally began to share with others and desired to learn of even more ways to lead a more natural wellness lifestyle, including proper nutrition and decreasing toxic load. I quickly became passionate and committed to educating and empowering individuals, families and healthcare professionals with these powerful natural resources and have partnered with doTERRA, a company truly changing the face of healthcare with their pure and potent essential oils, for the past nine years. It has been so rewarding to help hundreds of individuals and families over the years find natural solutions to support a variety of health concerns.
3) What are some of the most common nutrition issues that you come across in your work?
Many people are suffering from inflammation, which often presents in poor gut health, unwanted weight gain, decreased energy, hormone imbalances and decreased mood. While there are a wide variety of conditions that lead to inflammation in the body, I have repeatedly found that when individuals who are living a lifestyle with poor nutrition/lack of supplementation make that shift to focus on the deficiencies in their diet, cleanse, decrease toxic load and engage in the daily use of essential oils, many of their health concerns begin to improve.
4) What common questions do your clients have for you about nutrition?
I find that many people know and understand they need to focus on proper nutrition but either feel overwhelmed or lack the motivation without guidance and step by step plan with support. It has been very rewarding to educate them on all aspects of living a more natural lifestyle, including using extracts from plants (through essential oils and herbs), whole food supplementation and gut health/cleansing protocols to support their goals. As they begin to notice those positive changes in their health, they are ready for additional steps and decisions toward improving and reaching greater wellness.
6) How is Nutrition connected to mental health?
Proper nutrition is foundational to our physical as well as our mental health, allowing our body to function optimally at every level. A healthy, well-balanced whole food diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants helps us to think clearly, feel more alert, decrease stress and improve our mood. It also supports our cardiovascular health, inflammatory responses, digestive health and so forth, all of which can impact our mental health. Everything is connected! As we focus on proper whole food nutrition, supplementation and benefit from the unique chemistry of plant extracts from essential oils we give the body and mind what it needs to function properly, renew and heal.
7) What is the connection between happiness and sugar, if any?
Sugary foods are all around us and often are offered daily, either as an after-dinner "treat" or for that special touch at the many special occasions and gatherings we have for birthdays, holidays and celebrations. Many would say that sugar brings happiness because it is often present at many happy times in our lives, plus consuming sugar feels good, stimulating those reward centers of the brain. We all know that real happiness comes through fulfilling relationships, experiences and personal growth and that sugar is just a temporary fix, but it's fun! Yes, too much sugar damages the body, but making a long-term goal to eliminate sugar completely is quite difficult. If we can make focus on living a wellness lifestyle the majority of the time, we don't need to feel guilty or feel deprived. It is all about balance and mindset. I love the 85/15 rule. If 85% of the time we can focus on nutrient-dense whole foods, we can allow that remaining 15% to include a favourite sugary-filled food for example and that is ok!! It's about living a wellness lifestyle, realizing that plants have a purpose and that food is fuel. When we give our body the nourishment and support it needs through whole food nutrition, supplementation, plenty of water and powerful plant extracts such as essential oils, we will give the body the tools that it needs to perform, renew, repair and be at its best. Sugar should never be a tool to fill a void, create happiness or impact our emotional health. Our own happiness comes through gratitude, self-discovery and growth, nourishing our body aitsnd mind, and filling our daily lives with fulfilling and enriching relationships and activities.
8) If you could only give a client two tips for mental health and nutrition what would they be?
Food is fuel and plants have a purpose. Give your body what it needs so you can pursue and reach your potential
Your mental health and physical health are connected. When you are nourished and balanced physically, you naturally will feel nourished and balanced mentally and emotionally as well.
9) Is there anything else you'd like us to know about Nutrition?
I would give the reminder that once we make that lifestyle change to focus on whole foods and proper nutrition, we must realize that we can't obtain all that we need without supplementation. Our soil quality is not the same as it was years ago, resulting in our products not being as nutrient-dense as it once was. Consuming whole food supplements is key to having the necessary vitamins, minerals and digestive enzymes that we need. As I have worked with people for the past nine years to find solutions for a variety of health concerns naturally, focusing on the foundation of nutrition and supplementation has been the number one tool to creating long-lasting change in health, along with the use of potent and pure essential oils to support the body both physically and emotionally.
Thank you.
Megan Hunter’s website: www.inspiringwellnessrn.com
doTERRA website to link if you are interested in learning more about essential oils or placing orders: www.mydoterra.com/inspiringwellness.
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