My Story
Check out my recent interview by MysticMag!
“Alissa Hodgson: Connecting Science and Everyday People through FDN”
Click the MysticMag button to read.
Hi, my name is Alissa. I’m a scientist, a wife, a mother, a problem solver, and I can’t wait to help you!
I’ve always had a love for all things science and health. I grew up needing to know why and how things happened in the world around me. I received my Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, considered medical school and becoming a doctor, but knew that I wanted a lifestyle more focused on family and children than that life could give me. I worked in the sciences professionally for seven years. I was an analytical chemist, and I couldn’t believe I got to wear a lab coat and lab glasses every day. I loved my job and the company I worked for, but I never lost my passion for health and helping people. I believe our bodies are designed by God with great purpose and innate intelligence, and my mission is to help others realize this purpose and potential.
My mom, Chloe, and me pregnant with my first child
In 2012, my mom was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and just one month later I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. These experiences opened up my eyes to the world of medicine in new ways. My respect for the wonder of modern medicine grew, while my list of questions and doubts about it did too. I watched my mom become a student of her own body and health; keeping a three-ring binder of lab results, taking notes while talking to doctors, and educating herself with as many details as possible. Following her example, I began taking accountability for what I learned and understood about medical recommendations and procedures for my daughter, yet often faced criticism and judgment for it from medical providers.
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Precious pink toes after open heart surgery; they were blue from lack of oxygen before repair of his heart.
When I had my second child, my journey took me deeper down the path of learning and asking questions. My son received an after-birth diagnosis of a congenital heart defect and Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). Just six months later, and I was walking away from my corporate career with a pension to stay home with my children. I realized all of my experiences with my daughter and her health decisions were preparation for what was to come. I learned that I couldn’t afford, and my son couldn’t afford, for me to let insecurity or fear of being disliked keep me from educating myself, speaking up, and advocating for what was best for my son. I found my voice, my confidence, and the importance of trusting my intuition. In addition, I began to learn about genetics, nutrition, and epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how our genes are expressed, and it turns out genetic expression is influenced by a variety of environmental factors. In other words; you have control over various factors that influence your genetic expression. Wow! How cool is that? And if you just read that and thought, “That sounds great, but too complicated for me,” don’t worry! You don’t need to be a geneticist to make this work for your benefit; your body is already smarter than any geneticist or scientist and knows how to do the good work.
My precious family, we added a new baby in August 2020!
Through my personal experiences with the medical system, I became acutely aware of the way it excels at emergency medicine and surgical interventions. My son wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the many doctors, nurses, medications, and procedures that allowed them to stop and repair his tiny heart. I value modern medicine and am eternally grateful for it. At the same time, my personal experiences have revealed the ways modern medicine is not very effective at preventing or treating chronic conditions. Through struggling with the side effects of hormonal birth control, the hurtful and bad advice I received from doctors about breastfeeding, having to fire our son’s first cardiologist, or watching loved ones bounce from specialist to specialist with no answers and more importantly no healing, I grew increasingly frustrated with the mental paradigm that keeps people stuck in a cycle of trial and error. How often do people go to the doctor with real symptoms, only to be told, “Your lab work looks normal, I can’t help you.” Or if they were offered “help”, it was a prescription that came with its own long list of symptoms and side effects. As I described above, I firmly believe there is a time and place for medications and procedures. But my own medical experiences have changed the way I view health. I know we have far more influence and control over our health journeys than I’d been led to believe.
The learning never ends…
And that’s where my journey with Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® began. By sharing my personal experience with natural health, I found myself naturally helping friends and family as they contacted me with questions, seeking education, advice, and support. Yet over time, I realized that even with a focus on natural methods of pursuing health, we were stuck in the process of trial and error. Why? Because symptoms are so subjective; not only do they vary greatly from person to person, but even within our own bodies we can struggle to accurately measure just how bad our symptoms have gotten over time and just what they mean. Through implementing FDN principles, I will be your personal health detective, identifying healing opportunities, empowering you and guiding you on the path to restoration, healing, and vitality. I can’t wait to get started!
Schedule a free consultation with me right now to Find Empowered Health.
