Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Telhami.
Hi Kristina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a PharmD Candidate, Holistic Health Coach, Certified Functional Medicine Specialist, Certified Integrative Health Practitioner, and a Best Selling Author.
I dealt with a variety of health issues throughout college, such as amenorrhea, orthorexia, anxiety, depression, and digestive issues. I went to a variety of medical doctors for help and they tried to mask my symptoms with medications but never helped me figure out the root cause of my symptoms. I was told I needed to be on birth control to regulate my cycle and that my digestive issues had no underlying causes. Although my GI Doctor did endoscopies and ultrasounds, everything came back normal and I was told there was nothing I could do. I was tired of feeling sick and helpless.
That was when I found Functional Medicine. I was able to figure out the root cause of my issues and heal my body without prescription medications. I also found out why I wasn’t able to have a period for eight years and that I had both SIBO and Candida that was causing my digestive issues. I couldn’t believe how changing my diet, lifestyle and looking at my entire gut microbiome could solve all of my health issues. This was something that the Conventional Medicine Doctors were missing when trying to help me. They never once educated me on diet and lifestyle. They also never once brought up doing a comprehensive stool analysis panel for my gut microbiome.
To be honest, I didn’t want to go to pharmacy school at first, but I am so glad I did. I learned how Conventional Medicine continues to fail its patients. Rather than getting to the root cause of health issues, they just continue to mask symptoms with medications. Getting to experience both Conventional Medicine and Functional Medicine schooling is going to make me a much better Functional Medicine Practitioner in the future.
I decided that I couldn’t wait until I finished school and started my business while I was a 4th-year pharmacy student. I took various courses, read books, and decided it was time to make a difference. I am currently working with over 25 clients and I feel like I am genuinely making a difference. Being able to order any Functional Medicine Lab tests, go over my clients’ diet, lifestyle, and adding supplements specific for them is a DREAM. This is what I want to do and continue to do in the future. I am changing so many lives already and doing it all holistically.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was never an easy journey for me. Pharmacy school was absolutely awful. I truly hated what I was learning and felt like I was going down the wrong path. I was learning about everything that was going against what I truly stood for. I was constantly stressed and working so hard to pass all of my exams. I just felt stuck and that I was going down the wrong path, not knowing what the future was going to hold. I knew that I wanted to have my own business but kept telling myself to wait until I finished school and settled down. I worked at CVS Pharmacy as a Pharmacist Intern throughout my 3rd year of pharmacy school and was miserable. I was just filling prescriptions out left and right, taking calls from doctors for new medications, and counseling patients on their medications. I was never once able to talk about supplements and diet and lifestyle changes to the patients. I knew this was not the job for me and decided to quit after a year of working there.
I also went through a lot of struggles throughout my life, where I was bullied and never felt like I belonged. I always felt like something was wrong with me. I never had many close friends and always felt like an outsider, especially throughout college. It wasn’t until I truly started my self-love journey where I found myself and my true passions. I now feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be and that my struggles have made me who I am today.
We’ve been impressed with Top Health Solutions LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Holistic Health Coach, Functional Medicine Specialist, and an Integrative Health Practitioner. I help those struggling with digestive symptoms, skin issues, hormonal imbalance, diet, and lifestyle changes so they can get back to living a healthy life.
I am known for being the gut health specialist since I truly believe every health issue begins with the gut. A portion of our immune system is in the gut. Serotonin is made in the gut. Our gut microbiome impacts our mood, immune function, metabolism, and even our hormones.
What sets me apart from others is still being a 4th year Doctor of Pharmacy student and having gone through Conventional Medicine schooling. Many Functional Medicine and Integrative Health Practitioners haven’t gone through Conventional Medicine schooling before. I have learned what medications are, their side effects, how they work, and more. I learned how Conventional Medicine teaches their future doctors and how outdated the health information is. This information is extremely beneficial for my clients because many of them might still be on medications. I have to know what these medications are and what side effects they may be causing my clients. It’s also important to know what herbal products might be interacting with their medications.
I am so proud of my success due to the many clients I have even though I JUST started my business. Not only that, but I already have a book called Unleash the STORRIE Within that came out November 9th that shares my journey to Functional Medicine with other health care practitioners. I have even been able to have various certifications while still being in a challenging curriculum.
I want readers to know how passionate I am about gut health, our hormones, diet, and lifestyle changes. I have been there. I have struggled for YEARS throughout my life and no one was able to help me. I know how it feels to not feel your best and I want to help others live a healthier life!
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most is how we fuel our bodies and take care of our bodies. What we put into our bodies is actually more important than you think. We want to make sure we fuel our good gut bacteria because our gut plays a HUGE role in our bodily functions. I see how other nurses, doctors, and most of America eats on a daily basis. It isn’t healthy. Processed foods and inflammatory oils are causing more issues long term. We need to be eating real whole foods, such as wild-caught fish, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs and poultry, fruits, vegetables, and whole-food carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes and winter squashes. We also need to make sure we are consuming healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and more. It really can make a huge difference in one’s health when we actually care about what we are putting inside of our bodies.
Contact Info:
- Website: kristinatelhami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krissyt_pharmd/
