Meet Jen Martinsen of Nutrition Bliss in North County – Encinitas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Martinsen.

Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Like many people in my field, I feel like it chose me. I grew up in the typical American way – fast food was a staple and lots of processed foods. Even though my father was a doctor, we never discussed or thought about nutrition at all.

After receiving my B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Oregon, I fell in to the growing field of corporate health and wellness here in San Diego. I was focused on preventive health strategies and consulted large companies on how to create and implement effective programs to improve employee health. Around this time, I began to think about food and health differently, but I still didn’t see the full picture.

In 2013, everything changed. My youngest son, who was 4 months old at the time, developed eczema covering most of his body and was dropping in weight percentile. My intuition kicked in and I knew his body was trying to tell me something, but I was receiving no support from our health provider at the time. Through some research and a food-based elimination diet (since I was nursing), within four weeks his skin cleared and he began to gain weight. Within two months his digestion completely changed and his energy level significantly increased. The healing that took place was completely amazing. No pills, no creams – just through the power of food. This process allowed me an opportunity to learn how food was influencing each of our bodies and resulted in a big shift in how I viewed health and nutrition.

Now, keep in mind, I had been working in the health industry for 12 years up to this point and believed I ate “healthy!” Since that moment, I have been led on a path of learning that has changed my entire world (and my families). I left my successful career in corporate wellness and pursued furthering my education full time. I trained at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA) learning a functional approach to nutrition; the Integrative Institute of Nutrition (IIN) becoming a holistic health coach; and completed additional course work in clinical nutrition through Oregon State University.

So, I decided to open my own practice. During my experience in the corporate health and wellness industry, I observed many well-intentioned people suffer due to a complicated healthcare system focused on addressing a singular symptom or diagnosis, confusing and misleading food marketing tactics, and one-size-fits-all nutrition guidance. Everything I had learned and applied in my own life was very different than what I had seen and understood before going back to school. I knew I needed to share my knowledge & guide others outside my own family.

I launched Nutrition Bliss in July 2017, focused on creating individual solutions to maximize health and reverse dysfunction in women and children. Trained in a functional approach to health, my philosophy is to view the body as an integrated, web-like system where every nutrient, organ, and system works together and influence each other. With this fundamental understanding, we can work together to effectively heal the body, using food and lifestyle practices, to feel our best.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wish I could say it has all been smooth! There have definitely been bumps in the road, but I believe all of the challenges I faced help me learn and grow to bring me to this point.

First, when your child is experiencing health issues, it is REALLY hard. I knew what my pediatrician was telling me didn’t feel right, but I also didn’t know where else to go. Most of the research I did, at the time, provided solutions that were focused on adults, not children. I was confused and overwhelmed. But thankfully, if I was given those answers, I wouldn’t be here now.

I slowly started to piece things together for my son. It was by no means an overnight solution. I also initially endured push back in my own home when trying to make changes, dealt with questions and uncertainty from friends and family, and felt like a social outcast at BBQs & events when I would bring my own food. I have personally experienced what many clients go through and understand the struggles first hand.

Also, shifting my entire career and starting over was honestly the scariest thing I have ever done. I didn’t have a master plan of how it would all come together, however, I knew I was more passionate about this work than anything else I had done up to this point. So, I made the leap and haven’t looked back.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nutrition Bliss – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At Nutrition Bliss, I believe in empowering clients with information and solutions to heal their body and become their own health advocate. I am a functional nutritionist, a holistic health practitioner, and speaker focused on guiding women and children to maximize health and reverse dysfunction.

I believe in an n=1 approach, which means every individual is different. We each have our own unique needs based on our current health, lifestyle, habits, age, stress level, sleep patterns, and genetics. This means, two people can have similar symptoms such as insomnia, which can be caused and healed using different methods. Understanding these differences and each client’s unique background are key elements of the Nutrition Bliss approach. The long-term lifestyle shift from our approach results in improved health, self-awareness, and balance.

In my practice, I specialize in digestive health, detoxification, autoimmunity, and hormone balance with my clients.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Over the summer, I am planning several speaking engagements and Facebook Live chats to spread awareness about Functional Nutrition. Since, the field of functional nutrition is fairly new, most people still don’t understand exactly what it is, how it’s different, or how it can help! I am passionate about empowering people with information that there is a way to heal, not just mask symptoms, and to feel great.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nutritionbliss.com
• Email: jen@nutritionbliss.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenutritionbliss/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutritionbliss/

Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.