Wellness from the Inside Out: Why Nutrition Matters

As a licensed massage therapist, I’ve spent years helping people reduce pain, manage stress, and reconnect with their bodies. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful bodywork can be, but I’ve also learned something along the way: no matter how great the massage, more effort and healing must happen beyond the table. If I had a nickel for every client in their 30’s or 40’s who chalked up their pain, dysfunction, or general sluggishness to “just getting older”, I would be rich! While there is a kernel of truth in that our bodies do begin to slowly break down as we age, I believe the primary reason many peoples’ health is not where they want it to be is due to lifestyle choices. That’s why I recently expanded my practice to include personal training and nutrition coaching. Movement and massage work beautifully together — you can read my blog post all about strength training here — but it’s nutrition that truly fuels and sustains the wellness we’re all striving for.

So, why is nutrition

such a big deal?

Let’s get one thing clear: nutrition isn’t just about counting calories or sticking to the latest diet trend. It’s about giving your body the raw materials it needs to function, repair, and thrive.

You can train hard and book regular massages, but if your body doesn’t have the nutrients to rebuild muscle, support your immune system, or keep inflammation at bay, your body won’t be able to function at it’s full potential.

Here’s why nutrition should be a non-negotiable part of any wellness routine:

1. Recovery Starts With What You Eat

Massage therapy is a powerful tool for recovery — it increases blood flow, helps flush out metabolic waste, reduces muscle soreness, and promotes relaxation. While massage helps to prepare the body to heal, it can’t do the job alone. Your recovery depends just as much on what you put into your body as what you do for it externally. Protein is essential for repairing and rebuilding muscle fibers that break down during exercise or other strain. Healthy fats — like those from avocados, nuts, and oily fish — support hormone production, reduce inflammation, and keep your joints moving smoothly. There are also a wide range of vitamins and minerals, from magnesium to vitamin C to zinc, that are needed for tissue repair, immune function, and energy production at the cellular level.

Think of your massage therapist as the skilled mechanic who tunes up your body. But even the best mechanic can’t fix a car without quality fuel, clean oil, and the right parts. That’s where nutrition comes in — it supplies the internal resources your body needs to heal, rebuild, and come back stronger.

2. Food Is Self-Care, Not Punishment

Let’s ditch the guilt-driven approach to eating. Diet culture was engrained into most of us (women, especially) at an early age, and has unfortunately left a lot of us with an unhealthy body image and relationship with food. Restriction is often glorified, and honestly it wasn’t until I studied to become a Certified Nutrition Coach that I actually started to understand which foods, and how much of them my body needed to thrive… spoiler alert: less isn’t more! Food should energize you, support your workouts, and enhance your mental clarity, not leave you feeling deprived or confused. When we eat well, we feel better, move better, and even sleep better. Knowing you are nourishing your body and eating in a way that enables your body to be stronger and healthier, not just smaller, really feels like the ultimate form of self-care to me.

3. Your Gut Talks to Your Brain (and Everything Else)

The gut isn’t just where digestion happens — it’s a central hub for your overall health. Around 70% of your immune system resides in your gut, constantly working to defend against harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins. It’s also where about 90% of your serotonin is produced — a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in mood, sleep, and emotional regulation. When your gut is out of balance, it can lead to more than just bloating or discomfort; it can affect your mental clarity, energy levels, immune response, and even how well you handle stress. That’s why nourishing your gut with balanced meals, fiber-rich foods, probiotic sources like yogurt or fermented veggies, and plenty of water isn’t just good for digestion — it supports your entire body and mind.

4. Inflammation Can Work For You or Against You

Inflammation often gets a bad rap, but in reality, it’s a vital part of the body’s natural healing process. When you’re injured or fighting off an infection, inflammation acts as the body's internal alarm system — sending immune cells to the affected area to protect and repair. However, inflammation isn’t only triggered by obvious issues like injury or illness; it can also result from everyday stressors such as a poor diet, lack of sleep, chronic stress, overtraining, exposure to environmental toxins, and even imbalances in the immune system.

The real issue arises when this response doesn’t shut off — leading to chronic, low-grade inflammation that can quietly wear down your body over time. Persistent inflammation has been linked to fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, and long-term health concerns like heart disease or autoimmune conditions. That’s where nutrition comes in. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods like salmon and flaxseed), antioxidants (from colorful fruits and vegetables), and phytonutrients (plant-based compounds that fight cellular stress) all play key roles in calming inflammation. By fueling your body with these nutrients, you’re not just reducing discomfort — you’re supporting faster recovery, better energy, and long-term resilience.

Putting It All Together

Massage therapy relaxes the body. Personal training strengthens it. And nutrition? Nutrition supports every single system that keeps you going. If you’re trying to manage stress, improve your workouts, recover faster, or just feel better in your own skin, it’s time to look at what’s on your plate. As someone who now combines all three modalities in my work, I can tell you: you will really see the needle move when it comes to your health when you focus on your daily habits — through exercise and nutrition.

If you’re ready to feel stronger, more energized, and more in tune with your body, I’d love to help guide you. Whether that means refining your nutrition, creating a training plan, or taking the time to unwind on the table — we’ll build a plan that supports your version of wellness.