Elena Szameitat
Specialist in "functional and clinical nutrition"
I grew up in both Berlin and Moscow. After earning a master's degree in languages, I started working as a freelancer in the film industry. When I met my spouse, our family rapidly expanded. Following the first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which eventually progressed to Hashimoto's (an autoimmune illness).
The hectic lifestyle of a six-person family with my own business and a husband who commuted 60 hours per week had a negative impact on my health: after two pregnancies, I suffered from sleep difficulties, weight gain, and poor energy levels.
By Christmas 2012, it was obvious that something needed to change. We couldn't continue like this.
So I shut down my modest film production company. My husband found a new job, and our family relocated to a suburb of Barcelona. Stress levels dropped, and my symptoms improved. In addition, we planned an extended family break.
In the summer of 2019, we finally set sail and began our voyage across the Atlantic. We left behind the familiar civilization to explore the enormous ocean, palm-fringed beaches, to endure storms, and other experiences in over 20 nations. Aside from sailing, I was in charge for the family's physical and health needs. Providing for ourselves in the most remote and beautiful places posed a real challenge, especially during the pandemic, requiring meticulous planning, discipline, and creativity. I had go get a deeper insight into nutrition and health.
The experiences from those two years on the sailboat are invaluable. My attitude on health shifted dramatically: we were now completely accountable. There was no doctor in sight and very few medications. Throughout those two years, we learnt how to live a healthy lifestyle.
When we returned, my husband and I made a conscious decision to maximize our "health span," our active, symptom-free years. Life taught us that we get what we focus on.
To strengthen this foundation, I sought out the best nutritional science education possible, learning everything I could about human metabolism, foods, supplements, and new medicines. For two years, I spent practically every weekend at seminars and conferences, studying books, medical research, and podcasts.
And it is not magic; it has been scientifically examined and documented at the highest level for decades, and it can be used in any household. It doesn't require pricey health insurance, pharmaceutical businesses, or hospitals. It involves understanding of the impacts of nutrition, accurate diagnosis, a personalized strategy, and discipline in application.
Yet, many people can't navigate this journey alone.
I realized that this topic has been very well-researched for decades, but it is overshadowed by pharmaceutical medicine.
In 2023, I completed my degree in functional and clinical nutrition therapy. Simultaneously, I began instructing family, friends, and first clients on healthy eating. It's always amazing to see how many of our health problems can be addressed with simple practices like mindful diet, sleep, exercise, and adequate vitamin and mineral supplementation.
This is when I discovered my purpose: to cure individuals by imparting knowledge, directing them toward mindful diet, lifestyle changes, and assisting them in achieving their personal health objectives.
