Sometimes in my instagram adventures I stumble across the most amazing/inspiring accounts and this is exactly how I came across Nutritiously Natasha. Firstly I fell in love with her Instagram page which was full of beautiful food pictures, seriously you need to check it out!  Then I started reading her blog Nutritiously Natasha  where I learnt more about Natasha and her journey, she is one inspiring lady and I don’t say that lightly, I mean really inspiring. Natashas journey using food as medicine to help her deal with her three chronic illnesses is amazing. Not only is it a fascinating journey, but it also highlights the importance of food and how it can be used to heal. I feel like I am going on a bit here but I am truly inspired by Natasha and so excited to get to share this interview with her for The Nutritionista. I really hope you enjoy what she has to say, there is even a few recipe pictures and links for you so your in for a treat! Enjoy :) x

1. Can you describe when and why you decided to set up your blog Nutritiously Natasha?

I only set up the blog recently as a result of my Instagram. I had been blogging a bit about my health problems (I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance) in a ranty way(!) for a few months. When I decided to start properly using food as medicine I started sharing my daily journey on Instagram. I realised that my health and my food journeys were so intrinsically linked that I needed a place to write about them in more detail. And so now we have Nutritiously Natasha!

2. When did you decide to start using food as medicine?

I’ve always been aware of the idea, but every time I asked a doctor I was never given any answers. Last year I got so insanely unwell (medications were only making me worse) that I thought there had to be something I could do. After stuffing myself with every single item of food I could get my hand on on New Year’s Eve (and getting even more ill), I realised that I needed to do something, anything. I spent months not being able to tolerate food, so it seemed logical to me that food would play a role. I spent the first quarter of this year Googling, researching and self-experimenting! I suppose I started on the journey I’m on now in about May.

3. How has changing the way you see food affected your life/health/general wellbeing?

It’s allowed me to take some control over my life. When you’ve got a medical problem, be that physical or mental, you often feel out of control of your body. There are so many forces that feel totally beyond your control. Making the decision to become active in my health rather than passive (wanting drugs, operations, anything to make me better) has been really powerful. It’s also actively making me significantly healthier! I’ve cured most of my severe intolerances and have been able to be medication free for a few months. It’s ridiculous!

4. Can you describe the kind of diet you have?

The easiest way to describe it is ‘plant-based’. I don’t eat meat, dairy, gluten, soy, refined sugar. I don’t drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol. I try to eat as many anti-inflammatory foods as possible, and have some high histamine foods on a longish rotation. I drink a lot of green juice, herbal teas and smoothies…most days I’ll have 2 liquid meals a day. I think that’s everything…!

5. What’s a typical day in the life of Natasha Lipman?

Not all that exciting, honestly! I work from home most of the time, so more often than not I’m either working in my bed (my awesome amazing robot bed) or cooking! I work for Virgin Unite, and I get to do some cool projects with them, and I’m starting to do more health writing and research now, so I spend quite a bit of time doing that. I still have to spend a lot of time resting, so I’m often texting and skyping with friends, and bingewatching something! If I’m well enough to make the journey into town, I’ll be sipping a green juice at a healthy cafe and exploring all the amazing new places London has to offer.

6. What are your future plans for Nutritiously Natasha?

Honestly, I never started my Instagram to get followers…I started it to keep on track when changing my diet, so I’m incredibly amazed that this is even a question that I get to answer! I’m hoping to grow my blog, especially my Food as Medicine 101 series. I’ve found that so many people have realised that nutrition plays a huge role in chronic illness. There are some amazing websites out there run by people who have already ‘healed’, but I think the reason that people have reached out to me is because I’m still going through my tough time, and I write about that. I know how important it is in the dark days of illness to read about other people trying and pushing through in the best way they can.

I just want to help support people who are finding this way of life, whether that’s by sharing the ups and downs of my daily journey, or sharing recipes. I’m actually a really lazy cook, and usually just bung things in a pan, so I need to practice actual recipe development! A lot of people on Instagram ask for them (understandably) so I’m going to be focussing some more on that.

One of the things I’m most excited about is the monthly #plantbasedpicnic that I co-host with my best Instagram friends Pixie and Maxine. They’re growing so big already – about 70 people came to our last event…everyone brought insanely beautiful food. It was such foodie heaven! We’re planning our october one now! It’s so great to meet likeminded people who share the same passion as you.

I’ve also been thinking of branching onto YouTube…but I’m still deciding on that one!

7. What would you say your favourite recipes are from your blog?

I have a bit of a porridge addiction. Particularly my banana, almond butter, vanilla maca porridge. It’s so delicious and comforting, I could eat it for every meal! Check out the recipe here.

I also love my lazy girl 3 ingredient pesto – it’s just so simple and quick to whip up. I add it to zoodles and pasta check out the recipe here.

8. What kitchen utensils couldn’t you live without?

My juicer and my blender. I have a juice and a smoothie every day, so I literally don’t know what I’d eat without them! Eating my meals in liquid form helps my body spend less energy on digestion and more on actually being productive!

9. What are your favourite healthy eating spots in London?
I’m actually really lucky to live in London, there are so many healthy eating spots opening up all over the city, and it’s so exciting to actually be able to eat out! I’m obsessed with Tanya’s in Chelsea (by far my favourite raw vegan food, and the best beetroot juice I’ve found!). Wild Food Cafe was the first ‘healthy’ place I went to eat, and I love their ayurvedic salad, ecstatic smoothie and they officially do the best raw chocolate berry tart around!
10. Do you have any advice for young career women who want to lead a healthy lifestyle?

I think preparation is the key. A lot of my friends say that they’re too busy to eat healthily, but I feel like it’s just a shift in attitude and a little bit of preparation. Making a smoothie in the morning takes just minutes, and is a great way to start your day with some great nutrition. If you’re super pinched for time, prep the ingredients the night before to whizz and drink on the go. Making batches of grains like quinoa and brown rice is also great, that way you can just sauté some veggies and throw together a really quick and easy meal. I’d also say that the simplest thing anyone can try and do is stay hydrated. I know I still struggle with this, but making sure you drink enough water every day is so important to your health. It also helps to find friends (online or offline) that are doing the same things so you can support each other!

Check out Natashas Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Instagram :)