Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Kent.
Madeline, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was having very strange health issues around the age of 24; random sharp stomach pains, acne on my face that I never even had in teenage years, and lots of fatigue. At the time, I was working at an integrative medical clinic and had access to the functional medicine doctor and health team on staff. Through a series of advanced lab testing I discovered that I had a parasite that was wreaking havoc on my GI tract, impacting my skin and energy level. After a month of treatment, all my symptoms had drastically improved.
Strangely enough, within the same year my older sister was having very similar symptoms of acne and stomach pain but was also struggling with extreme bloating. I urged her to get tested for a parasite, but instead she followed the conventional medicine route and went to a Gastroenterologist to get a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. They told her she had inflammation, diagnosing her with IBS and prescribed her three different medications: one for pain, one for acne, and one for anxiety since they felt she seemed a bit worked up! She began her prescriptions which silenced some of her symptoms but was then struggling with some of the side-effects of the medications.
I was floored. We had such similar symptoms, yet extremely different outcomes. As my symptoms continued to improve, my sister’s symptoms continued to be ‘managed.’ I became aware that my sister’s experience was far more common than mine and that the management of symptoms with medication is the norm in our culture. Yet I had experienced a different approach that healed me from the inside out, and I became very passionate about the health paradigm that focuses on getting to the root cause of symptoms, known as Functional Medicine.
A few years later, I graduated as a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner from a leading private nutrition school in Denver called Nutrition Therapy Institute. I was eager to educate people to listen to their symptoms, rather than silence them, and to observe them as a message from the body that things are out of balance. I was determined to help people discover why their symptoms were arising and provide them with alternative options to bring their body back into balance.
The very first advanced lab test I ordered out of school was for my sister. We discovered that she had an overgrowth of bacteria in her small intestines. Through a couple of rounds of anti-microbial herbs along with diet and lifestyle changes, my sister no longer had stomach pains or bloating, and her acne began to clear.
I started Santé Health and Wellness to help more people like my sister. Education is the foundation of my nutrition practice, empowering people to take control of their health by enhancing their understanding of their bodies. Santé provides an alternative approach and more holistic perspective to health, placing emphasis on root cause and prevention.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a business is intimidating, especially as a solopreneur. I certainly experienced ‘imposter syndrome’ in the beginning – doubting myself and my ability to run a successful business. Yet that self-doubt drove me to ask for a lot of help. I reached out to other local nutritionists for advice, and I attended business classes and got coaching at the Larimer Small Business Development Center. Asking for help is humbling, but as a result I formed an intimate support network that helped me gain traction and confidence.
I would extend that recommendation to everyone: never be too proud to ask for help and create a support team of mentors that inspire and encourage you.
We’d love to hear more about Santé Health and Wellness.
When our system is out of balance, the body often communicates through symptoms: headaches, fatigue, skin issues, mood, etc. Rather than silencing these symptoms with medication, it is my passion to help people listen to their bodies and interpret their symptoms to create an actionable plan to find balance again. I view the body as one interconnected system and all aspects need to be addressed to optimize health including diet, lifestyle, stress level, environment, genetics, etc. To uncover deeper origins of imbalance I offer advanced lab testing as an amazing tool that can help pave the road to healing. I specialize in GI Repair and believe that improving digestion and absorption is often the first step to restoring health.
I chose the name Santé for my business because it means ‘to your health’ in French, but I also created it to be an acronym for Scientific Approach To Nutrition Therapy and Empowerment. I value being an evidence-based wellness company, providing people with a deeper understanding of their bodies and supporting them to make powerful changes to improve their health. I am on a mission to support a paradigm shift in medicine moving towards client-centered care and acknowledging bio-individuality.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Historically women have been vastly underrepresented in authoritative roles in healthcare. I still think people tend to think of doctors as men and nurses as women, lending to the persistent association between job hierarchy and gender/sex. Yet representation of female leaders in healthcare is on the rise, and many innovative female doctors and providers have dedicated their practice to researching female health, improving education, and promoting equal care.
With that said, I feel that it is just a matter of time before female leadership is equally represented in the health field, as well as other industries. There are people that strive to be in leadership roles and then there are people that naturally rise to become leaders through the support of those around them. It is exciting to feel that more than ever women are supporting each other to follow their passions and pave their own paths.
Pricing:
- Initial 90min Nutrition Consultation: $198
- Hourly Follow-Up Appointments: $95
- 3 Month Wellness Package: $750
Contact Info:
- Address: 1017 Robertson Street
InnerHealth Building - Website: http://www.sante-healthandwellness.com
- Phone: 970-690-7424
- Email: maddie@sante-healthandwellness.com
- Instagram: sante.healthandwellness
Image Credit:
Val Mosley Photography, For the West and Wild Photography
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