If you’re wondering what get’s a Coco so curious … it all begins with
My journey into conscious consumption began when I was just eight years old and discovered I was allergic to casein, a protein found in dairy. That revelation led me to start reading every ingredient label I came across. It was my first taste of food curiosity, a seed that would grow into a lifelong passion for understanding not just what I was eating, but what it was made of, where it came from, and how it affected my body.
Years later, that curiosity deepened as I built a successful career in the restaurant world, working in—and eventually managing—a fine dining establishment. Being surrounded by incredible food and talented chefs only heightened my awareness of the complexity of ingredients and sourcing. I began questioning why so many dishes contained unrecognizable components, and that led me down a new path of research and exploration beyond the kitchen.
I also ran a small business called Optimum Organizing, where I helped people bring order and clarity into their physical spaces. Unfortunately, like many small businesses, mine was shuttered during the pandemic-induced lockdowns. But during that time of stillness, my inner curiosity reignited with full force. I dove headfirst into learning about metabolic health, spurred by my own struggles with low energy and what I came to understand as mitochondrial dysfunction. I consumed every book I could get my hands on and followed the surge of brilliant, forward-thinking doctors and health experts sharing their knowledge online.
What I uncovered during that time changed me forever. I began to question everything I thought I knew about food, nutrition, and wellness. I embarked on a two-year self-experimentation journey, trying out various diets while digging deep into the literature behind them to understand not only what worked, but why it worked—and for whom. Patterns began to emerge, and the common denominator across every effective approach was clear: real, whole, living food. Food that’s been well grown, well raised, and minimally interfered with.
Today, I feel deeply called to share what I’ve learned with others. The information I’ve gathered and lived through has radically transformed how I eat, think, and engage with the world. My mission is to connect curious, health-conscious people with cleaner, wiser choices that support their well-being and protect our collective future. Whether you're just starting out on your health journey or you're deep in your own research rabbit hole, I’m here to guide, support, and inspire you to make empowered decisions about the food you choose and the life you create.
CIRS
About Me
My journey into conscious consumption began when I was just eight years old and discovered I was allergic to casein, a protein found in dairy. That revelation led me to start reading every ingredient label I came across. It was my first taste of food curiosity, a seed that would grow into a lifelong passion for understanding not just what I was eating, but what it was made of, where it came from, and how it affected my body.
Years later, that curiosity deepened as I built a successful career in the restaurant world, working in—and eventually managing—a fine dining establishment. Being surrounded by incredible food and talented chefs only heightened my awareness of the complexity of ingredients and sourcing. I began questioning why so many dishes contained unrecognizable components, and that led me down a new path of research and exploration beyond the kitchen.
I also ran a small business called Optimum Organizing, where I helped people bring order and clarity into their physical spaces. Unfortunately, like many small businesses, mine was shuttered during the pandemic-induced lockdowns. But during that time of stillness, my inner curiosity reignited with full force. I dove headfirst into learning about metabolic health, spurred by my own struggles with low energy and what I came to understand as mitochondrial dysfunction. I consumed every book I could get my hands on and followed the surge of brilliant, forward-thinking doctors and health experts sharing their knowledge online.
What I uncovered during that time changed me forever. I began to question everything I thought I knew about food, nutrition, and wellness. I embarked on a two-year self-experimentation journey, trying out various diets while digging deep into the literature behind them to understand not only what worked, but why it worked—and for whom. Patterns began to emerge, and the common denominator across every effective approach was clear: real, whole, living food. Food that’s been well grown, well raised, and minimally interfered with.
In 2020, when I caught COVID, it became the straw that broke the camel’s back for my already-mounting autoimmune symptoms. I experienced an extreme hormonal crash that led to serious breathing issues and organ failure in my intestines. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I had been living in a mold-contaminated apartment in South Louisiana during quarantine. I became so ill that I was completely bedridden, with nothing to do but research for nearly six months. During that time, I experimented with the therapeutic effects of fasting and ketosis, adopting a nutritional standard so transformative that I still follow it rigidly to this day. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) due to environmental toxins, and moved out of the moldy apartment. I began the complicated and overwhelming process of remediating all of my belongings and learning how to avoid mold exposure in the future.
Since getting sick, it’s been a long and grueling journey to figure out how to function in my new autoimmune-compromised state, and to find the tools and therapies that truly support my body’s ability to heal and produce energy. Along the way, I uncovered a vast array of biologically stressful environmental toxins that we are all exposed to every day—many of which are invisible and completely normalized. This includes everything from food additives like stabilizers, artificial colors, and preservatives to pet dander and the parasites that feed on it. I developed a passion for identifying and creating low-to-no toxin solutions that, with just a little planning and intention, can help minimize our bodies' metabolic burden and support long-term wellness.
Today, I feel deeply called to share what I’ve learned with others. The information I’ve gathered and lived through has radically transformed how I eat, think, and engage with the world. My mission is to connect curious, health-conscious people with cleaner, wiser choices that support their well-being and protect our collective future. Whether you're just starting out on your health journey or you're deep in your own research rabbit hole, I’m here to guide, support, and inspire you to make empowered decisions about the food you choose and the life you create.
My journey into conscious consumption started when I was just eight years old and learned I was allergic to casein, the protein in dairy. That moment opened a door. I began reading every ingredient label I came across, curious about what was in my food and how it made me feel. Over time, that early curiosity grew into something deeper—a genuine fascination with how the things we consume affect our bodies and lives.
Working in the restaurant world for many years—eventually managing a fine dining restaurant—only fueled that fascination. I was surrounded by incredible food and talented chefs, but also came face to face with strange, unpronounceable ingredients and complicated sourcing. The more I saw, the more I wanted to know: What are we really eating? Why do we use so many additives and processed components? That experience pushed me to start asking bigger questions about nutrition, health, and the choices we make every day.
At one point, I had a small business called Optimum Organizing, where I helped people simplify and bring clarity to their homes and routines. It was meaningful work, but when the pandemic hit, the business had to close. Quarantine gave me the time—and necessity—to go inward. I wasn’t just curious about health anymore; I was struggling with it myself. I had been dealing with persistent fatigue, and things took a serious turn when I got COVID in 2020. It triggered a cascade of symptoms: a crash in hormone function, difficulty breathing, and serious gastrointestinal issues. I later found out I had been living in a mold-contaminated apartment during this time, which only worsened everything.
I spent the better part of six months bedridden, with little else to do but research and experiment. That chapter changed my life. I began exploring therapeutic tools like fasting, ketosis, and whole-food-based nutrition. Eventually, I received a diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), linked to environmental toxins. I moved, remediated my belongings, and started learning how to live differently—to rebuild from the ground up.
It’s been a long road, filled with trial and error, small wins, and slow rebuilding. Along the way, I’ve learned just how much our environments—both internal and external—can affect our well-being. I’ve also discovered that with the right information and intention, it’s possible to make choices that support healing and energy instead of depleting them. That’s what I focus on now: thoughtful, practical ways to reduce everyday exposures and reconnect with real nourishment.
Everything I’ve learned has been through lived experience, and I share it not from a place of expertise, but from a place of deep respect—for the complexity of the human body, for the struggle to feel well, and for the power of small, conscious changes. If you’re here, maybe you’re on your own journey, and I’m honored to walk alongside you.