Nadia Washlick Neumann ’07
27 ● San Jose, CA ● Healthy Living Blogger, Author, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
After graduating from MFS, where did your life lead you?
I graduated cum laude from Boston College (Class of 2011) – majored in International Relations and minored in Environmental Studies. After graduating, I went onto work for an international women’s non-profit membership organization for nearly five years. There, I worked in both the program and marketing departments, helping to launch a new scholarship program for low-income teenage girls as well as the organization’s online volunteer platform.
How did you begin your journey with your blog Body Unburdened and how has it grown to a readership of over a million readers?
In 2013, I started Body Unburdened as a personal blog for documenting my own health journey as I became interested in nutrition and learning about personal exposure to unhealthy chemicals. Body Unburdened quickly grew, and I became impassioned to more deeply help the readers with whom I’d connected and now looked to me for information and advice. In 2015, I became a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner through the Nutritional Therapy Association out of Olympia, WA. As an NTP, I not only provide clients with the education, guidance, and tools they need to improve their diets, but also look to pinpoint food intolerances and specific deficiencies that may be causing the unique symptoms they experience. In 2016, I started dedicating myself full-time to Body Unburdened and building my business. Since its inception in 2013, Body Unburdened has provided education and resources to over a million readers. I released my first eBook, The Home Detox Guide, in January 2017 and my first published book Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin was released in June of 2017.
What can your followers look forward to next from Nadia Washlick Neumann?
I currently work with nutritional therapy clients long-distance and am working on a group nutrition program (to be completed by fall 2017) so I can assist a greater number of people. I’m also working on integrating eCommerce into my site, and plan to make and sell my small-batch, homemade face oil blends in the near future.
Why are you passionate about nutrition, natural products, and healthy living?
I’ve always been driven by the desire to help others. Through my website, book, and nutritional therapy practice, I’m fortunate to be able to do just that. I’m also passionate about doing my small part to improve the world. Sadly, the food and chemical industries are broken, and we’re paying the price – the majority of foods on the market are extremely unhealthy and lack of regulation allows unhealthy chemicals to be used freely in commerce (including in products which we use daily, like personal care and home cleaning products). Consumer education and demand for safer products has the power to shape markets and change industry practices, and I feel as though I’m helping to make this happen.
What would you consider to be your most exciting accomplishment to date?
This past June, my first published book was released. Glow: The Nutritional Approach to Naturally Gorgeous Skin was inspired by both my personal struggle with skin issues as well as so many of my readers’ and clients’ struggles. Through my studies, vast research, personal experience, and experience in working with clients, I’ve learned the tremendous power of nutrition and internal health on the health and external appearance of the skin – the skin is a mirror that reflects internal imbalances, imbalances that can be set right with relatively simple dietary adjustments. But this notion is unfortunately missing from most conversations in dermatology and medicine, and I’m on a mission to change that with my book. Hearing from readers about how the book has helped them is without a doubt one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
Nadia, reflecting back upon your time as a student, what did you most value about your MFS experience?
MFS definitely instilled in me the importance of helping others. This is one of the main reasons I chose to go Boston College – a motto of which is “men and women for others” – study International Relations and Environmental Studies, work for a non-profit organization, and eventually start my health and nutrition business. MFS also encourages students to think critically and explore their passions at a young age, whereas most individuals don’t have this opportunity until college.
In the Fall 2017 feature story of the Among Friends alumni magazine, 30 young alumni under the age of 30-years-old were profiled for their promising talent. Nadia Washlick Neumann ’07 was one of our 30 under Thirty.