Antiracist Action

If you’re wondering why a nutritionist and grief coach talks about politics and intersectionality, well...it’s part of mental wellness. When an entire system of white supremacy has been put in place to keep everyone who is not white at the bottom, it takes a mental toll. As a queer white woman, I have to make an effort to think about it on the daily, to be actively antiracist. Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color don’t have that option - it affects them every minute of every day.

To just talk about nutrition would be a waste...yes, of course it’s important, but it’s not the whole picture. To understand wellness, we must look at THE LIVED EXPERIENCE of those we work with and hope to work with.

Gut of Integrity’s core teachings talk about stress, anxiety, and grief all playing a role in our physical and emotional well-being - and that includes structural racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, xenophobia, etc.

THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL INEQUALITY.

This is part of wellness. If we want everyone to have the same access to the things we have access to so that they can thrive in the same ways we can, then we have to dismantle the systemic social stratifications that keep everyone in their places.⠀

We in wellness have to make it easier for all groups to access healthcare, not just the dominant (white) group. Discrimination in all forms is a public health issue that needs to be addressed on all levels.

So what am I doing to be actively antiracist?

• Anti-Racism for Wellness Professionals Workshop (by Chrissy King)

• Member of Check Your Privilege (by Myisha T. Hill)

• Donate 5% of earnings to organizations and not-for-profit companies that center BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, houseless, and underserved individuals