Naturopath Tyler Jean believes food can help heal us.

As a naturopathic doctor, Jean incorporates natural remedies into his patients' care, including herbal supplements and vitamin infusions. Jean describes the practice as "not just treating the symptoms, [but] treating the person."

"We may pull from pharmaceuticals, herbs, dietary interventions, supplements, physical medicine, amongst other things," he tells Sonia Baghdady of Advocate Now. "So, it just gives us a larger tool kit to meet the patient where they're at, and what their health goals are."

Jean says, in the past, he opted for "more convenience and processed packaged food," until health concerns pushed him to change his diet altogether. After transitioning to veganism— though it was "more for the nutritional benefits as it relates to athletic performance, as opposed to the ethical reasons— Jean returned to a more balanced diet, incorporating some animal proteins.

Some people may dive into veganism and pursue organic foods, as Jean says he first did. He explains that he was "very meticulous around my food choices and kind of this clean eating approach" at first, stating "I wouldn't eat [meat] if it wasn't grass fed."

Jean's approach now is to "give myself grace of [knowing] I'm doing the best I can, but always focusing on whole foods first." While it's important to eat balanced meals with fruit, vegetables, protein, and carbs, Jean recognizes that some people may not have the ability to.

"I'm always thinking, in the space of medicine, about accessibility and affordability as well it's important that people have access to these things," he says. "But maybe they don't have access to pasteurized eggs, they don't have quality access to 100 percent grass fed. Doing the best you can with the knowledge you have is always the motto."

Jean says that beyond nutritional meals, he tries to "prioritize movement every day," as well as prioritizing "spending time with loved ones and people in my community that really support me and my goals and also inspire me to do good."

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