Namita Nayyar:
Can you walk us through a typical day of meals, and how your background as a dietitian and your personal health journey shape the way you eat?
Arianne Missimer:
A typical day of meals for me is simple, nutrient-dense, and intentional. Breakfast might be oatmeal with egg protein powder, almond butter, banana, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and psyllium husk for added fiber. Mid-morning, I’ll usually have yogurt with berries and pumpkin seeds. Lunch is a colorful mix—arugula, leeks, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, venison or bison, and spicy guacamole. Dinner often includes eggs with arugula, broccoli, peppers, avocado, and leeks, rounded out with sweet potato and sunflower butter for recovery.
I prioritize bodyweight in protein daily, making sure I’m getting all the essential amino acids, along with 25–35 grams of fiber to support a healthy microbiome. I include probiotic-rich foods, lots of dietary diversity, fatty fish twice a week, wild game, eggs, and plenty of spices and herbs for their anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
My background as a dietitian, combined with my cancer journey, has deeply shaped this approach. I view food as biochemistry: every bite influences blood sugar balance, mitochondrial health, and nutrient density. Functional medicine expands that view, guiding me to consider how food impacts inflammation, gut integrity, detoxification, and nervous system balance. In short, I fuel for performance. The more I do, the more I fuel!
Namita Nayyar:
How do you connect nervous system regulation with nutrition, both in your personal life and in the dietary strategies you use with patients?
Arianne Missimer:
Nutrition fuels our biochemistry, directly shaping the nervous system. Protein provides the amino acids that form neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Electrolytes are critical for nerve conduction. Blood sugar regulation affects sympathetic vs. parasympathetic tone. And nutrients like CoQ10, magnesium, and omega-3s support mitochondrial and brain health.
For myself and my patients, I combine functional nutrition with nervous system practices: eating in a relaxed state, using breath work before meals, and timing meals to support blood sugar and circadian rhythm. Science shows that how we eat is just as important as what we eat — and that’s the foundation I teach.
Namita Nayyar:
What major dietary shifts did you make after surviving cancer, and how do these shape the anti-inflammatory strategies you now recommend?
Arianne Missimer:
After chemotherapy, 11 rounds of antibiotics, radiation, CT scans, and medications, I was left with profound gut dysfunction — I could barely tolerate food for over two years and relied on baby food for more than a year. My healing required rebuilding the microbiome through fiber, probiotics, and nutrient-dense foods, while eliminating processed foods and gluten (given my celiac gene and severe intestinal permeability).
I focused on antioxidants to mitigate oxidative stress, cruciferous vegetables and dandelion greens to support detoxification, and mindful eating to restore gut-brain signaling. These strategies now inform my anti-inflammatory protocols: rebuild the gut, reduce immune triggers, and use food to modulate biochemistry.
Namita Nayyar:
How does your holistic health philosophy extend into areas like hair and skincare? Are there natural routines or products you rely on?
Arianne Missimer:
I rely on simple, fragrance-free, non-toxic products for skin, hair, and detergents. But I also view skin and hair health as reflections of internal physiology. Nutrition, hormone balance, toxin exposure, nervous system regulation and gut and liver health all influence skin and hair health. I keep external care minimal, but I focus deeply on the internal terrain.
Do you see conditions such as inflammation showing up in skin and hair health? How do you approach this at The Movement Paradigm?
Absolutely. Rosacea, acne, redness, and inflammatory rashes often reflect systemic inflammation or gut dysbiosis. Hair thinning or loss can be tied to thyroid dysfunction, estrogen imbalance, or nutrient deficiencies. At The Movement Paradigm, we approach these issues systemically: with lab testing, root-cause analysis, and personalized plans that address hormones, nutrition, genetics, sleep, and nervous system regulation — rather than just surface treatments.
Namita Nayyar:
What role does stress and nervous system regulation play in maintaining healthy skin, hair, and overall vitality?
Arianne Missimer:
Chronic stress dysregulates cortisol and depletes nutrients, accelerating aging and impairing repair. Elevated stress hormones can thin the skin, drive inflammation, and contribute to hair loss. Nervous system regulation — through breath work, somatic practices, and movement — reduces inflammatory signaling and improves circulation and nutrient delivery. The science of psychoneuroimmunology is clear: a regulated nervous system is a prerequisite for healthy skin, hair, and overall vitality.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
