Inspirational Women Series created by Tracey S. Yang Article #9 with Alyssa Bryant
Alyssa Bryant, DPT, PT, IINHC is a doctor of physical therapy and health coach. She is an alumnus of UMMC, Integrative Nutrition, and Mississippi State University. She offers the services of physical therapy, physical health training, integrative nutrition health coaching, and myofascial release and massage at her business Bryant PT and Wellness.
Her strong desire to offer these services began in 2010 when she struggled with Crohn’s disease. Due to this, she sought ways to improve her condition by studying more about food, health, and lifestyle choices. During this pursuit of knowledge, she learned that food and healthy lifestyle choices did have a profound impact on improving her health. This newfound realization caused Alyssa a desire to show others how improving lifestyle habits could also help them.
1. Tell me more about your business, Bryant PT and Wellness.
Bryant Physical Therapy and Wellness provides physical therapy, physical health training, integrative nutrition health coaching, and myofascial release and massage. These services are provided in the convenience of an individual’s home or by telehealth. We at Bryant PT and Wellness help individuals learn techniques in order to reach their goals.
2. Where can people go to hire you for your services at Bryant PT and Wellness?
Individuals can hire me by calling me at 601-382-1868 or at 601-308-3771.
My website also offers more information about our services.
Website: www.bryantptandwellness.com
Also, see our Facebook page or group for tips, info, and recipes.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bryantptandwellness
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenshealthnowbybryantpt/
3. Give one healthy recipe that you believe everyone needs to know about.
Chocolate Chip or Raisin Cookies
Ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cup Almond butter (almonds/salt only) (stir prior to use)
3/4 cup Cashew butter (cashews/salt only) (stir prior to use)
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (real)
1 cup of honey
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 cup of either chocolate chips or raisins
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together except for chips or raisins. I use a stand mixer.
Mix in chips or raisins last.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wire rack on the baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use one heaping tablespoon of dough.
Space out well.
Don’t flatten out the dough manually. It will flatten as it cooks.
Pre-heat the oven and cook at 350 degrees. Monitor.
Cook until they look done. Refer to the picture above. The average cook time is about 12 minutes.
If the bottoms brown quickly on a first attempt of using only a baking sheet, put a wire baking rack on the pan and line the wire baking rack with parchment paper. Then apply cookie dough to that and cook.
4. What foods do you consider to be healthy? What foods do you consider to not be healthy?
Food is healthy. An individual’s health, fitness goals, digestive needs, and life goals also come into consideration. If something isn’t compatible with an individual, then it’s not the right type of food for that person. Some ill responses to food may be temporary. A person needs to learn more about themselves in order to understand what is healthy for them.
What I consider to be food:
Green, colorful, and white vegetables such as cauliflower, herbs, spices, meat, fruit, and nuts are food. Healthy fats such as avocado and coconut are also food. Ginger, liver, bone broth, and home-cooked meals also fall into this category.
What I consider to not be food:
Junk food at the store is not healthy. Most store-bought bread is not healthy. Most convenience and packaged food with 20 plus ingredients, including carrageenan, corn syrup, bleached wheat flour, brominated vegetable oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, daily and high doses of caffeine, added sugar, artificial flavor and colors, overconsumption of starches such as rice and potatoes fall into the category of not being food.
5. Did you always want to be a integrative nutrition health coach? What led you to want to become this?
My desire to pursue studies in the health and wellness field started in 2010 when I struggled with Crohn’s disease. In 2010, I chose to learn more about the possibility of improving and growing my health with food and lifestyle choices. Ever since I discovered how food and healthy lifestyle habits can have a powerful impact on our lives, as it did for me, it has become my desire to help others discover this as well.
I spent half of my childhood cycling medications for Crohn’s disease, and no dietary changes were recommended. If anything, this was said rarely, “Don’t eat it if it bothers you.” This is poor advice for those seeking answers. There are connections to how an individual eats and their health.
Obtaining a lack of informed consent with medical treatment for Crohn’s disease has also fueled my desire to teach others about their autonomy and need for informed decision-making. Being selective in your medical care is worthwhile.
6. Do you think eating healthy is helpful? Why or why not?
By taking care of yourself in this way, you are reducing your risk of chronic illnesses such as immune system dysfunction, thyroid disease, heart disease, and dementia. You can sometimes reduce or resolve your health issues. Each time you make a plate, you are fighting disease. Our choices for our plates accumulate over time. What we eat provides the building blocks for our body. Learning what is healthy for you is a part of this. It’s definitely not a one size that fits all scenario. Every healthy choice you make helps you.
7. Is there a brain to gut link? Some sources say there is. Is this true? Describe why this may or may not be true.
Bacteria in our gut can influence our mood, cravings, and mental health. There are neurons in our gut wall. Serotonin and other neurochemical production exist in the gut. This can also affect our memory, happiness, risk of depression and anxiety, thought, and more. The gut is sometimes referred to as “our second brain.”
8. What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
I believe that living and accomplishing your goals means taking risks. It’s true that you have to get back up again when mistakes happen. Sometimes, it can be hard to remain strong in that perspective, and this is something that I do and have learned. However, it’s important to remind yourself that at some point that things are only temporary.
Besides keeping a strong perspective, I have also learned to listen to what foods are compatible with my body. If I eat something that I know isn’t compatible, then I suffer the consequences. When I was pregnant, I ate a donut, which resulted in acid reflux. Eating these types of foods resulted in cravings, and it took work for me to ignore the cravings. I believe that it’s important for individuals to learn to listen to what their body is telling them about the food that they are eating.
9. What is your favorite quote, and why?
And I said to my body, softly, “I want to be your friend.” It took a long breath and replied, “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
Nayyirah Waheed
We can neglect ourselves for all sorts of reasons. Stress, loss, depression, learned behaviors and habits from childhood, internal pressure, the belief to put ourselves last, fear and safety, and more. We have limiting beliefs that we can do everything on our own. Neglecting ourselves and our health can happen for so long that it becomes a natural way of being. We can become so disconnected from what and who is good for us.
When the issue of neglecting ourselves piles up, we wake up and realize how badly we feel physically or mentally. We then ask the question of how did this happen. Realization allows the result of healing to begin.
10. What is the biggest risk that you have taken in your career?
The biggest risk for me is starting a business.
I started my third business last year at the beginning of the pandemic. I desired to offer virtual services with this business, and at the time, many more people were staying home and not visiting a physical location at all. Virtual services provide solutions we’re still seeking even during the pandemic. We still need to take care of ourselves in all ways including healthy immune function.
A small business owner takes on all roles when their business is first founded. There is a risk in this, and there are challenges.
Regardless of the risks of starting a business, I know this business and I am here to fill a need, and the risks are necessary. I’m here and ready to serve others on their health journey.
This article is a part of a series that is created and written by Tracey S. Yang called the Inspirational Women Series. This series is used to highlight and showcase inspirational women across the globe. Tracey S. Yang’s inspiration for this series came from the book Power Up, Super Women: Stories of Courage and Empowerment where she, in the book, is also one of the women coauthors.
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