Peta Shulman, Founder and Director of Goodnessme Box { GOODNESSME BOX, A HEALTH FOOD SAMPLING BOX DELIVERED MONTHLY TO HELP DISCOVER THE LATEST AND GREATEST FOODS ON THE MARKET, DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT LIVING WELL. } Contributor: yum. Gluten Free yum. Gluten Free had the pleasure of sitting down with Founder and Director of GoodnessMe Box, Peta Shulman. Peta’s inspiration behind creating GoodnessMe Box was spun by her personal journey to health. Read all about this amazing brand and the heart behind the product. ygf: Hi Peta! Tell us a bit about yourself. When I was 21 years old, what began as the flu resulted in three months of bed-rest and with me experiencing constant headaches, heavy and achy limbs, low energy, fatigue and overall a low immune system.  I saw a number of doctors during this time but received no real answer to the cause of the problem. I eventually got well enough to start work in a public relations role as a publicist looking after clients in the health and wellness space. The world of integrative health and wellness was opened up to me and I had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of health practitioners, attend integrative health conferences, work with the latest health foods and supplements and learn about the movement of prevention. It became clear to me that what we put in our bodies, how active we choose to be and how we manage our stress all plays a fundamental role in our overall health. The problem was that I still felt unwell on a fortnightly basis. Even though I was functioning with a low immune system, it became my everyday and I accepted it as normal. The final straw was the ninth time I had a cold in a twelve month period and I was told to go on yet another antibiotic. After further investigation a doctor discovered I was suffering from an autoimmune condition and as a result had a very low immune system. ygf: Wow Peta… what a rough start to your 20’s. Where did you go from there and how did that become your journey to GoodnessMe Box? Well, changing my food choices played a significant role in getting better. I began to cut out all processed and refined foods, only eating whole foods, free from artificial ingredients. I also eliminated inflammatory foods from my diet including gluten and refined sugar and began to take measures to look after my gut health after learning that over 70% of the immune system is located in our gut. Along with dietary and other lifestyle changes, it took three months to begin to feel better. After nine months I ran tests again and my results had improved. The doctors were astonished! Finally, it took two years to receive all my test results in the normal range and this showed me truly how powerful food is for your body to heal. Starting a business takes time, sacrifice and energy. If I had not taken charge of my health there is no chance I would have been able to have the stamina to start and continue GoodnessMe Box. ygf: Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing! How do you continue to nurture your health while running a very busy business? Today my health has significantly improved. When I look back on how I once functioned day-to-day I always think, there is nothing as good as healthy feels. I wake up with energy and a clear mind. I know my limits and am conscious that lack of sleep can push my immune system over the edge. When running a business I need to put my health first to ensure I am at the top of my game every day. To nurture my health these are my non-negotiables: Read the Food Label – It sounds simple but learning to read the ingredients and nutritional panel of foods at the start of my health journey was empowering. There are some clever marketing techniques out there so it is important I know exactly what I am putting into my body. I shop for food as close to its natural state as possible and search for foods that are GMO-free. This forms our philosophy at GoodnessMe Box. 8 hours sleep – Sleep is absolutely critical to my overall health and wellness. I find if I take the time to replenish and recharge it makes all the difference in the world. I know with 8 hours sleep I function at my best. Bone Broth – I have a small mug each and every morning to look after my gut health. Probiotic and Zinc – I take my probiotic and zinc twice every single day. Follow an anti-inflammatory diet – I’ve eliminated inflammatory foods including gluten and refined sugar and eat plenty of protein, healthy fats, vegetables and unrefined “whole” carbohydrates. See a health practitioner – I am a big believer in not self-prescribing or self-diagnosing be it with supplements or cutting out food groups. Food can be so powerful to help heal. I see my health practitioners regularly as our bodies are constantly changing. Make time for friends and family – Relationships are critical for support and for emotional wellbeing and I’m lucky to have a very tight network around me.   ygf: So tell us more about your product, GoodnessMe Box.  My health journey cemented the idea of GoodnessMe Box, a health food sampling box delivered monthly to help discover the latest and greatest foods on the market, designed to get people excited about living well. I loved the concept of receiving health food goodies to your door – offering a surprise and delight each month! Think of the newest superfoods, whole-food bars to eat on the go, nut butters, kale chips, herbal teas, raw chocolates, natural protein powders, gluten-free baking mixes or gluten free mueslis. Together with a team of health practitioners, we fill the boxes each month with only the highest quality health products. We also take it one step further, requiring all the goodies in the boxes to