Healing from the Root with Jennifer Lessard
Aired: March 3, 2025
Christine Miroddi Yoder:
Hi, welcome everyone. Thanks so much for joining us today. I have a special guest, Jennifer Lessard, a naturopathic practitioner who specializes in detoxing all different body systems. She’s incredibly knowledgeable, and I’m so excited for this conversation. Jennifer, how did you first get into this work? It feels like such a rabbit hole—once you start, you just keep going deeper.
Jennifer Lessard (exCELL Healing):
It really is. About 15 years ago, I started questioning what our healthcare system was really doing for me, my husband, and eventually our family. I struggled with miscarriages, cancer, and being told I wouldn’t be able to have children naturally. It was devastating.
Doctors prescribed medications, supplements, even IV treatments, but nothing truly changed. Eventually, my husband and I got on an adoption list, and ironically, I became pregnant after chemotherapy. That pregnancy was difficult—I was sick the whole time and terrified my body couldn’t handle it. My daughter was born prematurely with gut issues and severe allergies.
I struggled with breastfeeding and had to supplement with formula. On top of that, we followed the pediatrician’s advice with vaccines. At 15 months, after receiving the MMR, she broke out in a full-body rash, had seizures, and spiked a 105 fever. The pediatrician dismissed it as “just a virus.” But I knew something deeper was going on.
When she had the MMR again at age six, the same reaction happened. That was the final straw—we stopped vaccinating and began searching for natural solutions. Over time, I realized the medical system wasn’t focused on healing, just managing chronic illness. That lit a fire in me to learn about root causes.
Fast forward—my daughter is now 15. Over the years, she developed Graves disease, thyroid issues, and a heart condition. That pushed me deeper into studying detox, nutrition, and holistic health. I became certified as a naturopath, holistic health coach, and detox specialist. And I’m still learning—this field never stops evolving.
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The Root Cause: Gut Health and Inflammation
Christine:
Your story is incredible. And it always seems to come back to inflammation in the body—whether from food, toxins, or environment. That’s the root of so much disease.
Jennifer:
Absolutely. The gut is the body’s second brain. Inflammation makes our cells crinkled instead of smooth, which means nutrients can’t get in and toxins can’t get out. That’s why so many people spend hundreds on supplements but don’t see results—the inflammation is blocking true healing.
A lot of products today aren’t even food-based. Many supplements are lab-made, filled with hidden ingredients. If you don’t know what’s in your supplement, you probably shouldn’t be swallowing it. I call myself an “ingredient detective.”
We also need to rethink digestion from the very beginning—our fingertips, saliva, chewing—all play a role. Most of us skip these natural steps, and digestion suffers. Ideally, we should be eliminating multiple times a day, but most people are constipated and stagnant. That leads to a cascade of problems in the gut, lymphatic system, and beyond.
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Why Gut Testing Matters
Christine:
It’s so overwhelming for parents—no nutrients in the soil, kids won’t eat certain foods, supplements may not help… many just give up. That’s why I often start with gut testing. It gives us a baseline. Can you explain the difference between functional gut tests and what a GI doctor might do?
Jennifer:
A GI doctor will usually scope, take small samples, or run very limited stool tests. But functional gut testing looks at the whole ecosystem—the balance of good and bad bacteria, markers of inflammation, digestion, parasites, candida, and more. Without that baseline, we’re just guessing.
And yes—almost every client I’ve seen has some kind of gut imbalance. We live in a toxic world. Food, water, personal care products, environmental exposures—they all add up. Testing helps us see where to start.
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Making Health a Priority
Christine:
I always say this is an investment in your future health. Just because your child “seems fine” now doesn’t mean there aren’t underlying issues.
Jennifer:
Exactly. And families do have to make choices. Maybe it’s skipping the Starbucks run for a week to put that money toward a gut test. Health has to be prioritized.
In the meantime, parents can start with small steps:
* Remove artificial dyes from food.
* Avoid highly processed snack foods like Ritz crackers or Goldfish.
* Be cautious with “healthy” alternatives—cassava flour, for example, can still cause gut upset and often carries pesticide residues.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about managing exposures, making better choices when you can, and supporting the body with proper detox so you can still enjoy life without fear.
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Generational Health and Environmental Factors
Christine:
Your story about your second daughter really struck me—the severe rashes and mold toxicity. Even without vaccines or medications, she struggled. It shows how generational and environmental toxins can impact kids.
Jennifer:
Exactly. Mold, pesticides, chemicals—they’re everywhere. And sometimes it’s passed down generationally. My daughter’s healing took years. But once we figured out mold was a trigger and addressed her gut health, she improved.
The bigger point is this: health issues don’t just “come out of nowhere.” There are root causes—gut, toxins, inflammation—and when we address them, real healing happens.
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Practical Steps for Parents
Christine:
For families who can’t jump into full testing right away, what are some simple starting steps?
Jennifer:
* Reduce sugar and swap in whole-food alternatives like maple syrup or dates.
* Eat fruits in proper groupings (grapes with grapes, melons with melons, bananas alone) to avoid fermentation and candida overgrowth.
* Pay attention to signs of imbalance—rashes, dark circles, bloating, constipation, frequent illness.
But ultimately, the best step is testing. Every system is unique—there’s no one-size-fits-all probiotic or supplement.
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Working with Jennifer
Christine:
So how can parents work with you?
Jennifer:
Right now, we keep it simple. The best way is by email: [email protected]. We offer gut, mold, and other functional tests, along with individualized protocols. Appointments aren’t rushed—sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes 90—because true healing takes time.
We also have a private Facebook group where I share resources and product recommendations. And we work remotely as well, so families from anywhere can test and consult with us.
Christine:
That’s amazing. Thank you so much for being here, Jennifer. I know this won’t be our last conversation.
Jennifer:
Thank you. I look forward to more.
Christine:
And thank you all for listening. I’ll leave Jennifer’s contact details in the show notes, and we’ll see you again next week.
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✨ End of transcript (approx. 50:00)
