About Me & This Blog

A bit about myself :) My name is Valeria, and I was born and raised in Mexico City. I'm 29 years old and have lived in Mexico, Australia, and California. I was a figure skater for 15 years, and now I’m into endurance training, I’ve run two marathons so far: Chicago and Boston.

With Khala- taken by my best friend.

I’ve always loved animals. I grew up surrounded by dogs, and now Khala, my beautiful border collie, has been with me since she was just two months old. She’s been by my side for almost six years, my 24/7 and the love of my life. <3

Ever since I was little, food has felt like a creative playground for me. I loved being in the kitchen, mixing, tasting, baking, and exploring. At the time, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to study, but food science seemed interesting enough to explore, so I chose it. That decision opened the door to work in product development, quality assurance, and supply chain operations in the corporate world. After gaining valuable experience, I transitioned into venture capital and corporate innovation in the food and beverage industry. It’s a role that has exposed me to incredible technologies, founders, and corporations, from agricultural tech and ingredient innovation to my favorite of all: precision nutrition, including microbiome testing and personalized nutrition.

My interest in nutrition wasn’t immediate, but as I explored more, I found myself increasingly curious about how food impacts our body and mind, and why we all have a very different relationship with it. That curiosity led me to discover the gut microbiome and dive deep into it by taking courses, reading clinical research, and trying emerging technologies aimed at gut health, from diagnostics and personalization to novel ingredients.

The gut microbiome eventually became central to my personal journey. Over the last few years, I’ve made intentional changes to my lifestyle by adjusting my diet, improving sleep and exercising differently, and I’ve seen meaningful improvements in my overall health. I’ve also become passionate about personal development through books, podcasts, events, and self-reflection.

All this stems from a deeper curiosity about the whole self: why my body and metabolism work the way they do, where my thoughts and emotions come from, and why I’m drawn to certain things and not others. I'm always looking for ways to be better with myself and live more consciously to show up better for others and the planet.

This journey of self-exploration has been, without a doubt, the best investment I’ve ever made, and one I’ll keep making even through the darkest moments. One of the most powerful things I’ve come to understand is the uniqueness of every single person. There’s no one-size-fits-all. No perfect diet, habit, or mindset. Each of us has a different body, story, and rhythm. Healing, both physical and emotional, is deeply personal. It takes patience, trial and error, and the courage to look at yourself honestly to discover what truly works for you.

What I do believe is true for all of us is that healing starts at the root:

Healing the body means addressing the root cause at the gut level.

Healing the soul means looking back at our personal history and nurturing our relationship with something greater than ourselves.

Healing the mind means uncovering the root of our thought patterns and how they shape our habits.

... In the end, we are body, mind, and soul.

Gut4U is a space I created to freely share my reflections, lessons, and discoveries, hoping that some of it might support or inspire your journey, just as others have supported mine. I also became certified as a health coach with the intention of helping others achieve their personal goals. What I love most about health coaching is that it’s completely patient-centered, not prescriptive. It’s a collaborative process where each person sets their own goals, and the coach offers support and accountability along the way. So if you are interested, reach out :)

I’ve also included a little recipe corner. It's not a typical food blog with fancy pictures. Just real meals I make for myself. Some are super simple, others are tips or tweaks, but all of them are part of how I make nutritious food feel joyful and doable.

I hope what I share here supports you in some small (or big) way. <3