When you begin a new role, make it a point to emphasize the importance of work-life balance right from the start. Establish boundaries early in your career to maintain that balance. It is crucial for your well-being, helping you stay productive, avoid burnout, and find fulfillment in your job. Plus, it ensures you have time to enjoy meaningful moments with family and friends.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called Women in Wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Erica Belton M.D.
Dr. Erica Belton, M.D., is a highly accomplished board-certified physician and certified aromatherapist. She has a solid clinical background and over thirty years of experience in advanced medical care. Dr. Belton’s career is marked by her extensive knowledge of internal medicine and expertise in clinical policy development.
Beyond her medical achievements, Dr. Belton is the innovative founder of Nature’s Nectress, a brand dedicated to organic skincare and haircare solutions. Her passion for natural, eco-friendly alternatives underscores her holistic approach to health and wellness, seamlessly blending science with nature to promote well-being inside and out.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Iam honored to be part of this interview series. I was born and raised in Philadelphia and completed my undergraduate studies at Boston University. After graduation, I returned to Philadelphia to attend Temple University School of Medicine, where I earned my medical degree. I am board-certified in Internal Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, planting flowers, growing tropical fruits, cultivating orchids, and practicing yoga. I also love taking walks with my furry friend, Beauregard.
I enjoy visiting botanical gardens on my travels, which has always been a personal passion of mine. It helps me better understand the plants and trees that are the basis for today’s medicines. During my travels, I look for specific plants whose flowers, leaves, seeds and roots are used to make essential oils used in aromatherapy.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
Absolutely! One of the most rewarding moments in my career occurred when I transitioned from clinical medicine to eventually venturing into the beauty industry with the launch of Nature’s Nectress. I suffer from histamine intolerance and multiple chemical sensitivity. Oftentimes, people may suffer from many different symptoms, yet they are unaware they have these conditions.
Starting Nature’s Nectress was not merely a business endeavor; it grew from a personal need for holistic skincare. Despite having over 30 years of experience in the medical field, I grew increasingly frustrated by the limited availability of effective solutions that met my skincare and haircare needs, given my multiple chemical sensitivity. This ultimately motivated me to take a new direction and create a brand to address these challenges. As the founder of Nature’s Nectress, I combined my medical education and aromatherapy knowledge with my dedication to offering clean beauty solutions.
There were many valuable lessons, but one key takeaway is that the journey in life can lead you down unexpected paths, with personal struggles opening doors to new and exciting opportunities. These challenges can ultimately allow you to positively impact others in ways you never imagined. From a young age, I aspired to be a physician and never anticipated entering the beauty industry. However, my own health struggles with histamine intolerance and multiple chemical sensitive, and personal journey in that space have allowed me to touch lives in ways I never expected by starting Nature’s Nectress.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
It is crucial to recognize the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing self-care. Early in my career, I was not aware that I had histamine intolerance, a condition that worsens with long working hours, poor sleep, and inadequate nutrition. The key takeaway is that, when beginning a career, you must integrate activities you enjoy, such as daily exercise, maintain a nutrient-rich diet, and allocate time for relaxation.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I have histamine intolerance, a condition that affects about 1% of people worldwide, mostly middle-aged women. Some symptoms are digestive issues, skin irritation, and headaches, which can be challenging to treat if the underlying cause is not know. While 1% might sound like a small number, dealing with chronic issues like these can have a significant impact on daily life and overall health.
Many people with histamine intolerance and multiple chemical sensitivites struggle to find skincare and haircare products that work for them. Since the skin is the largest organ, avoiding products with harmful ingredients is essential. Unfortunately, many beauty products contain hormone disruptors or ingredients that can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
I created Nature’s Nectress, whose products are free from QUATS, parabens, paraffins, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, and sulfates. These are safe, gentle options for anyone looking for cleaner beauty products, especially those dealing with sensitivities or allergic reactions.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better well-being?
Reducing Toxin Exposure
Our everyday environment is full of toxins, from the products we use in our homes to personal care products and the air we breathe. Many skincare and haircare items contain chemicals that can disrupt hormones. You can gradually detox your home by substituting harsh cleaning products for natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, lemon, and castile soap. It is also important to detoxify your body as well. The primary way to detoxify the body is through the skin, lungs, kidneys, colon, and liver. You can detoxify the skin by exercising, using saunas, or doing activities that induce sweating. Detoxification promotes overall better health and wellbeing.
Exercise
Exercising both indoors and outdoors with proper sun protection has its advantages. Sunlight boosts vitamin D levels, enhances mood, and strengthens the immune system, while exercise promotes physical strength, flexibility, and heart health, and releases mood-boosting endorphins. It is important to choose activities you enjoy so it does not feel like a daily chore. Personally, I enjoy using my Peleton and Powerplate vibration machine while listening to my favorite music.
Social Interaction
Being actively involved in your community fosters a sense of belonging and enhances happiness. Social engagement helps reduce feelings of isolation and creates connections with others with similar interests. Your community offers a supportive network of friends and peers. There are numerous opportunities for social interaction, such as volunteering at hospitals and churches, coaching sports teams, assisting at homeless shelters, or serving on local organization boards. Since I enjoy gardening, I enjoy volunteering my time to beautify neighborhoods with plants.
Good Nutrition with Adequate Hydration.
Your body is about 60% water. Drinking enough clean water every day is key to staying healthy and keeping your skin in great shape. Hydration helps your skin retain moisture, keeping it soft, smooth, and less prone to dryness or irritation. It also supports your skin’s elasticity, helping it stay firm and bounce back, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Drinking water also helps your body flush toxins, giving you clearer, healthier skin. Along with drinking plenty of water, hydrating skincare products are a great way to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
Prioritizing Mental Wellness
It is important to put mental wellness first so we can handle stress, stay balanced, and feel our best. You can prioritize mental wellness by setting aside time in the morning before you start your day. Also, having my own little quiet retreat really does wonders for your mental health. The special area can be a small area of your home with some of your favorite pictures and items that bring you joy to look at. It is important to take a few minutes throughout the day to reset and have stillness.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
My movement would be to start a holistic health movement focusing on the benefit of being present in the moment and aware of how you are feeling mentally and physically. Once you acknowledge how you are feeling in the moment, you can focus on wellness practices such as exercise, healthy nutrition, and stillness. I aim to make many people aware that mental and physical health are connected. Focusing on mindfulness and holistic well-being could help reduce stress and anxiety while improving mental health globally. Everyone faces daily challenges, and this kind of movement could build resilience, assisting people to approach life with a more positive mindset. People can pay more attention to their physical health and be more resilient. By encouraging healthy habits and community involvement, the movement could lower rates of lifestyle-related diseases and boost overall well-being.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- When you begin a new role, make it a point to emphasize the importance of work-life balance right from the start. Establish boundaries early in your career to maintain that balance. It is crucial for your well-being, helping you stay productive, avoid burnout, and find fulfillment in your job. Plus, it ensures you have time to enjoy meaningful moments with family and friends.
- Prioritizing exercise and good nutrition as part of your daily routine offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. The benefits are increased energy, ability to handle stress, and overall sense of well-being.
- Asking for help when you start a new job helps you learn faster, avoid mistakes, and get to know your coworkers. It shows that you value the importance of being part of a team.
- Request regular feedback on your performance throughout the process. This will allow you to recognize areas for improvement while identifying your strengths, boosting your confidence.
- Take time to envision where you see yourself in the future. It arrives quicker than anticipated. By considering your long-term goals, you can thoughtfully assess opportunities as they come, making you a more discerning decision-maker when evaluating career paths.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Prioritizing your mental health and well-being is crucial. Focusing on your well-being makes you better equipped to handle life’s challenges. This clarity helps you steer every part of your life in the direction you want to go. Ultimately, this should lead to happiness, wellness, and longevity!
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Readers can visit the official website of Nature’s Nectress at naturesnectress.com.
And check for Nature’s Nectress on popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
