We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole Ritter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My journey into functional health wasn’t just a career choice, it was a necessity. In my early 20s, I struggled with debilitating chronic health issues: constant sinus infections, migraines that left me unable to function, anxiety, depression, and hormone imbalances. I was shuffled from doctor to doctor, each one handing me more medications, yet not a single one asked WHY I was feeling this way.

After two sinus surgeries that didn’t work and a revolving door of antibiotics and nasal sprays, I reached a breaking point. I knew there had to be a deeper reason why my body was struggling, and I refused to accept that my only options were medications that just masked symptoms. That’s when I discovered mold in my basement and the same day I discovered holistic health and functional medicine through a Podcast.

As I started learning about gut health, environmental toxins, and the body’s intricate balance, I began making changes. I addressed my diet, moved out of the moldy home that was contributing to my sinus issues and migraines, and I started supporting my body’s nutrient deficiencies. The transformation was truly life-changing. My headaches and migraines disappeared. My anxiety and depression lifted. My hormones started regulating. For the first time in years, I felt like myself again. I was able to get off all of my medications. I didn’t need them anymore!

That’s when the light bulb went off, I couldn’t keep this information to myself. There were so many people just like me, struggling with chronic symptoms and feeling like they were out of options. I knew I had to help. them and turn this into a career. But I also knew that this wasn’t just about giving advice, this was about giving people answers to what was actually going on in their bodies.

What made me so confident this would work? Because I had lived it. I knew firsthand that traditional medicine was missing the mark for so many people with chronic illness, and holistic health, nutrition and functional medicine was providing the solutions no one else was offering. And beyond that, I realized that most people don’t just need a protocol, they need guidance, education, grace and support to navigate their healing.

That’s why I built my practice with a truly personalized approach, using advanced functional lab testing, customized protocols, nervous system support and 1:1 support to help people not just feel better but actually heal at the root cause. Watching my clients regain their energy, reverse their symptoms, and get their lives back is what drives me every single day.

I didn’t just start a business, I created the exact kind of support I wish I had when I was struggling. And that’s what makes this work so fulfilling :) I love it!

Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Nicole Ritter, a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Health and Life Coach. I am the owner and founder of Ritter Functional Health, a virtual functional lab testing and nutrition consulting business where we help people find and address the root causes of their health conditions so they can THRIVE in health and in life.

I founded Ritter Functional Health to help people break free from autoimmune conditions, hormone imbalances, gut issues, mold illness, and more. We specialize in functional lab testing, personalized nutrition, and 1:1 consultations to identify the root causes of health issues.

Many of our clients come to us after seeing multiple specialists who have told them, “Your labs are normal,” or prescribed yet another medication without actual answers. They’re exhausted, frustrated, and feel like they’ve tried everything, yet they’re still sick. That’s where we come in.

Through advanced lab testing such as HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis), Organic Acids Testing, GI-MAP, and Environmental Toxin Testing, We help our clients uncover hidden imbalances in their gut, hormones, detox pathways, and mineral levels. With this data, we create a highly customized healing plan that includes targeted nutrition, supplementation, detox strategies, and lifestyle shifts, so they can finally experience lasting relief.

Unlike many health practitioners who take a one-size-fits-all approach, we focus on:
Root Cause Healing: we don’t just suppress symptoms; we find and address the underlying issues.
Personalized Protocols: every client gets a tailored plan based on functional lab testing and their unique health history. No one protocol is the same, they are completely customized to you and only you.
Education & Empowerment: we don’t just tell our clients what to do, we teach them why their symptoms are happening so they can take control of their health and understand what is going on in their body.
Holistic Approach: We address the physical, emotional, and environmental factors impacting health, because true healing is multi-dimensional.

I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of people reclaim their health, but the transformations my clients experience are what make my work so rewarding. From women reversing Hashimoto’s symptoms, to clients healing from mold toxicity, to parents finally finding solutions for their child’s eczema, ADHD, or chronic gut issues, I get to witness real healing every day.

I’ve also been featured in Chicago Weekly as one of the Top 6 Standout Health Experts of 2024, USA Wire, and awarded a Top 100 Stellar Award in Health. But the biggest reward? Seeing my clients go from “I feel hopeless” to “I finally have my life back.”

I want you to know that you don’t have to settle for feeling sick and exhausted. Your symptoms are not “just in your head,” there’s a root cause, and we can help you find it.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I connect with a lot of our clients on social media. I like to keep in touch after their program ends to see how they are doing so I will message them on IG or send them an email. In our program, clients have monthly 1:1 calls as well as monthly group calls so they feel connected and supported throughout their journey with us. We also offer free webinars quarterly and provide a lot of free information on IG and on our blog to help them get answers to any questions they may have!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was in graduate school for mental health counseling in my early 20s when I was experiencing many of my debilitating symptoms. I have always known I wanted to help people and I thought therapy would be the way I did that. It was during this time where I found mold in my basement and found functional medicine. I made the extremely hard decision to quit graduate school for mental health counseling and move towards a career in holistic health.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritterfunctionalhealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleritterhealth/

Image Credits

Grace Perry