Marissa Lord remembers how shocked her family was when her brother was diagnosed with stage IV jaw cancer. He was 49, active, and someone the family looked up to. He did not smoke or use tobacco. Nobody had seen the diagnosis coming.
He went through a 13-hour operation, chemotherapy, and radiation. The family was told he was cured, but six years later, the cancer returned.
For Marissa, losing her brother changed the way she looked at health. She wanted to understand more about what happens inside the body, why people can feel unwell when routine tests appear normal, and whether problems can be found earlier.
On “A Healthy Point of View” podcast, Sam Tejada, CEO and Founder of Liquivida®, spoke with Marissa about her work as an integrative nutrition health coach, her experience with digestive issues, and the everyday habits she now prioritizes.
Are Parasites Really Living Inside You? Marissa Lord on Gut Health & Cleansing | Ep. 184
The Questions That Stayed With Her
Before entering the wellness field, Marissa was a ballerina. A back injury ended that part of her life earlier than she expected. She later became a mother of two and trained as an integrative nutrition health coach.
Her brother’s illness gave her another reason to learn about health. She found it difficult to understand how someone who seemed so healthy could receive such a late-stage diagnosis. The experience led her to take a closer interest in testing and early detection.
Marissa spoke about people who receive normal blood results but still struggle with fatigue or other symptoms. She recalled feeling that way herself after having children. Her results did not seem to explain how she felt.
In her work, she looks at a range of measurements, including blood panels, vitamin and mineral levels, hormones, gut tests, DEXA scans, and VO2 max. She also mentioned the Galleri cancer screening test.
Her message was that people should not ignore persistent concerns simply because one test comes back normal. Testing can help answer questions, but the appropriate approach depends on the person. Screening tests also have limitations, so decisions about them are best made with a qualified healthcare professional.
Her Experience With Digestive Problems
Marissa’s interest in gut health is also personal. She described dealing with constipation, bloating after meals, and anxiety during her years as a dancer. At the time, she said, the focus was often on keeping her body thin rather than understanding what it needed.
She began looking more closely at food and digestive health. She tried to work out what was causing her symptoms, but the answers were not always clear.
Later, Marissa explored parasite cleanses. She described one experience in which she felt physically unwell, with symptoms including swollen glands, a sore throat, body aches, and shaking. She said the experience changed how she approached the process.
During the podcast, she shared her views about parasites and the products she uses. Those views are part of her personal experience; they should not be taken as proof that parasites cause common digestive symptoms or that cleansing is necessary. Bloating and constipation can have many causes. Anyone concerned about a parasitic infection should speak with a healthcare professional rather than trying an aggressive cleanse without medical guidance.
Marissa said she now approaches the process more cautiously and recommends that people seek guidance if they are considering it for the first time.
The Habits She Tries to Keep
Marissa still makes movement part of her day. One of her regular practices is using a vibration plate, often for around 10 minutes in the morning. She said it helps her get moving and puts her in a better mood.
Her background in ballet has shaped how she thinks about exercise. She is used to working with her body, and she notices the difference when she goes several days without moving much.
She also discussed lymphatic drainage and facial brushing. These are practices she has incorporated into her own routine. While she believes they help her feel better, they should not be treated as a replacement for medical care or as a guaranteed way to remove toxins.
Sleep is another area she pays attention to. Marissa described getting morning sunlight and trying to make her evenings calmer. She mentioned reducing light exposure, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses when using screens, turning off bedroom lights, and keeping the room cool.
None of these habits requires an elaborate setup. For Marissa, they are small things she can return to even when life gets busy.
Start With the Basics
With new supplements, tests, and wellness treatments appearing all the time, it is easy to feel that improving your health requires buying something else. Sam asked Marissa what she would say to someone who wanted to make changes but did not know where to start.
Her answer was to keep it simple.
She suggested focusing first on sleep, walking, spending time outdoors, and paying attention to blood sugar after meals. She cautioned against expecting a treatment or medication to solve everything when other parts of a person’s routine have been overlooked.
Marissa also talked about tracking health measurements over time. In her view, data can help people see whether a change is making a difference instead of guessing. But collecting test results is not the goal on its own. The information needs to help guide sensible decisions.
Food is another part of her approach. Marissa spoke fondly about learning to cook with her Italian grandmother and keeping her grandmother’s pasta maker. She now makes food from scratch herself and wants her children to learn those skills, too.
She has also become involved in nutrition at her children’s school. She wants children to know more about what they eat and to have better information when making food choices.
Coffee, Gratitude, and Family
When Sam asked about her personal non-negotiables, Marissa did not start with a complicated health routine. She talked about her morning coffee.
She adds ingredients such as creatine, colostrum, collagen, and cinnamon, but the part she seemed to enjoy most was the ritual itself. She likes taking her time, getting some sunlight, and starting the day in a way that makes her happy.
Gratitude is something else she practices with her children. Each morning, she asks them to share something they appreciate, even if it is a small thing.
After her brother’s death, Marissa said she became more aware of how much ordinary moments matter. A slow morning, time with her family, or a simple cup of coffee can mean more when you stop rushing past them.
That perspective came up again near the end of the episode. Marissa was asked what she would say if someone she loved had only one day left. She explained that people often wait until a funeral to say what they wish they had said earlier. She tries to tell the people close to her how much they mean to her while she still has the opportunity.
Sam shared a memory of his uncle giving similar advice: tell people you love them before it is too late. It was a personal moment that brought their conversation away from health tests and routines and back to relationships.
Taking an Active Role in Your Health
Marissa’s interest in longevity grew out of difficult experiences: her brother’s cancer, her own digestive problems, and the questions that followed. She has explored many approaches, but her advice at the end of the conversation was simple: quiet the outside noise and pay attention to what is happening in your own life.
That does not mean relying on intuition instead of medical advice. It means taking persistent symptoms seriously, asking questions, and working with qualified professionals when something does not feel right. It also means building habits that are realistic enough to maintain.
In the conversation, Marissa returned to a few ideas: learn about your health, do not overlook the basics, and make time for the people you care about.
For her, those lessons are tied to her brother’s story. His illness changed what she pays attention to, both in her work and at home.