About Yi-an ("ee-an") Yang
Master of Science in Health Communication
Certified Nutrition Coach
The Power Within
The women in my family shaped my drive and intention. My mom taught me to grow without waiting for perfect conditions, and my grandmother, who had type 2 diabetes, showed me that food is both culture and medicine. Their lessons continue to guide me.
From Global Interpreter to Health Behavior Researcher
I built my career as a conference interpreter at leadership trainings, board deliberations, legal depositions, and global events. Traveling through India, Dubai, Singapore, Italy, the UK, Australia, and the US, I observed how leaders act under pressure and how culture and emotion shape strategy and every sentence.
But interpreters deliver clarity—we don’t shape the outcome. I wanted to do more than translate change. I wanted to influence it.
That led me into health behavior research, where I listened to deeply human stories: an Abuela recounting her injury, a Medicaid patient feeling dismissed, families struggling to communicate with their providers. I taught community health workers on communication and presented research findings at the American Medical Association. It was meaningful, but something was still missing.
The Turning Point
That clarity arrived in the most painful way.
My mom passed away unexpectedly—in less than 48 hours. My world collapsed.
I functioned on the outside, but inside everything felt muted, like life had turned into a silent movie around me. Grief turned into frustration and anger—at the healthcare system, at how unprepared we were, at how powerless I felt.
To cope, I turned to food. Fried chicken. Pizza. Double portions. I told myself it didn’t matter, but it did. My health took a toll: brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, and clothes no longer fitting.
One day, wearing newly bought larger clothes, a friend asked, “Is this your new style?” It was a quiet but unmistakable wake-up call. This wasn’t the future my mom and I talked about—we often spoke about aging gracefully with strength and clarity, not drifting into exhaustion and autopilot.
Losing my mom showed me this: death isn’t the scary part. What’s scary is not living while we still can. We can’t control everything, but we can choose to live as our best, most alive selves — and I knew I had to do that.
Rebuilding My Health With Strategy and Science
So I approached my health the way I approach any mission: find what works, understand the system, and lead the process. I tried fasting, workouts, and low-carb diets, but nothing connected the dots.
Then I learned about gut health—the microbiome, cravings, hormones, weight regulation, mood, metabolism. Everything finally made sense. Our bodies aren’t a collection of parts; they’re systems.
Inspired by a friend who lowered her cholesterol with a plant-forward approach, I applied a structured gut-reset—and it transformed me:
- lost 17 pounds
- lost 12% body fat
- energy restored
- clarity returned
- confidence rebuilt
- labs improved
- And two years later, the results remain steady.
I still travel frequently, cross time zones, and handle high-pressure meetings—but without brain fog, heaviness, or emotional spirals. I understand my gut-brain axis and enjoy food intentionally, not impulsively.
My Mission: Helping Leaders Thrive
This personal transformation showed me where my true calling intersects with my professional experience:
High-performing leaders need health systems that boost focus, energy, and resilience—directly supporting their performance at work and at home.
My coaching blends:
- behavior-change science
- evidence-based nutrition
- gut-health optimization
- cross-cultural insight
- real-world routines for busy professionals
In Taiwanese, “Amah” means grandma. My mission is simple and deeply personal:Help leaders thrive so every family—every generation—can live as the best version of themselves, just as the women in my family taught me: to grow without waiting for perfect conditions and to honor the connection between culture, health, and intention.
If you’ve been feeling foggy, stretched thin, or disconnected from your best self, you’re not alone.
Book a call to explore what's possible for your health.
You deserve to feel fully alive. I'm here when you're ready.
