Balanced Friends is more than just a wellness community; it’s the story of a deep friendship and a shared passion for holistic health. Founded by Sam Harnish and Alyssa Burke, two dental hygienists who met in school years ago, Balanced Friends has grown from a simple Instagram page to a thriving community dedicated to helping others achieve optimal health through holistic living.
The owners’ journey into holistic health began with their struggles. “We both faced various health issues like gut imbalances, mold, and metal toxicities that conventional medicine couldn’t fully address,” Harnish explains. “This led us to explore functional medicine, where we discovered the power of addressing the root causes of health problems rather than just treating symptoms.” This personal transformation inspired them to create Balanced Friends, aiming to help others on their wellness journeys.
“We were both raised in low-income households with divorced parents and the impact of alcoholism, so we lacked access to natural health resources,” Harnish shares. These experiences shaped their resilience and understanding, driving them to become advocates for holistic living. “We were frustrated with the limitations of Western medicine, and that’s when we decided to transition to holistic health, using our background in dental hygiene to address the root causes of health issues.”
In 2017 the founders’ lives took a significant turn when Harnish moved to Germany. Despite the physical distance, their friendship remained strong. “During a memorable train ride to Paris, we decided to create the Balanced Friends Instagram page as a fun way to stay connected,” Burke recalls. What began as a simple way to share their passion for health and wellness quickly grew into something much bigger, eventually leading them to become integrative health practitioners, and transforming Balanced Friends into the thriving community it is today.
At the heart of Balanced Friends is functional medicine detoxification, a holistic approach that focuses on supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes. “Our bodies are constantly exposed to toxins from the environment, food and even stress,” Burke explains. “Over time these toxins can build up and contribute to various health issues.” The detox programs at Balanced Friends involve dietary changes, targeted supplements and lifestyle modifications tailored to each individual’s needs. “We take out the bad from the body and bombard it with the good vitamins, minerals and herbs that the body knows exactly what to do with,” Harnish adds.
Balanced Friends also offers personalized nutrition and lifestyle coaching. “We start with a comprehensive assessment to understand each client’s unique needs, goals and challenges,” Burke says. From there, they develop a customized plan that may include functional medicine lab testing, nutrition strategies, lifestyle adjustments and stress management techniques. Additionally, they offer detox boot camps that can be completed at home, either on the client’s own timeline or as part of a live community detox.
“Our boot camps include all detox supplements, recipes, virtual support calls, toxin education, and guidance for lifestyle modifications for long-term success,” Burke notes.
For the founders, the driving force behind Balanced Friends is deeply personal. “Our ‘why’ is rooted in our own health journeys and the desire to help others experience the same transformation we did,” Burke shares. “We’re passionate about educating people on how they can take control of their health through simple, sustainable changes. At Balanced Friends, we’re not just offering services. We’re building relationships and helping people live healthier, happier lives.”
Balanced Friends has also served its original purpose time and time again to keep the founders’ friendship close through all of life’s changes. “It’s a dream come true to have a passion turned into a career, and even sweeter when you get to do it with your best friend,” Burke says.
To get in touch with the owners, visit their Instagram page at @balancedfriends, where they share weekly tips on health and wellness, or head to their website at balancedfriends.com for more information and contact details.
