A haven for local wellness enthusiasts, Island Wellness & Nutrition offers a quaint, beautifully organized storefront on North Padre Island designed for effortless discovery. The shop has become a vital resource for coastal residents seeking an approachable path to health. With small-town warmth, this educational destination stocks everything from professional-grade supplements to toiletries, homeopathic remedies, cold drinks, a few pantry staples, clean treats and more.
“Every day starts with gratitude,” owner and certified functional nutritionist Stacy Samuelson shared. A former kindergarten teacher, Samuelson’s life completely changed following a brain tumor diagnosis at age 27. Facing the terrifying potential of not getting to come home to her two small children, she survived against the odds and dedicated her life to researching cellular nutrition. After returning to college at age 34 to master anatomy and chemistry, she eventually navigated a total of 13 brain tumors and eight spinal tumors. These challenges ultimately caused complete, bilateral hearing loss; however, the journey yielded profound clinical knowledge and personal insight, allowing her to connect with and deeply understand the unique health struggles of those she serves.
Following her studies, Samuelson spent a decade at two compounding pharmacies, flying nationwide to attend clinical seminars. As the pandemic wound down in late 2021, she noticed people asking why similar individuals experienced completely different health outcomes from the same virus. Inspired to help them find answers, she wrote a business plan and opened the doors to Island Wellness & Nutrition in March of 2022.
Samuelson’s business philosophy anchors to three core pillars: finding the “why” behind a symptom; balancing physical and mental health; and building relationships of trust where true friendships are formed. She believes that the quality of our lives is built on our choices—especially what goes into our bodies. When clients struggle with health issues, she guides them to examine dietary triggers like gluten and dairy, while also serving as a trusted resource on hormone health for both men and women.
Relying entirely on reading lips due to her hearing loss, Samuelson is a remarkably focused, intentional listener. “I always want to know why,” she explained. “I want to be a healthy, safe place where they can ask any question, and honestly help them to the best of my ability.” This philosophy directly extends to how she builds her team. “I can teach people the mechanics, but I can’t actually teach somebody to care,” she continued.
While her complete inventory encompasses an expansive selection to meet any wellness need, Samuelson takes pride in carefully highlighting a few personal favorites. For targeted care, she features industry-leading professional brands like Thorne and Pure Encapsulations. Her diverse shelves showcase everything from mood-boosting Happy Saffron and soothing Rowe Casa Organics Magnesium Cream to modern NAD patches, versatile castor oil products, respiratory-thinning B5 (pantothenic acid) and Madison + Green Aromatherapy inhalers.
Visitors can also grab fresh, organic smoothies and nutrient-dense microgreens at the counter. Alongside these staples, locally crafted items such as Coastal Bend Mushroom tinctures and hive-to-shelf favorites from Hebert Honey Texas, including raw honey, bee pollen and beeswax lip balms, are also featured.
Looking ahead, Samuelson’s future vision is centered on empowering the coastal community to take active, informed ownership of their personal health journeys, creating lasting multi-generational wellness for Coastal Bend families.
Contact: 14330 South Padre Island Drive, Suite 102 | islandwellnessgirl.com | @islandwellness78418
