Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nutritional Therapy and Functional Nutrition?

The foundation of Nutritional Therapy focuses on balancing 6 major pillars of health. It follows the premise that weaknesses or imbalances in any of the pillars will contribute to your chronic health challenges. These pillars include:

• Diet
• Digestion
• Blood Sugar Balance
• Fatty Acid Balance
• Hydration
• Mineral Balance

Functional Nutrition uses a system of evaluating measurements to identify the unique nutritional weaknesses in each person. The specific nutritional needs can be assessed and the proper dietary and lifestyle changes suggested using palpation, biofeedback, applied kinesiology, clinical assessment tools, and lingual-neuro testing.

What does a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner do?

A certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner evaluates the nutritional needs of a client and offers dietary, lifestyle, and supplemental recommendations to address underlying causes of poor health and disease.

He/she uses holistic, whole food, and nutrition to address specific health challenges, correct nutritional deficiencies and weaknesses, and reestablish health.

How can Nutritional Therapy benefit me?

Nutritional Therapy can benefit everyone at any age. It is best suited to those wanting to improve their overall health, alleviate specific symptoms, or address serious underlying health issues. If you have a desire to feel better, eat better, look better, have a better functioning brain, and are willing to commit to improving your life naturally, then Nutritional Therapy will benefit you.

What is GAPS?

GAPS stands for both Gut and Psychology Syndrome and Gut and Physiology Syndrome. The termed coined by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride describes the connection between the state of our digestive system and the function of our brains and bodies. Basically if your digestive system is compromised and not functioning properly, the rest of your body cannot work like it is supposed to.

The GAPS diet provides the framework for restoring normal gut flora and rebuilding the digestive system so that every part of your body and brain can heal and function properly. Using dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, detoxification support, and additional supplementation when needed, the GAPS protocol is very effective at generating long-term positive health changes.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Your small intestine has a very thin layer of cells constructing its walls and creating its border. These are called epithelial cells. They are equipped with tight junctions that allow them to stay tightly connected with each other, forming a bridge that only lets very small molecules pass through.

These cells are protected by a layer of mucous in the small intestines called the mucosal layer. Normally the mucous is full of beneficial bacteria that provide protection against undigested food, toxins, and parasites as well as offer constant nourishment to the epithelial cells, otherwise keeping us healthy.

Leaky gut occurs when there is a breakdown of the mucosal layer and/or damage to the epithelial cells. This is often caused by poor dietary choices, antinutrients in foods, pathogens, toxins, antibiotic and drug use, and stress. What is supposed to stay in the gut starts to travel across the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream.

All autoimmune conditions, food intolerances, allergies, and chronic inflammation have direct connections to a leaky gut.

What are symptoms of food sensitivities/intolerances?

A leaky gut exacerbates all food sensitivities/intolerances. The symptoms are numerous and show up as many types of psychological and physiological complaints.

• Low energy, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia
• Joint pain
• Skin irritation such as acne, eczema, and rashes
• Digestive distress like belching, reflux, gas, bloating, pain, gastritis, colitis, IBS
• Brain Fog, difficulty concentrating and/or remembering
• Hyperactivity, learning disorders
• Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
• Headaches and migraines
• Heightened seasonal and environmental allergies
• Autoimmunity

How do I know if I'm hypoglycemic?

Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar or chronic dips in blood sugar throughout the day. Relying on carbohydrates as the only energy source and eating a low fat diet are common causes.

The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia are fatigue, irritability if meals are delayed or missed, depression, PMS, unstable energy, cravings for sweets, dependency on caffeine, and getting upset easily. A hypoglycemic person often has a slow metabolism, difficulty losing weight, difficulty remembering things, problems with infertility or other hormonal issues.

If you are a chronic snacker, eat sweets at almost every meal, get irritated easily, wake up in the middle of the night, and experience the afternoon crash you may be dealing with hypoglycemia.

What are symptoms of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia?

Insulin resistance or hyperglycemia is much more common than you might realize.

Insulin resistance occurs when your body becomes overwhelmed by too much incoming glucose, there is too much insulin being produced, the cells become resistant to insulin and become covered by sticky proteins, and glucose can no longer get it into the cells to be used for energy.

People who are hyperglycemic often get tired after they eat, always need dessert, can’t lose weight, gain weight, feel depressed, and have trouble falling asleep. Hyperglycemia often results in chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, joint pain, hormone imbalances, compromised immunity, cognitive and mood related disorders, and difficulty handling stress.

How do I eat a low carb diet?

There are several ways to successfully eat a low carb diet. The one you choose depends on your health goals.

Though eliminating all processed foods is typically the best place to start, it is important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to health. Each person has a different carbohydrate tolerance and will do best on different specific macronutrient ratios. Knowing this information is key to safely and effectively eating a low carb diet.

To find your specific carb tolerance and get individualized direction, it is best to work with a qualified Nutritional Therapist.

What is the Ketogenic diet?

The Ketogenic diet, on its most basic level, is a high fat, moderate to low protein, and low carbohydrate diet that offers amazing health results.

Ketones and fat are produced when insulin, blood sugar, and liver glycogen levels are low due to a restriction of carbohydrates from food. This causes a shift in metabolism where ketones are used more efficiently than glucose by the brain, heart, and muscles. This leads to more energy and other health benefits.

On a Ketogenic diet you will get to eat as much healthy fat as you want and effortlessly lose weight while improving your health.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is the practice of going 16-18 hours without food, or up to 24 hours for a long intermittent fast. Intermittent fasting increases fat burning because your body has full access to energy stored in body fat and you control how much dietary fat comes in.

When you are truly fat-adapted, going 16 hours without food feels effortless. Your blood sugar stays level and your hormones don’t signal to your body that you need food.

You don’t want to restrict your calories in your daily meals when intermittent fasting because it will make the process harder, cause intense hunger, shakiness, irritability, and can cause health issues such as hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue, and mood instability.

What steps can I take to get rid of my sugar cravings?

We know that sugar is addictive. It can be extremely challenging to change your eating habits when you are dependent on sugar to keep your energy up throughout the day.

To go sugar free and lose your dependency on carbohydrates, you must first establish your “why.”

What is your intention? How willing are you? Why do you want to change your habits? Are you emotionally attached to certain foods?

The next step is to replace the foods in your pantry that tempt you with healthy high fat/low carb snacks. Carry these new snacks in your purse, put them in your desk at work, and keep them in your car.

Do you have a shopping list for me?

Yes, I have a few excellent shopping lists for people with varying needs. Shopping becomes quite easy when you eliminate processed foods from your diet. You just buy real foods and almost nothing in a package. This makes your shopping experience simpler and quicker since you don’t need to walk up and down every aisle. Soon you can forget your list and still survive.

What are menu plans? Do you offer those?

My philosophy is based off of thoroughly enjoying cooking and loving to create my own recipes. For as long as I can remember, I have not followed any recipe exactly.

I develop menu plans for my clients based on individual food restrictions. However, my goal is to teach my clients how to cook for themselves and learn to love being in the kitchen. I have noticed that the real learning, satisfaction, and lasting change often comes from making this stride.

How do I bake grain-free?

I have been baking grain-free for over 12 years. For the last 7 years, I have only had grain-free flours in my home.

There are several excellent replacements for wheat and gluten-free flours such as almond flour, coconut flour, cassava flour, green banana flour, and other homemade nut/seed flours. Learning to use these flours takes a small amount of patience and a willingness to experiment. Conversely, a great place to start is with some of the delicious grain free recipes on my website.

How do I bake without eggs?

Many people have a sensitivity/intolerance to eggs while a few of us have true allergies. Sometimes egg sensitivities/intolerances will disappear after a real commitment to healing and sealing the gut lining has taken place.

There are some great replacements for baking with eggs. Soaking flax seeds or chia seeds, using grass-fed gelatin, and adding pureed squash or grated zucchini are all successful options.

How do I know which of your programs is best for me?

Understanding your current health symptoms, how they make you feel, and having an idea of how you would like to live will help you decide which program to choose start.

I offer a Free Discovery Session where we can connect and:

• Identify obstacles keeping you from improving your health.
• Outline the specific steps you can take to create the body you desire.
• Get clarity on your existing health challenges.
• Outline the specific steps you can take to create the body you desire
• Discover if we are a good fit.