Nutritional Therapy

Q. What is a Certified Nutrition Specialist?

A Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) is a nutrition professional who has earned a Master’s degree in nutrition from a university with the highest level of accreditation. A CNS has passed a national board exam and has accrued 1000 mentored hours of counseling clients. The CNS credential has national recognition and is known as Functional Medicine’s gold standard among nutrition professionals. Dr. Deanna Minich, renowned detoxification expert, and Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the founder of Functional Medicine, are both Certified Nutrition Specialists.

Q. What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine (FM) is an approach to health that focuses on assessment, balance, restoration and prevention. It emphasizes the importance of bioindividuality and seeks to establish root causes of impairment before proceeding to solutions. An FM practitioner doesn’t look to suppress symptoms or block biological pathways, but wants to reduce stressors and optimize the body’s systems so that true health can be revived.

We need to move beyond asking what drug will treat the symptoms, and instead ask what mechanism creates altered neurochemical or neurobiological function or systemic physiological change -Dr. Jeffrey Bland

Q. What does this mean for you?

As a CNS and FM Practitioner, I have the education, background and experience to assess your health and provide you with targeted interventions. I utilize a number of testing modalities including Genetic, Microbiome, food sensitivity, Organic Acid Testing (OAT), Blood and Hair Trace Minerals Analysis (HTMA). I also look at prior emotional trauma, dental work, injuries, illnesses, current medications/supplements, your living environment, exposure to toxins, mold and Electromagnetic Fields (EMF’s). Combined with my intake and Functional Evaluation, I will provide you with clear recommendations towards supporting your overall health and wellness.

Q.Why do people come and see a Nutritionist?

Nutrition IS helpful for any health goal. A nutritionist does far more than simply recommend foods to eat. He or she supports your body through a number of modalities in order to regain and support your health. The wrong foods can prolong chronic illness or interfere with the body’s ability to function properly. The right foods, properly digested and absorbed, can accelerate and maintain wellness for years to come.

When I was suffering from IBS, I had to temporarily eliminate a number of fruits and other carbohydrates because they worsened my symptoms. I now realize that I couldn’t absorb the sugars in those foods and they fueled a state of dysbiosis in my gastrointestinal tract. Once I was able to rebalance my intestinal flora and take supplements that supported the breakdown of carbohydrates, I found that I was once again able to return to eating what I previously enjoyed.

As a nutritionist, I work with people of all ages…from infancy to the elderly. I specialize the following areas: gastrointestinal, neurological, immune, cardiovascular, children’s behavioral/cognitive, conception, pre/peri-natal, allergies/histamine, thyroid issues, and women’s health-particularly the menstrual cycle and vaginal health. Detoxification is an important component of my practice and plays a role in every one of my consultations.

I see people for any need because nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle are foundational to optimal health. This is why my company is called “Vital Foundations.”

Q. What about Genetics?

Genetics identify your vulnerabilities and predispositions. Maybe everyone in your family has had their Gallbladder removed and you think you’re genetically predetermined to lose yours as well. More likely, genetic variants made it difficult for your family members to synthesize a certain nutrient, which caused the bile to overly thicken and become stagnant. A genetic test can help identify that nutrient so that you can supplement it and move your bile along!

Genetics are helpful for understanding your specific physiology. Processes like methylation, histamine metabolism, neurotransmitter production, glutathione synthesis and Nitric Oxide use are all affected by your genes. Genetic tests like Dr. Ben Lynch’s StrateGene can provide KEY insights into your specific genetics. Coupled with blood tests and a list of your symptoms, I can develop a targeted protocol to help clean your “dirty genes,” as Dr. Lynch would say.

Q. Doesn’t food contain all the nutrients I need?

You are not only what you eat, but ALSO what you digest and absorb. Many of my clients have trouble getting all of their nutrients from food because food has become their enemy! When digestive dysfunction occurs, reflux, dysbiosis, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, cramps and a host of other reactions can make eating quite unpleasant. Many people come to me already on some sort of self-created elimination diet.

In these and in many cases, supplementation can be helpful. Supplements contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or other components which help to soothe irritated digestive lining or encourage the body to move food in the right direction. Even though the body may become less stressed on an Elimination diet, nutrient deficiencies can still occur because the avoided foods contained nutrients you’re not getting elsewhere. A nutritionist can help to identify what you may be missing and recommend other foods or supplements that can make up the difference.

When we sit down together, I’ll review your diet and discuss your likes and dislikes. I may educate you on ways to make less desirable foods more palatable or direct you to new foods you hadn’t considered before. Nutrient deficiencies can be ascertained by testing, but often your symptoms and current diet can provide a lot of that information as well.

Q. Is good nutrition all salad and vegetables?

I work with individuals from every perspective (including Vegan) though I do favor the inclusion of animal protein and fats in the diet. Animal proteins provide a complete spectrum of individual amino acids needed by the body. Vegetarians CAN combine different plant proteins like beans and rice to ensure a more complete amino acid intake.

I value both animal proteins and fats found in foods like broths and stocks. Eggs from chickens raised outdoors and meat or dairy from pastured livestock can be especially nourishing to health.

Plants provide beneficial phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Together with animal proteins and fats, plant-based foods compose a balanced and healthy diet.

Part of my intake process includes a food journal review. I’ll look at what you’re currently eating and make recommendations that fit your lifestyle and routines. It’s not always about making radical changes. Sometimes, a few tweaks can go a long way towards improving health.

Q. Which diet is best?

So many diets out there today-Gluten Free, Dairy Free, GAPS, SCD, AIP, SIBO/Biphasic, Keto, Low FODMAP, Low histamine, low oxalate, Intermittent Fasting, Carnivore, Paleo, Whole 30, Mediterranean, Atkins, South Beach, Vegetarian, Vegan, etc, etc! Which is best for you?

It’s not uncommon for people with health issues to avoid certain foods or go on an Elimination diet. Your symptoms and reactions are helpful here. Certain conditions can also provide clues. For instance, I might encourage someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to avoid nightshade vegetables because of their inflammatory potential. If you were raised in a certain country, I might suggest you to go back to eating foods closer to your native diet instead of the adopted foods you may have switched to after moving here.

Again, this takes us back to bioindividuality. The diets I mentioned above can all be helpful, but tailoring your food intake to your personal circumstance can ensure that you’re eating the widest variety possible. We don’t want to eliminate foods if you can tolerate them, even if they’re on the remove list of a certain diet.

I may start you out with a specific Elimination diet or customize one for you. The best diet is not one recommended by a book or guru, but one that takes your bioindividuality into account. This is what a nutritionist does. He or she customizes your diet in a way that you can follow and use to make lasting changes.

Q. What’s the difference between a health coach, a dietician and a nutritionist?

A health coach is certified by an organization or company upon the completion of a program. Health coaches are not required to have degrees in nutrition. Their training centers in practical applications. Physiology is taught, but there is minimal education in sciences like biochemistry. Health coaches help clients to make dietary and lifestyle changes. They may work on a standalone basis, be employed by a Functional Medicine clinic or hired on by a health food store.

A dietician holds a Bachelors’ degree in dietetics from an accredited university, has completed an internship and passed a national exam. Education emphasizes biochemistry and consists of familiarity with government recommendations in the field of health. Dieticians are also trained to work in hospital environments and administer nutritional supplementation via Intravenous application. They are often affiliated with conventional doctors/hospitals or may work in a standalone practice. Some dieticians do seek additional training in more holistic approaches following graduation as this perspective is not provided in the traditional dietician curriculum.

A nutritionist (CNS, in particular) holds a Masters’ degree in Nutrition from an accredited university, has completed a supervised mentorship and passed a national exam. Nutritionists are educated in biochemistry and physiology. While conventional approaches are a part of the education, their overall training and paradigm is strongly holistic. Nutritionists may work in hospital environments, but primarily consult with individuals one-on-one. They are also trained to read, review and understand peer reviewed scientific literature and translate published findings into actionable steps for clients.

Food sourcing is a very important component of a nutritionist’s holistic paradigm. Food should be whole, organic, pasture raised, free of GMO’s and as close to nature as possible. Processed foods, meat from conventionally raised animals and non-organics should be avoided or minimized. Nutritionists are open to non-conventional approaches such as the use of supplements, herbs, acupuncture, sauna therapy and chiropractic care. They often work in standalone practices, but may be affiliated with Functional Medicine clinics as well.

Q. What is my intake process like?

Functional Medicine aims to get at the root of your problems. My approach to your health centers on getting to know you really well. You’re not just a number or a component on an assembly line. Your physiology and history are specific to YOU. Each of us is very unique and interventions regarding our health should be as well!

It’s not uncommon for me to review a person’s information for an hour or more before I ever meet with them in person or virtually. I go over your history and your medications along with their side effects and whether they may interact with potential supplements I might recommend. I also piece together your story in a way that illustrates how your health problems may be connected. For instance, how one event, like a neurological issue, may result from a previous event, like prior dental work. During your assessment, I focus upstream for interventions instead of just addressing symptoms.

To get started, I’ll ask you to be READY. My forms may be longer than what you’re used to, but they help me to understand how you got to where you are. When you complete them and provide me with prior labs or tests you’ve done, I can begin compiling those answers you’ve been searching for.