by Rachel Murray, R.H.N.

Hormones are often given a bad reputation and blamed for causing pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS), mood swings, hot flashes or night sweats. While hormones are definitely a major contributor, to these unpleasant symptoms, in westernized societies it is often thought that they are ‘normal’ and that women just have to suffer through. This is not only untrue, this belief can cause a lot of physical &emotional harm to those women who struggle with one or more of these irritating symptoms.

In many cases hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be prescribed, and while it is necessary in some extreme cases, synthetic HRT can unfortunately come with a host of side effects and related issues.

There are some natural supplements that have been shown to have great results with symptoms of hormone imbalance, such as a combination of supplemental mushrooms like Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Giant Aangelica, Wilford’s cynanchum and Sok-dan.

A key factor to consider is that HRT and even supplementing with natural products often miss an important point as they may not address the root cause of the imbalance, and often just conceal the symptoms.

When looking at our body as a complex collection of systems there are a few organ systems that are key in terms of hormone balance, mainly the adrenals, liver & intestinal systems.

To obtain an optimal balance of our hormones, it is extremely important to support the adrenals, liver and intestinal system. The adrenals need to be supported because they play a vital role in our overall health. Not only do they produce pregnenolone, which is the precursor to 60 steroid hormones including the stress hormone cortisol,and our sex hormones – testosterone, progesterone & estrogen. If the adrenals are not functioning properly, which is often a result of a high stress lifestyle, the synthesis and distribution of these hormones is negatively affected. So, working on supporting and managing our daily stress is the most important step we can take in re-establishing healthy adrenal function. If added support is needed, supplementing with an adrenal complex can be taken. Adrenal support supplements may contain animal or plant materials or a combination of the two such as bovine or porcine adrenal cortex, or herbs like ashwagandha, ginseng and/or rhodiola.

The liver also plays an important role, as it helps to regulate our hormones through their inactivation and elimination. If the liver is not functioning properly,hormones are not efficiently inactivated or removed and can re-enter the circulation and build up in our blood and tissues. This can happen when the liver becomes overloaded through consumption of toxins in our foods, medications or alcohol, and when we struggle with constipation. This imbalance in hormones can not only lead to the symptoms I have mentioned, but can also lead to fibroids, cysts &cancers. If the liver is determined to need extra support, supplementing with milk thistle, holy basil and/or dandelion root may be helpful.

The intestinal system also plays an important role in the regulation and balance of our hormones. The intestinal system’s role is to sort through the substances that it receives and determine whether they are useful nutrients that can be reabsorbed or are harmful waste products that need to be eliminated. Like I briefly mentioned, if the intestines are not functioning properly, as with constipation for example, this not only affects the functioning of the liver, but obviously also affects the functioning of the intestinal system. Constipation, which can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as a low fibre diet, insufficient or unbalanced intestinal bacteria, or processed, chemical laden foods, allows more time for toxic waste to accumulate in the intestines. This constipation not only increases the likelihood that this toxic waste is reabsorbed, but also provides an opportunity for hormones (that the liver has already worked hard to inactivate!) to become reabsorbed.

If leaky gut is also a problem (which is a whole other topic!), this exacerbates the issue, as harmful substances can pass through the intestinal wall more easily and become reabsorbed into the circulation. In order to improve our intestinal function, it’s important to ensure that we are well hydrated by avoiding the over consumption of caffeine and drinking plenty of spring or filtered water. During periods of acute constipation, magnesium hydroxide is a suitable choice to stimulate peristalsis (the wave-like motion of the bowel) and re-establish normal motility.

As you can see, hormone imbalances are diverse and complex, however, taking things back to basics and turning the focus on nourishing the body is extremely important. This nourishment needs to come not only with foods, but also with thoughts.

Nourishing the body with natural, whole, unprocessed foods is a great place to start. These foods will not only give our bodies the nutrients that it needs to function optimally, but also ensure that we are not consuming toxic chemicals such as pesticides, preservatives and artificial colours and flavours that are toxic to the body.

A great place to start is to focus on organically &100% pastured (local if possible) meats& eggs, sustainably caught fish and seafood and organically grown vegetables, fruits, oils, nuts and nuts. Organic, preferably raw and/or fermented dairy products may also be part of a healthy diet if one is not sensitive to them. Focusing on these foods will nourish your body and help prevent the consumption of harmful toxins.

Louise Hay explained in her book “You Can Heal Your Life” that the rise in PMS is related to a combination of a generalized increase in sugar consumption, coupled with the negative bombardment of advertisements that suggest that women are not acceptable the way they are and must primp, prime and change their appearance to be feminine and worthy, which demonstrates the spiritual aspect of hormone imbalance. Therefore, like previously stated, we need to not only support our bodies with nourishing foods and possibly short-term with supportive supplements, but we also need to work on our emotional & mental health in order to fully support balanced hormones.

This may include enrolling a professional to help support healing and recovery from emotional trauma, but should also incorporate daily practices that support self-love. This could include yoga, meditation, doing something that you love, thanking your body for all the amazing things it can do, getting involved in your community or reciting a mantra that really speaks to you.

As a holistic nutritionist, I can’t end this without reaffirming that hormone balancing is complex and multifaceted, just like all of the amazing women of whom they are a part of! Hormones are an important component of our overall holistic health that should be addressed with the love and respect that they deserve.If you find that you’ve tried the above steps and are still struggling with hormonal imbalance, please contact a trusted health care provider and/or a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who can provide you with more guidance.

*Disclaimer – Always contact your primary health care provider before starting any new supplements.

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by Jenn Camirand, R.H.N.��

What, in this age of pervasive internet authority, where a quick ‘Google’ search can and often does undermine deductive reasoning, experience, and well sought-after facts, is the true meaning of ‘Holistic Nutrition’?

Holistic is a term conceived in the early 20^th��Century to describe inclusivity or holism. It is concerned with the notion that reality is an interconnected whole and focuses on the total entity and interdependence of the diverse parts of a totality.

Nutrition itself is not a new ‘science.’ The word as we know it today finds its roots in Latin and the translation from the original nūtrīre, meaning TO NOURISH. It has become widely known that several ancient cultures practiced the use of food as medicine as far back as 3000 BCE in the region of the fertile Nile. As Geoffrey Cannon puts it, in his 2005 article in the Journal of Public Health Nutrition, “Emperor Huang Ti around 2500 BCE, and of the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, also stress the importance of specified dietary patterns, foods and drinks, and plants with medicinal qualities, to prevent and treat disease and also as ways to a spiritually, morally, emotionally and mentally enlightened life.” (Sep;8(6a): 701-705)

Now, as Holistic Nutrition Practitioners we would never purport that our practice would either raise one’s moral standards, or pretend to be the purveyors of enlightenment, but we most certainly, bound by a very clear code of ethics and well-defined scope of practice, consider both the ancient wisdom brought forward into a modern world, burdened by an ever-increasing tsunami of chronic illness, and partner it with the methods of modern research.

Holistic Nutrition is simply NOT just about whole food – it is about what makes US whole. To be clear, it most certainly is not about throwing the superfood of the day at a complex health problem, along with the promise to wash it away; not just because, like other educated healthcare modalities we make no promises, but because such a claim makes no logical sense, to anyone.

Holistic Nutrition is about how we look at the whole person. Looking at health through a holistic lens is not like looking through a telescope, with its singular viewfinder allowing for the magnification of a faraway object, its field of view, narrow, and its depth of field, flat. A better analogy is looking through a set of binoculars. Although still able to see things from a distance, and to focus on a singular chosen object, the two viewfinders allow for a coming together of perspective in three dimensions, bringing into focus surrounding objects that may, from time to time, have had, or continue to have, an effect on the object under examination.

Holistic Nutrition most certainly is not a straightforward case of once ill, and now, well. There is a great chasm between the two, a distance that spans over time, short for some, decades for others, that is created in impactful increments of seconds, minutes, days, months and even years.�� This distance, over time, indicates that there is the potential for this process to move as though travelling a continuum and at various points along this spectrum we find ourselves moving either toward or away from wellness. Health and illness do not happen in a straight line, nor is the journey ever the same for two individuals.

Given that Holistic Nutrition looks at the whole person and is NOT solely interested in food, food as the medium through which the body can, and does, if it is in a state of homeostasis, obtain usable isolated nutrients, we are also interested in the How, When, Where, Why and with Whom, of each individual we see.�� It is here that we find OUR science.�� Not simply hard science – but a weaving of hard science and social science. This blending of the two allows us to celebrate research outcomes that promote longevity, connectedness, culture, both ancient and new, the good and the bad of each, and of course we do look at food, whole food.

In evidence of this blend, ������ imparts upon its students a curriculum balanced in both hard and social sciences. The first is represented through courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry, demonstrating how nutrients are utilized in bodily processes, pathways and protection.�� The social sciences, defined by the study of people, individually and in groups, their customs and relationships, are respectively studied in courses focused on Prevention, Life-stages, Ecology, and Symptomatology. Symptomatology, with its primary focus on the individual’s reporting and identification of health-concerns, symptoms and overall wellbeing, is in itself a perfect blend of both the hard and social science.

Our investment in sourcing quality research by reputable people whom we have judged based on their credentials and links to reputable institutions, provides us with answers in a variety of different ways.�� As Holistic Nutrition Practitioners we ensure that the research we employ, developed from original questions or hypotheses, has been tested and replicated by others.�� This need for confirmation is satisfied by individual experimental studies or review papers, a rigorous and systematic method, assimilating a collection of research literature on a particular topic. Systematic reviews are well placed within the research hierarchy and allow for sound, firm, qualified decisions.

In keeping with other healthcare professions, Holistic Nutrition Practitioners, when sourcing out valid research, will be looking for both quantitative and qualitative research. The first identified by its rich representation of data presented in numerical fashion, the latter focused on an in-depth understanding of the reasons for and meaning of the results. A well-written Systematic Review should provide a practitioner with both. These trustworthy and credible, action-based studies, carried out and evaluated under practical circumstances must be transferrable to the relevant context, specifically the individual’s primary or accumulated health concerns.

You see, we consider Holistic Nutrition to be a well-constructed framework. A framework that results in client-centred, individualized, evidence-based practices, and leads to informed and well-educated choices, for YOU, and your current challenges.

From where we stand, the definition of Holistic Nutrition lies in the partnership established between client and practitioner. It is about bringing the WHOLE person into focus, past and present, internal and external.

A member of faculty with the ������ (������) since 2012, Jenn�� holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Waterloo, received her Nutritional training at ������, graduating class valedictorian in 2007, was awarded a Certificate with Honours from the Academy of Culinary Nutrition in January of 2015, and is a Member of the Institute for Functional Medicine. Most recently, she has been awarded designation as a Nutritional Therapist within the United Kingdom.

Jenn stands firm in the belief that we are more than just the sum of our parts, and that our current state of health and nutritional status is the manifestation of all of our experiences, not just the foods we eat. When we are able to truly focus on our own health through education, and an understanding of who we are, great change can take place. This belief, along with a passion for Physiology and Epigenetics, Functional Medicine, and Anthropology, are all brought forth to the classroom, her nutritional practice, her writing, and research.

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by Stephanie Maus, R.H.N

Over the course of the ������ program, we as students are exposed to an amazing amount of information. From biology to physiology to the psychospiritual�� – all the information in each course is designed to ensure that we are ready to go out into the world and begin our careers as Registered Holistic Nutritionists equipped with the knowledge needed to be successful. However, the most important thing we learn is not the facts themselves, but how to apply them in a practical way with our clients, and the case study practicums are where we learn how to do this. As important as all the courses are, I would argue that non are as important as the case study practicums, since this is where we truly learn how to apply all that we learn over the program.

The case study practicums not only expose us to the expertise of the instructors, but also to the ideas of other students working through their own unique cases. In your first practicum, it’s not uncommon to feel slightly overwhelmed not only by all the possible scenarios and health concerns you may face, but by all the ways in which you can approach your recommendations and where to start!

One of the most important pieces of advice given in the case study practicums was to always start with digestion, no matter what the top scores since everyone can improve their digestion. This is such an important fact because as we learned over the course good digestion really is the key to overall health. Without it, we can’t get the nutrients we need to support all the other systems and processes in the body, so starting here with each client will set us up for success every time.

From there, it was helpful to start making the connections between the other systems that show up on a client’s NSP and having illuminating discussions about how improving digestion will address these imbalances. Having discussions in the practicums with various students providing their thoughts and insights exposes us to differing thoughts and approaches we may not have come up with on our own, which is an invaluable part of the program (after all it’s part of the benefit if being in the classroom vs studying on your own through a distance course!). It also provides a forum to ask questions not only of the instructor, but also the other students who again may have a unique approach to addressing a health issue that you may not have discussed in class or thought of yourself.

On top of cases being discussed (which provides great opportunities for ideation among students), my favorite practicums involved instructors giving presentations (usually powerpoint) that outline common issues we may face with clients. Part of the benefit of the ������ program is being able to learn from seasoned professionals, and the case study practicums is really the arena where we get to discuss real life situations we will face and how we can take the book learning from the courses and apply it in real life. One of the hardest parts of leaving the program and starting to work with real clients is learning how to take what we’ve learned and make it digestible information we can give to our clients in our recommendations. I personally feel that the case study practicums is where we learned to do this. We could not have done our case studies without the practicums, and the case studies were where we finally took all the course information and turned it into applied knowledge. They also alert you to common problems you may encounter – such as lack of motivation among clients, excuses, and common roadblocks to client success, – and give valuable advice on how to address them and be the best advocate for your clients. It’s also extremely valuable to hear from their own mistakes or negative experiences to help us be aware so we can avoid being put in negative or difficult situations.

I personally felt my “ah ha” moments came when doing the case studies at the end of the course. And without the case study practicums, I don’t feel I would have felt confident in completing the case studies. However, thanks to all I learned over the program and during the practicums, I am so proud of the case studies I completed and submitted, and feel so excited to start this new journey in the real world helping real clients as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

by Stephanie Maus, R.H.N

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The term “pesticides” includes herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. 

Pour l’information en français:&�Բ�����;“” (Vigilance OGM). 

Take Action

The National Farmers Union is asking you to sign and share 

Glyphosate is a weedkiller but is often also used as a desiccant – which means it is sprayed on crops to dry them so they can be harvested more quickly, a practice that increases the glyphosate residues in foods. However, glyphosate is not technically a desiccant and is not registered for this use. The National Farmers Union is asking the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada to remove reference to using glyphosate for desiccation.

Read the full newsletter here: 

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Below is a link to the website where you can learn more about this. Sign and submit the petition along with your name and email address.

This petition ends May 18th. It’s so important that you act��quickly.

If the Ontario government gets its way, developers will be able to destroy the habitat species need to survive for a price. Wildlife need you to speak out. Sign this letter to the Minister today����

I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquis

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Becoming a Registered Holistic Nutritionist changed my life. Not only was I able to greatly improve my health issues, but I was better equipped to help people. How? In a nutshell, learning about holistic nutrition allowed me to do what I hadn’t done previously: take my power back.

My early years were spent listening to everyone else, not being able to speak up for myself and having a very difficult time figuring out what I really wanted or needed. Until I discovered how to take responsibility for my health—including mind, body and spirit—I felt miserable.

In 1995, my physical health was, to say the least, undesirable. I suffered from the debilitating symptoms of my undiagnosed condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Without going into a lot of details, suffice it to say, I spent an unacceptable amount of time in the washroom and/or doubled over in pain and desperately seeking an available washroom. My life revolved around coping with my dysfunctional digestion and trying to manage my pain. During my flare ups, there were times when I couldn’t leave the house or even my bed.

After years of taking tests, going through invasive procedures and answering endless humiliating questions, my doctor patted me on the shoulder and said, “You have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is nothing you can do about it, but don’t worry, dear, it’ll get better, eventually.” I walked out of the office determined to find answers that were better than just “deal with it.”

My quest involved me trying meditation, yoga and various diets; I became my own guinea pig. Nothing stuck for long and when I became stressed, all hell broke loose in my bowels again. It wasn’t until I discovered holistic nutrition at the ������ in 2007 that the root causes of my experiences became clear. I was encouraged to take charge of my health in ways that I hadn’t realized were possible until then.

Here are the four main ways that I finally took responsibility for my own health, using holistic nutrition:

1. Listening to my body. This is the biggest piece and creates the biggest change. We aren’t taught to think about, observe or listen to our body. Most of the time we mindlessly reach for certain foods, while rushing from appointment to appointment or grabbing sustenance that will be the fastest way to get the job done (i.e. fill us up). While taking the Natural Nutrition program, I began journaling about the foods that I ate. I watched to see how I felt after eating certain foods or food groups. I began to ask myself, “Am I really hungry or am I just feeling sad or thirsty?” I recorded my answers and implemented the changes with amazing results!
2. Research. I began looking at what ingredients were in the foods I purchased. I was shocked and appalled that the peanut butter I ate every day contained icing sugar and the ketchup that I bought had lots of added sugar in it. Based on what I discovered, I began to choose my brands and types of foods more carefully. My health began to improve even more.
3. Holistic approach. To find the root cause of my IBS flare ups and triggers, I needed to study what was going on in my life. Yes, foods are extremely important, but I had to examine other aspects of my life. How did I manage emotional stress? How much sleep did I get? What were my interpersonal relationships like? Was I cultivating my spirit with practices like meditation and/or prayer? My physical symptoms were a culmination of my mind/body/spirit aspects functioning together. One or the other aspect could not be left for me to find the answers.
4. Honouring my individuality. I learned a lot about the different ways to eat in the Natural Nutrition program. I discovered that there are almost as many ways to eat as there are people on this planet! I became aware of the fact that I didn’t have to follow a rigged, one-size-fits all diet that made me sick; I could choose! This was a revolutionary thought for me. I could choose to eat in a way that made my body feel good. I could even change the way I ate over time, because we all adjust and have different needs as we age. I had freedom. I had personal power. I didn’t have to listen to practitioners who told me to eat in a way that made me sick. I wasn’t meant to fit into a mold, I was meant to stand in my own individual power and find something that worked for me.

Today my IBS symptoms are barely noticeable. I manage most days without any pain and my digestion is relatively normal. I won’t tell you what specific foods I eat, because as I’ve been saying, this is something that you need to find out for yourself. What makes YOUR body feel good?

Eleanor Healy is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist professional, Podcaster and Personal Transformation guide who helps women who struggle to be themselves take their power back so they can become who they are truly meant to be. Meet Eleanor and get your FREE gift at��.

The post Take Responsibility for Your Health, Happiness and Life Using Holistic Nutrition appeared first on ������ National Page.

There are so many good reasons to visit a Holistic Nutritional Consultant. Chief among them is that you are making the decision to take a proactive approach to your current and future state of health. Holistic Nutrition provides a proactive and accountable approach to health care that helps you to take personal responsibility for your health.�� Proper nutrition is a key component in balanced health. It is essential to healing, quality of life and longevity.

A qualified Holistic Nutritional Consultant is trained to assess and identify any current nutritional imbalances, and to develop unique nutrition, lifestyle and supplement protocols that can help bring your body back into proper balance, thereby resulting in optimal health.

So, what might your first visit to a Holistic Nutritional Consultant look like?

When you book your first appointment, you will asked to complete a series of detailed forms. The information on these forms will provide us with insight into your personal goals, your main health concern(s), your specific health history, your current symptoms, aspects of your current lifestyle and eating habits. You will likely also fill out a multiple-day food diary.

During the initial consultation, you and your practitioner will discuss your intake forms in detail. Your Holistic Nutritional Consultant will want to get a sense of what has brought you to where you are today. There is no cookie cutter solution. Your practitioner will be using their finely trained skills to identify imbalances and opportunities by examining your diet and lifestyle to date.

In a following appointment, your Holistic Nutritional Consultant will present you with a customized nutrition and lifestyle plan that is designed to help you achieve your health goals and address your main health concerns. You will leave with an action plan designed specifically for you.�� You will likely be provided with a few key items to work on over the short term.�� Typically, this would be the beginning of a process that will involve a transition to long term changes, reduction in symptoms, and a path to increased vitality. Your Holistic Nutritional Consultant will become your educator, your coach and on some days, your conscience.�� Ultimately, you will have found yourself a partner in your health journey – someone who now knows and understands your needs.

It is interesting to note that a quick scan of the internet will reveal that most Holistic Nutritional Consultants entered that field of education and practice, because, like you, they were struggling with their own health at some point in the past. They were not finding answers in conventional healthcare, and intuitively knew that they needed to seek out more helpful answers. They were engaged and committed to finding a path to enhanced wellness.

Here’s an example of what you might expect in your initial consultations with a Holistic Nutritional Consultant. I will demonstrate this for you by sharing an experience with one of my own clients – we will call her Simone to protect her actual identity.

Simone was struggling with a recent medical diagnosis of a disabling autoimmune condition. She was 36 years old, a full time office administrator, and full time mother of 3 young children. Her condition was not only slowing her down, if her condition progressed further, her doctor suggested that she would likely find herself in a wheelchair in the next 5 years. Her medical specialist recommended some harsh immunosuppressant medications. Desperate for relief, she followed her doctor’s orders and took the meds. Unfortunately, they did not agree with her at all. The side effect of the meds , were more disabling then her condition itself. She suddenly found herself bedridden. Unable to work, or look after her children. She knew then and there that something had to change. ��Her doctor worked with her to take her off the medications.�� Within a few months, Simone was no longer bedridden but was still experiencing the severity of her condition’s symptoms. Pain and discomfort that would not allow her the physical agility she required simply to live her everyday life (forget exercise for now), plus she experienced significant brainfog and long bouts of constipation.

In her first appointment, I listened as she explained her personal history to me. Many things came out of that appointment. For example, an important question in the intake form asks clients about their history of prescribed medications. Simone’s history included a 4 year long “on and off” cycle of oral antibiotics that were prescribed for repetitive sinus infections.

This one aspect of her health history was important because it provided me with insight into her microbiome. Continuous antibiotic use, plus her symptoms (Irritable bowel, hallmarked by lifelong cycles of constipation, brain fog, bloating) led me to believe that her digestive system needed support. Her recent diagnosis by another medical professional confirmed that she had an autoimmune condition. An autoimmune condition, or reaction, will only express itself if digestion or gut health is impaired (i.e. gut hyper-permeability, or “leaky gut”).

In addition to the impaired digestion, the continuous bouts of sinusitis that she was being treated for led me to suspect that a food intolerance was at play, further exacerbating her immune response.

We completed a review of her history and her current dietary intake, and agreed to meet again in one week’s time. I gave Simone a few small things to work on to enhance her digestive process until a fully customized recommendation would be provided the following week. Over the course of that time, I reviewed Simone’s medical history, current lifestyle habits, reported stressors, and current diet and exercise practices as if I were looking at a puzzle and trying to move the pieces around so that everything would fall into place and fit. This lengthy process allowed me to create the most effective plan for Simone to start on a path to an improved sense of wellness, so that she could get her life back into working order, and live it to the fullest. This was her greatest desire, and her main goal.

In our next meeting, I presented Simone with her customized nutrition and lifestyle plan.�� It involved some significant changes to her current highly convenient and processed diet. There was a potentially long road ahead, and the plan laid out a 6 month outlook, and focussed on what we would concentrate our efforts on over the first 3 months. Most Holistic Nutritional Consultants will help ease you into changes over a longer period of time. After all, nutritional imbalances do not happen overnight. In addition, we recognize that sustainable change may take time. It is much more important to take the steps than to take them quickly. Our training and experience has taught us that it is better to walk than to run when it comes to changes that will garner meaningful improvement for our clients.

Simone’s plan included a gradual dietary elimination protocol so that we could assess which foods she might be intolerant to. The dietary protocol, supplements, and suggestions on how to relieve some stress were all designed with the main goal of enhancing her digestive process, and relieving the pressure on her immune system.

I am pleased to say that within a few weeks, Simone began to experience relief from a lifelong see saw of constipation, and from there, over the next few months, she gained more energy and relief from the inflammation that was causing such a limitation on her mobility. In Simone’s case, we had measurable markers of her disease that showed us that within the first 3 months of her protocol, her doctor reported improvements in some significant areas.�� That was over 18 months ago, and I am happy to report that Simone has had a complete remission of symptoms, has returned to her regular routine, and has even added a workout regime to her day, which she uses as a method of stress reduction as well.

In Simone’s case, we were fortunate to have the luxury of working with her doctor’s accurate medical diagnosis.�� So many clients see a complementary health practitioner, like a Holistic Nutritional Consultant because they do not receive answers about their condition or symptoms, or do not fall into convenient categories of diagnosis. Through this same investigative process, and by providing our clients with customized recommendations that incorporate foods with supportive nutrients, recommendations for lifestyle modifications and supplements, it is possible to experience a reduction in symptoms, a return to a better state of wellness, and help prevent illness down the road.

A quick google search of local Holistic Nutritional Consultants will reveal that most of us include a complimentary “discovery” session in our service offerings. These sessions are designed to help you to understand how holistic nutrition can help you reach your personal health goals.

After all, you are what you eat, digest, think and feel. A qualified Holistic Nutritional Consultant will help educate you about what your body requires and be your partner in helping you get there.

The post What to Expect at a Holistic Nutrition Consultation with a ������ Graduate appeared first on ������ National Page.

Since 1994, the ������ has been “Teaching the Medicine of the Future” through its program in natural nutrition. The education at ������ is founded in practicality and rooted in science and ancient wisdom. Students of the program get hands-on training with a practical application of knowledge and expertise. Graduates become holistic nutrition professionals with a variety of career options to choose from, including working in health food stores, gyms, wellness centres and medical clinics. Below are a few examples of different career paths that some of our graduates have chosen.

While working in the investment industry a decade ago, Peggy Kotsopoulos found herself inspired by healthy eating and nutrition. At business meetings, where the standard fair was bagels and danishes, Peggy would hand out guilt-free goodies. She also founded a corporate wellness program. ��After seven years in the corporate world, she followed her passion, earning the Diploma in Natural Nutrition from the ������.

Today, Peggy () hosts her own cooking show and writes for various publications and websites. The University of Toronto alumna is among the more than 11,000 people who have graduated from ������. The options for ������ graduates are endless—and many leverage their knowledge and previous work experience to forge new and exciting careers.

Maranda Carvell, another ������ graduate, has taken her career in holistic nutrition in several directions. As a holistic nutritional consultant, Maranda spends part of her time as a weight loss coach. But the Ottawa resident also advises nutrition graduates on how to set up their business through personal consultations and training videos. Maranda’s 600-member Facebook community, Nutrition Business Community Support, allows holistic nutrition professionals to connect with each other for business and moral support. You can find Maranda at��.

A career in holistic nutrition has allowed ������ graduate Lisa Kelly to create Kelly Wellness Consulting Inc., an organization that provides workplace wellness programs, as well as training and certification for people who want to become “workplace wellness ambassadors.”�� Kelly Wellness Consulting provides corporations with staff programs such as lunch-and-learns, ongoing team wellness programs and executive coaching. In addition to her Diploma in Natural Nutrition, Lisa holds a master’s degree in adult education and a bachelor’s degree of commerce. You can find more information about Lisa at��.

Armed with her Diploma in Natural Nutrition and training from ProDoula, ������ graduate Catherine Switzer’s career in holistic nutrition is focused on helping women deal with the challenges of pregnancy and post-partum developments. She provides support for moms during birth and back home in the early post-partum period. In addition, she offers both traditional nutritional consultations and advice on grocery shopping and meal preparation. Catherine’s website can be found at��.

������ graduate Aviva Allen has taken her career in holistic nutrition down several paths. Though she works with clients providing nutritional consultations as a kids’ nutritionist, she has also created a vibrant community called Healthy Moms Toronto. Healthy Moms began as a Toronto-based Facebook group in 2012 to allow moms to share ideas, recipes, shopping tips and advice. The group has grown into a community of over 12,000 moms. As this community grew, it became clear that moms wanted to be connected with businesses that aligned with their values and lifestyle. So, in early 2016, Aviva launched the Healthy Moms Discount Card, which is now accepted at over 300 businesses across the GTA and in Vancouver. The card can also be used for online shopping.��Check it out at��.

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