Finding someone to work with for health or lifestyle changes can be difficult. Let’s face it, a lot of people are giving out nutrition advice these days. Many of them are self-proclaimed experts with much of their “knowledge” coming mainly from internet searches. With the proliferation of supplements and various diet programs, it can be a challenge trying to figure out what will really work for you. The bottom line is that many of these “programs” are really just a way to sell you expensive products or services that, in the end, are disappointing for most people. In many states, it is illegal to provide nutrition counseling without a license, but many boutique gyms, yoga studios, health food stores, and online companies continue to do so. Unfortunately, this can have dangerous consequences for some people. That’s why it is so important to find a Registered Dietitian with proper training in clinical nutrition counseling. It becomes especially important when you have real issues to address such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, colitis, allergies, or other chronic diseases that require a strong understanding of biochemistry, physiology, food science, and nutrient metabolism.
It is also important to find a dietitian that is non-judgmental and supportive. They should be able to provide you with the tools and resources you need to ensure success, and most of all, your dietitian should mesh with your personality! Just as with anything else in this world, you will be much more successful if you work with someone you respect and who motivates you!
So what’s my story? Years ago, while working in sales, I began having serious health issues and discovered that my doctor was not very helpful. His answer was always to prescribe some pill and I was unwilling to go down that road. So I began doing a lot of my own research and eventually found a dietitian that saved my life, literally. Long story short, I had found a new passion and felt a strong desire to help others achieve the same happiness I had achieved. I quit my job in sales and pursued my master’s degree in dietetics while simultaneously training for my first Chicago marathon (which, by the way, would have been an impossible proposition for me in the past). My nutritional philosophy is centered around strengthening the immune system using food, creating a balanced life, and obtaining harmony within the body in order to manage/cure disease and lengthen lifespan. My approach focuses on taking small steps in order to achieve long-term results that become a permanent part of your life. The road to health is a journey, not a sprint. It takes time and effort but the payoff is huge!
In today’s modern world of convenience, we have forgotten that our bodies need whole and natural foods in order to fight disease, gain energy, and slow the aging process. The western diet consists of processed, convenience foods that are high in sugar, salt, fat, preservatives, have little to no nutritional value, and our bodies simply have no ability to effectively process these foods. The digestive system holds the key to immunity for the entire body. Damage to the intestines through the overuse of antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, alcohol, and consuming too many processed foods is causing chronic illness and fatigue. In turn, we are experiencing an epidemic of obesity, not only in America but across the globe. The ultimate result is a proliferation of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer along with other chronic problems like basic inflammation, IBS symptoms, IBD, colitis, allergies, yeast infections, and depression! Healing the digestive system through healthy eating and can change a person’s life forever!
I always provide a free initial “touch base” so you can make sure I am the right fit for you! Feel free to reach out to me anytime and I promise to respond within 24 hours.
Happy, healthy day to you!
