What is Holistic Nutrition?

 

Holistic Nutrition is a complimentary approach to conventional health care that accentuates personal responsibility for health. It is based on the concept that diet, lifestyle, attitude and the environment you live in are key to optimal health, vitality and quality of life.

 

What is a Holistic Nutritionist (Or in Ontario a Holistic Nutrition Practitioner)?

 

A Holistic Nutrition Practitioner/Holistic Nutritionist is a trained and educated specialist who advises clients on how to improve their diet, lifestyle, and attitude towards food and health. They empower their clients to take ownership of their health and their own healing journey.

​

By recommending diet and lifestyle changes, including food combining, stress management techniques and nutritional supplements, a holistic nutritionist’s goal is to help balance systems and correct weaknesses and deficiencies from a natural perspective. They use a natural, science-based approach to health to help you sort through conflicting, media driven information – the latest fad diets or miracle supplements - and guide you towards a well-researched, nutritionally sound way of living that is right for you.

​

Holistic Nutritionists are trained to assess and to properly address or correct specific nutritional imbalances and to devise a customized diet that matches an individual's health and nutritional needs. If applicable, this nutritional plan is meant to complement and enhance ongoing treatments with other health care providers.

 

Why Choose a holistic nutritionist?

                                                                                                            

Holistic Nutrition is about an individual approach. We are all biochemically unique and while we may share similar symptoms, we may not require the same approach to healing. What works for one person, may not work for the other. This is the premise of my practice and why each wellness plan created will be very specific to each client.

 

A detailed review of health history, current diet and lifestyle habits will be taken via questionnaires and symptom assessments to help determine root causes of health issues and where imbalances and weaknesses may lie. If you don't know why it is that you are not feeling your best, how can you heal it? 

 

A Holistic Nutritionist provides guidance, support and motivation along with knowledge, accountability and a solid plan to keep you on track as you embark on your health and wellness journey.

 

A Holistic Nutrition Practitioner can give you time and lots of support. Instead of a 15-minute appointment, at Restored Vitality, each session is 60+ minutes allowing lots of time for questions to be answered and concerns to be discussed. And depending on the package you choose, there are months of support and opportunities to check in.

 

A Holistic Nutrition Practitioner will be your teacher, your adviser, your resource library and most importantly, your cheer leader.

 

Who might benefit from this type of support?

​

Anyone who wants to take control of their own health would benefit from sessions with a Holistic Nutritionist. They can help debunk current fads and media hypes and provide solid nutritional information to help you build a healthy relationship with food. They can help with meal planning and grocery shopping and sourcing of good quality foods. They can also help with specific plans for food allergies and intolerances.

 

If you suffer from issues like low energy, digestion problems (including acid reflux, constipation, bloating, gas, gall stones), hormonal issues (PMS, infertility, menopause, thyroid issues, irregular periods, endometriosis etc.), fatty liver disease, blood sugar imbalances, high cholesterol or blood pressure issues, chronic headaches, sleep or mood disorders, food allergies and sensitivities, arthritis and auto-immune diseases, weakened immune system, weight gain and weight loss – a holistic nutritionist may be able to help address the nutritional imbalances/weaknesses, nutritional deficiencies and lifestyle habits that may be contributing to these concerns.

​

What Can I expect in my First Appointment – the Initial Consultation?

 

The Initial Consultation is the first appointment and usually lasts about 60 minutes. We will sit down together, either in person or virtually, to discuss your health concerns and goals.

​

I’ll ask you a lot of questions about your health history and your current lifestyle and eating patterns. You will do an in-depth survey about current symptoms you may be experiencing – this is an amazing tool that will let your body tell us where imbalances/weaknesses/deficiencies might be. We’ll also talk about the types of food you like and dislike, what your relationship is like with food, and what type of issues might be present in your life that stand in the way of your health. We will also discuss some basic changes you can make, right away, to get you started.

I will create a custom diet and nutrition plan that fits you - your lifestyle and your limitations - that will help you reach your specific health goals. I will give you a suggested meal plan and some recipes as well as a supplement protocol. Then we will schedule a follow-up session to review the plan.

​

How do I book or purchase a session or package?

​

This part is easy!

​

Follow this link to my Practice Better page Practice Better and click on the session you would like to book - if you are a new client then you would choose the Starter Package. This package includes the Initial Consultation and a Follow up Session. You will be able to choose a date and time that works best for you. You will then be sent the forms that need to be filled out, including Intake forms and Food Logs, as well as an invoice for the package.

​

Will my insurance cover your services?

​

As a proud member of the Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners (CANNP), I am now pleased to announce that Manulife, iA Financial Group, GreenShield Canada, Equitable Life Insurance, Claim Secure Inc. and Blue Cross Alberta have chosen to recognize the services of NNCPs (Natural Nutrition - Clinical Practitioners) - that is me! If you have listed 'Nutrition' or 'Nutritional Counselling' as part of your coverage plan, my services may be covered or partially covered.

​

Unsure? Give your insurance provider a call!

​

As well, Sunlife now offers some employers a Personal Spending Account within which Nutrition Counseling is covered.

​

This is great news! And more insurance providers are starting to recognize this as an important service for their clients. If your provider isn't on the list, let them know that nutritional counseling is something that would be of benefit to you and your family.

​

How did you become a Holistic Nutrition Practitioner?

​

After obtaining a BSc. (Hons) from the University of Guelph (College of Biological Sciences) and a career in Marine and Conservation Education, I obtained the designation of H.N.P - Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (the name given by the college to graduates in Ontario) from Edison Institute of Holistic Nutrition. It is a 2000-hour Natural Nutrition Diploma (focused on Orthomolecular​ biology) with extensive training in use of professional supplement formulas, herbal remedies and use of homeopathics to address all root causes – chemical, metal and emotional toxicity, symptomology and the effects that the environment has on our cells. I have since focused on continued education in the areas of Hormonal Imbalances, Digestion Issues, Homeopathic Remedies, Allergies and Bio resonance.

​

Is everyone put on the same diet?

​

Absolutely not! We are all so biochemically unique - there is no one size fits all diet plan. And, while a low GI diet or the Mediterranean diet may be great for many people, there are always tweaks and alterations that may need to take place based on allergies/sensitivities, prior conditions such as thyroid issues or diabetes, lifestyle, food availability, health goals and consideration to foods that you love or that you just don’t enjoy. Because the best diet (not a “diet” but a way of eating) is one that is sustainable and effective; one that you will keep doing and enjoy doing, feel great on. One that is right for just you!

​

Is the practice of Holistic Nutrition government regulated?

​

Holistic Nutritionists are not government-regulated in Canada, as of yet, but those with certain designations (Holistic Nutrition Practitioner, for example) have diplomas from accredited schools. For example, the Edison School of Holistic Nutrition (where I received my diploma) requires 2000 hours of study in science-based courses including biology/anatomy/physiology, organic and nutritional chemistry, symptomology, Environmental toxicology, herbology etc.

 

Some practitioners are backed by professional associations, like the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners (CANNP). This association requires high educational standards, and requires its members have many hours of continuing education, annually. It provides strict codes of conduct and ethics to its members.

 

I am a proud member of CANNP.

​

What is the difference between a health coach and a holistic nutritionist?

 

While there is some commonality in the scope of practice for health coaches and holistic nutrition professionals, coaching is limited to motivational interviewing techniques (MIT). Holistic nutrition professionals gain extensive clinical education and knowledge that broadens their scope of practice beyond the limitations of health coaching.

 

Medical Disclaimer

​

All material and information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice or prescribed treatment from a medical professional.

​