Do you often find yourself tired  no matter how many hours of sleep you’ve had? Do you struggle to keep weight off no matter how well you’ve eaten (including avoiding that delicious looking cake at the office)? If this is describing YOU then you need to read this article to understand what exactly a holistic nutritionist is, how they can help, and if a nutritionist is right for you!

What is a Holistic Nutritionist?

A Holistic Nutritionist is essentially, an educator, enabler, guide and coach to a healthier lifestyle. They work with you on a one – on –one basis to really grasp your individual needs to then guide you in a direction to help educate you about the benefits and health impacts of optimal nutrition.

A Holistic approach to health is not about “one size fixes all”, but rather about individual needs and finding the root cause of your health hurdles. Invasive measures such as; blood or urine samples, hair analysis or X-Rays are not used when making Holistic recommendations. This is not to say that these measures are not helpful or beneficial in detecting health deficiencies, however they lack one critical component to Holistic health, and that is the client’s active participation. In essence, it is ultimately the client (aka YOU) who holds the key to his or her own well being.

The benefits of complete nutrition are known by most people, however there is still much confusion caused by the alternating opinions lead in the media today of how to achieve this. A holistic nutritionist will steer their client through a program that is best suited for them at the life stage they are currently at.

Examples of what a Holistic Nutritionist can help with include:

• Acne
• Acid Reflux
• Improved digestion
• Relief from constipation
• Weight Gain
• Weight Loss
• Eczema
• Blood Sugar Balancing
• Fertility
• Hormone Balance
• Cardiovascular
• Mental well being
• Disease prevention
• Fatigue
• Lack of energy

Is a Holistic Nutritionist right for you?

In its natural state food is supposed to nourish the body. Over the decades Western civilization has drifted from this and has since created processed foods, convenience foods and “Franken foods”. A Holistic Nutritionist will get you started on your health journey. By working with a Holistic Nutritionist the guess work will be diminished as well as any overwhemling feelings you may have when making healthier lifestyle choices, which include: eating habits, stress management and daily rituals.

Remember to talk to your doctor before making any big lifestyle/ diet changes, especially if you are considering holistic nutrition to manage or improve a chronic illness.

Credentials of a Registered Holistic Nutritionist

Nutritionists are not yet government regulated, so when working with a nutritionist it is important to look for some kind of certification. Look for R.H.N which stands for Registered Holistic Nutritionist or C.N.P stands for Certified Nutritional Practitioner and are both approved by the Certified Nutritional Practitioners Council of Canada (CNPCC).

“The road to better health will not be found through more drugs, doctors and hospitals. Instead it will be discovered through better nutrition and changes in lifestyle.”

• William Crook, M.D