Holistic Nutrition - Frequently Asked Questions:
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What is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist? 


"A Registered Holistic Nutritionist is a professional trained in Natural Nutrition and complementary therapies, whose principal function is to educate individuals and groups about the benefits and health impact of optimal nutrition.
Conventional medicine overlooks the significance of poor nutrition as a major cause of a wide range of health disorders. Although most people are aware of the benefits of sound nutrition, the range of conflicting information available to the consumer is often confusing. RHNs guide their clients through the maze of information from books, magazines, supplements and diets on the market. They work with clients to identify and help correct the nutritional causes of diseases, and they are qualified to design personalized diet and lifestyle programs that optimize health" (CSNN.ca)

How can a Registered Holistic Nutritionist help me?


A Registered Holistic Nutritionist will provide individual client assessments and give nutritional recommendations based on individual needs and lifestyle. They will set you up with a specific program tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle to ensure the most efficient and tangible means to restore your body to health.

 How is a Nutritional Consultation with you different than all the other weight loss programs I see?

My primary focus is Your Health, not your weight. People come to see me for all different reasons. Some people just found out they are pregnant and want to know what they should be supplementing their diet with, other people come to me asking what they should be feeding their children for optimal growth and children’s health. Others come for me out of extreme circumstances, such as being on medication due to High Blood Pressure and want a nutrition program that will lower their cholesterol to free them from meds. Other people come regarding moodiness, since nutrition plays a role in mood, I have had clients come to see me for their complexion, wanting to know which foods could be a cause for skin breakouts/rashes/etc..And which foods can help clear these problems.  People who come see me wanting to loose weight, I tell them that weight is a side effect of the Underlying Issue. The Underlying, or Root cause to being overweight can range from a busy schedule, mis-information on what or how much to eat, and often it is due to emotional eating, eating outside of hunger. So by narrowing the focus down to what is causing one to express the symptom of excess- over-weight, we work on the issue, simultaneously working on a healthier nutrition plan so that you will move towards a place of health, inside and out.

I am trying to loose weight can an RHN help me?


Most definitely! Instead of going on a crash diet or the newest diet craze, an RHN will educate you on making lifestyle changes so that you loose the weight in a natural, enjoyable, transformative as well as life long manner. There is no sense in going on a ‘diet’ – which often implies a change in eating behaviour over the short term. Study after study has already demonstrated how dieting inevitable leads to gaining most of the weight back. However through a healthful diet, behavioural modifications, working on goal planning and reaching to the core of the issue, you will naturally shed all the weight that your body has been holding onto. As stated in the above question, excess weight is merely a symptom of an underlying cause. Let's work on this Core Issue, while you begin to modify your diet, so that you will sustain a healthy body for life.

I am looking to cleanse, how should I go about it?


Cleansing is a great way to rid the body of toxic build-up. However when delving into a cleanse, it is imperative to prepare the body for it and make sure that the cleanse you do is right for your body and your goals. The biggest mistake is jumping into an extreme cleanse that may be too harsh for the body and can cause more ill effects than positive benefits. For many individuals, eliminating refined carbohydrates and simple sugars would massively cleanse their body and give them a calmer, more energetic state of mind.  An RHN can help set you up on the right cleanse for your body composition steering you towards optimal health.

I have chronic yeast infections - can an RHN help?


 Yes! Chronic Yeast Infections is due to candidiasis and an imbalance of yeasts in the body. For anyone who has ever been on antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs such as the oral contraceptive, or has eaten too much refined sugars – all of this can cause a yeast imbalance in the body. At one end of the continuum one may experience moodiness, sugar cravings (as the yeast feed of sugars for survival!), and on the other end of the continuum one may develop a full-blown yeast infection. By assessing your diet and trying some candida-diet protocols as well as taking the necessary supplements, candida will definitely come under control!

Can Nutrition affect my skin?


 Proper nutrition is vital to healthy glowing skin. Whether you suffer from acne, eczema, dry skin or any other skin condition, our skin is directly affected by what we eat. Often when our body develops sensitivity to something we have ingested the first place to show signs of such a reaction is the vital detox organ-our skin! Through assessing which foods you may be sensitive too and which vital foods are lacking in your diet, healthful skin can definitely be restored through nutrition and supplements.

I am pregnant, How should my diet change?


 It is imperative to speak with your Primary Physician regarding pregnancy. However when it comes to nutrition there are some vital foods that are not to be missed. Having sufficient Omega 3 Fish Oils and quality fats are imperative as you are in a building phase during pregnancy. Many moms experience “Mommy Brain Fog”. This is often accredited to the fact that the fetus is taking all the nutrients, especially the essential fats for their brain development. If the mother is not eating the right foods or the enough of the right foods than ones health and mood can suffer. An RHN can help educate you to make the best decisions during this building phase of your life.

I have been experiencing a lot of fatigue and lethargy, can my diet be the problem?


 The food we eat is directly related to our level of energy. When we eat processed foods lacking vitality and live enzymes, our body must go through a tremendous amount of work to break down the food and absorb the nutrients. If our bodies are having difficulty breaking down and absorbing the food we eat, our body will not have the nutrients it needs to rebuild and repair itself. If our bodies can not rebuild and repair, we will feel tired and lethargic. By eating whole foods full of live enzymes, our bodies will be better able to absorb all the vital nutrients necessary for vital energy to help us in day to day tasks and activities.

I have been feeling very emotional and my mood changes a lot. Can food be related to mood?


 Food plays an integral factor on our moods. Certain foods have been shown to stimulate different neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of well being, alertness and calmness. By eating the right foods at the right time of day can definitely play a huge role in your mood. An RHN can help target those times of day where you feel mood shifts and construct a meal plan suitable for your specific needs.

I have heard so much information about fats lately, what’s the lowdown on fats?


 Fats are crucial for the body. Every cell in our body needs fat and our brain requires fat for fuel. However the quality of fat is crucial in determining which fats heal and which fats lead to degenerative disease. Having enough quality Omega 3 fats is crucial for brain, mood, skin, nails and cardiovascular health. As well, a certain amount of quality sourced saturated fats are beneficial for its CLA composition and healthful antimicrobial properties. However portion control as well as quality control is crucial when deciding which fats to choose. An RHN will educate you to make the best choices.

Can food play a role in anti-aging?


Anti aging is a catchword to mean reversing free radical damage. As we age, and as we continuously come into contact with harmful pollutants the number of free radicals that enter and circulate into our body increases. It is these free radicals – unstable molecules, which often insert themselves in our DNA and lead to degenerative disease such as cancer by causing a mutation in out DNA. However antioxidants found in foods and vitamins A, C E and selenium are powerful anti oxidants, or ‘anti aging’ products that clean up oxidative damage by attaching to or uniting with the free radicals that would otherwise cause harm or a mutation to our DNA.  An RHN can implement a nutrition program geared towards fighting off free radical damage and thereby curbing the degenerative process of the body that is often linked to aging.

I find myself often getting shaky and irritable between meals, I think I may be Hypoglycemic what can I do?


Hypoglycemia and hypoglycemic symptoms can definitely be controlled through proper diet and supplementation. An RHN can set up a program specifically designed for those suffering from hypoglycemic-type symptoms.

How else can an RHN help me?


Food is an integral aspect of our lives, from repairing and rebuilding our bodies to the joy and social nature of food. An RHN can help nurture deficiencies in the body as well as help with the emotional and mental aspects surrounding food and our relationship with food. An RHN can support and coach you on your path towards inclusive health of the body, mind and spirit. 

All written material is the property of Tova Payne and AdventureYoga