What We Do
Weight Loss & Hormonal Balance
- I am a certified Natural Nutrition - Clinical Practitioner (NNCP) specializing in balancing hormones and weight loss with food and nutrition. How nutrition impacts hormones and weight loss is one of my favourite subjects. The food you eat sends messages to your hormones. Hormones are the messengers for all functions of the body from heartbeat to libido.
- A diet that is high in refined carbohydrates (like white bread and rice, alcohol, sugars of all kinds or straight up candy, to name a few) sends some not very nice messages to our hormones. Excess body fat is significant in hormonal balance. Body fat actually produces hormones called cytokines, which are involved in inflammation. Cytokines are a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Body fat also stores estrogen, which contributes to throwing your hormonal balance off kilter. This is why estrogenic cancers are found in the breast, where there is always adipose (fat) tissue. Eating for hormonal health includes supporting optimal liver function, but also providing nutritional support to the endocrine system - particularly the thyroid gland. The thyroid regulates metabolism, mood, and energy levels, as well as the sex hormones. Thyroid function is also affected by stress levels and blood sugar levels. Excess sugar and refined carbohydrates in our diet disrupt hormonal balance which in turn affects weight and libido.
- Having a healthy digestive process is another important factor in the hormone balancing act. If you are someone who regularly has constipation, bloating, gas, or diarrhea, this could be an indication of digestive problems. Any of these conditions can hinder the healthy metabolism of estrogen. At least one bowel movement per day, preferably two or three, moves excess estrogen out of the body. Many of us do not drink enough water and its truly our bowel's best buddy. Help move things along by increasing your water intake.
My Services
I provide one-on-one sessions that can be done in person if you live in the Durham Region area of southern Ontario or via telephone. I will teach you to incorporate a hormone-healthy diet into your lifestyle, with good sources of protein, carbohydrates, fiber and healthy fats. If you're ready to get started, simply fill out my online intake form and I will be in touch.
What is a Natural/Holistic Nutritional Counsellor?
Natural or Holistic Nutritional Consultants take the approach of looking at the whole person, not just a part or two. They take into account emotional, physical and situational aspects. Their efforts are based on the fundamental notion that all the various parts of a person are connected and therefore interrelated. Because every client is considered to be unique and individual, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is to uncover the root cause of an imbalance and help direct the body to heal itself.
Tools of the trade centre on whole, natural foods and supplements without harmful additives, colour and preservatives, with an eye on environmentally sound alternatives. An experienced practitioner will be able to provide clients with ample options and guidance such that the path toward optimal health is not too overwhelming but can fit comfortably within the individual parameters. Education of the client is of primary importance.
Efforts concentrate on preventing poor health or reestablishing good health and catching imbalances in the early stages, but diagnosis and treatment are not part of the accepted Scope of Practice. In short, this is a practical approach focusing on food choices and supplement suggestions, expressed in terms that any client, regardless of knowledge level, can easily understand.