How We Use A Nutritionist to Improve Health

The number of conversations I have surrounding health, eating habits, fitness, etc. always seems to increase at the beginning of the year. Which is understandable as the New Year often spurs people to make new goals. I totally get it and do it too!

Several recent conversations have made me realize the terms “nutrition” and “nutritionist” mean different things to different people. Often times, when I mention we use a nutritionist to help facilitate healing, I get a puzzled look. People then ask how it makes that big of a difference or seem surprised it’s even a thing.

According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary a nutritionist is “a specialist in the study of nutrition”. While that is certainly accurate in many cases, ours is a little different. True healing goes way beyond just food and how we feed ourselves.

Since our nutritionist (also a holistic practitioner) played a vital role in my family’s healing journey; I thought I’d take a few moments to clarify what it means to us. (Last Updated February 2024)

*This blog post contains various health information. Nothing is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any supplement(s) discussed and/or listed should be reviewed by your health professional before using. If you have a medical concern, please consult with an appropriately-licensed physician. If you think you have a medical emergency, contact your doctor immediately. Full medical disclosure here.

What Our Nutritionist Does

Our nutritionist’s end goal is to provide the body what it needs to heal. She focuses on the nutritional as well as the emotional/energetic side. Nutrition is the foundation, for without a properly fed body, the nervous system cannot signal accordingly, thus inhibiting the body’s ability to repair in an efficient manner.

She does teach about healthy eating (which foods do and don’t encourage healing). But healing the body requires so much more than that. Whole food and herbal supplements (nothing synthetic, strictly plant/animal based) and various homeopathic remedies are also used to facilitate recovery.

There are ten health stressors she pays special attention to: Heavy Metals, Chemicals, EMF’s, Food Sensitivities, Immune Challenges, Generational Patterning, Radiation, Scars, Injury Recall, and Energy.

Diagnostics are done using a Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test, muscle testing, observing physical markers on the face, tongue, and fingernails, using frequencies to pinpoint which stressors could be inhibiting the body from moving forward, applying cold laser treatments, testing acupuncture/meridian points along the body and more.

A picture of your entire health story is formed and inspected. It’s not simply one corner of the picture (a.k.a. the presenting symptom), but a review of the overall image to find the root cause.  What applies and works for one patient will not work for the other. This concept is completely understood in her office and very refreshing as it means each patient is truly receiving care for their individual concerns.

How We Use Our Nutritionist

We check in with our nutritionist anytime we’re not able to resolve something non life threatening. Over the years we’ve learned A LOT from her and have a wide array of whole food & herbal supplements on hand. But, there will always be new concerns as the world around us is in a constant state of change. Acute injuries requiring advanced medical care (broken elbow, smashed finger, breathing difficulty) are handled differently.

Usually, we use muscle testing in conjunction with observing physical markers. Muscle testing enables us to pinpoint specific organs, stressors, and/or scars blocking the body’s natural functions. Looking at physical markers provides clues as to what’s going on and almost always coincides with what muscle testing indicates. At times, we’ll use HRV to determine if the body is stuck in parasympathetic/sympathetic mode, how well the body is adapting to stress/change, and how quickly the nervous system is responding/regulating.

She helps us: fight immune problems (bacterial/viral/fungal/parasitic), detox metals/chemicals/radiation, find sources of external and internal inflammation and then reduce/eliminate it, recover from physical injuries (bone healing, bruising, ligament strengthening, surgery, child birth), identify food sensitivities, improve food digestion, heal the gut, rebalance hormones… and more.

I don’t know why, but it still amazes us when symptoms improve and/or disappear from simply switching supplements, cold-lasering a scar, or supporting an organ. It amazes us even more, when the cause of symptoms is from some totally unrelated part of the body being imbalanced, undernourished, or stressed.

What Nutrition Means For Our Family

Nutritional needs of the body is always our go to when a health challenge comes up. We try to heal the body as natural as possible. Any decision we make regarding food choices, home environment, health remedies, etc. are made keeping the above goal in mind. It may seem daunting and restrictive, but we’re ok with that.

Jason was able to attend some Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) training, utilizing muscle testing, before our first child was born. We never imagined it would become such an integral part of our journey. Because of his training, God’s guidance, a clean diet, and recalling what we’ve learned from the nutritionist; we’re able to squash many things before they turn big.

The kitchen cupboards hold a minimal amount of processed foods. There is nothing in the house (whether food, personal care products, or cleaners) with an ingredient list that hasn’t been read and vetted. We raise organic 100% grass-fed beef and soy-free laying hens, are continually trying to grow more of our own food, and are blessed with raw dairy products.

So to us, nutrition isn’t just food. It’s what goes into the body, what gets put on the body, the body itself, and the environmental/physical/mental/spiritual stressors effecting the body.

God knew exactly what he was doing when he created us. He also knew how much of his creation would work synergistically to help our bodies heal. Trying to be good stewards of what he created led us down this path and we’re so thankful for it.

Our family is fortunate as we’ve seldom needed conventional medicine over the last ten years. However, we certainly acknowledge everything has it’s time and place, and we’re grateful to have access to all kinds of health care modalities.

If you’d like more information, connect with me, or check out how helpful the GAPS Protocol was for us!