You may have some ideas about what a RHN can do for you…or maybe you don’t . Let me explain what I have to offer; First I’ll give you some informtion on my experience, education, and areas of specialty:
1) I completed the RHN program as CSNN which included the following topics which I was tested on in my Board Exam in 2021:
-Fundamentals of Nutrition- the basics (which are not that basic to many people). For example it is a common belief that dairy is the best source of calcium for humans. The science actually shows that countries consuming the most dairy have the highest incidence of bone fractures (hips and wrist) and that the better source of calcium is dark leafy greens like kale, arugula, and collard greens. A RHN can suggest easy ways to increase your calcium consumption from plants, AND explain other relevant factors in building strong bones such as weight bearing exercises.
-Human Anatomy and Physiology: - knowledge of body systems (there are 11), how they function and what can go wrong. The 11 systems are: Muscular, Urinary, Respiratory, Digestive, Endocrine, Reprorductive, Skeletal, Integumentary, Nervous, Cardiovascular and Lymphatic. Something interesting I learned in my RHN training is that many people think the appendix has no function in the body, yet this organ's role is actually squirting out probiotics into the small intestine to maintain healthy gut bacteria levels. Interestingly allopathic scientific research shows that those without an appendix have trouble maintaining a healthy gut biome. This may cause an increase in the likelihood of Crohn’s Disease. Can a RHN help you with alleviating Crohn’s? Yes.
-Nutritional Symptomatology: Looking at body symptoms and how nutrition can have a positive impact. Analysis is of excesses, imbalances or deficiencies of; fiber, aminio acids, fats, macro and micronutrients, antioixidants, hydration, prescription medications, free radicals, sleep patterns, impacts of physical and mental stress, organ analysis and prioritization from the weakest to strongest, as well as habits such as smoking, alcohol, caffeine consumption and more. My intake forms collect data which sheds light on which organs are functioning the best and which are having challenges.
-Hormone Health: this may sound like a buzzword, but one can have a level of a specific hormone (ie: progesterone) which is too high or too low. RHNs work at a subtle level and can detect possible hormone imbalances from intake forms and questionnaires which may reveal hormonal imbalance symptoms. We then recommend dietary and lifestyle changes which can help put aforementioned hormone back in balance by lowering or raising it without drugs. We also look at environemtnal contributors which may have a negative impact such as xenoestrogens and EMFs.
-Biochemistry and Epigenetics: Nutrition is a science and an ever evolving one at that. What makes certain groups of people (in the infamous Blue Zones) have typically longer lifespans and better health? It’s part diet, part lifestyle, spiritual connection/belief system as well as our social connection with others. My Nutritional Studies through the Colin T Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies covered, in its epigenetics program: the 3 stages of cancer. This was a completely science based program and was quite fascinating; as it looked at what can cause cancer cells to turn on, grow, spread and what may reverse these stages.
-Epigenetics: is the study of how behaviour and environment can influence how your genes work. Many people believe that cancer is genetic. The science shows that perhaps we have genetic weaknesses that can affect our gene expression. When we are continually run down mentally and/or physically, eating low nutrient density foods, and exposed to environmental toxins, they can accumulate in our body and can compromise our health. My area of speciality is avoiding exposure to these toxins by analyzing your intake of food and personal care products, and suggesting ways for gently removing them from our body through dietary and lifestyle behaviours. Some of these may just turn into healthy habits that you choose to keep for life. One example to improve your body’s resilience is to add wheat grass to your smoothie to remove stored arsenic from the body. One way to stop consuming arsenic is to eat organic foods whenever possible because conventional crops are typically sprayed with pesticides which are made from…..arsenic.
Pathology and Nutrition: It is so powerful to know that we do have lots of control over our body and our health. If we look at how diseases may have begun, then we can look at ways of reversing that damage. The human body is so incredibly adaptive and wants to be healthy. There are many things we can do to be kind to our body and mind. We all have a chronological and biological age. Some sources say we can be 10 years younger biologically if we take that special care and investigate ways to nourish ourselves and eliminate behaviours that are aging. We won’t live forever but there are many ways to improve the quality of our life while we are here.
VLCE: I am a graduate of the Main Street Vegan Academy in New York 2018 (look for a future blog on this topic)
Plant Based Nutrition Certified: e-cornell T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies New York 2017
My areas of specialty: Respecitng our bodies, the animals, and the planet we live on through compassionate and sustainable dietary and lifestyle choices. Helping my clients transition to a 100% whole plant foods diet is best for the planet and as I can demonstrate, provides more than enough protein to meet your needs. More illnesses are caused by an excess of proteins and fats in the diet, than by a deficiency. If you are eating a varied diet and enough calories your are very likely getting all the protein you need. I can also help you evaluate how much protein you are consuming and how much you require for your unique situation.
