Mandy Blume is a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, nonprofit business owner, and author based in Florida.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN NTP?

When my son was born with unidentifiable challenges, I began university work again pursuing medical understanding. I wanted to find a natural pharmaceutical answer. We took a family trip to Joel Salatin’s PolyFace farm and met a NTP at the event. It was exactly what I had been looking for to fill that hole in my knowledge base.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU CHOSE NTA FOR YOUR HOLISTIC NUTRITION EDUCATION?

In my seeking, NTA is the only program that offers physiology, accredited academic books, books from pioneers, and a variety of real, ancient, and global techniques to identify the root problem and correct it.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHY?

Just one? Impossible! The variety of teachers, the books, and the Functional Clinical Assessment combined. Knowledge is great, but being able to do something with that knowledge is the kicker!

HOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED THROUGH THE NTA?

I am able to utilize the Nutri-Q with some clients, which is an incredible resource. Generally, I am helping foster kids and children at-risk to understand the value of the food they put in their mouth. When there is a crisis, I am able to come along-side the care of the physician and help support them with food/ food supplements. Ultimately, just being able to care for my kids is empowering, that is worth the course in and of itself.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE.

As I sit here, a hurricane is forming and moving into the path of our home and the homes of our family and friends. It’s ominous, it’s unpredictable, and it’s full of trouble. This is the perfect analogy to my practice. I am not afraid because I am called to do what I do. There are certainly days that are extremely frustrating. I have had so many Doctors of Chiropractic, Medical Doctors, and nurses advise and guide me through this journey. It’s an art, whether you want to believe or not. It’s science and it’s art.

Knowing how to inspire change and using the best approach to enable healing is important. Studying the physiology and foods/food supplement choices that impact that indication is the other part. My practice is evolving every year. I’ve tried blogging! Bleh! I’ve worked with groups and individuals. I have found what works for me and my family and our rhythms. There are so many unsuspecting clients out there that I have learned to trust and work on a level of respect that enables crazy good things to happen. Working with the State to teach Foster Parents how to eat and manage within the constraints of a tight system, working with kids at-risk with unbelievable odds against them, and of course working with the typical family wanting to manage chronic illnesses.

I don’t have gobs of time, but I try to optimize my time. I never feel like I know enough and even when we get amazing healing, I want more! It’s a really hard balance. I volunteer and I shadow doctors even still! The biggest challenge I face is wanting to know everything…it’s impossible. There will be cases that stump you. For instance, Vitiligo is a thorn in my side. I’ve had several adults ask for my help and we’ve cleared their guts, improved stress, but I haven’t been able to restore the pigment variation in the skin. I will figure it out and when someone tells me it can’t be done, it pushes me further to find the answer.

This year I have had some donors approach me to start a nonprofit, so my business is evolving as I add this new venture. Teaching and supplying foods to local foster homes is the initiative. We hope to document changes in behaviors and grades. We will see what tomorrow brings. I have to love what I do, because the money comes and goes. But the incredible joy of knowing you helped someone value themselves and heal is the “practice” I’m building.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE ANY OBJECTIONS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME BEFORE STARTING THE PROGRAM OR YOUR BIGGEST FEAR BEFORE TAKING THE LEAP?

Well, 4 kids and fostering kids was my obstacle. I homeschool, so I needed to figure out how to manage the NTA program. The online venue was so much easier than I expected. The kids and I would watch the videos together. They learned more than I thought they could! And the evenings were my study time. I spend longer and take longer than many people to process to a level of comfort. But I was able to do this and it was manageable and fun.

IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN SHARE WITH NEW GRADUATES?

Volunteer. Find ways to simply share your learnings. Put together simple slide shows and begin sharing. Ask for volunteers to practice the Nutri-Q and Functional Clinical Assessment if you are NTP. No one really knows it all. Just begin! Start with a smaller fee and work up. Find your own groove and rhythm because you are so unique and if you will be true to who you are, your talents will reach people that I can’t reach as well. My friends that are NDs, MDs, and DCs are always learning. They appreciate and learn from me too! NTA offers such an incredible canvas from which you can paint any picture you want. And I find it extremely important to build unity. Don’t fall prey to the bashing. We all have learnings in life that are ignorant. Work peacefully with others and doors will open.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE CLIENT SUCCESSES THUS FAR?

Goodness. There are so many! Recently, a friend said she wanted to pay me to help her with some kidney stones. I told her we had helped several with kidney stones and that I’d love to see her have the same results. So I tested her briefly and gave her the supplements she tested for in her body. I didn’t speak to her for a couple of weeks and when we finally connected, I asked her if she had seen any stones or improved. She said, she couldn’t take one of the supplements because it tasted horrid, but she took the other and noticed that a lot of these crystal pieces were coming out of her! That had been the first few days and she wasn’t taking them anymore! It was a fun one because she got better without taking all the supplements, but a favorite because she was such a goob and shared her relief so casually like she had just expected to heal!

WERE THERE ANY HEALTH CHALLENGES YOU WERE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM?

Not that I was aware of. I was in this for all the kids. But I will share that I was born allergic to fish. It was awful growing up in Florida and living on the boat practically every weekend. When I would sneak up a piece we would be in the ER and imbibing Benadryl on the way! After a couple of years from NTA school and taking food supplements I decided to try wild Alaskan fish from Vital Choice and I can now eat it. My parents can’t believe it and I’m super grateful!

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH JOURNEY IN APPLYING THE PROGRAM’S CONCEPTS TO YOUR OWN SITUATION AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE CURRICULUM?

The only explanation my colleagues and I can figure, is that the mercury from fish was not able to process through my body properly. With the supplements, I must have cleared my pathways and detoxed metals enough to allow me the privilege of eating fish. I became fascinated during the curriculum with detox at the right time. I worked on kids in my home and personally benefitted along with them!

WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR GO-TO SNACKS?

Smoothies!!!! It’s our fast food. Anything can be made fast in a blender.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TREAT OR INDULGENCE?

Persimmons! I’m telling you the truth, this fruit (fuji variation and hard) is heavenly. I have paid $2 each for those little suckers! And I don’t regret it!

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

The one I just wrote! Real Food Recovery! The publishers wanted me to proof it and I can’t wait to watch families heal! Now I’m anxious to read Little Men with my kids. Did you know that all the classic books have so many properly prepared food tips?! It confirms all you learn in NTA. Books from 1800s and 1900s are just brilliant!

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT BECOMING AN NTP/NTC?

Hold on to your pants or skirt! You are about to go on an adventure that will make you cry, laugh, be proud and be humbled! You will feel horrible and then wonderful! Your eyes will be opened and your vision will become immeasurable by medical standards today. Then you will be able to love everyone around you (that wants it!) by helping their eyes to be opened and offering a whole new world of health, clarity, perpetual learning, and passion!

You can find out more about Mandy and her company, Real Food Recovery, by visiting http://www.realfoodrecovery.org.