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Q&A with an NTP featuring Lauren Curry

Q&A with an NTP featuring Lauren Curry

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Home » Posts Tagged "holistic nutrition"

Q&A with an NTP featuring Lauren Curry

 

Lauren Curry is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Restorative Wellness Practitioner, and ICU Nurse. After graduating from the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program, Lauren launched her 1:1 consulting practice. Through Your Balanced Belly, Lauren helps clients get to the root cause of their digestive dysfunction and chronic fatigue.


 

Tell us about yourself and your business:

Hi, I’m Lauren! I’m a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and an ICU Nurse. Through my practice, Your Balanced Belly, I work 1:1 with clients struggling with digestive issues and chronic fatigue. We start each initial client consultation with blood work analysis and a personalized intake process in order to help identify root causes. My goal is to not only educate clients regarding where the imbalances lie, but also HOW to restore balance to the body.

In addition to functional nutrition, I also work in the ICU at one of the Top 10 hospitals in the US. I am deeply honored to work in both functional health and critical care. My goal is always to work with, and empower clients to take charge of their health at every step – whether it’s identifying microbiome imbalances or caring for someone on life support.

What made you decide to become an (F)NTP?

I was first introduced to functional nutrition after going through my own health struggles. I was experiencing chronic digestive issues, acne, fatigue, hypothyroidism and interstitial cystitis. Unfortunately, I was continually told by conventional medicine to, “keep an eye on it” and felt let down by the very field I work in.

Thankfully, I started working with a functional nutritionist and experienced a HUGE improvement in my health. That was when I knew I had to share this field with others. It is so important to advocate for your health and find others who share that belief. It shouldn’t take a healthcare crisis for someone to take charge of their health.

I chose to enroll with the NTA over health coaching programs because I wanted to dive deeper into the physiology of digestion, identify the pillars of health, and understand what can happen when imbalances occur. I knew early on that I wanted to focus on digestion and loved that the NTA supports the body’s innate ability to heal. It was a perfect fit.

 

What is some advice you would give students who are going through the program while working full time?

Be INTENTIONAL with your time! I love that the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Online program is fully online and that the modules are divided into 1-2 week increments. The schedule allowed me to divide my time accordingly; some days were spent mostly on functional nutritional therapy, while other days were spent working 12hr shifts at the hospital. This program is 100% doable while working full time but you have to work. This program is no cake walk!

Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome and if so, how did you overcome it?

Of course! I think it’s safe to say that we ALL experience imposter syndrome. But one thing I always remind myself is that, “Your ordinary is someone else’s extraordinary.” Don’t underestimate how much value you can bring to others. When I started school, I made it a goal to post consistently. I knew the material could educate others and help build trust and rapport with my audience. It was a win-win!

How is your life different now than it was before the NTP program?

For starters… I have a business. It still feels so surreal to say that! After graduating in July, I immediately launched Your Balanced Belly. The NTA equipped me with the tools I needed to feel competent enough to launch a business. The NTP program also connected me like-minded practitioners. The entrepreneurial world can be incredibly overwhelming and lonely at times… community is key!

What goals do you have as an NTP?

I want to continue helping as many people as I can who are struggling with digestive and energy concerns. Side note – there are A LOT of people who need help from NTPs! I absolutely love nerding out with blood work analysis, stool tests, and creating bioindividual protocols with clients. It’s so rewarding to see clients feel better and more importantly UNDERSTAND how to keep it up. Nutrition and lifestyle changes take work but they are so worth it. One of the things I like to say is, “Solutions over band-aids.” You deserve to feel your best!

Follow Lauren on Instagram @yourbalancedbelly or visit her website: yourbalancedbelly.com.

Have more questions about becoming a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, what to expect from the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Online Program, or your next steps? Join us at an upcoming Info Session! NTA Instructors and our Admissions Team go LIVE every week to answer your questions and share everything you need to know about the program. See you on the webinar!

Want your recipe or article to be featured on our blog? Email our team Marketing@nutritionaltherapy.com with your full name, article, a short bio in third person, and a headshot. We may feature you in an upcoming blog post.

 

 


 

 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you and how to move forward in financing your education

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Q&A with an NTP featuring Autumn Best

Q&A with an NTP featuring Autumn Best

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Home » Posts Tagged "holistic nutrition"

Q&A with an NTP featuring Autumn Best

 

Autumn Best is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Restorative Wellness Practitioner, and Business Mentor. Just months after graduating from the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Online program, Autumn was able to take her business full-time and accomplish her goal of being her own boss. For the last year, Autumn has helped many people get to the root cause of their digestive issues and supported many NTPs on the road to building their own businesses. Check out what Autumn has to say about her experience becoming an (F)NTP and the advice she has for people ready to take the next step in building the career of their dreams. 


 

Tell us about yourself and your business:

I help women conquer annoying and debilitating digestive issues like reflux, bloat, constipation, excess gas, and so on. We get to the root cause and then support the body. It’s the most rewarding work I’ve ever done and after a year of being in business, I still wake up every morning having to remind myself that this is the full-time job I GET to do.  

When I’m not helping other women feel their best, I’m spending time outdoors in Seattle with my 11-year-old dog Maxie, paddle boarding, taking and teaching hot pilates classes, traveling whenever and to wherever I can, and cooking up amazing nutrient dense food.

What made you decide to become an (F)NTP?

This was a very long time coming for me! My spark for holistic health and nutrition started over a decade ago, but I got wrapped up in the corporate world and my passion fell to the back burner. Fast forward to years of being told everything looked “fine” but knowing I could feel better – and the straw that broke the camel’s back was when I developed reflux a few years ago and I knew that PPI’s were just a band-aid and not the answer. I was determined to find the answer and I did when I got to the NTA’s digestion and elimination module. WOOHOO! 

I also knew that I was always meant to own a business and be my own boss. I was never quite sure how I’d get there but once I started class at the NTA, I knew this was it. This was the career for me. It all came together so seamlessly.

 

Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome and if so, how did you overcome it?

I think this is something that most of us experience during and immediately after completing NTA training and there’s nothing wrong with that. My best advice for overcoming it is to graduate from the program knowing that you know more than you think you do and reminding yourself that you know more about holistic health than 99% of the population. Remember when you learned that adding sea salt to your water was important? The majority of people don’t know that tidbit or that they need to chew their food 20-30 times per bite. Scale back to what you didn’t know before the NTA and then teach people everything you’ve learned from that point forward. That’s a lot of amazing info!

How is your life different now than it was before the NTP program?

My life has changed in so many beautiful and unexpected ways since becoming an FNTP. I have a community I never had before of fellow nutrition geeks and holistic healers, a full-time job that has me pumped to spring out of bed every morning, and a freedom that I’ve never experienced before. Last, I have the knowledge to heal myself and my family, and that is invaluable.

What is some advice you would give students in the program working on building their business?

It’s OK to feel overwhelmed and not know where to start. You just have to start! If you need guidance, that’s OK. Own that! Starting and building a business is hard work and there are a lot of moving parts. Sign up for the NTA’s career development course, or hire a business mentor to guide you through the process. I do 1:1 business mentoring and am happy to help. The more of us out there with successful businesses = more people getting the proper care and help they need to THRIVE. Know that the world needs NTP’s now more than ever. You’ve got this!

What goals do you have as an NTP?

Right now, I just want to help as many women as possible and continue to take my education and expertise deeper along the way. I’m a lifelong learner and I love to enhance people’s lives! A big project that I’d like to start soon is developing a guide or a course so that I can help even more people. There’s only so much time for 1:1 calls each day and the ability to reach more people with a course or guide would be insanely fulfilling to me.

Follow Autumn on Instagram @pilatesandpapaya or visit her website: crusadingwellness.com

Have more questions about becoming a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, what to expect from the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Online Program, or your next steps? Join us at an upcoming Info Session! NTA Instructors and our Admissions Team go LIVE every week to answer your questions and share everything you need to know about the program. See you on the webinar!

Want your recipe or article to be featured on our blog? Email our team Marketing@nutritionaltherapy.com with your full name, article, a short bio in third person, and a headshot. We may feature you in an upcoming blog post.

 

 

 


 

 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you and how to move forward in financing your education

Categories

Essential Minerals: Finding Balance with a Nutrient-Dense, Whole Foods Diet

Essential Minerals: Finding Balance with a Nutrient-Dense, Whole Foods Diet

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Home » Posts Tagged "holistic nutrition"

Essential Minerals: Finding Balance with a Nutrient-Dense, Whole Foods Diet

Essential Minerals

Minerals are an extremely important part of maintaining the health and physiology of our bodies.

But because humans don’t make minerals on our own, we must be mindful about the foods we choose to eat to ensure were getting all the nutrients we need.

Minerals play a key role in nerve conduction, muscle function, and tissue growth. So, what is the best way to make sure youre getting all the minerals you need in your diet? Let’s take a deeper look!

There are two types of minerals that we need in our diets to ensure proper function and optimal health.

Macrominerals are needed in relatively large amounts in the body, and Microminerals are needed in trace amounts. Some minerals are synergists and work together to support the body and others are antagonists that work against other minerals. Both types of minerals are needed to create balance, kickstart important functions, and provide the nutrients that the body needs.

Examples of macrominerals:

  •  Zinc – Important for immune health
  • Iodine – Key in thyroid function, metabolism, and bone and brain development
  • Iron – Forms and oxygenates blood cells
  • Magnesium – Supports nerve and muscle function
  • Calcium – Important for structural and functional support in the body 

Examples of microminerals

  • Boron
  • Chromium 
  • Cobalt
  • Copper 
  • Germanium 
  • Iodine 
  • Lithium 
  • Manganese  
  • Molybdenum  
  • Rubidium 
  • Selenium 
  • Silicon 
  • Vanadium

Due to each macromineral and micromineral having a specific function, we need a variety of minerals each day to create balance, support proper function, and keep our bodies strong and healthy.

But because the human body has no ability to synthesize minerals, we must obtain them from the food we eat.

The problem we run into is that unlike the diets of our ancestors, our food is deficient in many minerals.

There are three main reasons for this:

1. Industrial revolutions in farming and changes in landscapes have depleted our soil of minerals, which means there’s less minerals in the food we grow.

2. Packaged food is more prevalent and convenient, but it is less nutritious and void of important minerals due to processing.

3. Finally, the absorption of minerals is dependent on other functions of our body (hydration, blood sugar regulation, digestion, etc.) working properly. Even if we are consuming minerals in the food we eat, they don’t always make it into our blood, tissues, and bones.

Factors like stress, diet, and toxins in the environment can all play a role in mineral dysfunction, but there are easy ways we can support our bodies and give them the minerals they need to thrive.

  1. Eat leafy green vegetables and cook them in high quality fats for added nutrients (and flavor).
  2. Add a pinch of sea salt to water. The benefits are two-fold: it helps keep us hydrated and provides the key minerals found in sea salt.
  3. Eat properlysourced seafood or seaweed – both are great sources of minerals!
  4. Focus on whole foods – fill your diet with a variety of nutrientdense options. 

Thanks to overly-processed foods and the impact of industrialization on the nutritional integrity of our food, its all too easy to miss out on important nutrients that the body needs to function. But when we focus on a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet, we are able to turn the tables, provide our bodies with the minerals it needs, and ultimately, feel our best!

Learn more about mineral balance and easy ways to get more minerals into your diet by registering for our FREE 8-day Nutritional Therapy 101 course.

Want your recipe or article to be featured on our blog? Email our team Marketing@nutritionaltherapy.com with your full name, article, a short bio in third person, and a headshot. We may feature you in an upcoming blog post.

 

 

 


 

 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you and how to move forward in financing your education

Categories

The Nutritional Therapy Association: On a Mission to Support Lasting Wellness

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Home » Posts Tagged "holistic nutrition"

The Nutritional Therapy Association: On a Mission to Support Lasting Wellness

The Nutritional Therapy Association: On a mission to support lasting wellness

What started as small nutrition school in the picturesque city of Olympia, Washington has billowed into a global force of nutrition professionals harnessing the power of real food, reconnecting individuals to the unique needs and innate wisdom of their bodies to support lasting wellness.

Today, there are over 6,000 Nutritional Therapy Practitioners all over the world. NTPs are prevalent in holistic and allopathic medical practices and are sought after practitioners, chefs, personal trainers, authors, and advisors.

The Nutritional Therapy Association is a leader in the health and wellness landscape and has shifted the nutritional paradigm by delivering a holistic perspective with integrity that’s rooted in the power of real food and scientific function of the body.

How did we get here? For that answer we must go back a few decades.

The history of the NTA 

Gray and Joy Graham founded The NTA in 1997 in order to teach nutrition to health care practitioners from a holistic perspective. It was incorporated as a vocational nutrition school dedicated to Nutrional Therapy and reconnecting people to healing foods and vibrant health.

In the early years, the NTA’s instructor team taught nutritional seminars to thousands of medical practitioners throughout the United States and Europe. Students included medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and naturopaths.

What became apparent to Gray Graham was that in addition to teaching nutritional therapy to doctors, what we really needed was a whole new profession dedicated to the power of whole foods and nutrients to restore and maintain health.

In 2001, in a cooperative effort with South Puget Sound Community College, we launched our first Nutritional Therapy Training (NTT) class and graduated our first class of twenty-seven Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (NTPs). A new profession was born.

What exactly is Nutritional Therapy Practitioner? 

Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are trained nutrition professionals, capable of identifying and correcting nutritional imbalances and deficiencies through targeted dietary and lifestyle changes.

NTPs are equipped to support the body’s innate ability to heal by addressing the importance of nutrient-dense food, lifestyle choices, culinary wellness, client coaching, and how social and personal components influence health.

An NTP’s job is to help address the ill effects of poor dietary and lifestyle habits while supporting the physiological foundations.

The Foundations

What makes NTPs different from many other practitioners is that they look at the big picture rather than focusing on the symptoms accompanying an issue. This means that a symptom is not viewed as the actual “problem”, but as an indication of an imbalance in the physiological foundations.

They take the time to look deeper and help their clients figure out what works for them.

While NTPs are equipped to work with clients 1:1, either in their own practice or under another practitioner such as a functional doctor or chiropractor, that is not all they can do. NTPs also use their skills and knowledge to run group programs, write books, host podcasts, and create recipes.

What is the NTP Online program like?

The Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Online Program is a ten-month, instructor-led, fully online program encompassing the NTA’s foundational and bio-individual approach to functional, holistic nutrition.

The program takes an in-depth look at the function and dysfunction of each body system, food quality and sourcing, culinary skills, meal planning, health and wellness barriers and influences, emotional well-being, environmental factors, the importance of sleep and movement, as well as stress and its effect on the body.

Students are empowered with the necessary motivational interviewing techniques, clinical and practical skills, and cutting-edge knowledge to become a highly recognized nutrition and wellness professional in their community.

If you’d like to get a taste of what students learn in the NTP Online program, sign up for our FREE, 8-day Nutritional Therapy 101 course!

The mission of the NTA

We are dedicated to delivering a science-based education that fosters a community of confident holistic nutrition professionals who harness the power of real food and empower people to reconnect with the innate wisdom and unique needs of their bodies, thereby supporting lasting wellness.

In 2013, we expanded our offerings to include a fully online program for the first time, making our transformative program accessible far and wide. Now anyone from anywhere can be a part of our mission.

In the fall of 2017, the NTA launched an eight-week Career Development Course designed to give graduates and other wellness professionals the resources they need to launch successful careers working with clients, building thriving practices, and helping the world heal.

The NTA is constantly growing and adapting to meet the needs of its students and graduates—as well as the global landscape at large so NTPs are equipped to go out and make a serious impact. Together, we can help our communities find lasting wellness.

Want your recipe or article to be featured on our blog? Email our team Marketing@nutritionaltherapy.com with your full name, article, a short bio in third person, and a headshot. We may feature you in an upcoming blog post.

 

 

 


 

 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you and how to move forward in financing your education

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What is Holistic Nutrition?

What is Holistic Nutrition?

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Home » Posts Tagged "holistic nutrition"

What is Holistic Nutrition?

What is Holistic Nutrition

At the NTA, our philosophy centers around the idea that we can make the world a better, healthier place through a holistic and individualized approach to nutrition.

This idea is the driving force behind every aspect of our program. It’s what brings our community together and inspires confident and competent Nutritional Therapy Practitioners to make a ripple effect in the world of nutrition

The Foundations

A holistic approach to nutrition honors the body’s innate intelligence and its ability to restore, regenerate, and correct itself when supported through Nutritional Therapy and the Foundations:

Nutrient Dense, Whole Foods Diet

Every aspect of our program is based on a nutrient-dense, properly prepared, whole foods diet. We firmly believe that “real food” has the power to make a positive impact on our life and health. Students who graduate from the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program walk away understanding the nutrients that come from whole foods, and the roles they play in the physiology of our bodies. They know that real food doesn’t have ingredients and that how you source food is just important as what you decide to eat. NTP’s use all of this information to help clients make mindful decisions and lifestyle changes. They recognize that every person is unique in their dietary needs and preferences, and give clients the tools they need to choose better foods that will nourish their bodies.

Digestion

Did you know digestion starts in the brain? When we start thinking about what we are going to eat for dinner, smell it cooking in the oven, and look at the finished product, digestion is already in play. Before we even take the first bite! Once we start eating, food makes its way down the gastrointestinal tract, breaking down into different nutrients as it goes along. When we fail to properly digest our food, our bodies are missing out on so many key nutrients necessary for energy production, growth, and overall health.

Hydration

Water is the most important nutrient in the body. We need water to transport nutrients and waste, help maintain body temperature, help protect tissues, help cells build and communicate, and so much more.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Blood sugar regulation is one of the NTA’s Foundations because it affects all aspects of human physiology:

  • Energy production and balance.
  • The tissue integrity of every organ and blood vessel.
  • Hormonal balance, including hormones needed for proper digestion, stress management, and sexual function.
  • Brain health, mood, memory, and cognitive function.

Ultimately, if blood sugar regulation is not working efficiently, overall health cannot be achieved.

Healthy fats like butter, ghee, animal fats, and olive oil are our friends! These foods support so many of our bodies systems and keep them running smoothly. From keeping our brains sharp to absorbing key nutrients in the digestive system, fat has many benefits. It’s a delicious source of energy that keeps us full and moving during the day.

Mineral Balance

Minerals are an extremely important part of maintaining the health and physiology of our bodies. But because humans don’t make minerals on our own, we have to be mindful about the foods we choose to eat to ensure we are getting all the nutrients we need. Minerals play a key role in nerve conduction, muscle function, and tissue growth. So what is the best way to make sure you are getting all of the minerals you need in your diet? Consume lots of mineral rich foods!

A Holistic Approach

We believe that many of modern society’s health problems result from weaknesses in the body’s foundations.

Instead of viewing common issues like digestive disorders, blood sugar spikes, and problems sleeping as normal, Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are trained to approach symptoms holistically.

They support the entire body as a connected system using a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet that keeps the Foundations balanced.

What is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner? 
Careers in Holistic Nutrition

A Nutritional Therapy Practitioner helps their clients navigate all of the nutritional advice out there and learn how to better support their health through holistic nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Many NTPs open private practices (virtually or in person) and consult with clients individually. Others join teams with other holistic professionals and practitioners such as naturopaths, chiropractors, and functional medicine doctors. Some create products or services that help others take control of their own health and wellness.

The opportunities to educate, connect, and nourish are endless, and NTA students go on to do incredible things in the world of holistic nutrition. Some of these career paths include, but are not limited to:

  • Consulting with clients 1:1 or in groups – virtually or in-person 
  • Blogging or writing articles about health and wellness
  • Social media influencing
  • Hosting podcasts 
  • Hosting nutritional coaching groups 
  • Developing meal planning systems or businesses
  • Lecturing or speaking at events and conferences
  • Writing books 
  • Hosting retreats 
  • Creating online classes
  • And so much more…

Want to see an NTP in action?

Every day, NTA graduates are building businesses and changing lives. If you have an interest in holistic nutrition and want to help others take control of their health, there has never been a better time than now to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.

Get an inside look at a day in the life of an Nutritional Therapy Practitioner by visiting our Instagram Highlights. See how NTA grads go on to create their dream careers, build successful businesses, and help others feel their best.

Want your recipe or article to be featured on our blog? Email our team Marketing@nutritionaltherapy.com with your full name, article, a short bio in third person, and a headshot. We may feature you in an upcoming blog post.

 

 

 


 

 

Join us for a Live Webinar with one of our Instructors and Admissions Advisors!

During this call, you’ll explore and learn:

  • How to create a rewarding career in holistic nutrition that will give you the confidence and competence to replace your full-time income (whether you’re new to nutrition or or using it to enhance your current services)
  • How our unmatched education and instructor support sets our NTP program apart from other nutrition programs​​​​​​​
  • How graduates are successfully using their education and the many career opportunities available to you
  • If the NTP program is the right fit for you and how to move forward in financing your education

Categories