Nutritional Therapy
Nutritional therapy takes a holistic and bio-individual approach to achieve optimal health. It focuses on food first, lifestyle choices, and targeted supplements. The body will restore and regenerate itself given the correct support.
Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioners’ approach to wellness is by supporting the foundations of nutrient-dense whole food, proper digestion, hydration, blood sugar regulation, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
ALICE NORTON
Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, M.Ed.
I help individuals harness the power of nutrition to support brain function, mental clarity, and cognitive longevity. Together, we create a personalized plan to enhance brain health, mood, and overall vitality, ensuring a vibrant and fulfilling life for years to come.
My interest in nutrition grew out of being an athlete and using nutrition to support performance goals. I am passionate about empowering others to harness food and lifestyle choices to improve health and promote longevity. In addition to an expertise in Cognitive and Mental Health, I have used nutrition and lifestyle to enhance my preconception and postpartum health, and enjoy working with couples on this journey.
Outside of work, I enjoy my sauna workouts, being active outdoors with my dogs, daughters, and boyfriend, cooking nutritious meals, and coaching tennis.
My Story
My life has been deeply rooted in a lifelong joy for movement and a deep-seated belief in the power of nutrition. From the rhythmic bounce of a tennis ball to the synchronized movements in a dance studio, the steady cadence of a half-marathon, the quiet strength found on a hiking trail, the glide through a pool, the crunch of snowshoes, the exhilarating pull of skijoring, and the focused intensity of isometrics in an infrared sauna – movement has always been integral to who I am.
This physical engagement is intrinsically linked to my fascination with nutrition, a fundamental understanding that "we are what we eat." Even during periods when my dietary choices weren't perfect, the innate knowledge that the food we consume and absorb forms the structure of our physical, mental, and emotional selves has been a guiding principle. I embraced a vegetarian lifestyle for three decades, prioritizing organic foods, a foundation that has served as the bedrock of my enduring good health. When health challenges did arise, my immediate instinct was to recalibrate with a well-balanced diet and restorative lifestyle practices.
This proactive approach became even more pronounced when I decided to embark on the journey of motherhood. Months before trying to conceive, I dedicated myself to achieving optimal health through targeted nutrition and consistent exercise. Prenatal vitamins became a daily ritual, ensuring I was filling any potential nutritional gaps to provide the best possible start for my future child. These were tangible steps I could take, empowering myself to create the healthiest environment for my baby.
Five months into my first pregnancy, the unexpected diagnosis of gestational diabetes presented a significant hurdle. Yet, with unwavering determination, I embraced the challenge, managing it entirely through diet and exercise. The discipline of monitoring my blood glucose levels multiple times a day and engaging in 90 minutes of daily physical activity became my new norm. The reward was a healthy baby girl and a swift postpartum recovery. I continued these healthy habits, prioritizing the best nutrition I could provide as my daughter grew.
When my second pregnancy brought another diagnosis of gestational diabetes, I felt equipped with the knowledge and experience to navigate it successfully. However, this time presented an additional challenge: postpartum preeclampsia. While the experience of spending two nights in the ICU was frightening, I firmly believe that my strong foundation of good health was instrumental in my complete recovery. Perhaps a touch of divine grace played a role as well.
In 2018, a long-held passion ignited a new chapter. I attended the Nutritional Therapy Association annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, and it felt like coming home. Surrounded by like-minded individuals, I knew I had found my tribe. The following year, I enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program, embarking on an intense year of studying the science of nutrition and mastering the hands-on skills of functional assessment.
It comes as no surprise that when faced with the potential threat of memory loss, I am meeting it with the same proactive and determined spirit that has guided me through every other challenge. Learning about my unique biochemistry, identifying the foods that can serve as medicine, implementing targeted lifestyle interventions, and staying abreast of cutting-edge research and modalities will be my path to mitigating this potential shadow in my future.
I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of Alzheimer's disease. I watched it steal the talents and personality of my maternal grandmother and, more recently, extinguish the vibrant energy of my mother. But I refuse to accept Alzheimer's and dementia as inevitable. I am on a passionate mission to empower others with this understanding. These diseases do not have to be our destiny, and they will not be the destiny of me or my daughters.
The first documented reversals of Alzheimer's offer a beacon of hope, and I am committed to amplifying that hope with actionable strategies. Recognizing that each individual is unique and requires a bio-individualized approach is the cornerstone of my expertise as a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. My Master's degree in Counseling and Development further enhances my ability to connect with clients, meet them where they are, and guide them on their journey to wellness.
Whether you are pursuing conception and seeking guidance on health and nutrition or are looking to proactively extend your health span throughout your lifespan, I am eager to partner with you at Alethia Nutrition. Let's work together to unlock your body's innate potential for health and vitality.
Contact
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