by Nicole Hodson, Executive Director, NANP

As you know, we are growing over here at the NANP. Our team is currently the largest ever to serve you. And, that is really good news with so much happening not only amongst our largest-ever member base of over 1,200, but also within the ever-growing and changing landscape of the holistic nutrition field.

One area that is especially important right now is legislative affairs.

It’s YOUR Time to Speak Up!

Miriam G. Zacharias, MS, NTC, BCHN, President of the NANP

Public speaking is the fastest way to grow your knowledge, your influence, and your base of followers. Yet many people dread the idea of speaking in front of an audience. Jerry Seinfeld, in fact, once quipped:

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Death is number two. This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”

Bauman College Celebrates 30 Years of Educating Leaders in Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts

BERKELEY, CA (January 18, 2019) –– Now celebrating their 30th anniversary, Bauman College continues to ​be at the forefront of the holistic health movement. They were pioneers who championed ideas now widely accepted in the whole-foods movement, and t​heir renowned Nutrition Consultant and Natural Chef programs are grounded in a scientific, evidence-based approach.

Not long ago, the following statement was posted on a website called Science-Based Medicine:

“Up until a year ago, I was a practicing holistic nutritionist. As someone who has left that world behind, I have a moral obligation to do what is right – and what is right is to denounce my former beliefs in an industry rife with deception.”

What Ancestral Really Means

American College of Healthcare Sciences Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence in Holistic Health Education.  

A Note from Our Executive Director: Nicole Hodson

Don’t Ignore the Hand!

Why I'm Optimistic About Our Future

A cursory browse through online newsfeeds and social media posts on the dire state of our nation’s health can be disheartening. But I’ve learned over the years that the “news” doesn’t give you the whole picture of the efforts being made to turn things around, each day, in small ways all over the country.  

What is Holistic Nutrition?

“What is Holistic Nutrition?” I get asked this question a lot when I tell people what I do for a living. I tell them the basics; that holistic nutrition is about using food as medicine while integrating the body, mind and spirit.

What I Agreed to on My Summer Travels

Despite the title of this article, I haven’t had much downtime this summer. In fact, as I write this, I’m working on a project in North Carolina for most of June, far from my home (and hubby) in Tucson. I’m working with an energy medicine company, and what I’ve learned about quantum physics, consciousness, awareness, intentions and their relationship to health is blowing my mind! This is a whole new ballgame for me, and I truly appreciate their patience and humor as my clients introduce me to, in their words, “a whole new level of crazy” when it comes to their work.   

Fight the fears that come with freedom

Nineteen years ago, I unshackled myself from a job to pursue my life’s purpose.  I was frustrated in my role as an “employee” in a large tech company and tired of spending my precious days helping others build their dream instead of following my own.

Why Board Certification Matters

As the Executive Director of the Council of Holistic Health Educators, I get a lot of questions from practitioners. One that comes up quite often is if they should attain further credentialing. From a policy standpoint the answer is always yes. Anything that you can do to differentiate yourself from others elevates our profession and community. Furthermore, it helps to qualify your ability to speak to some of the "science" that is often thrown at us by those who seek to discredit, disqualify, and exclude us from the marketplace.

“What ARE you?”

In high school this question generally meant, “What group do you belong to? Are you a 'rocker?' A 'preppy?' A 'jock?'” I didn’t hear this question for years after graduating from high school.

Are You the Bearer of Bad News?

Before finding my passion for nutrition I earned my bachelor’s degree in Drama. As a Drama major I was required to participate in as many of the university’s theatrical productions as my schedule would allow. The most fun I had during a production was as an extra when I had walk-on scenes with a comedian. Jim Pelley kept me in stitches backstage every night. But once the show ended we lost touch and I didn’t see him until several years later.

THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION IN IBS by Lesley Herrmann NC, BCHN^TM owner and founder of Awakened Taste Nutrition

It is estimated that about 11 per cent of the population worldwide are affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Canavan et al, 2014). In 2005, The Canadian Society of Intestinal Research estimated that up to 22 per cent of the Western population was affected by this condition (Care, 2005). Although more women are diagnosed with IBS than men, it is believed by many practitioners that men experience symptoms of IBS just as often as women, but are less likely to report them to their doctor or seek medical help (Mercola, 2016). IBS is a diagnosis that is given when symptoms of chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, and abdominal pain persist after structural abnormalities, infection, metabolic disturbances and other GI disorders are ruled out.

You are Not Alone!

Before joining the NANP team I worked in private practice out of my home office. I loved working from home, helping clients reach their health goals and being a part of the solution they were seeking. The upsides of working at home were many: I no longer had to drive across town to work, fight for parking or wear uncomfortable business suits, nylons and heels. I was able to oversee my own schedule and even throw in a load of laundry when I needed. Life was good!

Sponsored by Splenda. Really?

I was working on a project for the NANP a couple of weeks ago. The task at hand was clarifying what the holistic nutrition profession is all about, how we work to ensure optimal client outcomes, and how our organization compares to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).  

The Good, the Bad, and the Challenge with Advertising

Research shows that the average person is exposed to up to 10,000 marketing messages a day.

How to get remarkable results in 2018

Fifteen years ago, I was in Hawaii on vacation and was able to re-connect with my old grad school office-mate. I hadn’t seen Janice for years and was excited to meet up with her in Honolulu where she lived.