The Addiction Nutritionist

You will not want to miss this episode; it is near and dear to my heart! Jolene Park was one of three people who personally changed the trajectory of my life. When someone told me to check out Jolene Park's famous TED Talk, and her resources on Gray Area Drinking, I said, "Huh? Gray Area Drinking? What the heck is that?"....Little did I know in that moment that that phrase, and Jolen...

In this episode I chat with my teacher and mentor, Christina Veselak! I took Christina's course on Recovery Nutrition and Amino Acid Therapy in 2017. Her Level 1 training program helped launch me into the world of addiction nutrition and taught me what NO OTHER PROGRAM is teaching: how to feed a recovering brain! Christina is the founder of The Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition...

In today's episode, I take on the topic of Healthy Fats. What are healthy fats, where can we find them in the diet, which specific types of fats may help recovery outcomes, and which fats should we all avoid. Healthy fats are an essential part of everyone's diet, but there is often confusion around how much we should consume and what are the best sources. I attempt to clear up some of the...

In today's episode I chat with Meghan Bottom, a faith based Mental Health Coach., We have a great discussion regarding anxiety and depression, and how practices that merge science and faith can help you to overcome various mental health disorders. Megan is a highly skilled Christian counselor and Christian Mental Health Coach dedicated to helping individuals and couples find healing, growth, a...

In this episode my friend and colleague Jeff Jones who is an LPC, CACIII, Nutritional Recovery Life Coach and owner of The Family Recovery Solution, shares with us what he calls a "spotlight diagram", that gives a visual of how family members organize themselves around their loved one who is struggling with addiction. You can access the Spotlight Diagram here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b...

In this episode Nikki and I trade places, while she gives us the low down on mindfulness and meditation. Nikki has spent years and countless hours in training, teaching and education, to better understand these two practices, where they are similar, how they different, and how they can be applied to radically change your life. I have personally benefited from mindfulness practices resulting in maj...

In today's episode I chat with Helen Duyvestyn, a Holistic Mental Health Coach and Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Helen has made it her mission to educate nurses in New Zealand about the importance of nutrition for mental health. Helen was the keynote speaker for the Auckland District Health Board where she shared striking studies and undeniable evidence that demonstrated nutrition must play a...

In today's episode I chat with my friend and returning guest Matt Salis, the author of Soberevolution (a book about how to survive an alcoholic marriage) and host of the Untoxicated Podcast. I was casually listening to episode 197 of Matt's podcast when he started talking about how shame has creeped back into his life 6 years into sobriety, but this time it circles around food. I was so mo...

In this episode I chat with Becky Doidge, an SLP and Feeding Specialist who helps her patients move from a primarily processed foods diet to a more varied and nutrient dense one. Becky works with special populations including those suffering from ARFID and Eosinophilia Esophagitis, but the strategies she uses to help individuals move away from eating a highly restricted diet (due to fear, sensory...

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a 10 week class that today's guest Alyssa Vogelwede, taught about the science of building joy. My mind was blown on so many levels during the course that I just knew I had to have Alyssa on to share her wisdom with us. I had never really given joy much thought, other than holding the belief that it was not much different than "happiness&quot...

In today's episode I speak with Dr. Mary Braud, a Colorado based Psychiatrist and Functional Medicine Practitioner. Dr. Braud details for us the differences between conventional medicine and a functional approach, why she shifted her practice to a more functional model, and the limitations of the standard model of care we still have today. She introduces us to the term "orthomolecular med...

In today's episode I chat with Rebecca Vigelius, a sought-after Holistic Sleep & Stress Coach and behaviour-change specialist. Rebecca shares with us the various barriers that get in the way between you and your best night's sleep. In the majority of podcasts I have listened to about this topic you will commonly hear about sleep hygiene and other practices you can enable like blue ligh...

My guest today has spent more than 25 years in the mental health space in a number of different capacities, including suicide prevention and addiction recovery.   She has a harrowing story of how she ended up in mental health, and a deep personal connection to nutrition, sugar consumption, depression and cancer. After years of battling different types of depression and a subsequent cancer diagnosi...

In today's episode I chat with Mikkel Clark, a friend and colleague in the health and wellness space who after years of doing the corporate grind found himself over weight, stressed to the max and generally unsatisfied with life. After two life changing events Mikkel decided to grab life by the horns and pull a full 180. He began to make radical changes like putting his health front and center...

In today's episode I speak with Andrea Nicholson, former Crime Scene Investigator turned Holistic Health Practitioner. Andrea now spends her time as a Metabolic Health Investigator helping her clients discover and investigate their own blood sugar patterns, optimizing them for better mood, brain function and overall well being. This is one of my FAVORITE topics and highly relevant to people in...

In today's episode, Nikki and I discuss what it's like to move from a life of Reactivity , to Resilient Recovery . We define what each of these states looks like and how they tend to show up in peoples lives ( hint hint it's not just people in recovery that live reactively). We describe what it looks like to be fully present in your own life. We also discuss how to recognize when you a...

In today's episode we discuss weight loss with Susie Thomsen, a NASM Certified Nutrition Coach, PN Certified Master Health Coach and owner of Unchained Wellness, a virtual practice that seeks to serve and equip women in the area of weight loss. Susie herself is in recovery from an eating disorder and has developed a unique approach to helping women find their own healthy weight in a sustainabl...

Matt Salis is a researcher and writer focused on addiction prevention and recovery, with a particular focus on the impact of addiction on various relationships. He co-hosts and produces the Untoxicated Podcast, writes for and edits the Sober and Unashamed website and blog, facilitates trauma and addiction recovery writing and support groups, coaches high school soccer, and is married to his busine...

In today's episode I welcome Jake Yoder, Owner and Founder of Natural Highs Recovery , a holistic health and mindfulness based practice based in Santa Cruz, that offers a variety of services to those in recovery. Jake is a Sobriety Coach, Mountain Guide, and Mindfulness teacher who uses holistic practices to help his clients build trust with themselves, learn to balance their nervous systems n...

In today's episode I welcome my first Client Spotlight guest Doug Fingliss. Doug is a former client who shares his remarkable story of recovery from alcohol, as well as an astounding 100 plus pound weight loss journey. Doug shares some of the components that have helped him feel resilient in his recovery, like running, exercise, art, sound meditation, and of course-nutrition. I hope that you&#...

In todays episode, I'm joined by my good friend and fellow Nutrition Therapist Charis Sederberg. Charis (pronounced Care -iss like Paris ) is a former oncology nurse, nutrition and digestive health expert and my go-to practitioner for all things digestive wellness. Charis breaks down what digestion really is, the different organs and chemical components involved, and explains in an easy to und...

In today's episode I welcome our very first guest to the podcast, Chris Engen, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, Amino Acid Therapist and owner of Nutrition for Recovery. In this episode Chris and I discuss Amino Acid Therapy, what it is, and how it's often the missing link in most people's recovery journey! We give an overview of the four mood regulating neurotransmitters; serotonin,...

Today's episode is Part 2 of a two part topic, Pillars of Recovery . So if you haven't heard Part 1, you may want to head over to Episode 5 to learn what the term Pillars of recovery means, and listen to Nikki's personal story. Today in Part 2, Kelly details her Pillars of Recovery, and shares the impact they have had on her life and how she maintains these habits on a daily basis to s...

Pillars of Recovery is split into two parts. Todays' episode is Part 1, where Nikki and I discuss Recovery Pillars , the foundational habits and practices that support a strong and Resilient Recovery. In Part 1 Nikki shares her personal pillars, how she developed them and why they are crucial to helping her thrive today. We believe there are many paths to recovery, and no two recovery journeys...

In today's episode, we take a hard look at the addictive nature of the powdery white stuff...sugar! Why do sugar cravings go up in early recovery? We detail the two different types of cravings. We discuss reactive hypoglycemia and its connection to recovery. We talk blood sugar management and why it's a key relapse prevention tool. We answer the question, what is a comfort food really... W...