CNS Unfiltered

In this episode, Jena talks with Jana Jamail, fellow CNS practitioner and also a researcher for King's College London. Jena and Jana discuss nutrition's role in neuroscience, mitochondria's impact on the body, how to create a supportive environment for clients' healing, and finding your niche as a CNS practitioner. Jana also shares a case study of one of her own clients, and walks Jena through how...

CNS Unfiltered: Journal Club is a quarterly series that highlights emerging clinical nutrition research, as well as the voices and faces behind the work. In this new episode, Jena talks with Corey Schuler, a CNS and researcher, about his article "Energy Allocation Resilience and Endocrine Integration," published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Together, Jena and Corey explore t...

In this episode, Jena talks with Meg Bowman, author of the book This is Your Body on Trauma , co-founder of Clinician's Incubator, and fellow CNS. Jena and Meg discuss how trauma and stress play a role in many clients' healing journeys, as well as how different tools and strategies best support their feelings of safety when doing the work that comes with clinical nutrition. Meg also shares a case...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena shares a case study detailing the worst yeast case she has ever seen in her practice. Jena discusses the complexities of a yeast infection, including why she deviated from normal protocol and approached resolving the yeast infection in her client before anything else first, how yeast often evades traditional medicine, and why maintenance is important when it...

In this episode, Jena talks with Yulia Glotzer, fellow CNS and owner of Vibrant People Nutrition. In this conversation, Jena and Yulia discuss several different strategies for emerging CNS professionals looking to start their own practice. They also talk about why building community with your region is so crucial to your professional career and practice. In addition, Yulia brings an eye-opening ca...

In this episode, Jena talks with Autumn Beam, CNS practitioner and founder of Hope Wella Functional Nutrition and also The Practitioner's Growth Lab. In this conversation, Jena and Autumn discuss the numerous complexities surrounding MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) and the role that nutrition plays in treating and managing it. In addition, Jena also talks with Autumn about The Practitioner's...

In this episode, Jena talks with Anna Ballard, a board-certified physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor PT, about the importance of strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. Anna discusses the scope of pelvic floor, its connection to mental health and trauma, and the process of pelvic floor rehabilitation as an intervention for different health conditions. Anna touches on why cognitive tri...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena discusses how impactful gut health can be on menstrual health and menstrual disorders. She shares the case study of Joan, one of her own clients struggling with both PCOS and debilitating ovarian cysts, and talks through how she helped Joan avoid surgery and optimize her reproductive health by starting with the gut, so she could start trying for a baby in th...

In this episode, Jena talks with Eric Johnson, a nutrition and wellness coach and owner of Nx Health Solutions. Jena and Eric discuss the vision behind Nx Health Solutions, why a food-first approach is so important, and Eric shares a case study from one of his own clients, a busy teacher trying to finally put herself first. To get in touch with Eric, go to www.nxhealthsolutions.org . Check out his...

The conversation around integrative cancer care continues this week. Jena talks with her colleague, Dr. Ryan Hall, a fellow CNS practitioner and co-owner of Deep Well Collective. Jena and Ryan discuss why integrative care is so important for patients undergoing treatment for cancer diagnoses, as well as different integrative nutrition and supplementation strategies for cancer patients. In addition...

In this special episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena talks to chef Chuck Hayworth, a rare stomach cancer survivor of 25 years and personal chef specializing in gut-friendly cooking and meal prep. Chuck tells Jena about his own healing journey after being diagnosed with a rare stomach cancer, having to re-learn how to cook and eat for himself as he healed. He also discusses how this journey led to his 2...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena discusses the critical role of gut health in relation to brain and immunity imbalances, focusing on her son's healing journey. Jena's case study highlights how the gut is central to health imbalances and immunity, with immunity issues often stemming from the gut. She also emphasizes how brain health is connected to gut health. To get in touch with Jena, chec...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena interviews Dr. Chris Latham, a fellow CNS specializing in treating athletic women over 40. Dr. Latham shares her strategies and insights for young CNS professionals looking to start their careers, and she also shares a case study of one of her own clients—a 50+ year-old world duathlon champion—walking Jena through how she used precision nutrition and supplem...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena interviews Dr. Gregory Nacarelli, a fellow CNS specializing in genetic testing. Dr. Nacarelli shares his nutrigenomics expertise, and he and Jena discuss the role of genetics and genomics in health management and precision medicine. They touch on the ways that diet and lifestyle changes can impact your genetic code and expression, how genetics, metabolomics,...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena talks with Emily Stapleton, a yoga teacher, health coach, and a nutraceutical representative for OrthoMolecular. Emily shares why it's important to listen to a healthcare provider's recommendations when purchasing supplements. Emily and Jena also discuss the raw materials, manufacturing, and testing of nutraceuticals, how absorption relates to a supplement's...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Jena discusses the often overlooked health issues in children, particularly focusing on her daughter's journey through health challenges related to thyroid issues and gut health. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the foundational aspects of children's health and the need for thorough testing and holistic approaches rather than quick fixes through med...

In this episode of CNS Unfiltered, Cindy Moustafa-Fusco shares her inspiring journey from advertising to becoming a CNS practitioner. She discusses the importance of a holistic approach to nutrition, emphasizing the emotional aspects of eating and the need for personalized care. Cindy's case study of a former client looking to lose weight and optimize her health highlights how nutrition can transf...

In this episode, Jennifer Brand of Jennifer Caryn Brand Nutrition talks with Jena about how her family history with chronic psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis led her to becoming a CNS practitioner for children with chronic skin concerns. Jennifer also goes through a case study of a former client, a three year-old girl with some of the most severe skin inflammation she'd ever seen. Jennifer discuss...

In this special feature, Jena talks with her mentor, Aaron Hovanec, a nutrition professional and kinesiologist from Age Management of West Michigan, about the progression of weight loss science and treatment over the last few decades. Together, they discuss the validity of several different treatments and modalities, and how diet and lifestyle really do play a significant role in weight loss—AND h...

In this solo episode, Jena unpacks the myth of diagnosis as beginning and end of health concerns. In this case study, the client's severe malnutrition and gut imbalances that followed her COVID infection caused her to lose over 35 pounds. Jena discusses the diagnostic testing that led to her discoveries, as well as the protocol and treatment plan that ultimately allowed her client to regain the we...

In this episode, Sara Kahn of Belly Bliss Nutrition talks with Jena about her pathway into functional medicine, and how her own health concerns led to her career as a CNS practitioner. Sara also brings a case study of a former client, a retired physician looking to get relief in her gut after traditional medicine left her without answers. Sara walks Jena through the client's health history and sym...

In this episode, Aida Sadeghi of Feel Good Eats Nutrition talks with Jena about her journey to becoming a CNS practitioner and finding her niche in women's health and fertility. She'll also cover the importance of nutrition and lifestyle when it comes to fertility and pregnancy, as well as why it's important to monitor your thyroid if you're trying to get pregnant. To get in touch with Aida, check...

In this episode, Ian Rubin delves into the transformative power of food story coaching, emphasizing the importance of empowerment over mere education in nutrition. He discusses the human connection in health practices and how understanding one's relationship with food can lead to profound personal growth. Ian introduces his 'four A's' methodology, which includes awareness, analysis, acceptance, an...

In this solo episode, Jena debunks the idea of perpetual resilience through a case study of one of her own clients. In this case study, the client's objective to just "optimize" actually uncovers a plethora of alarming health concerns in her gut. Jena discusses the diagnostic testing that led to her discoveries, as well as the protocol that ultimately gave this client more relief than she even cam...

In this episode, Lindsay Christensen of Alpine Fuel Nutrition talks with Jena about how her experiences with Lyme disease and SIBO introduced her to the world of functional medicine and clinical nutrition, and touches on the different skills that she cultivated to break into a career as a CNS practitioner. Lindsay also discusses a former client of hers, and breaks down the protocols and diagnostic...