You have Questions? I have answers!

While I do not practice as an RD, I do practice as a Clinical Nutritionist (CN) based on a functional approach. I have a Masters Degree in Health Science, Human Nutrition, from the University of Bridgeport (UB), a regionally accredited school, institutionally accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Additionally, UB is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education (ACNPE), a programmatic accrediting agency for clinical programs in advanced nutrition. 

I am in the process of finalizing 1,000 hours of clinical experience working under the supervision of experienced practitioners, to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®), which is considered a nationally recognized credential and an advanced certification for personalized nutrition practitioners. 

I have passed the Board Certification Nutrition Specialist (BCNS℠) exam, required to become certified as a (CNS®), which demonstrates my knowledge and proficiency required to practice as a CN. 

My education, professional and personal experience have prepared and equipped me with the required training to provide the best quality personalized nutrition services to clients and communities. 

The level of education and experience is relatively similar for a CN and RD, with graduate level requirements and a specific number of supervised hours required for both. However, the pathways of a CN and RD are different. Although a CN cannot obtain a licensure in Texas, a CN has the option to pursue a CNS® or pursue licensure in other approved states. Licensing and certification requirements for a CNS and RD vary by state. For more information, see link below.   

When I provide a nutritional analysis, it is based on a functional versus conventional perspective. My assessment consists of evaluating several areas of an individual that may have an influence on their overall health, such as their diet, lifestyle, culture, environment, health/medical history, stress levels, genes, and lab work. Health and Nutrition can only improve when there is a balanced state between the mind, the spirit and the body. Thus, a functional or "wholistic" approach focuses on evaluating the individual as a whole, rather than just on one area such as nutrition. 

Unfortunately, today we live in an environment where nutrients are depleted due to various factors. While I do not believe supplements should replace food or are the solution to health concerns, I do believe some supplements are necessary for some individuals in some cases. My recommendations are based on a personalized nutrition analysis. Additionally, the quality of the brand is highly considered, due to the lack of regulation within the supplement industry in the U.S.

I do not accept insurance because that places limitations on the kind of quality and nutrition interventions I can provide to clients.  This provides the flexibility to work with clients based on a wholistic/functional approach compared to the limited conventional methods covered by insurance. Additionally, this type of service is a long-term investment, one that may save you thousands of dollars from hospital visits, physician visits, and medications.   

• DBN was created to provide clients with a place where they feel comfortable enough to share their health concerns; where they can feel heard and valued as a person, and not just as another patient at a doctor's office, where nutritional support is not provided, or is very limited. 
• While I agree that social media can be beneficial, it can lead to misrepresentation and misinformation because every body is unique from a physiological cellular level. That is why nutrition recommendations should be personalized and tailored for the individual.
• Science is always evolving, and the body is always changing. I prefer to focus on the core of nutrition vs the latest or most popular fad in nutrition, where there lacks research. The nutrition analysis I provide is intricate, but I keep it real, simple, and manageable with clients. 
• If you prefer to consult in Spanish, I am fluent, written and verbal.