We recently connected with Terri Edwards and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Terri thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was your school or training experience like? Share an anecdote or two that you feel illustrate important aspects or the overall nature of your schooling/training experience.

Most of my studies have helped to prepare me for nutrition counseling as a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. From my undergraduate work and training in analysis, to my graduate and certification work and training in the structure and function of the human body, best practices in holistic nutrition, current theories, and appropriate holistic nutrition protocols for individuals, my education and training experience has prepared me to work one-on-one and with groups, informing and supporting individuals to gain greater overall health and wellness through adjustments to food and lifestyle.

For example, my graduate work provided a foundation for understanding how the body functions and what it requires in terms of nutrition for proper structure to be developed and maintained throughout our lives, so that our bodies function well. It also encouraged me to delve into current research on topics such as chemically produced food additives, like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has been linked to conditions such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, obesity, and arthritic conditions like gout, when consumed regularly over time. Information like this can help us better understand what we need to eat, or what we should lessen or avoid eating to improve our overall health.

Trans fats (hydrogenated oils) are another example of how a food additive can lead to health issues. Initially, trans fats were promoted as a healthier option than consuming saturated fats. The first commercially available trans-fat (Crisco) was used in 1911. By 2015, more than 100 years later, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had enough research to support the fact that these artificial trans fats were unsafe to eat, because they clogged arteries and increased the risk of heart attacks and death, so they established a new policy to ban manufacturers from adding them to the American public’s food and beverages.

Findings like these have helped me better understand what the human body requires for health, as well as what to avoid to reduce damage that can lead to dysfunction and disease.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I founded E4H as a consulting business to work with individuals, optimizing their health naturally, as I’ve done, using food and lifestyle modifications for improved metabolism and a healthier weight and body. Food is foundational because it contains nutrients that get broken down and used for energy, growth, and other important body functions. If our metabolism isn’t functioning well, we can have health issues like weight challenges, fatigue, and metabolic syndrome, which increases our risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dietary nutrients and their metabolites are the building blocks of body structure, serving as fuel for the body, and directing the function of other molecules, like proteins. So, choosing the right food for the body is crucial to our overall health, and the foundation of becoming healthier!

At E4H, the starting point to learning and assessing the client’s story begins with a 3-Month Program that includes a written assessment completed by the client, and meetings (which can be in-person or online at the client’s discretion) to develop the client’s personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan. These meetings provide time for the client and counselor to discuss the client’s specific health goals and the interventions that can be used to move the client toward those goals. The plan may include health pillars like food, movement, stress, sleep, and supplementation modifications that help clients address their concerns and move them toward their health goals.

For women who want to learn how food, movement, purpose, relationships, and sleep all play a role in our overall health, E4H offers a 6-week personal or small group online challenge called the BWELL Challenge.

Holistic nutrition takes the natural approach to developing a healthy body through a varied, balanced diet of whole foods and beverages that support the body, and also addresses the emotional and spiritual aspects that contribute to optimizing overall health and well-being.

Each small incremental shift to improving our food and lifestyle positively impacts overall health. And, because not everyone can afford to work one-on-one with a nutrition counselor, I share free, research-backed information on various health-related topics like Simplifying Food Portions, How to Achieve a Healthy, Sustainable Weight, and How to Diversify Your Diet for Improved Health, as well as recipes with healthy ingredients on the E4H website blog page.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There was a time when I believed that all food sold in America was safe to eat, that the food industry and government had researched any substances added, and had safeguards in place for food items sold for public consumption.

Sure, some things we consume, like donuts and candy, would not be considered particularly supportive of health, but things added to our foods, such as high-fructose corn syrup and trans fats, now have research that shows they can lead to chronic health conditions. And, with thousands of food additives used today, the lesson here is that not all commercial foods are suitable for consumption if we want a healthy body.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Information can provide the basis for change, but being ready to make changes requires intentionality and consistency. We need to clearly define our goals, find our motivation, plan, and consistently practice our new behaviors that lead us toward our health goals.

Providing information like detailed food plans or exercise programs can be the foundation for an individual to begin making changes that move them toward a healthier lifestyle, but supporting them as they make these changes in their day-to-day lives is a critical step to success. Support in the day-to-day is why we begin with a three-month program with weekly check-ins to discuss successes, challenges, and address questions that arise, because the client’s success will depend on their ability to carry out the steps in their plan that help them meet their goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eat4healthnutrition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e4h_nutrition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eat4healthnutrition/
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-edwards-4904b08a