We recently connected with Tara Torres and have shared our conversation below.

Tara, appreciate you joining 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.

I graduated with a B.S. in Nutrition Science from Kaplan University and an M.S. in Human Nutrition & Functional Medicine from the University of Western States, both of which were online degree programs. The online format allowed me the flexibility to continue to work full-time while juggling day-to-day tasks such as parenting. I prefer an online format because I am able to fit lectures, assignments, and other requirements into my schedule more feasibly than attending classes in person. I find the flexibility of an online program is geared toward working professionals with more availability and options. However, I will stress the importance of having the self-discipline and drive to complete necessary deadlines when following an online program. There are still multiple deadlines due throughout the week and completing these tasks in addition to working, parenting, and all the other things life throws at you requires strategic scheduling and often late nights or weekends doing schoolwork. I am currently completing my Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western States online while running my own business and raising two kids as a single mom. I highly recommend an online format for those who need flexibility with busy lives and schedules!

Tara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Functional Medicine Clinical Nutritionist specializing in gastrointestinal health, autoimmune disease, and obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight loss. I got into this industry in 2013 when I was diagnosed with celiac disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. After struggling to find adequate nutrition help myself, I decided to take my health into my own hands by pursuing a B.S. in Nutrition Science with my thesis written on celiac disease. During my master’s program, I wrote my capstone paper on nutrition and nutraceutical approaches to reduce symptoms associated with small intestine bacteria overgrowth (SIBO). Understanding and managing gut health and related disorders has been a long-time passion of mine. There are so many other health conditions that can benefit from improved gut health.

As the owner of Sky Therapeutics, my vision is to provide innovative approaches that advance how we care for our bodies and optimize health. At Sky Therapeutics, we address the root cause of confusing health conditions with contemporary, evidence-based nutrition solutions that optimize health and overall well-being. Sky Therapeutics’ proprietary protocols and resources revolutionize the way we address illness and support life-long, healthy living. Your health is wealth, and Sky Therapeutics offers modern nutrition solutions that address the root cause of disease.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I was first diagnosed with celiac disease the treatment was to simply maintain a gluten-free lifestyle moving forward. I was not offered any nutrition consultation or given much direction on what gluten is or where it is found in foods. I had to do a lot of research on my own which can be very difficult and confusing for someone with no prior nutrition education. This is a large part of why I changed my personal education direction and why I offer nutrition coaching services for people needing assistance understanding their own nutrition recommendations. There is a lot of confusing and sometimes conflicting information available on the internet today. My job is to help my clients navigate these recommendations and customize their nutrition plans based on their unique needs.

Now that I have a better understanding of the gastrointestinal system and how different diseases affect it, I realize why it took me so long to heal and feel better despite going gluten-free. The solution was not as simple as I was led to believe initially so many years ago. Due to years of damage to my small intestine, I was having difficulty breaking down and absorbing my food. I had multiple nutrient deficiencies and food hypersensitivities that were further driving my gastrointestinal inflammation and symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and bowel changes. Understanding what I know now through years of research and education, there are supplements we can take and dietary changes we can make to help speed up the repair of the gastrointestinal lining and reduce associated symptoms. Lifestyle also plays a role in managing diseases such as celiac disease such as stress and sleep management, movement or exercise, hydration, infrared sauna use, and so many more.

My hope is to take my education combined with personal and professional experiences and help others improve their gastrointestinal and overall health with comprehensive nutrition and lifestyle recommendations that address their unique health conditions.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Something that comes to mind is my first experience working as a clinical nutritionist at a gastroenterology practice. The more gastrointestinal patients I saw, the more I began to question the nutrition recommendations we had established. We offered basic diet handouts for each gastrointestinal condition with one counseling session to review with the patient. However, there were no follow-ups or use of supplements. Too often patients were seen again in the clinic by their medical provider for worsening conditions or no improvement despite our combined medical interventions and nutrition recommendations. It was at this point I decided to pursue my master’s degree in human nutrition & functional medicine so that I could gain better knowledge, tools, and resources to help patients. I pivoted from allopathic medicine and nutrition recommendations to functional medicine and functional nutrition recommendations. I’m so glad I pursued this education because of the wealth of information I have obtained since then using proprietary protocols including both diet and supplements using evidenced-based solutions that ultimately have led to better patient outcomes. I am still pursuing more education and certifications and feel this will be a lifelong journey as more studies and information become available. I look forward to watching my business continue to pivot as we continue to learn and grow and develop the resources and tools our patients and clients need to lead healthy lifestyles and maintain overall health.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://skytherapeutic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taratorresnutrition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skytherapeutics
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taratorresnutrition/