Jessica Reader: Master Nutrition Therapist

Jessica Lee Reader is a Master Nutrition Therapist and Weight Loss Specialist whose philosophy is that health is the most valuable thing in life. As a child, she moved frequently with her family for her father’s job. By the age of 17, she had moved to 8 different states. She landed in Colorado for her senior year of high school. It was a challenging move to leave the heavily wooded Poconos.  Her group of friends meditated and swam in the waterfalls of their backyards. Overnight she was surrounded by people who skipped school to go shopping at the malls and eat at food fast joints. She lost her roots and connection to nature. She found herself anemic with high triglycerides, chronic fatigue, and poor digestion.

Over the years she has created a successful practice as a cosmetologist and spoke to clients about healthy living from the inside out. In 2007, she enrolled at The Nutrition Therapy Institute (NTI) and became a Certified Master Nutrition Therapist.

Hi Jerry, I received my formal training at the Nutrition Therapy Institute through a comprehensive science-based 2-year nutrition program. In my practice as a Certified Master Nutrition Therapist, I use an integrative approach that incorporates unique chemistry, goals, needs, and challenges. I review functional blood chemistry and integrate the use of clinical supplementation when needed.

Great question! Functional medicine, sports nutrition, and yoga support one another on a holistic level. Functional medicine considers the person as a whole and emphasizes the connection of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. This encompasses healthy eating, lifestyle habits, self-care, exercise, and yoga to promote wellness. I integrate these modalities to create a customized plan based on potential factors that may be causing a lack of energy, weight gain, digestive issues, poor sleep, and stress.

I am a huge believer in emotional, spiritual, mental, physical, and psychological wellness. When all that works in harmony, we become more balanced. Do we have anything in common?

Cheers to some green tea on this one! Yes, I agree with you. Our primary health goal should be to achieve optimal well-being in all aspects. Ideally, every system should function at its very best possible. If one minor thing is off like if our Vitamin D level is out of range it can lead to a plethora of issues including fatigue, depression, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, and more. Therefore, it’s so important to address the body as a whole. When we work on improving all areas of health, we become vitalized.

Our present fast-food diet is often nutrient-depleted by being low in fiber (think veggies) and high in sugar and trans-fats (the scary fat). This is troubling for our digestion, weight, and health of our heart.

I think one overlooked area on how a fast-food diet is harming us is that we’ve lost the appreciation and mindfulness of what goes into getting our food from point A to into our mouth. I’m a proponent of eating mindfully by slowing down and creating a nutrient-dense home-cooked meal. When we slow down eating it assists the digestion process and we absorb our nutrients better. Cooking at home enables us to read every ingredient, select healthy options, and get creative in the kitchen. You can think of it as an art project and even get your family involved.

Here is an article I wrote on the act of Mindful Cooking that you may enjoy.

I love food. However, so much of eating food is linked to metabolism, energy, mental clarity, and mood. I consider myself disciplined, but even I give into chips, ice cream, and snacks. Is there anything wrong with that?

Chips, ice cream, and snacks, oh my! Just kidding – you can have those. I encourage moderation and reading labels from the ground up. Instead of reading labels for calories, you can read the ingredients and make sure that what you’re consuming is natural. If it passes the natural test, then read how much a serving size is and enjoy it occasionally. I also recommend consuming healthy snacks between meals to support your blood sugar, energy, and metabolism.

Walk me through weight loss, food sensitivity, and seasonal cleanses?

I specialize in weight loss, digestion, and detoxification and have created programs centered on these areas.

• The 30-Day Natural Weight Loss Course allows individuals to lose weight naturally and sustainably while learning the how’s and why’s. Throughout the program, I train individuals in understanding their specific biochemistry, habits, goals, and challenges. There are plenty of resources including webinars, an interactive eBook, a yoga video, weekly menu plans, grocery lists, and recipes included in it.

• Food sensitivities can be challenging to identify because symptoms are delayed from 30 minutes to 72 hours. Due to this delay, it is very hard to isolate and identify the food that is causing inflammatory symptoms. There are two primary options for food sensitivity testing that I provide in my practice.

1. 1. The ALCAT Test is a blood test that measures cellular reactions to over 450 substances. It is the most comprehensive and effective food sensitivity test that I have worked with.
   2. The Food Sensitivity Elimination Protocol is a guided meal plan that supports digestive health and helps to identify hidden food sensitivities. Throughout the program, I support individuals in removing the most common inflammatory foods and then reintroducing them back in while they monitor their reactions.

• The series of Seasonal Cleanses is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. I designed it to support your body’s needs as it transitions from season-to-season. Each season different organs need support. This program blends a seasonal food menu plan with yoga and/or meditation techniques to enhance detoxification.

I recommend specific supplements based on your labs and symptoms. If your labs need adjusting or if you’re having underlying symptoms, then we can discuss what supplements can help to support your body. I have an online supplement store that is open to the public, or I can make specific recommendations based on your needs.

I think social media can be a wonderful tool to build a supportive community and stay connected to friends and family. Especially during a time like this. That being said, there are a lot of opinions and a mix of emotions that float around on social media.

The good news is that we can avoid taking it all in and affecting our health negatively. One of my favorite quotes by the Dalai Lama is, “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace“. This speaks to the layers of social media. It feels so much better to just unplug, cook a nourishing meal, practice yoga, connect to nature, or even just take a few deep breaths.