About Me
Welcome! My name is Alana Dillinger and I am a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. I am also an avid runner and advocate for our planet and believe the best thing for my body and the Earth is a whole food diet!
I gravitated towards a whole-food, plant-based diet as a way to heal after some negative experiences with the current health care system. Similar to most people these days, I have lost family members to cancer. One thing that kept bothering me was that I did not hear from any doctors to focus on a nutrient dense diet, chemotherapy was the only answer. The higher cancer and other disease rates these days made me question the connection between disease and the Standard American Diet filled with processed foods and sugar.
My interest in proper nutrition deepened in 2019 when my sister was diagnosed with C. Diff, SIBO, and CIRS. Years of visiting many doctors followed and it seemed backwards to me that someone in their mid-twenties could be so ill. It became my goal to cook her healthy gluten, dairy, sugar, soy free meals that were equally nutritious and delicious to help her gut recover. Together we discovered the effect nutrient dense food could have healing our bodies. Through proper nutrition she has regained her energy and life. If nutrient dense whole food could help those with debilitating illness, what could it do for my relatively healthy body?
In 2022 I began focusing on eating a whole food plant-based diet and it revolutionized my energy and health. I was in the middle of training for the Boston Marathon and after a couple of weeks of swapping protein powder for beans and lack-luster salads for in-season roasted vegetables and lentils my splits became faster and more effortless. At the race I ran a personal best that I accredit to the change in my nutrition. Fueling our bodies with the right nutrients can unlock new levels of energy, fitness, and health. Since then, I have never looked back. Today I focus on including as many plants as I can in each of my meals paired with organic protein sources and nutrients dense grains. It is possible to live without relying on medicine and the freedom that comes with health is truly the greatest wealth.
I believe that health begins with food and anyone can take control of theirs. In a world that tries to convince us that we need processed food and medication we can learn to grow, select, and prepare nutrient dense, healing foods. Regardless of where you are in your journey towards a better diet I would like to meet you where you are at and share the knowledge I've gathered so you can feel your best every day.
Education and Certifications
Nutritional Therapy Association 2023
My Philosophy
We all want to get the most that we can out of our lives. To do so we need energy and properly functioning bodies to chase our dreams and live a whole life. To find our truest selves and to live up to our truest potential we need to give our bodies the purest form of energy.
Our bodies are not only what we put into them but what we can digest and absorb. Just as everyone has a unique body, they require unique nutrients and prefer different food sources. Everyone is bio-individual. Bio-individuality is the idea that everyone needs a unique variety of whole foods in their diet to reach optimal health. What works for one person may not work for someone else. We all have different allergies, responsibilities, schedules, skills, preferences, and dreams. My approach is to meet my clients where they are at. Through the Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire and our conversations, I will be able to understand your body's systems, food preferences, goals, lifestyle, and daily responsibilities to create a nutrition plan that is tailored to your life and your unique body.
When looking at your nutrition plan, there are a few main pillars of health that we will explore together and work to optimize for your body. Our bodies have an innate wisdom how to take care of themselves and with a little help supporting these pillars of health your body can do the rest of the work.
Digestion - You've probably heard the phrase "you are what you eat." This is true, but even more true is you are what your body can absorb and that all begins with digestion. To help our bodies break down food properly and benefit from all of the minerals and vitamins in our food there are dietary and lifestyle changes we can make to maintain proper and efficient digestion.
Blood Sugar Regulation - Do you experience an afternoon slump most days? Feel like you are lacking energy even though you just ate? Our bodies use glucose as it's source of energy and the amount of glucose we have ready to use is what we call blood sugar. To maintain stable energy levels, we must maintain stable blood sugar levels. Together we can discover what balance of macronutrients your body requires to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and energy all day.
Hydration - The human body is made up of over 50% water so it is so important keep ourselves hydrated! However, hydration is more than just drinking a glass of water every couple hours. There are proper ways to hydrate your body so your body can gain all of the benefits of water.
By combining these elements, we can optimize how your body functions every day. You will be able to see and feel the difference that whole food nutrition can make. Let's work together so you can reach your goals and enjoy a long, healthy, vibrant life!