PRINCIPLES OF HOLISTIC HEALTH & NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE
This is term 2 in both the Holistic Nutrition & Health Coach program and the Holistic Nutritionist program.
Your second term
Each unique client changes how nutrition knowledge is applied.
Fundamentals teaches now examine food and nutrients through a holistic health perspective, and Principles moves that knowledge into individual application across life stages, health histories and changing needs.
You'll examine where common recommendations hold up, where caution is needed, and which details can change the direction of the client support you give.
Hydration is linked with electrolytes, kidney physiology, exercise, medication use and age. Fasting is considered in relation to metabolic health, hormonal responses and suitability. Food reactions, environmental exposures, hidden infections, herbal support and recovery are examined as connected influences on how a person feels and responds.
A glimpse inside the term
Nutrition applied to the person in front of you
These nine areas show how the term moves from knowing a recommendation to assessing its fit. The full lessons examine each subject in greater depth and include guided assessment and practitioner considerations.
Hydration, electrolytes and fluid balance
Water advice becomes a study of fluid balance, electrolytes, kidney physiology and hydration assessment. Needs are examined across age, activity, weight change, illness and GLP-1 use, where inadequate intake may appear in less obvious ways.
Bioindividual nutrition and special diets
Personalized nutrition is examined through genetics, food combining, cultural food practices, seasonal eating and dietary restrictions. Oxalates, salicylates and amines show why a food considered healthy in general may not suit every person or every stage of care.
Fasting, metabolism and suitability
Fasting physiology, autophagy, metabolic flexibility, BDNF and hormonal responses are studied with attention to women, diabetes and the circumstances that call for caution. Assessment comes before choosing a fasting schedule.
Herbology and traditional therapeutic actions
Herbal medicine begins with energetics, preparation and traditional actions. Adaptogens, bitters, carminatives, nervines, demulcents and tonics are considered with safety, medications and the reason an herb is being chosen.
Nutrition through the stages of life
Nutritional needs are followed from infancy through childhood, adolescence, fertility, adulthood and older age. Women's health, men's health, perimenopause and menopause show how physiology and nutritional needs shift over time.
Environmental exposures and cumulative load
The exposome brings water, air, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, plastics, heavy metals and mould into nutrition assessment. Bioaccumulation, mycotoxins, CIRS, HTMA and obesogens are introduced with attention to assessment limits and responsible support.
Hidden infections and gut disruption
Parasites, Candida, chronic infection concepts and Lyme disease are examined in relation to digestive health and persistent symptoms. Students consider assessment, gut restoration, referral and the limits of a Health Coach's scope.
Exercise, recovery and adaptation
Exercise is studied as a physiological input that affects recovery, fascia, strength, metabolism and healthy ageing. Hormesis and metabolic adaptation help explain why the amount and type of movement must suit the person's capacity.
Food sensitivities, histamine and elimination
Students learn the differences among adverse food reactions before considering elimination diets. Histamine intolerance, MCAS, DAO, chemical sensitivities, food additives and food-related concerns in ADHD show why careful assessment must come before restriction.
From knowledge to individual application
You learn when advice fits, when caution is required and when to refer
Because the same protocol can help one client and create problems for another, Principles develops the judgement to examine client suitability before making a recommendation.
This requires attention to age, medications, health history, symptoms, dietary restrictions, environment and scope. You begin deciding whether a promising idea is an appropriate next step for the person receiving it.
01
Assess hydration, fasting and dietary approaches in relation to the individual.
02
Recognize when food reactions, exposures or hidden infections need closer investigation.
03
Compare herbal and lifestyle support with safety, medications and professional scope.
04
Adapt nutrition education across life stages without relying on one universal plan.
Term 2 adds another layer to the ROOTS™ Method. You consider what has changed across a person's life, what may be adding pressure and which foundations need attention first. Term 3 then takes you deeper into physiology, biochemistry, digestion, hormones, immunity, genes, blood sugar and metabolism.
The learning becomes personal
You begin judging health advice through a wider lens
A fasting schedule that gives one person steady energy may leave another exhausted. A food that is nourishing in one situation may worsen symptoms in another. Exercise can build capacity or exceed what the body can recover from.
You may rethink hydration, exercise recovery, herbs, food reactions and how needs change with age. Personal experience can sharpen observation while professional training keeps interpretation within scope.
Principles changes how you assess advice before you follow it, share it or use it with a future client.
Fundamentals teaches you to connect nutrition information. Principles teaches you to decide whether it fits the person.
Choose your program
Ready to enrol?
Principles of Holistic Health & Nutritional Medicine is the second term in both diploma programs and is taken after Fundamentals. Choose Tier 1 to become a Holistic Nutrition & Health Coach, or complete Tier 1 and Tier 2 together for the Certified Holistic Nutritionist diploma.
Tier 1 diploma
Holistic Nutrition & Health Coach
A 1,000-hour professional diploma for students who want comprehensive nutrition education, applied coaching skills and the ability to begin working with clients within the Health Coach scope of practice.
1,000program hours
4academic terms
RHNCdesignation pathway
Tuition: $2,546 CAD
Complete Tier 1 + Tier 2 diploma
Certified Holistic Nutritionist
For students who want the complete two-tier education, deeper health science, advanced case assessment and eligibility for nutritionist registration and board certification.
2,000program hours
7academic terms
RHNP + BCHN®professional pathways
Tuition: $3,650 CAD