Hi! I’m Amy Vespa, MS, CNS
As a Clinical and Integrative Nutritionist I help improve frustrating health issues using food, lifestyle changes, mindset, energy practices and creativity. I also devote much of my practice to showing how we can stay healthy and age well with simple cooking and nutrient dense plants and herbs.
My unique toolkit helps get to the root issue using a truly integrative approach to nourishing your body to feel great physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Learn more about me below!
My Philosophy
Your body is how you experience life. My goal is to help you strengthen your body in a way that is nourishing, balanced and sustainable for you. There is a reason for everything you are feeling and together we will discover the root(s) so you can completely rebalance your body for the long term.
I use food, stress reduction, herbs, supplements, lifestyle habits, creativity, mind and energetic practices to bring you back into balance. Food is nourishment and most foods have a place in a healthy diet. I avoid restriction and deprivation, and instead help you enjoy eating a variety of great foods.
Lifestyle, and stress specifically, is a huge part of health and needs to be part of a health solution. If you are eating a highly nutritious diet but are highly stressed, your body will not function optimally and you won’t feel great. We can’t leave this part out and this is where many of the other practices come in.
My Credentials
Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) from the American Nutrition Association – required a MS degree in nutrition, 1000 hour supervision, and board certifying exam.
Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health
Herbal education from Herbal Academy, Rosemary Gladstar, Rosalee De la Floret, Matthew Wood, and many more.
Health Coaching Certification from Institute of Integrative Nutrition
constant continuous education from conferences, universities, and leaders in the field of health and nutrition, herbalism, creativity practices, NLP, mindset, and so much more. I never stop learning! 🙂
A Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) vs a "Nutritionist"
In most states anybody can call themselves a “nutritionist”, regardless of their training. However, there are certifications that designate the practitioners are have gone above and beyond with their education and are truly experts in the field of nutrition. One of these designations – Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) – requires a Master of Science, 1000-hour supervision internship with direct client contact, a board certifying exam, and continuing education credits. It is governed by the American Nutrition Association.
Will I have to give up my favorite foods?
No way! I never use elimination diets without medical necessity. While certain health conditions do benefit from eliminating certain foods for a time, especially for autoimmune and digestive disorders, I do not consider most eliminations life long.
When there are multiple food sensitivities it is usually because of gut permeability (“leaky gut”), which we would focus on fixing. Many times we can introduce many of those foods back.
If certain symptoms are present, I use food testing or journaling to find any offending foods. But I never recommend elimination diets without a definitive reason and a plan to reintroduce those foods, or find alternatives that you might like just as much!
What is the best "diet"?
I am often asked this question! I can honestly say that there is not one specific style of eating that is “best” for everyone. Many styles of eating include a variety of vegetables, fruit, grains, fats and proteins that are anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, and health-promoting. Mediterranean diet, vegetarian, Paleo and others can all help create a healthy lifestyle.
Most important, I do NOT believe in strict eliminations without medical necessity, dogmatic trendy diets (carnivore, Whole30, etc.), that any foods are inherently “bad”, or that fighting with willpower is necessary to reach your health goals. I do not push any style of eating above another.
BUT if I have to chose one style of eating that is highly beneficial, it is the Mediterranean diet. This style of eating has been the most studied diet and been shown to improve heart disease, diabetes, depression scores, obesity, and more. It is also full of variety, flexible, easy to follow in most locales.
More about Amy
I’m a mom
I enjoy cooking as well as finding ways to not have to cook every day (leftovers, freezer staples, and preserving food!)
This is Max, our snuggly ‘lap dog’
I knit, sew, and collage in my spare time.
I always have to have edible plants growing around me. We even travel with plants!
We travel often in our tiny travel trailer around the US.
My favorite areas of the USA are the Southwest and Northeast.
I’d love to meet you
Schedule a free call to get started on feeling better and learn how we can work together.
