Who is Christina Shadle?

Christina Shadle is an NTA-certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) and Restorative Wellness Practitioner (RWP) based in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in empowering her clients (locally and virtually) to get in the kitchen and fuel their health with real food and heal through simple lifestyle changes. She coins herself as, "a recovering Type-A public relations professional with a whole host of irritable bowel issues myself."

Here's what Christina has to share:

Before I became an FNTP, I spent so much time and money trying to hack my digestive issues, combat afternoon slumps, relieve my intense PMS, and lose stubborn belly fat. Now I feel more in charge of my health than I have in years. I finally have clarity into what MY body needs to thrive.

My goal is to empower clients who “don’t have time to cook” and to shift their priorities and see how simple it is to shop for and cook meals that nourish their bodies down to the cellar level. And also how to prepare healthy swaps to cure the junk food cravings that often derail our health.

Outside of office hours, making munchies, and wellness research, you can usually find me taking yoga or Pilates classes, hiking with my husband (BTW, he’s the BEST chiropractor in Los Angeles), attending concerts, or traveling with friends."

What conditions do you treat the most?

Some of the more common issues that my clients suffer from include:

digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, immunity issues, skin concerns, sleep problems, stress and anxiety, and weight gain.

What do you find are the primary causes of these conditions?

Most conditions arise from just living in today's fast-paced society. There is no one size fits all approach to any of these conditions, so I always look to provide personalized nutrition support. My recommendations generally involve eating “Real Food.” Simply put, that's any food in its most natural, nutrient-dense state, fresh from the earth, free of toxic chemicals, and with minimal to no processing. In my experience, getting "back to basics" really does produce excellent results. I’m well equipped to advise my clients on where to find quality foods and how to prepare delicious and nutritious meals, both efficiently and economically.

How do you use Real Mushrooms with your patients?

While my clients and I work together on optimizing their entire system we may also focus on specific parts of the system. For example, enhancing the body's immune response, correcting nutrient deficiencies, supporting the HPA-axis, and optimizing mental focus. I typically recommend Real Mushrooms during Phase 2 of working with clients. After we've removed anything getting in the way of them reaching optimal health, we begin to replace any harmful substances with restorative, real-food options like Real Mushrooms. I almost always have them add Real Mushrooms to their Bulletproof Coffee!

What is your recommended dosage for patients?

I recommend at least 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. per day of Real Mushrooms -- added to coffee, tea, or smoothies. Or two capsules daily if capsules are preferred.

How do you personally use mushrooms?

I personally add Chaga mushroom powder to my Bulletproof Coffee in the morning to support my sensitive digestive system. I also love having 5 Defenders (in capsule form) in my wellness arsenal to support overall immune health.

This Bulletproof Coffee recipe has been a big hit with my clients:

• 1 cup black coffee
• 1 tbsp unsalted grass-fed butter or ghee
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp Real Mushrooms of choice

Where can we learn more about you?

If you’d like to use Real Food nutrition to improve your health, then I'd love to be your guide! Whether it's digestion, energy, weight, mood, focus, or even stress management, you can count on Side Benefits Nutrition to help you experience the body and mind you deserve.

Discover more on my website www.sidebenefitsnutrition.com and follow me on Instagram @sidebenefitsnutrition!