Nutrition Therapy
With Dr. Dawn Ann Molina, DAOM, LAc., MSc. Food Science
Appointments Available In Office or Video Telehealth
From food, water, air and light energy our body must derive 50+ essential factors to function in a healthy way. These essential factors our bodies can’t acquire anywhere else. These include 21 minerals, 13 vitamins, 9 essential amino acids, and 2 essential fatty acids that are absolutely necessary for mind-body function. Food processing can remove these essential nutrients from our food and may also change nutrients into toxic substances. Both deficiencies of essential nutrients and toxicity from over processed foods, have been documented as attributers to the diet-related chronic disease epidemic.
What you need to know about how nutrition affects metabolic function
Nutrition plays a critical role in regulating metabolic function, which is the body's process of converting food into energy. The quality and balance of nutrients in your diet directly impact how efficiently your metabolism operates, influencing everything from energy levels to weight management and overall health. Nutrition science is three parts, which is why most nutrition programs fail, due to not including all three educational components:
Food Science - the study of food origin to mouth
Dietetics - the study of food mouth to cell
Metabolic Health - the study of food derived compounds once inside our cells and their affect on our health
If patient nutrition education programs were working, we would not be dealing with the following statistics in metabolic and chronic disease (updated 2023)
74% of American adults are either overweight or obese (this % does not even include sarcopenic obese adults, which have a normal BMI yet a high % of body fat mass)
50% of American children are either overweight or obese
77% of young American adults are unfit to serve in the United States Military due to current fitness & health status in the United States
50% of American adults either have pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes
30% of American teenagers either have pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes
18% of American teenagers have non-alcoholic fatty Liver disease (NAFLD)
79% increase in new cancer cases among people under 50 globally between 1990 and 2019 (young adult cancer)
Ultimately, poor nutrition can slow metabolic function, contribute to weight gain, and increase the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes and cancer. In contrast, a balanced diet that provides the right mix of nutrients helps maintain a healthy metabolism and supports long-term energy and well-being.
What you will learn from Dr. Molina
There isn’t a one-size fits all approach to nutrition. Please take the time to understand Scope of Practice. When evaluating providers, learn the difference between a certified health coach and a licensed provider. Certified health coaches primarily focus on guiding clients through behavior change, setting health goals, and providing general wellness advice, including broader discussions of healthy eating habits. However, they are not qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for specific health conditions, as this falls within the domain of licensed professionals who are qualified to address complex nutritional needs tied to diagnoses. Pathogenesis of nutrition related illness and metabolic disease is a specialty, that requires diverse education, and is a skillset very few providers have; including medical doctors.
In order to accommodate the eating preferences unique to each individual client, Dr. Molina uses the The NOVA Classification System as a framework for categorizing foods based on their level of processing. This is extremely helpful, because irregardless of a patient’s eating preference (vegan, ketogenic, ect.), this food categorization method makes it easy for clients to understand what a healthy “food” is. This is not a diet, but instead an education about real food:
Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods: This category includes foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.
Processed Culinary Ingredients: These are substances derived from natural foods through processes like milling, refining, or extraction.
Processed Foods: This group includes foods that have undergone processing, but still retain much of their original nature.
Ultra-Processed Foods: These are foods that have undergone extensive industrial processing and contain ingredients that are not typically used in home cooking. They often include additives, preservatives, flavorings, and artificial ingredients. Examples include sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and ready-to-eat meals. Ultra-processed foods are associated with various health issues, including obesity and chronic diseases, due to their high content of sugars, unhealthy fats, and low nutritional quality.
Dr. Dawn Molina offers a few unique nutrition programs designed to meet individual needs & affordability.
Schedule a Clinical Nutrition appointment, in-person or virtual, to get started with any of the below listed programs.
13 & 26 Week Comprehensive Programs
The 13-Week Comprehensive Program is designed for anyone who needs a kick-start or has food intolerances. TBHW will work with you over a period of 3-Months to achieve your health related goals. This is the prefect program for anyone that needs guidance and assistance with realizing their wellness needs. Whether the goal is weight-loss, weight-gain, or pathological, partnering with a Food Scientist over a period of time can be both helpful & beneficial. A customized nutrition education program is designed upon receipt of patient's blood work.
Option 1 - $3,000 - paid in full cost Option 2 - $3,850 - with 50% required up front and the remaining balance due after 30 days
This program includes:
Spectra Cell Laboratory Micro Nutrient Testing
Customized Micro Nutrient Program
Customized Macro Nutrient Program
Customized Meal Plans
Online Tracking Using Clinician Grade Software
Bi-Weekly Evaluation and Monthly InBody Scan
_____________________________________________________________________________
The 26-Week Comprehensive program is designed for anyone who will need to work with TBHW over an extended period of time. TBHW will work with you over a period of 6-Months to achieve health related goals. This is the prefect program for anyone that has Metabolic Disease (e.g. Diagnosed Obesity, Sarcopenia, Hyperlipidemia, NAFLD, PCOS, Type-2 Diabetes, ect.) Partnering with a Food Scientist over a period of time can be both helpful & beneficial. A customized nutrition education program is designed upon receipt of patient's blood work.
Option 1 - $5,500 paid in full cost Option 2 - $6,350 with 50% required up front and the remaining balance due after 30 days
This program includes:
Spectra Cell Laboratory Micro Nutrient Testing
Customized Micro Nutrient Program
Customized Macro Nutrient Program
Customized Meal Plans
Online Tracking Using Clinician Grade Software
Bi-Weekly Evaluation and Monthly InBody Scan
3 Week Body Reset Program
The 3 Week Body Reset is a detoxification protocol that can help clients remove natural toxins from the body, improve metabolic function, and to help maintain a healthy body weight. This program is designed for anyone seeking optimal health and rebalancing. The 3 Week Body Reset can be done yearly, every six months, or even quarterly depending on your individual needs.
We are exposed to external toxins on a daily basis. These include pollutants, pesticides, and chemicals. In addition, internally our bodies produce waste byproducts as a result of normal metabolic function. Although the human body is designed to rid itself of these toxins, the human body can also become overburdened. The 3 Week Body Reset offers the body additional support to expel and metabolize these toxins, which is important to maintaining health, vitality, and lean body mass.
There are approximately 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hundreds of these chemicals are present in our bodies. Some research shows that certain chemicals may affect our immune, endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems. The following are examples of external and internal toxins:
External Toxins: Air and Water Pollutants , Cigarette Smoke, Microplastics, Heavy Metals, Pesticides, Preservatives and Additives, Trans Fats.
Internal Toxins: Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide (Co2), Free Radicals, Lactic Acid, Urea, Bilirubin, Homocysteine, Ketones, Hydrogen Peroxide, Nitric oxide (NO).
When the human body’s methylation and detoxification pathways are impeded due to toxic overload, the human body struggles to effectively process and eliminate harmful substances. Methylation, a key biochemical process involved in detoxification, DNA repair, and gene regulation, becomes less efficient, leading to the accumulation of the above listed toxins. This toxic buildup can cause widespread cellular damage, increase oxidative stress, and disrupt normal physiological functions. As a result, individuals may experience fatigue, inflammation, cognitive impairment, hormonal imbalances, and a heightened risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and autoimmune disorders.
$1,250 - paid in full cost
This program includes:
Initial Evaluation and InBody Scan
3-Weeks of Supplementation to Support Methylation & Detoxification
A Customized Pantry List for The 3 Week Body Reset
The 3 Week Body Reset Cookbook
Online Tracking Using Clinician Grade Software
Three Virtual Weekly Check-In Appointments via Telehealth Meeting
5 Element Constitutional Nutrition Program
The Five Element Adaptation Nutrition Method is a modern application of the Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Using Five Element Adaptation Nutrition Method, individuals are viewed as embodying a dominant adaptive element: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water, which influences their physical constitution, emotional tendencies, and nutritional needs. Each adaptive type responds differently to food and lifestyle changes. By understanding their elemental type, individuals can adapt their diets and lifestyle to maintain balance, health, and emotional harmony.
This nutrition model is exceptional for clients who are interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine and have a curiosity about their Five Element Adaptation “Type”. Dr. Dawn Molina, DAOM uses the Five Elements to determine other therapeutic approaches with her patients as well; especially with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and her functional medicine approach with psychoneuroimmunology. The Five Elements are a useful tool to understand the patient’s personality type and possible disease tendencies.
$500 - paid in full cost
This program includes:
Five Element Adaptation “Type” Personality Assessment
A Customized Pantry List for Your Five Element Adaptation “Type”
Lifestyle Recommendations for Your Five Element Adaptation “Type”
