Welcome! I’m Kristen Burkett, a Nutrition Therapist, wife and mother of two with a passion to live as healthy and vibrantly as possible. I started on this pathway back in junior high when I decided to wanted to be a doctor. After my premedical studies in college I found myself questioning that calling. I decided to get my Master’s degree and spent over 12 years with major healthcare systems working with physicians, nurses and staff to improve clinical outcomes and patient experiences. While we made great strides, I knew there had to be more preventive, holistic approaches to disease and imbalance – something that just didn’t exist in the medical system and at the time and I didn’t know where to look.
Confronted with my own health challenge requiring a breast lumpectomy and the surgeon’s words “you have an equal chance of atypical breast cell changes coming back on either side in the future” I knew I had to start down a new path. I was very fortunate this was not life threatening but with a 3 year old daughter and a 5 year old son I couldn’t sit and let my future be driven by fate. I can remember snuggling in bed with my daughter, thinking that I had to do everything I could to be there for her and my son as they grew up. This drove me to hours and hours of research – how could I have this happen so young? Didn’t I lead a “healthy” lifestyle that should prevent this? What can I do to improve my odds against recurrence? And most importantly… How can I help prevent this from ever happening to my daughter?
I decided that this passion needed to be pursued so that I could help myself, my family, and eventually others with their own challenges. I also wanted to make sure that my research was solid – what sources could I trust? I didn’t want to rely on Google searches for life changing information. I decided to go back to school to put everything together. With over 600 hours of training at the Nutrition Therapy Institute and an internship with a fabulous naturopathic physician I am confident that not only am I following my life’s passion but I can positively impact the lives of others as well. My investment in this education completely changed what I thought I knew about “healthy” food and the impact it has on our bodies.
Along my journey through school I found other health challenges within my family that we began to address with this new knowledge – a son with major environmental allergies and food sensitivities and a husband that needed to tackle cardiovascular risk factors but wanted to avoid prescription medication. As for myself, the consequences of long-term, unmanaged stress and peri-menopausal hormone imbalances had me wide awake at midnight and unable to get up in the morning along with hot flashes and other symptoms. It’s been a process but we have made great progress on all these fronts. It’s so amazing what our bodies can do when given the right tools! Along the way I finally discovered how poor detoxification pathways in my body combined with years of birth control’s synthetic estrogen created the perfect storm to spark those early breast cell changes – and most importantly, how to monitor and support those processes.
Now as a practitioner, I love the time I get to spend with clients – to truly listen and understand all the pieces that contribute to their current state of health. “Best practices” and “continuous improvement” were the buzzwords when I worked in the healthcare quality improvement arena and now I can offer both of those from the holistic nutrition field to help you achieve your goals!
In Health,
Kristen Burkett, MS, MNT
Kristen Burkett graduated from the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado as a Master Nutrition Therapist. She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®. She also has a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry from New Mexico State University and holds a Master of Science from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. She is a proud member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals and a Faculty Member/Instructor at the Nutrition Therapy Institute.
Why a Nutrition Therapist?
In a nutshell, the science of bioindividuality. While there are many nutrition or dietician related practitioners out there, the education and training varies immensely. Yes, generalized guidelines are published for what is deemed “healthy” but these standards are questionable relative to current studies and we know that one size does not fit all. Each of us is unique and our metabolism and biochemistry reflect that. As a nutrition therapist, I’ve been trained to look at the chemistry behind food, nutrients and how the body uses them. I use the most current scientific research and evidence-based studies to find the root cause of imbalances and determine the appropriate protocols for your biochemistry. I also look at the impact of the chemicals and toxins we are exposed to – through our food and environment – and recommend whole, organic, chemical-free food and products to allow the body to do what is intended.
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is largely to blame for so many of the health issues facing Americans today. With so much misinformation out there, you need someone to help you focus on what is intelligent nutrition for you. Nutrition Therapy uses whole foods and nutrients, environment and lifestyle modifications that address your health concerns.
Nutrition Therapy is one of the fastest growing sectors in alternative health because it works. If this sounds like an approach you are interested in, please schedule your free 20 minute Introductory Call!