Heather Pratt is a natural born foodie with a passion for the medicinal effects of food. She is a Master Nutrition Therapist and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition and has been helping people to improve their health with nutrition for the past 10 years. She works for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage as a Nutrition Writer and regular contributor to the Natural Grocers Health Hotline Magazine, where she educates staff and customers alike on how to use food and supplements to enhance their health. She also teaches nutrition classes to the public and offers individual nutrition counseling.

Susan Barendregt is a Functional Nutritionist and is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition. She has also earned a degree in Statistics and a certificate in Massage Therapy. Susan is a former Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. She has been a practicing functional nutritionist since 2006.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” — Hippocrates

This idea that food should be our medicine is not a new one. In fact, it is the cornerstone of a modern day nutritionist's work. The role of a nutritionist is to help prevent disease and promote good health by encouraging an active lifestyle combined with healthy eating habits.

Alan is an Irish educated paramedic with previous experience in a variety of settings in Ireland, Europe, North America and the Middle East. He is adjunct faculty with Portland Community College, faculty in the paramedic programs at Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada and a Paramedic Educator with Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is also a Prehospital Emergency Care and First Aid Program Manager with the International Committee of the Red Cross. He provides consultancy services to a number of organizations worldwide on research, clinical governance and educational matters. He is an editor and peer-reviewer for several publications including the Irish Journal of Paramedicine, and has affiliations with several organizations around the world as a paramedic researcher. 

Alan joins the Functional Nutrition instructor team to bring his expertise of research to the program. As a functional nutritionist, it is vitally important to discern between science-based and non science-based research. Alan has a background in teaching paramedics, and for the Functional Nutrition program he teaches the Research and Evidence-Based Practice for Nutritional Therapy course in Term 1. 

Alan also teaches in the Foundations of Clinical Research program in the modules Good Clinical Practice and Overview of Study Design.

Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Yogaraj (Ayurveda), DN-C, RH, LMT, NCTMB, CC, NAMAPM, has over 40 years of experience in holistic medicine, and is one of the foremost natural healing experts in North America. Khalsa is President Emeritus of the American Herbalists Guild, and is a respected teacher, writer and lecturer. (Read full professional bio on his website.)

K.P. Khalsa teaches in the Functional Nutrition and Herbalism programs at the PCC Institute for Health Professionals.

Updated Feb.15, 2023

For many consumers today, achieving healthier lifestyles demands a holistic approach to healthcare. A holistic approach considers a person's physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual health. Herbs play an essential part in holistic medicine. 

This article briefly describes herbalism In western medicine today. You will also learn how to advance your knowledge and embark on a new career path by taking courses on herbalism at Portland Community College.  

The Institute for Health Professionals’ Functional Nutrition is approved by the National Association of Nutritional Professionals. The course series is taught over four terms and covers all of the following topics: assessment techniques, physical health and fitness, biochemical and pathophysiology of foods, ayurvedics and traditional Chinese medicine/herbology, business practice and ethics, nutritional research and resources, nutritional counseling, and buying, cooking, and storing food.

In this article we’ll take a closer look at determining if a nutritional therapy certification is right for you.