Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating with Kristina Hess

Do you suffer from emotional eating? Growing up with a mother who had an eating disorder, Kristina Hess became interested in nutrition from an early age. When her mother got cancer, she made the decision to change careers and get into the health and nutrition space so she could help others avoid the issues her family faced. She is now the brains behind the Keto Symposium and offers a wealth of knowledge to her client base.

What we discussed in this episode:

• Her back story and what got her interested in nutrition (1:27)
• The disordered eating tendencies her mother battled (3:41)
• Growing up with a parent suffering from an eating disorder (4:03)
• Body dysmorphia and a lack of self-love (6:01)
• The importance of foundational, healthy behavior and outlets (8:06)
• Her experience as a teacher and whether or not the children were aware of dietary issues (9:30)
• Her career switch, from becoming a health coach to her current career as a certified nutrition specialist (10:14)
• The education required for her certifications (11:33)
• Her brief experience with ketogenic dieting in her coursework (12:31)
• Necessity vs. formality with an advanced degree in nutrition (16:05)
• Genetics and mapping out your potential (19:10)
• Diving into a client's genetic profile first and foremost to figure out how to optimize their nutrition based on their specific requirements (21:58)
• The genetic reasons someone wouldn't' be a good candidate for a ketogenic diet (23:28)
• The tricky conversation about diet variation and how it relates to genetics (28:46)
• The percentage of the population that needs a bit more carbohydrates in the form of vegetation (31:52)
• Emotional eating and the accessibility of processed foods (32:47)
• Viewing food as fuel rather than a way to fill a void (35:03)
• Overeating and malnourishment (39:04)
• Prioritizing quality foods and the role of protein (40:44)
• Intermittent fasting and disordered eating (44:48)
• Making keto a lifestyle and part of your identity (48:48)
• How much better the world would be if we all just say in our lane, do what's best for us individually, and refrain from judging others (52:25)
• The Keto Symposium in September (54:02)

Where to learn more about Kristina and the Keto Symposium:

• Keto Symposium
• Instagram
• The Keto Nutritionist

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