HEALTH BASICS

Andrea Stevens

My primary goal is to assist clients in assuming personal responsibility for their health and well being by becoming informed about the many paths that are available to them in order to achieve high levels of health, energy and vitality.

Andrea Stevens, M.S., C.N.S.   Clinical Nutritionist, Health Coach

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Breakfast of eggs, veggies and fresh herbs, Yucatan, Mexico.

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Elephants like corn, too! Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

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Hot peppers at a local market in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

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Fresh seafood at a local market in Taormina, Sicily.

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Amish-owned totally grass-fed Dutch Belt dairy cows, Paradise, PA.

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Chickens living and eating naturally in Bulgaria.

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Olives, olives, olives! Istanbul, Turkey.

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Natural mineral springs in the mountains of Bulgaria.

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The very popular and nutrient-dense durian fruit, popular throughout Southeast Asia.

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    Health Care is a personal responsibility. Disease Care (the current mainstream system in place) is the alternative.

    The human body is wonderfully designed with countless mechanisms to stay healthy and balanced. If we can provide the body with the natural raw materials that it needs (an abundance of nutrients, pure water, clean air, sunlight, loving relationships, spending time in nature), as well as prevent the buildup of waste material and toxins, the body can correct many imbalances and heal many conditions. Eating natural, unadulterated whole foods grown or raised in a healthy and environmentally responsible manner, along with proper digestive system-processing of those foods, are key in achieving this.

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    Essential Nutrients in… Waste and Toxins out: this is a model that all living organisms follow in order to thrive and flourish.

    Over-the-counter and prescription drugs often focus on suppressing symptoms instead of correcting the underlying causes of imbalance. Symptoms are nature’s way of calling our attention to imbalances in the body. We are meant to listen to those signals and then correct the habits in our lifestyle that have resulted in them.  Doing so usually results in a marked decrease or elimination of those symptoms. One’s beliefs and emotions can have a strong influence on body chemistry and functioning and therefore usually need to be considered.

Louis Pasteur (the father of immunology) is believed to have said, near the end of his life when he had amassed the highest level of his personal knowledge and wisdom,
"It is not the germs we need worry about. It is our own inner terrain."

CONSULTATIONS & EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

CONSULTATIONS & EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Organic produce at a local market in Valencia, Spain

Based upon my philosophy of using natural, whole, unadulterated food that has been properly farmed plus optimizing a healthy digestive system and a low toxin environment, I offer education and advice on diet, nutritional supplements and other lifestyle factors that can help clients achieve higher health for themselves and their families. Consultations for individuals or families are done via Zoom or telephone. Educational presentations can be arranged for small or large groups. I offer flexibility in scheduling, based on differing time zones. Consultations and presentations are done in English, but translation services can be arranged if necessary.

Initial appointments generally last about 1 1/2 hours. In the case of consultations for children or families, both parents are requested to be present for the initial consultation. Necessary forms will be emailed to you in advance, and are requested to be completed and returned by at least one business day prior to your scheduled appointment. I do not accept insurance but can provide you with invoices which can be submitted to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

To schedule an appointment, please contact me by e-mail at [email protected] Payment can be made via Venmo, bank transfer or check.

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS WHICH CAN BE ADDRESSED INCLUDE

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Systemic Problems often Related to Poor Diet & Underlying Digestive System Dysfunction

  • Candidiasis/Yeast or Fungal overgrowth
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD) and other Behavior and Learning Problems
  • Low energy, Mood instability
  • Diabetes, Hypoglycemia
  • Autoimmune Conditions
  • Psoriasis and other chronic forms of dermatitis
  • Epilepsy/Seizures
  • “Brain Fog”, other neurological problems
  • Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, “Mysterious Medical Maladies” – conditions unable to be successfully diagnosed or treated within the traditional healthcare system
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Overt Digestive Problems

  • Infant and Child Feeding Problems
  • Food Sensitivities, Allergies, Intolerances
  • Reflux/GERD
  • Heartburn/Indigestion
  • Bloating/Gas
  • Constipation
  • Abnormal Bowel Movements
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PREVENTION of Disease & Early Aging Symptoms

  • Pregnancy Preparation
  • Pregnancy
  • Aging slowly and gracefully

MY BIOGRAPHY

Elephants like corn too!
Rhubarb ice cream for my birthday in Svendborg, Denmark

I started my professional career as a Registered Nurse and worked at several large, well known and well-respected hospitals: The Cleveland Clinic, New York University Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia among them.

I gradually became more and more interested in the prevention of disease and illness and in finding less invasive and traumatic ways to heal the body once disease and illness had already started. I began to deepen my study of nutrition, already an interest of mine, as a major route towards those aims. I earned a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and was then board-certified as a Certified Nutrition Specialist by the American College of Nutrition. Health Basics was founded in 2002.

My Master’s Thesis was on Increased Intestinal Permeability, or “leaky gut.” This condition is a major component in problems of the digestive system, including food sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, and various brain or neurological disorders.

Two important facts about the intestines (gut) are:

  • The majority of our immune system resides within our intestines.  
  • There is a very close link between the gut and the brain.

CLIENT COMMENTS

Janet, 53 NJ

“You [have] wonderful messages, which you share so passionately and generously. I’m sure you have helped many people to learn a lifestyle which has had tremendous rewards physically and emotionally. You truly care, are a wonderful listener and adviser, and have a style that is comforting and offers a great deal of hope. My fatigue is already so much improved and after years of literally suffering with this as an illness in itself, this is remarkable and the days are easier to get through.”

Julie, 42 MD

“Andi worked with me for about 6 months, and I must say that I have never looked or felt better in my entire life! I had been having a series of health issues including headaches nearly every day for 2 years and daily indigestion. I had messed up my stomach due to the Extra Strength Excedrin and Tylenol I was always taking, and was taking Nexium for indigestion. I now very rarely have headaches or indigestion. Not to mention the added and unexpected bonus of weight loss, healthy skin and healthy hair. My hair had been falling out for about a year and was really thin.”

Shannon, 32 PA

 “I am just thankful you had faith in me and could see routes and possibilities to heal. I remember you saying clearly ‘give it 3 months, that is my rule of thumb for anything, if it does not work in 3 months then reassess and go from there’. You were admitting everything does not work for everyone and you were putting responsibility of choice in my hands.”

Laura, 42 NJ

“I, along with everyone else in my building, was exposed to two different types of toxins that had gotten into our air system. We were bombarded by these toxins and were breathing them in for roughly 4 hours before we were told to evacuate the building. People all around me had reactions to the toxins ranging from headaches, and nausea, to upset stomachs. I’m thrilled to say that I did NOT have any reactions at all! I felt fine throughout the whole ordeal and did not feel sick. I could not have said that 2 1/2 years ago when I first started working with you! It is because of your help that I am now enjoying good health for the very first time in my life.”

Vanessa, nursing mother of 15-month-old boy with GERD – PA

“My 15-month-old son, Matteo, was diagnosed with GERD (acid reflux) at 10 months of age. Matteo was in a great deal of pain and discomfort from gas and burping. Our doctor recommended Zantac which we used to help with the pain. As a holistically minded family, this was not the way we wanted to help our son. So we called Andrea who was diligent in helping us identify the underlying cause of the GERD, the fact that I (a nursing mother) was not properly digesting my food which affected how the nutrients went into my son’s body. While our primary care physician thought some of our son’s symptoms were behavioral problems which we knew not to be the case, it was reassuring to have Andrea support our theory that his problems were digestive in nature. He is off Zantac and no longer has pain or discomfort. I am also feeling significantly better with more energy than I had before we started on our journey towards excellent health.”

Geneva, nursing mother of 15-month-old girl with constipation, poor sleep and seizures – VA

“Anna Therese is doing great since she and I changed our diets per your instruction. It’s amazing! She has no more problems with constipation at all. She’s also sleeping much better. AND she has had no seizures for a month now.”        

Jeanne, mother of 14-year-old girl with food sensitivities and ADD – PA

 “When we first spoke with you, six weeks seemed an interminable amount of time to give up dairy and gluten. Well, here we are, and it has gone by so quickly!!! I am astounded by the changes in Katherine. Mostly, I notice the changes in her mood and energy level. I went from walking on eggshells around her, to her being so much more cooperative and happy. Her own self-awareness of her crankiness when she did have gluten (only three times during the six weeks) caused her to say, “I’m not cheating again… boy, do I feel awful.” The comments that came home on her mid-trimester reports were like those of a different child. Gone were the “distracted; lack of focus; turns things in late; chatty” comments and instead were high praises for her new dedication for her school work. Can this really all be from her diet???? Wow.”

Lila, mother of 14-year-old girl with reflux, food sensitivities and Tourette Syndrome – NJ

“Very good news – she is feeling much better, the loose bowel movements and abdominal cramps went away practically as soon as she started the diet and supplement program, and her heartburn is gone as well. And today, one week from starting the program, it seems that her tics have subsided by 80-85% (my guess, her guess is 70-75%)!”

Tina, mother of an 8-year-old boy with autism – PA

“This diet is really working! My child’s gut is totally healed and he is really recovering from this. I clearly see that we mothers have to work harder with diet, nontoxic houses and going back to nature. It’s the only way. That is what our children want us to do!”

RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS

  • America

    United States

    Fullscript is a platform used by nutritionally-oriented healthcare professionals and carries almost all of the products that I recommend. The products offered are those that are most often recommended by healthcare professionals because of the high standards of preparation and high bioavailability. Fullscript additionally ensures the proper storage and shipment of these products which is something not always readily available to the consumer. 

    Clients can create their own account on Fullscript's website. You will automatically receive a 10% discount when ordering through Fullscript.

  • Europe

    European Clients 

    Please contact me so that I can set up an account for you that will enable you to order professional quality products online through NordicVMS.

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