"I am invested in helping you cultivate your most energetic,
your most vibrant, your happiest and healthiest self."
As early as I can remember I've been fascinated by how food and nutrients assimilate into our bodies. You know how our parents used to say “you are what you eat”? Well… when you study biochemistry, you learn that this is literally true. The food you eat becomes part of your physical self. And working with food in every facet for the past decade allowed me a front row seat to seeing how the food we choose can either heal or perpetuate chronic illness.
In 2012 I started my own Craft Service company and spent 12 hour days on set elbows-deep in food and great conversation with the hardest working people in entertainment. It soon became clear to me that not everyone knew the difference between nutrients and calories; between what tastes good for you and what is good for you. I’d watch as well-meaning people fueled themselves of coffee and sweets (and then I’d watch the subsequent crash) and wish I could be of more help.
But even more than that, I became curious about the way we speak to ourselves and each other about what we eat. I recognized that our relationship with food is deeply personal and greatly influenced by obvious factors like our genetics, culture, and access to food, but also more nuanced influences like childhood economics, trauma, social influences, and even beliefs and knowledge about food. I wanted to find a way to help people fortify a healthy relationship with food while using it as medicine.
Earning my master of science degree in Clinical Nutrition and Integrative Health at Maryland University of Integrative Health was a natural evolution. I studied core curriculum from the Institution of Functional Medicine (IFM) spanning from intuitive eating to biochemistry and human pathophysiology. During my studies, I became infatuated with the Functional Medicine approach of addressing the root cause of an imbalance or disease rather than treating only the symptoms.
My formal career in integrative medicine began in Los Angeles, California. I worked as a nutritionist in beautiful state of the art boutique facilities with IV vitamin drips, and exclusive high-profile clientele, are where I gained my love for the detective work of clinical nutrition. My experiences expanded from gut health to autoimmune disorders, diabetes, obesity, pre and post-natal care, disordered eating, specific organ dysfunction, weight loss, inflammatory conditions, and overall health maintenance. With my newfound knowledge, I was on fire. I was ready to help anyone. The trouble was... not everyone could afford to come through our doors…not everyone could afford to be helped.
I noticed a common theme: that smart, well-intended people are struggling with chronic illnesses and health concerns due to lack of education, understanding, or resources to know how to help themselves. Expanding out from the clinical setting, I began giving community presentations, leading corporate health leadership programs, and doing one-on-one in home consultations where I could help others bridge this gap of knowledge and empower clients to take a greater portion of their health into their own hands.
And so was born, The Simple Leaf, LLC. The Simple Leaf is my dream come to life. A sincerely simple company built on the principle that everyone has the power to begin healing themselves with food and just as importantly, foster a healthy relationship with food. My job is simply to help you get started with education, guidance, and partnership.
I pride myself on encouraging clients to "start where you are". I believe that every relationship begins with a genuine, mutual respect and through the use of integrative methods, I help people make lasting changes to diet, lifestyle, and attitude.
Integrative Nutrition takes the best practices from traditional allopathic (western) medicine and non-invasive holistic practices with respect to nutrition. It is an evidence-based, "whole person" approach that considers all lifestyle factors unique to that individual before discerning appropriate therapies. Integrative Nutrition is the beautiful marriage of the clinical and holistic worlds.
bryna gavin ms, cns
The Simple Leaf, LLC
Owner/Clinical & Integrative Nutritionist
New Directions Eating Disorders Center
Nutrition Therapist