Kirsten Chesney, M.S.

Kirsten Chesney joined the team at Healthy Connections as a functional nutrition specialist in summer of 2018. It is her passion to empower people to attain their highest standard of health. Kirsten uses her functional medicine training to address the root cause of symptoms by customizing treatment plans specific to each patient. Treatment plans consist of specific and actionable recommendations in areas of whole food nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplemental supports (vitamins, minerals, or enzymes to the degree needed).

Kirsten has specific experience in digestive disorders such as IBS, SIBO, IBD, bacterial dysbiosis, and intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”). She also specializes in seeing those with cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. There are a variety of nutritional plans that Kirsten uses with patients including the Elimination diet, Low FODMAP diet, Low Sulfur diet, Specific Carb Diet, Mediterranean diet, Paleo diet, Ketogenic diet, Cardiometabolic diet, and more. More often than not a patient needs further adjustments to these dietary protocols, so Kirsten modifies them to suit each person’s unique health concerns and food sensitivities.

Kirsten first learned of functional medicine after struggling with multiple health concerns for 25 years. She has visited dozens of specialty doctors throughout her childhood and early adulthood before finally meeting a physician trained in functional medicine. Through his dietary recommendations, Kirsten found relief from her health conditions in just a few short months! The astounding effect this had on her life emboldened her to change course in her career and pursue an education as a functional medicine nutritionist.

In her spare time, Kirsten seeks out opportunities to explore the world around her. She enjoys long mountain hikes, landscape photography, rock climbing, camping, and any kind of travel.

Education:

University of Western States
Masters of Science degree, June 2018
Nutrition and Functional Medicine