Women In Wellness: Kelly Nolan Of Avita Integrative Health On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Wanda Malhotra
Be Transparent
Be Confident
Do the work
Share your expertise
Don’t be afraid of competition
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Nolan.
Kelly Nolan is a Pharmacist, Integrative Practitioner, Women’s Health Expert of 25 PLUS years and a #1 Best-Selling Author of “Restore Your Life: Powerful Life Strategies To Navigate Menopause”. She is also the CEO & Founder of Avita Integrative Health and Executive Director of Integrative Pharmacies for WellpointCanada. Her extensive expertise in women’s health and specialized training in saliva hormone testing provides women with a very powerful tool & customized solutions to balance hormones naturally and optimize health.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
In July 2021 while writing my #1 Best-Seller on women’s health I was surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) diagnosed with Breast Cancer. My life took a very unexpected turn. This life experience truly created a much more well-rounded book with the emphasis on self-care. I also learned a lot about the high risk of Breast Cancer for women in their 50’s & 60’s. I was a very healthy women on zero HRT( Hormone Replacement Therapy), with a good lifestyle, healthy nutrition, and a regular exercise regimen. I still had a 1 in 5 chance. I always believe there is a life lesson to be learned, although this one was hard for me to determine. My final takeaway was the importance of setting boundaries to those around me and listening to my inner voice.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
In 2012, I started to implement a Weight Release System in my line-up of services for women. Looking back, I realize that I had very little knowledge of all the moving pieces in women’s ability to release unwanted weight. For me the process was simple, clean eating in combination with a Homeopathic Weight Loss Formula. For others not so simple especially if they struggled as a stress eater or night-time binger, had high Cortisol or were addicted to sugar and bad carbohydrates. The program also was underpriced which created little accountability and commitment. In addition, I recognized the other strong influencer for weight release was hormone balance. Flash forward to 2020 & Covid hits. I had time to analyze and upgrade the program recognizing that it couldn’t be a cookie cutter program to create a sustainable lifestyle especially for women in Menopause and prior. It also needed to be guided with weekly, mandatory accountability meetings to discuss WINS and CHALLENGES. Lots of life-coaching to transition the client out of bad habits that are no longer serving them plus balancing the under current of hormone imbalance with natural supplements for sustainability. The KEY to balancing hormones is the Saliva Hormone Test that provides a blueprint to map out the client’s journey. I learned along the way that without hormone balance weight release is often unsustainable.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
As Women attempt to transition through Menopause we often struggle with frustration, disappointment, misinformation, and lack of answers. Unhappy with our evolving body we start to lose self-esteem and confidence. We may become over-medicated out of desperation to feel better. Going down the dangerous road of HRT without proper testing. Others simply struggle in silence. Disease state may be just around the corner if we are unable to release weight, (especially in the tummy) balance blood sugar, sleep better, and resolve many other symptoms. I call it the “tipping point” where our body can longer sustain homeostasis. There is such a need to reach a much broader audience of women to speak the “language” of hormones and teach the benefits of customized natural treatments that will not only balance hormones, optimize health and in some cases prevent disease state with many far-reaching at times unexpected benefits. I go to work everyday knowing I am making a difference in women’s lives. I give the gift of “hope”. I watch women transform and regain their self-esteem by resolving their unwanted symptoms of Menopause and prior. Imagine the power of releasing weight, sleeping through the night, moving through their day with clarity (no debilitating brain fog) and the energy to complete tasks at hand.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
- Stress Management: High stress can be a real game changer in our lives. Unfortunately, sometimes we just can’t see a way out. Its important to take inventory and make time for self-care. Example: Short “snacks” of exercise can lower Cortisol and increase energy levels. Even a 20-minute walk is of great benefit.
- Morning Structure: Covid really taught met the importance of a quiet morning with consistent structure and routine. Avoiding digital distraction for the first hour. No phone! No Texts! No e-mails. The tranquility and peace of quiet. I encourage my clients to implement 20 minutes each of 3 of the following: meditation, movement, affirmations, reading, journaling. The goal is to re-program the sub-conscious mind for success and discard our limited beliefs.
- Nutrition/Lifestyle: Creating a sustainable, healthy lifestyle is key with the understanding that not every day will be perfect! Even small changes are significant. For example: fasting from 7 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. Mind-set is key to sustainability and not feeling deprived. Framing it as a positive choice in order to support the 4 pillars of health: Stress Management, Nutrition/Lifestyle, Exercise/Movement, Hormone Balance. I teach women the “science” of clean eating to balance Cortisol and support Thyroid.
- Exercise/Movement: Motion is lotion! Movement is medicine. It doesn’t have to be an hour. It can be 20 minutes of something, an “exercise snack.” I have exercised my whole life. For others it can be a challenge which is why I believe it best to be broken into small segments. Step #1 balance hormones. Step #2 release unwanted weight. Both #1 & #2 give us the energy and motivation to move to Step #3: movement.
- Hormone Balance: In my practice I speak the “language” of hormones with a little “science”. Hormones are the under current and strong influencers that optimize our health. Yes, women want to release the unwanted symptoms of Menopause. However, it goes far beyond hot flashes and night sweats. If we don’t provide our body with the foundational support of hormone balance, there can be a “trigger point” where disease state may kick in. For example: Diabetes can be the fallout of high Cortisol leading to high blood sugar. High Cholesterol can be a sign of hormone imbalance as cholesterol is a building block for hormones. It literally sits at the top or the Hormone Cascade. Even women in post-menopause need hormone support. It truly is never over! Its not just about “hot Flashes” its about optimal health.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Writing my book was a very important step. A teaching platform to give women hope. The response has been heart-warming and overwhelming. Imagine if I had never shared my vast knowledge? My dream is to reach a much broader audience of women struggling for answers. Starting a movement of “truth” to eliminate all the misconceptions of menopause and prior. Teaching women the “science” behind menopause and their underlying chemistry. For example, how high Cortisol triggers weight gain, poor sleeping, and blood sugar. I want to start a movement of “education” so women understand they do have to suffer. There are answers! However, those answers need to be very tailored to their chemistry and medical history.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Environmental Changes: This one is near and dear to my heart as a Breast Cancer Survivor. I have met so many healthy women that have had a similar experience. It becomes fairy disheartening to think you have spent your whole life putting all the pieces in place to sustain optimal health. Yet still you are faced with a 1 in 5 chance. It is stated that only 6% of cases have a genetic pre-disposition also. I believe the rise in cases is directly linked to chemicals in the environment ( xenoestrogens) and the poor quality of the food supply including hormones in our meat source.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Be Transparent
- Be Confident
- Do the work
- Share your expertise
- Don’t be afraid of competition
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
- Website: www.hormonetesting.ca
- Social Media Channels: www.facebook.com/AvitaRestorativeHealth
www.instagram.com/kellynolanavita
www.youtube.com/channel/UCbkUa5fm3QH_HEk7OeOWvjw
3. Private Facebook Group: Restore Your Life: https://www.facebook.com/groups/430263684686587
4. Complete the Hormone Quiz: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QBNW7BF
5. Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/kelly-avita/30min
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
