Health starts here: The Natural Alternative Nutrition Center will get you feeling great

 
To ‘be healthy’ is more than being a specific weight. It’s more than just staving off disease or illness. Healthy is waking up before the morning alarm clock rings and making it through a full work-day, without an afternoon coffee or energy drink. Being healthy is about feeling healthy all day, everyday; to have the energy to do the activities you enjoy.
Bobbi Conner, M.H., C.N.C., is all about being healthy. That’s why she opened The Natural Alternative Nutrition Center in Paso Robles in 1995. Conner suffered health problems as a child; little seemed to help alleviate her symptoms. After she was introduced to holistic nutrition in the early 1980’s, Conner saw a dramatic improvement in the way she felt. Inspired by a new sense of well being, she began to learn as much as she could about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Conner attended Trinity College of Natural Health, earning her certificate as Master Herbalist. She has also received certification as a nutritionist from American Academy of Nutrition, College of Nutrition & Integrative Health Sciences, and is a board certified nutritional consultant.
Conner’s extensive background in nutritional and herbal practices allows her to better serve her customers in numerous ways. The Natural Alternative can help customers figure out which nutritional supplements they need while avoiding contraindications with current medications or supplements. Sometimes the body metabolizes foods and supplements in such a way that the subsequent reactions are opposite of what a current medication is doing for your body. It’s not always easy to understand or find out which supplements should not be taken with particular medications and which are safe, so Conner and her staff are dedicated to helping customers safely determine, and streamline, their unique supplemental requirements. Also, because of Conner’s certification, The Natural Alternative carries practitioner-grade supplements and products that aren’t found in the average health food store.
The Natural Alternative has a wide range of healthy lifestyle products. In addition to an extensive vitamin and supplement selection, The Natural Alternative also carries all-natural lotions, shampoos, cleaning supplies, and makeup. They also carry local products like Central Coast Lavender and Element Herbs.
The Natural Alternative has multiple services to help you on your way to feeling better. Nutritional consultations help establish healthy-living goals, be it lowering cholesterol, lowering high blood pressure, or weight management. A hair mineral analysis measures minerals and heavy metals in your hair, which offers a metabolic blueprint of the body and helps in the process of designing a diet and supplement program tailored toward the individual. Salivary hormone testing and comprehensive blood evaluations are also offered. Conner hosts classes during the fall season, which cover great information about relevant health issues; classes in the past have included: Busting Belly Fat, Women and Menopause / Hormones, Aromatherapy, and The Power of Positive Thinking. 
A healthy lifestyle starts with the self. Your doctor’s job is to make you well again once you’ve fallen ill, not keep you healthy; being healthy is up to you. Conner suggests taking baby steps toward your health goal. Healthy living requires being proactive; a balanced diet, exercise that you enjoy, and most importantly: education. It’s important to know how your body responds to particular foods and activities. It’s important to not only set a goal, but to understand what actions to take in order to achieve your goal. Conner says that the first step isn’t necessarily changing your diet or structuring an exercise program; sometimes it’s simply learning how to manage thoughts and emotions.
Conner is passionate about sharing what she knows about health with others, especially because it can be difficult to sift through and make sense of all the information available through the Internet and popular culture. If she could share one healthy living tip, it would be this: eliminate sugars from your diet. Many commercially processed foods are high in sugar, because it helps improve taste. Sugar is a culprit for obesity, and obesity is the leading cause of preventable death in America. (The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by 2015, 75% of Americans will be overweight, 41% of which will be considered obese). People often think that eating foods labeled “Heart Healthy” or “Gluten Free” or “Low Carb” means that they’re eating healthy. However, most processed foods are seriously lacking in nutritional value, which lends to the reason that many people’s diet are nutrient deprived, even though they eat enough calories to get them through the day. Such nutrient-deficient food is what contributes to weight problems; just because it’s a “diet food” doesn’t mean it’s a “healthy food.” Conner stresses the importance of moving away from a diet of processed “convenience” foods, and towards one rich in vegetables and fruits. She encourages people to frequent local farmers markets, and to always try new seasonal vegetables and fruits. A balanced diet will lead to great changes in your lifestyle; you’ll have more energy and feel clear-headed.
So, if you want to be healthy – to greet each day smiling, and conquer all life’s twists and turns with calm confidence – then your first step should be into The Natural Alternative Nutrition Center. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Visit The Natural Alternative today, and find out “what better feels like”. 
– Ana Korgan is a local writer and photographer.