Meet Your Nutritionist
Nicole Freyschlag, MS, CNS
MS in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine
I'm a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) with a Master's degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, but my journey into nutrition began long before my formal education.
For nearly 15 years, I struggled with chronic stomach pain. I got the full GI workup and was told everything was normal. But I was in pain EVERY DAY. Through college, grad school, and becoming a teacher this experience followed me, dictating so much of how I lived my life. It was almost impossible to go out to eat with friends because I had such a limited amount of foods I could eat. I tried every type of elimination diet only to be in more pain. I tried countless medications - most of which didn’t help, some of which made things worse. I bounced from provider to provider searching for answers, often feeling dismissed, unheard, or left with more questions than solutions. I was told it was in my head, to take a vacation, and that I would just be in pain for the rest of my life. What I wanted most was someone willing to take the time to listen, connect the dots, and help me solve the puzzle of what was going on in my body.
The Shift
Eventually I found someone - a naturopathic doctor who really listened. She ordered functional testing and we found a parasite, extreme pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (so I was not able to properly digest food - no wonder I felt nauseous!), and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). She put me on an herbal protocol to get rid of the parasite, supplements to rebalance my gut, and a diet plan to support the process. We also determined that my nervous system was “stuck” in stress mode, and she referred me to a functional neurologist to address that aspect. Through many months of work, I felt things shift. I started to have days without pain for the first time in almost two decades. I had honestly stopped believing that was possible. I was eventually able to expand my diet and now can eat anything I choose to.
After finally finding answers and experiencing the profound impact that nutrition and lifestyle medicine can have on health, I decided to leave my career as a science teacher and pursue nutrition professionally. Today, one of my greatest passions is being the practitioner I once needed myself.
The Way Forward
I firmly believe that every person deserves to have someone in their corner - someone who listens carefully, advocates for them, takes their symptoms seriously, and works alongside them to uncover the root causes of their health concerns. Healing is rarely about finding a quick fix. It requires curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to look at the bigger picture, and that's exactly how I approach my work with clients.
My time as a teacher continues to shape the way I practice today. Education and empowerment are at the heart of everything I do. My goal isn't simply to tell you what to do - it's to help you understand why. I want clients to leave each session feeling informed, confident, and equipped with knowledge to make decisions about their health long after our work together is complete.
I know what it feels like to have food become complicated, to wonder why your body isn’t responding the way you think it should, and to spend far too much time trying to figure out what will make you feel better. That experience deeply informs the way I work with women today. I’m not here to give you another list of foods to avoid or ask you to simply learn to live with your symptoms. I want to help you understand what may be contributing to them, build a plan that works for your life, and gradually get you to a place where food feels easier, your body feels more comfortable, and your digestive health no longer dictates what you can do or where you can go.
Fun Facts
When I'm not working with clients, you'll usually find me outside exploring the mountains around Salida. I love trail running, hiking, doing yoga, skiing, and spending as much time in nature as possible. I also love reading, doing puzzles, and of course sharing good food with family and friends.
I feel incredibly grateful to do work that I truly enjoy, and I look forward to helping you on your health journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A Certified Nutrition Specialist takes a personalized, clinical approach to your health. We are also often referred to as “Functional Nutritionists” due to the holistic aspect of our practice. We go beyond generic advice or quick fixes and actually look at the full picture of your body and lifestyle. This includes reviewing lab results such as blood work, functional testing like stool analysis or micronutrient panels, taking a detailed health history, understanding your symptoms, and evaluating your dietary patterns.
By putting all of this information together, we aim to uncover the root causes of your health concerns rather than simply masking symptoms. A functional nutrition approach looks at diet, sleep, stress, relationships, movement, and more, to create a step-by-step, data-driven plan tailored specifically to you. The goal is to help you feel better, restore balance, and make sustainable changes that support your long-term health.
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I support individuals with unresolved or chronic symptoms, athletes looking to optimize performance and recovery, and people who want to be proactive about long-term health and longevity.
My clients include:
high performing women with persistent digestive issues
athletes looking to improve performance or gain a clear understanding of their nutritional needs while training
longevity enthusiasts who just want to know what more they can be doing now to improve health long term
people who are generally healthy but want to get labs to see what their body needs
adults who have had gut issues or imbalances for a long time that have been dismissed by traditional medical care
If you’ve ever been told by a doctor “your labs are normal, everything is fine” but you KNOW you aren’t fine - please give me a call. You deserve better than that.
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As a CNS I am trained to take a very detailed clinical history and use a personalized approach that considers your goals, lifestyle, and physiology.
This is not one-size-fits-all nutrition. By using functional lab testing and listening closely to your unique situation I will make a plan that is just for you - tailored to your body’s unique needs. Then we will adjust it as we go, listening to your body’s response and modifying the plan based on what works and what doesn’t.
Education and partnership are central to my work. You deserve a plan that makes sense and helps you feel confident in your decisions.
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I hold a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. This accredited program combines rigorous biochemical and physiological training with a functional, systems-based clinical framework. It has given me the tools to approach complex symptoms with both scientific depth and practical clarity.
I am also a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), which requires a Master’s degree, passing a board exam, and completing 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice.
Before becoming a nutritionist, I taught high school chemistry and physics. Years of teaching helped me hone the skill of breaking down complicated concepts into simple, useful information. This skill shapes my patient care. I want you to understand the “why” behind your symptoms and every step of your plan
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Both Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS) and Registered Dietitians (RD) are highly trained nutrition professionals who have completed advanced education, supervised clinical experience, and credentialing examinations. Both are qualified to provide evidence-based nutrition counseling and support clients with a wide range of health concerns.
The main difference lies in the training pathway. Registered Dietitians complete an accredited dietetics program and dietetic internship, while Board Certified Nutrition Specialists complete a graduate degree in nutrition or a related field, over 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice, and pass a rigorous board certification exam. The training programs generally have a different focus depending on if it is for the CNS or RD pathway.
As a CNS, my graduate training focused heavily on nutritional biochemistry, physiology, functional medicine, and applying nutrition science to help identify and address the root causes of chronic health concerns. My approach emphasizes personalized nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and understanding how factors such as digestion, hormones, metabolism, stress, sleep, and nutrient status influence overall health.
Ultimately, the most important factor is finding a qualified practitioner whose training, experience, and approach align with your goals. Both CNSs and RDs can provide excellent nutrition care, and I am proud to hold a nationally recognized board certification that reflects my commitment to clinical excellence and ongoing professional development.
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My interest in wellness began in high school when I developed severe abdominal pain that no one could explain. For more than fifteen years, I saw specialists, underwent countless labs and scans, and was often told the symptoms were normal, “in my head,” or stress related. Conventional GI doctors told me I would just be in pain forever and there was nothing more they could do.
My turning point came when I worked with eastern and functional medicine practitioners who evaluated my body as a complete system. Through acupuncture, herbal medicine, functional neurology, and targeted nutrition, I finally began to heal. This taught me the power of root-cause thinking and whole-person care, which is the foundation of my work today.
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No I do not. All appointments are cash pay to allow for more in depth care.
This gives me the time it takes to provide the personalized nutrition that you’re coming here for. Plans that are custom-made for you.
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Yes! I can see people virtually in the following states:
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Nevada
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
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For supplements I use the Fullscript dispensary, which allows me to create personalized plans for patients. Fullscript only sells the highest quality supplements, so you know you are getting the best value for your money.
Shop my Fullscript dispensary here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/morningsage
