Kate Smith, MSEL, FNLP, CFNC
About Kate
Founder, Functional Nutrition Counselor, Mom, Veteran
Hi, I’m Kate Smith—and before anything else, I’m a wife and mom who simply wanted to feel like myself again.
When my husband deployed to Afghanistan, I found myself battling digestive distress, sleepless nights, mood swings, and the unsettling feeling that something inside me had shifted. I was told it was “just stress,” but I knew there had to be more to the story. That moment was a turning point—one that launched me on a mission not just to heal, but to understand why I felt the way I did.
What began as a personal quest quickly became my calling. As I studied, researched, and experimented, I discovered the power of nutrition and lifestyle to shift health from the inside out. Today, it’s my passion to guide others through that same transformation—by uncovering the root cause of their symptoms and empowering them to take back control of their well-being.
My Story: From Military Intelligence to Metabolic Insight
My background isn’t what you might expect from a functional nutrition counselor. I was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in 1994, serving in intelligence roles around the world—from Japan to Saudi Arabia. My career taught me to investigate, to connect dots others might miss, and to take nothing at face value—skills that now serve me every day in clinical practice.
But after becoming a mom, the shift from full-time active duty to full-time caregiving brought its own set of challenges. I experienced postpartum depression, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and a medical system that offered little more than prescriptions and platitudes.
Over the years, deployments, relocations, and stress compounded. When my daughter developed severe anxiety and emetophobia (a fear of vomiting), I was thrust into the role of her advocate too. We were blessed to find a military doctor who introduced us to a gentler, food-first path to healing. It changed her life—and mine.
That moment became my second turning point. I realized this wasn’t just about my family anymore—it was about educating and equipping others with the same tools and understanding.
Why I Practice Functionally
Through mentorship with Andrea Nakayama and the Functional Nutrition Alliance, I’ve embraced a model of care that prioritizes root causes, bio-individuality, and the therapeutic partnership. We don’t chase symptoms—we ask better questions.
In my practice, I bring the same investigative mindset I had in military intelligence—paired with deep compassion and lived experience—to help women uncover what their bodies have been trying to tell them. I believe healing begins with understanding.
You don’t need a one-size-fits-all plan. You need a partner who listens, investigates, and walks with you. That’s what I offer.
Credentials & Training
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Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC)
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Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner (FNLP)
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MSEL (Master’s in Education & Leadership)
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Veteran, United States Air Force
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Mentored by Andrea Nakayama, Functional Nutrition Alliance
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