Kristina is extremely passionate about the science of human nutrition. Before starting BodyRaleigh, Kristina received a BS in Biology and genetics from North Carolina State University. She graduated from Mississippi State University with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. After vet school, she completed an advanced post-doctoral internship with an oncology and cancer metabolism focus. Combining her love for nutrition and research, Kristina decided to pursue a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her current research involves studying the effects of diet and nutrition on obesity and cancer.
Disenchanted with the current national health and obesity epidemic, a perpetual surge of blatant misinformation concerning nutrition and health, and infiltration of new fat dieting schemes, Kristina is determined to provide her clients with the basic facts regarding nutrition, and the proven biochemistry behind how foods are digested and assimilated in the body. Driven by her current role as a PhD nutrition candidate studying the effects of diet and nutrition on obesity, metabolic disease, the immune system and cancer, in conjunction her desire to help her clients and her own intellectual curiosity, she devotes countless hours per week to delving into the latest nutrition research, disentangling and evaluating and competing theories and research claims. With direct access to the most cutting edge research, nutrition recommendations, and advances in precision and personalized nutrition, Kristina uses this information to make individualized recommendations for her clients.
Since a young age, Kristina always had a passion for research, and the food industry, ultimately leading her to obtaining her doctorate in veterinary medicine. Her experience as a veterinarian studying the US food and agricultural system, infectious agents and diseases, multi-drug resistant organisms, veterinary biologics and food animal drugs as well as current agricultural practices helped shaped her professional development in the sector of public health and preventative medicine. Kristina wholeheartedly believes in the power of nutrition and preventative medicine, and in the mantra “the greatest medicine of all, is to teach people how not to need it.”
Kristina’s own personal experiences with nutrition, health, fitness, and experience as a former athlete, coupled with her belief of “I love nutrition and I want to help people” propelled her to move full force into her nutrition PhD program and form BodyRaleigh, LLC. She feels extremely fortunate to be able to implement her professional training as a veterinarian in a pre-clinical trial setting focused on human public health. Her knowledge of the science and biochemistry behind her recommendations is what sets her apart. Kristina helps her clients navigate through all stages of their health or fitness journey, and believes that clients succeed when they themselves understand the biology of their nutrition and health. She teaches her clients how to balance their blood sugar and hormones through nutrition, as well as establish and maintain gut health.
Kristina’s approach with every client is personal. She gets to know and establishes a relationship with her clients that she maintains even after they have achieved their goals, and have found a sustainable balance where they are thriving. Given her Greek heritage, Kristina loves to cook and create delicious, clean, nutrient-dense recipes and dishes. Kristina loves food and always wants to know the science behind the foods she’s consuming so she can thrive at work, at home, and in her daily life. She believes in a clean, balanced diet and the power of real, whole unprocessed foods with real ingredients.
Kristina’s hope for all of her clients, no matter what age, stage of life, chronic disease process(es), history, weight, gender or environment, is that they stop dieting, stop obsessing over foods, actually learn how to use food and the science of nutrition as a tool to obtain optimal health and live the heck out of a balanced life.
