Testimonials
With the help of Francesca, I truly feel like a new person after several years of feeling sick.
I followed a vegan diet for almost 5 years, and as a result experienced several health issues. I had severe fatigue, digestive problems, and skin issues which also resulted in depression and anxiety because I was always feeling ill. I went to see several traditional western doctors, a naturopath, and acupuncturist but I still couldn’t find a solution. My naturopath recommended I remove gluten from my diet and I did see some slight improvement. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough. I was at the point where I had almost accepted that I would never feel good again.
A couple of my friends highly recommended I contact Francesca. They were confident she had the knowledge and skills to help me improve my health. I couldn’t be more thankful that I followed their advice. I was willing to make whatever changes were necessary with my diet, but a part of me was really hoping it wouldn’t be imperative to go back to eating meat. Francesca worked with my needs and came up with a diet and supplement regiment that would still support my vegetarian lifestyle. I switched from a nutrient-lacking vegan diet to a healthy vegetarian diet and within 3 weeks, I felt like I was in a new body. My fatigue was gone, my skin cleared up and my digestion issues were greatly improved. As I continue to follow her dietary recommendations and keep up with my daily supplements, I continue to see progress every day .
None of this would have happened without the help of Francesca!
I am forever grateful!
I met Francesca through a co-worker of mine whom I watched lose 30 plus pounds and become the beautiful and happy woman she is today. Through witnessing this I became very inspired and decided to try Francesca’s 2 week sugar detox. Although I am a competitive cyclist and thought my diet was mostly healthy, I always knew I ate too much sugar and was addicted.
I was definitely hesitant to do this as my main concern was what would I eat before, during and after my training rides ? Not only did I successfully survive the sugar detox, I learned so much from Francesca which resulted in a huge change of my diet. It’s been 5 months now and although I’m not 100%, I’d say 90% of the time I do not eat sugar, bread or any other kinds of processed foods.
Today I would definitely say I am no longer addicted to sugar! I also discovered that I could replace some wonderful fats (like pecan butter) for sugar when I do hard and long bike rides and that I actually have more energy and have more endurance.
Thank you Francesca for being a great health mentor and a wonderful teacher.
I am grateful!
When I first began working with Francesca I was tentative about a diet that encouraged eating fats (of course, the right kind of fats) but when I began to loose weight and had more energy, I thought there might be something to this.
The 3 week diet change that was recommended at the beginning of this process was doable and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything, and after a short time I discovered that I had acquired a taste for “real foods,” such as organic veggies and fruits that tasted much better than canned or frozen, which seemed convenient at the time…but how hard is it to wash and eat an apple or a fresh carrot!
One of the biggest changes for me as a vegetarian was to stop eating soy products. I thought that was what vegetarians ate, but when I told Francesca that hot flashes and night sweats were still such an issue 5 years post-menopause, she said I needed to cut out the soy. What a difference that made! Getting a good night’s sleep has made such a difference.
So far, I have lost nearly 30 pounds* on this Wholelistic diet and have learned to read lables, shop for organic foods and non GMO (Genertically Modified foods) and recently found a real love of the Farmer’s Markets here in San Diego. The nice thing about the Farmer’s Markets is that there are different things at different locations, and buying there also supports local and sustainable products here at home: http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php
Eating more “real foods” has made me enthusiastic to try new recipes as well. I am excited about the recipe exchange on Francesca’s website and look forward to sharing with other like-minded San Diegans.
I am so happy with my nutrition experience after working with Francesca because it didn’t seem like “dieting;” it was simply a lifestyle change that took very little effort.
Thank you again, Francesca!
Top Notch Nutritionist!
A Must-Have For Your Optimal Health and Wellness!
I can’t think of a single person that I know personally who couldn’t benefit immensely by seeing Francesca. Even with me being as much of an enthusiastically self-educated, nutrition/healthy living aficionado as I am, I can’t stress enough how important it is to see a knowledgeable, qualified practitioner that knows the latest research and can help you, as an individual, figure out exactly what is going on with you and your body, and Francesca is one of the best in the business.
I’ve read and followed tons of books/information on health and nutrition over the years, from authors like Harvey Diamond, Gabriel Cousens, Herbert Shelton, Bernard Jensen, David Wolfe, Victoras Kulvinskas, T. Colin Campbell, Anne Wigmore and Max Gerson, among others. I’ve done juice fasting, tried various assorted cleanses, gone raw vegan & vegetarian, been to health farms, become a personal trainer, and more. Recently, I’ve begun to follow the paleo/low carb/low sugar/high healthy fat diet/lifestyle after reading books by Mark Sisson, Loren Cordain, Catherine & Luke Shanahan, Julia Ross, Gary Taubes, and one of my personal favorites – “Primal Body, Primal Mind” by Nora Gedgaudas (whom I was delighted to discover Francesca knows personally.)
After following this lifestyle for a while, now, I can say for certain that I feel better than ever while I’m doing it and the excess fat I was always struggling to lose before just seemed to disappear effortlessly. One day I hopped on the scale after not weighing myself for a while and discovered I had reached my ideal weight without even knowing it (even though I had a hunch by looking in the mirror.) However, there were still issues with my health, emotions, and a couple of addictions that I just couldn’t seem to shake, no matter how hard I tried, which approaches I took, or how much I learned about them.
It had been on my mind to contact and visit a local nutritionist that was educated in amino acid therapy and a low sugar/high fat diet for some time now, as recommended by Nora Gedgaudas (among others) in her book, but after having done so, I have to say that I wish I hadn’t waited so long. And, in my humble opinion, as a person who has spoken with multiple other nutritionists, I don’t think I could have found a better practitioner. (and I still feel there is an amazing synchronicity in my reading Nora’s wonderful book and then visiting a nutritionist that went to the same school and in fact knows her personally, as well.)
Sifting through the vast amount of information and research available today regarding food, supplements, health and nutrition, figuring out what is true and what is false, and then applying that information to your unique situation, body, and mind, IS NOT EASY. In fact, it is a monumental task, and it’s better left to the professionals. In many cases, if you aren’t professionally trained, you can even do more harm than good, especially when taking supplements.
But when it comes to nutritionists, not even all of the professionals are that well-educated, with the prevalence of so many varying opinions, biases, and thoughts to be heard within such a massive amount of conflicting information circulating throughout today’s media and literature.
So who are you to trust when it comes to sorting through it all and achieving optimal health? Fortunately, in this department, Francesca is as about as good as they get.
Even immediately after speaking with her for the first time you know you are in the care of good hands.
Prior to your appointment you are asked to fill out multiple, in-depth questionnaires regarding your current and past states of health and overall wellness in order to determine what the underlying problems may be.
Upon arrival, the Hillcrest office is serene, spacious and beautifully decorated, with hardwood floors, beverages and ample reading material in the waiting area. The staff is polite and efficient. Francesca greets you with a smile, her personality is relaxed and cheerful, and puts you at ease. She takes you to her office, passing an enclosed-glass conference-type room to the right. You enter another nicely decorated, warmly lit room, sit down on a small sofa across from her, and start talking about why you are there. She listens intently, asking questions, taking notes, her general disposition being one that exudes concern and compassion for her clients, and she shares a sense of humor and playfulness that makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable.
But what’s more – I was absolutely amazed by the level of knowledge, competency, and up-to-date-ness delivered by Francesca. Even after I’ve read so much material and spoken with other nutritionists in the past, she was still able to fill in some gaps in my eating plan that I had overlooked, which I feel will greatly contribute to me achieving the health results I desire. And even the information she provides simply off the top of her head is akin to a demonstration of a master in their field.
In addition to this, she’s also helped me develop a workable supplement plan to correct nutritional imbalances I know I’ve had for most of my life (something I’ve been struggling to do on my own for years) as well as other cleansing/restorative supplement and herbal techniques that I’ll implement in the near future, once I’m ready, in order to help mitigate and reverse some of the damage I’ve caused to my body over the years. Invaluably, she’s helped me determine which supplements I should be taking, why I should be taking them, how much to take, when to take them, which ones are of the highest quality and why, which ones I should throw in the trash, which ones are a waste of money, and which ones could even do me harm. (Even just this alone I feel was well worth the money.)
Francesca is without a doubt a highly skilled professional, among the top in her field, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone having any issues with weight, your digestive system, disease in general, eating disorders, mood disorders, addictions, destructive behaviors, chronic pain, anyone that has to see a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist, or chiropractor on a regular basis, or anybody having any issues with health and well-being in general, period. So much of the time what you are putting in your body is both the cause and the solution, or at least can help to a (sometimes amazing) degree.
I’m convinced that Francesca is one of the best individuals available to help you figure it out and implement a plan designed specifically for you.
Good Luck and Great Health!
Francesca has changed my life! I first went to see her 3 years ago to address post-pregnancy weight and sugar handling issues. I knew the food pyramid was not the way to live and I needed help. Francesca really listened, genuinely cared about helping me and conducted an in-depth screening. She is extremely knowledgable and simply taught me how to nourish my body and the growing bodies of my 2 young children with real, whole foods.
Most recently, I had been having gallbladder attacks for over a year. These attacks were painful, occurred almost daily and my PCP suggested that removing the gallbladder was the only treatment available. Francesca was the first person I thought to call and once again she educated me, provided guidance and recommended supplements that have helped reversed my symptoms!
Thank you Francesca for providing an invaluable service to our community!
Francesca is wonderful, she knows more about nutrition than anyone I’ve ever met! 4 years ago I decided to be a vegetarian, and I ate a lot of soy products. At the same time I started experiencing excessive anxiety, stomach issues, and I was sick all the time.
After doing a consultation with Francesca I learned I should stop eating soy because I likely had a sensitivity to it, and she gave me a whole new way of eating. Since then I have felt great, and my anxiety disappeared! What I love most about Francesca’s program is that it makes sense and you never feel like you are on a diet – no counting calories or overly restrictive rules, just healthier choices.
I am so grateful for everything I have learned!
Thanks Francesca!
I was born a picky eater and grew up eating Eggos for breakfast, peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and quesadillas for dinner, every day.
I didn’t try eating a salad or chicken until I was 19 years old. The doctor’s would tell my parents to make sure I had a daily multi-vitamin; while others said that someday it would catch up to me and I will have to change the way I eat. Well it did!
I probably spent about 5-7 years with stomach discomfort, bloating and severe acid reflux, until I couldn’t deny something was really wrong anymore. I found out I had an intolerance to gluten, which was completely disturbing to me, since gluten was pretty much my whole diet. I was lost and didn’t know what I was going to eat from that point on.
Luckily, a friend of mine had known Francesca for years and suggested I make an appointment to talk with her. Francesca has helped ease me into eating healthy. She’s gently guided me through trying new foods, helped me plan meals with new recipes, tailored a supplement routine along with foods that would heal my gut and restore me back to normal digestion.
Along the way I have lost a little over 30 lbs*, eating bacon and eggs for breakfast, salads for lunch and enjoying trying various kinds of veggies and meat for dinner. My life has drastically changed along with my eating habits, my body is 100% more healthy and I am overall a happier person. I have conquered my sugar addiction (which I wasn’t aware I had) and have and will continue to deal with my overall emotional relationship with food.
I am extremely grateful for Francesca and the information she has provided me. I have a new respect for food and she continues to support me through this process. I could not have done it without her and feel she genuinely wants to help. The best part of all of this is, by deciding to follow Francesca’s lead on nutrition, I am a better me, my son is a healthier eater, and I have affected so much change just by showing people the reward of good healthy whole food eating!
Thank you for being you Francesca, you are much needed!!!
When it comes to introducing solids and feeding your baby, there is an overload of generalized “one size fits all” approaches. Francesca is a fountain of wisdom in holistic pediatric nutrition and creates a thoughtful, thorough plan specifically customized for your baby and his developmental needs and challenges. She has been amazingly helpful, available, engaging and understanding. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
Francesca has helped me immensely.
For many years, I was an internationally ranked wheelchair tennis player, playing on several USA national teams as well as 2 Paralympic teams. Francesca helped me find a diet that maximized my athletic performance, both for tournament travel and off-season training. After I retired, she helped me transition to a diet more suitable for my new stay-at-home life 🙂 I find her to be both extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. She understood the things that I was good at as well as the things that I needed help with. I would recommend her to anyone who is ready to make a change their life for the better.
I have known Francesca Orlando for over five years. She was a referral from another health professional. I immediately noticed how knowledgeable and personable she was along with a very upbeat attitude.
At our first appointment, Francesca did a thorough evaluation which included my food/meal consumption, history of medical conditions, medications I was taking and physical activity.
Initially Francesca helped me regulate my elimination system with diet, exercise and supplements. To this day, this regime is right on the mark. I am grateful that I don’t have to worry about this issue on a daily basis.
We have branched out to helping me with arthritis, maintaining the correct level of Vitamin D while adding other supplements. The ones she uses are of the highest quality.
I have an appointment every 6 months with Francesca. I continue to renew my supplements which arrive as quickly as possible. She is available by phone or email in between appointments.
It is with high praise for Francesca Orlando as a health practitioner that I would whole heartedly recommend her. She takes a KEEN interest in your health.
When I met Francesca, I just found out I was gluten intolerant and didn’t know where to start (gluten is all I ate!) Francesca helped me get healthy by teaching me how to eat, how to heal my body by nourishing it with the right foods, (vitamins and supplements) and help me learn how to feed my family with a healthier diet. I not only lost weight, but I started a new relationship with food and started feeling better all around. I highly regard Francesca as an expert in her field and will forever be grateful for her help.
I worked with Francesca for months with her Babies & Bumps program. It was a wonderful experience and we are currently working on my post natal nutrition.
Francesca has been an invaluable resource as I navigated fertility issues first, and then the ailments of pregnancy. She has been such wonderful guide, and she is now helping me with post partum nutrition and milk supply. I already know that she will be by my side when I start weaning my baby. She is extremely knowledgeable, comforting, and she has great coaching skills. I definitely recommend women to trust her with their prenatal and post natal care!