Interview with holistic nutrition coach Katharina Lange

Katharina, thank you for taking the time for an interview. At the beginning it would be nice if you briefly introduce yourself: Who are you and what do you do?

Hi, I’m Katharina Lange. I have been a part-time nutrition coach since 2018. Before that, I worked in the chemical industry for 10 years. In 2020, during my parental leave, I decided to start my own business doing what I love. In my holistic coaching, I mainly help women to balance their hormones and feel their best through healthy nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. Gut health also plays a major role in this.

My coaching is based on the three pillars, nutrition, mindset and health, which are always connected and influence each other. Sometimes I am a coach, sometimes a friend, sometimes a consultant. The personal relationship with my clients is always in the focus. That’s why it’s much more than just nutrition coaching.

How important is a balanced diet for well-being and what does the gut actually have to do with it?

In my opinion, a balanced diet is the be-all and end-all for your well-being. By balanced I mean a sensible distribution of macronutrients, i.e. enough protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats. It is also important to eat enough calories and to eat regularly. The pauses between meals should not be too long. For the most part, you should eat lots of fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables and few processed foods. If you eat a very unbalanced diet or perhaps even eat foods that you cannot tolerate, you will notice this immediately in your digestion. Your gut plays a major role in your well-being, as your microbiome can also influence your stress levels.

Do you notice a dietary pattern that your clients come to you with? Is there a pattern in the “mistakes”?

It varies. Many women think that if they eat particularly little, they will have greater success in losing weight, but it’ s the opposite. The metabolism is very efficient and always adapts to the circumstances. This means that if you eat less, it will shut down all processes that are not necessary for survival (e.g. reproduction, beautiful hair and skin, etc.) and conserve energy. Once you are in this energy-saving mode, you will not be able to lose weight.

Apart from that, malnutrition has a huge impact on hormone balance, which in turn has a great impact on gut health, and vice versa. In addition, most women eat far too less protein and drink too less. Or they do not eat breakfast because they are not hungry in the morning. Yet a protein and fat-rich breakfast is the basis for stable blood sugar levels, which influence the rest of the day.

**Malnutrition has a huge impact on hormone balance and gut health**.

Why is it so important to get professional help if you want to change your diet for a specific aim?

The aim can be very individual: if you have symptoms like flatulence, irritable bowel syndrome or similar digestive problems, it definitely makes sense to get professional help and also have a stool test. Then you will definitely know for sure and don’t have to test blindly yourself. Firstly, it usually takes much longer to deal with the problems yourself and secondly, you may even make your symptoms worse.

If you want to lose weight, it makes sense to do it sustainably and to acquire good routines. A “diet” will not work in the long run. Therefore, it is helpful to get support for a certain period of time until you feel able to continue on your own.

What does coaching with you look like, how does it work?

A coaching session with me lasts at least 3 months. Most of my clients stay with me for an average of 6 months. We always start with a detailed anamnesis to get to know you and your challenges. At the beginning you learn the basics of nutrition and how your metabolism works. Routines and habits are then built on this. The topic of beliefs plays a big role, as you can also block yourself with negative beliefs, especially in relation to nutrition.

Then we go into more detail and look at your hormones and your gut health. Depending on your needs, I work either with nutrition plans or with a more flexible approach. I offer both group and 1:1 coaching sessions. In both cases you get access to my e-learning platform where you can watch my videos, which we then go into more technical depth and work on your specific issues in the 1:1 coaching or group call. You will definitely benefit from the content throughout your life.

What kind of people come to you?

People who want to invest in themselves and their health. People who want to get to know their body and their metabolism. People who want to understand the processes in their body so that they can become their own little nutrition coach.

“Gut healthy, person healthy.” What comes to mind with this statement?

You are what you eat. If you eat nutritious and healthy foods that are good for you, you will feel good. If you eat foods that you don’t tolerate well, you will feel less well. If you do this over a long period of time, you can also develop diseases. So yes, if the gut is healthy, the person is healthy.

What is your personal advice for a good gut feeling?

Eat the foods that are good for you, surround yourself with people who are good for you and don’t get stressed!

How and where can our readers reach you?

Via my homepage www.katharina-lange.de or via Instagram: kl_ernaehrungscoaching. There is also a link in my profile description where you can make an appointment for a free initial consultation.*

*FYI: The content and Katharina’s nutrition counselling are in German.