Brenda welcomes Kylie James, founder of Koru Nutrition, for a powerful conversation about how nutrition is a missing pillar in recovery care, and how small, manageable changes can lead to massive, measurable results. A Certified Nutritional Practitioner and Registered Occupational Therapist, Kylie shares her unique lens on helping clients recover from motor vehicle accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and chronic stress-related conditions. Drawing from personal experience, clinical research, and day-to-day work with clients across Canada, she unpacks everything from gut-brain health and anti-inflammatory diets to insurance approvals, batch cooking, and the power of fermented foods.

Kylie also opens up about the Metabolic Balance Program, a customizable, bloodwork-based plan that's helping people lose weight, manage pain, improve sleep, and even reduce the need for certain medications.

Key Takeaways:

[2:19] Kylie shares her educational background, starting as an occupational therapist in New Zealand and working in various settings.

[3:03] Kylie explains her passion for nutrition and how it complements her occupational therapy skills.

[3:54] She mentions her nephew's spinal cord injury and her involvement in research and writing a book on nutrition and spinal cord injury.

[7:01] The importance of alternative treatments like nutrition and supplements in managing depression.

[12:39] The need for empowering people to explore non-medication options for mental health management.

[14:09] They discuss the resistance from medical institutions to alternative nutrition approaches.

Kylie and Brenda discuss systemic resistance to nutrition-first approaches in hospitals and rehab care.

[24:07] How Koru Nutrition gets nutritional therapy approved for MVA recovery, including supplement and equipment coverage.

[27:18] What clients with brain injuries need most: blood sugar balance, healthy fats, and small changes that stick.

[38:32] Simple, affordable strategies: meal prepping, slow cookers, egg bites, Meatless Mondays, and leftover hacks.

[45:17] The surprising benefits, and challenges of keto, intermittent fasting, and other therapeutic diets.

[54:33] The Metabolic Balance Program: how it's helping clients reduce medication, manage menopause, and heal inflammation.

[56:35] Hormones and brain injury: the overlooked link that's starting to gain attention in concussion recovery.

[1:00:50] Women, weight gain, and research gaps: why most health data still doesn't reflect female biology or hormone cycles.

Mentioned in this episode:

To learn more about the work we do at Gluckstein Lawyers, please visit Gluckstein Lawyers.

To learn more about Kylie: Koru Nutrition Inc.

Gluckstein Lawyers on Twitter

Gluckstein Lawyers on Facebook

Gluckstein Lawyers on Instagram

Gluckstein Lawyers on YouTube

Gluckstein Lawyers on Linkedin

Eat Well, Live Well with Spinal Cord Injury (book)
Metabolic Balance Program