Nutritionist Jordan Pie is on a mission to heal your gut — with collagen
Jordan Pie is a qualified Nutritionist, GAPS Practitioner, health and wellness blogger, and cookbook author. Jordan studied nutrition and became a GAPS Practitioner after struggling with her own gut health.
Jordan has recently moved from Australia to New Zealand, where she offers one-on-one consultations to people all over the world and develops delicious, easy, gut friendly recipes.
You’re a GAPS Practitioner. Tell us about your gut health protocol.
For anyone who has never heard of GAPS, it’s an acronym for the Gut and Psychology Syndrome™, a term coined by neurologist Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride and the title of her book has the same name. It’s a strict protocol designed to heal and seal the gut lining and rebalance and restore the bacterial ecosystem within our gut.
I was formally trained and certified by Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride many years ago now. This means I can guide and support clients on their own GAPS journey too.
You have written on your blog about collagen's gut healing powers. What's your take?
It’s often promoted as a gut healing supplement, and I have to agree with those claims – it’s done wonders for me! I have been taking collagen for nearly 4 years now, and I am so passionate about it.
Why did you write about collagen sourcing? What should people be aware of?
Up until recently, I didn’t know that most collagen supplements on the market come from blended grass and grain-fed South American cows that have been treated with undisclosed substances. This practice has caused devastating damage to the environment, and if it continues, it will destroy the Amazon rainforest.
We were so glad you gave a shout-out to Rare by Nature's Marine Collagen Capsules as clean and trustworthy. What's the drawcard for you?
I actually rate these capsules better than organic collagen powder because the raw collagen is wild sourced and free-living. The capsules contain 100% wild sourced marine collagen with no additives. The production process is simple, it's a powerful natural collagen.
More broadly, there are so many nutrition trends and diets. What is your philosophy on eating well?
As a nutritionist, I get a LOT of questions asking me how I eat. People want to know what kind of diet I’m on. If I eat meat or fruit or nuts. They want to know if I fast daily or just on Tuesdays; or whether I avoid nightshades or oxalates or fructose. The list goes on.
To be honest, what I do is much simpler than that. I eat intuitively. I eat what I feel like I need to eat at any given time. What I eat changes from day to day, and from week to week. However, my food philosophy never changes.
- Eat food your great grandmother would recognise
- Less is more when it comes to ingredients
- Include a wide variety of vegetables—you can always add more
- Just because the ingredients change, doesn’t mean the menu has to. There is always a healthier alternative to your favourite foods
- Eat to be well, not to be thin
- Nourish and nurture your gut!
What are you snacking on at the moment?
I’ve been obsessed with my Homemade Chocolate Yogo lately (you can watch a video on how to make it here) from my eBook Just Desserts. It’s delicious on its own with some grated chocolate on top, served with some homemade granola or fresh berries, or lately I’ve been using it as a ‘frosting’ on these Paleo Beetroot Muffins for some extra decadence.
You say that what we eat has a big impact on the health of our skin. Can you share any natural skin care tips?
If I use anything I make sure it’s organic skincare. It’s important to remember that the condition of your skin can be a pretty good indication of the state of the body on the inside, so it's essential to address the body as a whole to improve your skin for the long term.
One food I would recommend incorporating into your diet to support your skin (and gut health) is bone broth - it’s incredibly nourishing and nutritious. Bone broth contains high amounts of natural collagen that forms the structural building blocks of strong skin, giving you a youthful glow. Bone broth is also one of the best foods to consume for those suffering digestive issues, as it’s rich in gelatin. Gelatin is essential for connective tissue function – it literally acts to heal and seal the gut, making this broth essential for those suffering chronic inflammation or leaky gut syndrome. I use bone broth as the base of my veggie soups, stews, slow cooked meats, add it into chicken soups, curries, gravies and more. It’s very easy to incorporate into your everyday diet.
What’s your key to maintaining good health?
I don’t believe in ‘magic pills’ that will cure X, Y, Z or ‘do this one thing to have perfect health’. I believe health is very multifaceted. However, for those who are struggling right now, or feeling overwhelmed with what to do and where to start, just remember that eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or time consuming. It can be simple. You can start by cooking from scratch and sticking to whole, unprocessed REAL foods as much as possible. This is the best way to avoid harmful additives. Since this may not feel possible for everyone, the next best thing is to stay educated, read ingredients on food products carefully and shop wisely.
Jordan’s recommended reading
Gut and Physiology Syndrome. Natural treatment for allergies, autoimmune illness, arthritis, gut problems, fatigue, hormonal problems, neurological disease. Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride
Jordan’s recommended podcasts
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
Health, Happiness & Human Kind with Steph Lowe
Kulturing Kuriosity Podcast with Kirsty Wirth
Find Jordan’s website here
Find her on Instagram @jordiepieface
Jordan was interviewed for Rare by Nature's Rare Perspectives Series. Learn More