NANCP™ Certification Program
Core Curriculum
NANCP™ Curriculum
Take a closer look at each unit—what you’ll learn, why it matters, and how to apply this knowledge to even your most complex cases.
Unit 1
Introduction to Neuronutrition in Practice
What you’ll learn:
Core principles, models, and language of neuronutrition
How neuronutrition integrates nutrition, neuroscience, psychology, and systems thinking
Reframing concepts like identity, memory, behavior, and emotion through a neurobiological lens
Distinguishing neuronutrition from approaches like nutritional psychiatry and functional nutrition
Why it matters:
Gain a unifying framework for understanding the intersection of brain, body, and behavior through food
Develop a clear perspective on how this emerging field can offer new insights and solutions for your clients
How it applies to your practice:
Integrate the OMMPS Model, Neuronutrition Axis, and Neurobiological Nexus into your practice
Communicate the unique value of a neuronutrition approach to clients and colleagues
Unit 2
Survey of Nutritional Neuroscience
What you’ll learn:
Key structures, circuits, and signaling systems involved in digestion, emotion, regulation, and decision-making
The thirteen neuroperceptive processes and their role in sensing and interpreting internal and external cues
Nutrient sensing, brain rhythms, and the four core functions of the nervous system
The fundamental principles of neuroplasticity
Why it matters:
Develop a working knowledge of how the brain and nervous system shape neuronutritional health
Gain the clarity to interpret patterns and support change with depth and precision
How it applies to your practice:
Leverage your understanding of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology to design more effective interventions
Educate clients on the biological mechanisms underlying their experiences and needs
Unit 3
Neuronutrients in Nervous System Function
What you’ll learn:
The role of macronutrients and micronutrients in shaping mood, cognition, and nervous system function
How neurotransmitters, neuroperception, and gut-brain communication influence appetite, digestion, and emotion
Concepts like nutritional intelligence, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and nutrient sensing
Key research areas and global developments in nutritional neuroscience
Why it matters:
Build a strong foundation for connecting nutrition with mental, cognitive, and nervous system health
Understand where the field of neuronutrition is headed and how you can contribute
How it applies to your practice:
Integrate nutritional strategies that support optimal neurotransmitter function and gut-brain communication
Stay up-to-date on the latest research and innovations in the field of neuronutrition
Unit 4
Behavioral Neuronutrition & Food-Body Relationship Dynamics
What you'll learn:
The neurobiological and ancestral influences that drive eating behaviors beyond conscious choice
How neurodivergence, trauma, chronic illness, and stress impact attention, motivation, and sensory processing around food
Concepts like food cue reactivity, emotional decision-making, expected satiety, and predictive mapping
The role of identity, culture, and shame in disrupting healthy eating patterns
Why it matters:
Move beyond outdated "willpower" models to understand the real drivers of eating behavior
Develop compassion and accuracy when working with clients who struggle with food relationships
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients through a behavioral neuronutrition lens that accounts for trauma, stress, and neurodivergence
Create interventions that address underlying neurobiological factors rather than surface-level symptoms
Unit 5
Neuronutritional Health Risks & Mitigants
What you'll learn:
A dynamic, contextual approach to risk assessment using the 3Ps framework and Neuronutritional Exposome
How emotional dysregulation, interoceptive disconnection, and early adversity create vulnerability
Evidence-based factors that help people regain safety, capacity, and nutritional coherence
The concept of risk modifiability and how to identify what keeps people stuck versus what helps them shift
Why it matters:
Replace static diagnostic thinking with a nuanced understanding of risk and resilience as dynamic processes
Identify the specific conditions that allow your clients to heal and thrive
How it applies to your practice:
Use structured frameworks to assess client vulnerability and protective factors
Design interventions that build resilience and address root causes of nutritional struggles
Unit 6
Neuronutritonal Evaluation
What you'll learn:
A structured methodology for building comprehensive neuronutritional profiles using the Timeline, Axis, and OMMPS model
Practical tools including food story mapping, the 3Ps framework, and Neuronutritional Connection Statements (NCS)
Interview strategies and reflective questionnaires that reveal interoception, emotional patterns, and sensory experiences
How to identify meaningful patterns without reducing clients to symptoms or diagnoses
Why it matters:
Gain a repeatable, evidence-based process for understanding complex client presentations
Improve communication and collaboration within healthcare teams
How it applies to your practice:
Conduct thorough neuronutritional assessments that inform targeted intervention strategies
Create clear, actionable client profiles that support better outcomes and professional collaboration
Unit 7
Neuronutrition for Traumatic Stress
What you'll learn:
How trauma disrupts nervous system function, appetite regulation, and digestion over time
The physiological imprint of trauma and how food functions as a safety signal for survivors
Shutdown and hyperactivation patterns that influence eating behaviors and food choices
Capacity-based approaches that prioritize safety and stabilization over compliance
Why it matters:
Distinguish between trauma responses and "resistance" to create more compassionate care
Understand how survival adaptations shape eating patterns in ways that make perfect neurobiological sense
How it applies to your practice:
Use trauma-informed, neuroaffirming approaches that support nervous system regulation through nourishment
Design interventions based on client capacity rather than external food rules or protocols
Unit 8
Neuronutrition for Depression
What you'll learn:
How depression affects appetite, motivation, and food-related executive functioning through the Neurobiological Nexus
The connection between anhedonia, altered reward signaling, and patterns like meal-skipping or convenience food reliance
The roles of inflammation, HPA axis dysregulation, serotonin precursors, and energy availability in mood and cognition
Critical evaluation of popular dietary protocols (anti-inflammatory, Mediterranean, ketogenic, elimination-based) for depression
Why it matters:
Move beyond one-size-fits-all dietary approaches to understand individual capacity and lived experience
Develop evidence-informed strategies that account for the real-world challenges of depression
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients through the lens of neurobiological changes in depression rather than willpower deficits
Adapt nutritional interventions to match current capacity and support gradual nervous system healing
Unit 9
Neuronutrition for Anxiety
What you'll learn:
How chronic sympathetic activation and heightened interoceptive sensitivity alter appetite and digestion
The impact of GABAergic and serotonergic signaling changes on food-related decision-making and avoidance
How nutrient depletion, blood sugar dysfunction, and stimulant intake contribute to anxiety presentations
Evidence-based evaluation of nutritional interventions including low-histamine, low-FODMAP, and anti-inflammatory protocols
Why it matters:
Understand how anxiety creates physiological changes that directly impact eating patterns and food tolerance
Learn to adapt interventions to individual nervous system patterns rather than applying generic protocols
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients for anxiety-related digestive and appetite changes that require specialized support
Design interventions that prioritize nervous system safety, consistency, and gradual physiological regulation
Unit 10
Neuronutrition for Pain
What you'll learn:
How persistent pain alters eating behavior through neuroimmune system interactions, central sensitization, and stress physiology
The impact of neuroinflammatory signaling, disrupted sleep, and physical discomfort on appetite suppression and food choices
Concepts like pain-induced fatigue, reward displacement, and sensory sensitivity in relation to neuronutritional capacity
Critical evaluation of pain-related dietary protocols (anti-inflammatory, elimination, autoimmune) considering nervous system burden and executive load
Why it matters:
Understand how chronic pain creates legitimate barriers to nutrition that go beyond motivation or compliance
Learn to work with pain-related limitations without adding shame or cognitive burden
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients for pain-related impacts on meal preparation, food variety, and appetite regulation
Design sustainable nutrition strategies that accommodate physical limitations and reduce executive load
Unit 11
Neuronutrition for Sleep Disturbances
What you'll learn:
How disrupted sleep alters hunger hormones, blood sugar regulation, and cognitive functioning
The bidirectional relationship between sleep and neuronutrition, including circadian rhythm disruption effects on appetite and digestion
How sleep inertia, late-night eating patterns, and chronic stimulant reliance interfere with natural appetite signaling
Chrononutrition concepts including meal timing, light exposure, and rhythm entrainment for restoring energy and regulation
Why it matters:
Recognize sleep disturbances as a root cause of eating pattern disruptions rather than a willpower issue
Understand how circadian biology directly impacts nutritional behavior and metabolic function
How it applies to your practice:
Evaluate clients for sleep-related impacts on eating patterns and appetite regulation
Use chrononutrition principles and targeted interventions to support both sleep quality and nutritional coherence
Unit 12
Neuronutrition for Addiction
What you'll learn:
The neurobiological mechanisms linking substance reliance and reward system dysregulation to eating behaviors
How dopaminergic exhaustion, executive dysfunction, and disrupted interoception contribute to craving cycles and binge-restrict patterns
The overlap between malnutrition and substance use, including the impact of ultra-processed foods on reward circuitry
Critical evaluation of popular addiction recovery nutrition approaches (amino acid therapy, abstinence-based protocols, supplementation strategies)
Why it matters:
Understand addiction as a neurobiological condition that affects both substance use and food relationships
Move beyond shame-based approaches to embrace harm-reduction principles grounded in nourishment and agency
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients for reward system dysregulation patterns affecting both substances and food
Implement harm-reduction nutritional strategies that prioritize cellular safety, nervous system healing, and realistic capacity
Unit 13
Neuronutrition for Autoimmunity
What you'll learn:
How autoimmunity disrupts appetite, energy production, and food-body relationships through inflammation, immune activation, and nervous system dysregulation
The impact of unpredictable symptom flares on eating patterns and the psychosocial burden of restrictive dietary protocols
How illness identity, bodily fear, and attempts at control shape relationships with food and eating
Critical evaluation of common autoimmune dietary approaches (elimination diets, AIP, low-histamine protocols) considering capacity, sustainability, and nervous system impact
Why it matters:
Understand autoimmune conditions as complex neurobiological experiences that affect both physical symptoms and food relationships
Learn to balance symptom management with psychological well-being and social connection
How it applies to your practice:
Assess clients for autoimmune-related impacts on appetite, energy, and food tolerance while considering the emotional burden of restrictions
Design flexible, nuanced approaches that respect the unpredictable nature of autoimmune conditions without increasing stress or isolation
Unit 14
Neuronutrition for Neurodegeneration
What you'll learn:
How neurodegenerative conditions affect eating behavior, nutrient needs, and cognitive capacity over time
The impact of changes in sensory processing, executive function, appetite, and motor coordination on meal preparation and daily nourishment
The emotional toll and grief associated with cognitive decline for both individuals and caregivers
Critical review of dietary strategies (ketogenic, MIND, Mediterranean approaches) with attention to accessibility, adaptability, and dignity
Why it matters:
Recognize neurodegeneration as affecting identity, memory, and relational connection alongside nutritional needs
Understand the progressive nature of cognitive decline and its impact on food-related independence
How it applies to your practice:
Prioritize relational care, nutritional stability, and supportive structure in interventions
Adapt recommendations to honor dignity while accommodating changing cognitive and physical capacities
Unit 15
Neuronutrition for Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery
What you'll learn:
How concussive injuries and TBI alter neuronutritional behavior, cognitive capacity, and food-body relationships during recovery
The impact of disrupted energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, autonomic regulation, and sensory processing on eating patterns
Common post-injury patterns including appetite loss, nausea, food aversion, cognitive fatigue, and reliance on convenience foods
Dietary strategies and nutritional considerations for brain injury recovery (energy availability, protein needs, fatty acids, micronutrients, hydration) with attention to timing and nervous system burden
Why it matters:
Understand brain injury as creating legitimate changes in cognitive capacity that directly affect nutritional behavior
Recognize the fluctuating nature of post-injury symptoms and their impact on meal planning and preparation
How it applies to your practice:
Support recovery-oriented nourishment that respects fluctuating cognitive capacity and rehabilitation demands
Design interventions that accommodate the lived experience of life post-injury while supporting neurological healing
Get the world's first and only Accredited Neuronutrition Certification.
Join other healthcare practitioners who've transformed their practice and mastered the neuronutrition framework with the NANCP™ Certification Program.
Get the Program Guide to learn more.