Who We Are Betsy formed Carolina Nutrition Specialists in 1996 after having worked as a clinical dietitian at University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Originally a consulting firm for long-term care facilities, Carolina Nutrition Specialists became a private nutrition practice in 2012.

With more than 25 years of experience, Betsy has created a formula for healthy eating that has successfully helped her clients reverse disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and gut inflammation. She also help clients identify and manage food sensitivities, reduce or eliminate prescription medications, and achieve and sustain healthy weight.

Carolina Nutrition Specialists can help you, too, to become the healthiest version of yourself. Learn how to optimize your health by making food selection and preparation a priority and integrating those behaviors into your lifestyle. We believe small changes made over time add up to big changes in well-being that last a lifetime. It all starts with food.

Our Mission

With the understanding that a well-nourished body is essential for living a healthy, happy life, and that our best life emerges when the trinity of body, mind and spirit are in balance, Carolina Nutrition Specialists use their knowledge and experience of nutrition to inspire, guide and empower you to create your most vibrant, whole-hearted life.

Betsy Covington MPH, RD, LDN

Registered, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist
Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University
Master of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management
Certificate of Training in Childhood/Adolescent Weight Management
Registered Yoga Teacher 200-hour (RYT 200)
Currently training to become an Integrative & Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner™ (IFNCP™) at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy

I was always a curious kid. And as I matured and grew up, that curious nature never waned. My inquisitive approach to life has led me down many interesting roads of exploration, especially in the areas of science, biology, food, health and spirituality. They remain my passions to this day.

When I was 12 years old, I began to gain weight and didn’t understand why or how it was happening. So, being the curious type, I dug in. I explored and researched, and educated myself. The thrill of the transformation I experienced lit a fire in me that today still burns bright. I took my first nutrition class in my freshman year in college, and at that moment it became crystal clear this was my path.

I love my work so much that I hesitate to even call it work. It’s a passion. And I’m so incredibly grateful and honored to share in others’ transformations to better health and a better life.

Over the years, time and again, I have witnessed the impact of eating well and the power it has on individual’s lives. With each client, I first seek to understand the person – where he or she is in life, the impacting factors and desired goals. Then, together we begin the journey of transformation, one step at a time – and oftentimes it’s the small lifestyle changes that can create big changes in health and vitality.

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Tina Clyburn, FNLP

Certified as a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner (FNLP) through the Functional Nutrition Lab
Graduate of the Full Body Systems program through the Functional Nutrition Lab

I’ve always been fascinated by the complexity and power of the human body.

As a competitive swimmer, I enjoyed a simple relationship with my own body until my late forties, when I began experiencing many subtle (and ultimately not-so-subtle) symptoms. All the while, my physical checkups were perfect. Then an old friend directed me to a functional practitioner. This doctor examined me in a whole new way and empowered me with everyday things I could do to restore my own health. I was fascinated! This kicked off my age of reckless research, wanting to know more, as I also began to recognize the common thread of autoimmunity in the myriad of health issues across my family of origin. Ultimately I dove full-time into a fantastic functional training program.

Now a Practitioner, I know that when properly supported, the body has amazing brilliance and resilience. My goal is to share how your daily habits related to diet and lifestyle affect your body’s ability to nourish, repair, support and protect you. This helps you discover real choice when it comes to your health and how you move through life. Because your body isn’t failing you; it always has a reason. Our modern lifestyle is requiring it to work incredibly hard on your behalf…. every….single….day (and night!)... with no breaks. I guide you in discovering the many ways you can partner with your body, tweaking the things you do every day, so that you lighten your body’s burden and increase its support. Then it can perform brilliantly, as designed.

I’ve created a map (left) of the main things we consider in your journey to optimal health. Your body, situation and goals dictate where we begin, where we go, and how long we spend in each area. Each person is different. The goal is for you to discover how your diet and lifestyle affect your health, so that you can make informed decisions every day about how you want to live. So you can choose abundant life, as you define it.

I work within the premises of the Functional Medicine Model which:

understands that all systems of the body are interconnected
recognizes that we are all unique
includes a therapeutic partnership between practitioner and client.

Whether you are seeking optimal health or are trying to best support your body in managing a chronic condition, I work with you to help you understand what is happening in your body and guide you in best supporting it.

** I am not a licensed dietitian/nutritionist. My services are not for the purpose of providing medical nutrition therapy, and I will not attempt to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. **