About Me

My name is Chris Oplinger and I currently live in upstate South Carolina. Most of my life was spent living near the SC coast. I am currently studying to become a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and will begin practicing in June of 2027. During my studies I will be sharing the things I learn along the way.

My interest in nutrition began about 20 years ago when my first wife was navigating an auto-immune disorder. During that time, we researched nutritional approaches that might support her health, which introduced me to the work of Weston A. Price and others, and the idea of bio-individuality. Everyone's dietary needs are different and what works for one, might not work for another. If you can learn to read your body's signs, you can figure out what your body needs. Now, years later, that desire to learn to read the body's signals has led me to enroll in this program.

I previously worked five years at Whole Foods Market, where I regularly helped customers navigate dietary changes and health concerns, and during that time I learned a great deal about food quality, ingredients, and nutrition. I have always enjoyed cooking, but over time my interest has evolved into a deeper desire to understand how nutrition can support long-term wellness, and how to rethink my cooking practices and the ingredients I use to better support my family's health.

When my first grandson was born in 2024, I became motivated to use what I already knew about nutrition to improve my own health. Over the next few months, I lost over 50 lbs. by removing almost all processed carbohydrates from my diet and felt great. Within months though, I had a minor stroke. Thankfully it only affected my vision and with vision therapy and a functional medicine practitioner, I regained most of what I lost. The stroke motivated me to research what other things I could do to support my health. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life relying on doctors and medication.

These experiences led me to want to learn more and to use that knowledge to help others who are struggling with their own health issues. I decided to find a program that would certify me to do this. After much research, Nutritional Therapy Association seemed to be the best fit. Their Foundations of Health: a nutrient-rich diet, good digestion, blood sugar regulation, healthy sleep, and stress management aligned perfectly with what I had already learned. I enrolled in May of 2026 and will be certified and able to see clients in June of 2027.

I am eager to work with you to address your individual health concerns and find ways that nutrition and lifestyle changes can help you learn to read your body's signals, and achieve your optimal health. Because I have been on this same journey myself, I will bring experience, empathy and compassion to my work. I understand that everyone's needs are different and I seek to bring a personalized approach to each one of my clients.

During my studies, I will be sharing the things I am learning both on this site and on social media. Please subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media if you are interested in this journey.

I am also a musician and songwriter. You can meet my alter-ego at dustystrummer.com

I look forward to working with you starting in June 2027!