About Ciara

Click here or scroll down to watch my patient vignette created with the PKD Foundation of Canada.

I'm a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), PKD warrior, toddler mama & advocate of healthy, functional eating. I live with Toronto, Ontario, Canada with my husband, our two boys and our Brittany spaniel pup.

Everything I do is inspired by my family and my personal experience juggling motherhood & health.

My general approach to nutrition (and the advice I most often give) is to eat real, whole food as much as possible, aim for balance/moderation in all areas and to focus on what works for the individual. There is no real cookie-cutter strategy for maintaining health & wellness.

My Story & Motivation

I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease when I was 17 years old. I inherited ADPKD from my mother who inherited it from her father. I knew there was a 50% chance I'd have it, but it was still a tough pill to swallow.

Living with a chronic illness is scary, mostly due to the inherent lack of control. It's a lot more comfortable to know what's coming at you so you can plan/react.

This is why I turned my attention to diet--I needed to feel like I could have an impact. I transformed my knowledge of nutrition into a strategy to ensure I live my best life with PKD. This isn't a "diet" or "fad," it's an empowered way of life that I'm here to share with the community.

A focused wellness plan can't cure this disease but it can support kidney function & improve our quality of life.

To read more about my PKD journey & what inspired me to start PKD Wellness, click here.

PKD Video