Course Description

The Primal Health and Nutrition Expert Certification Course provides the most in-depth and up-to-date ancestral health, nutrition and lifestyle education in the world. You will graduate with a deep understanding of how to reprogram your genes for optimal wellness, which food groups are best for the human body and why, how to develop lifelong fitness while avoiding injury and burnout, and so much more.

This course is comprised of 14 comprehensive chapters containing text, video, and audio, to accommodate all learning types. It is the first of three courses that make up the Primal Health Coach Certification path. 

To learn more about the Primal Health and Nutrition Expert Certification or the more comprehensive Primal Health Coach Certification Course, including how to enroll, click here to book a call with our Admissions Director.

Course Instructors

Co-Founder and Instructor

Mark Sisson

Mark Sisson is a celebrated best-selling health and fitness author credited as the “godfather” of paleo/primal and a leading figure in the ancestral health community. He is a former world-class distance runner, triathlete and Ironman competitor, and coach to hundreds of professional athletes. An avid academic, Mark was a pre-med candidate and earned a biology degree from Williams College. He served for 15 years as chairman of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Anti-Doping Commission and as the ITU’s liaison to the International Olympic Committee. He began sharing his vast nutrition science knowledge with the ancestral health community by way of his award-winning blog, Mark’s Daily Apple. Mark teamed up with other leading experts to create the Primal Health Coach Institute certification program, the world’s first coaching program based on the evolutionary health movement.

Senior Instructor

Erin Power

For 25 years, Erin Power balanced her full-time Marketing and Advertising career with a part-time career in the fitness industry as a trainer and fitness instructor. She made the leap to full-time health coaching in 2004, and in that time has helped over 600 individual clients find freedom from food fixation, and achieve an effortless relationship with food. These days she's one of the leaders at the helm of developing curriculum for Primal Health Coach Institute®, and supporting the business development efforts of our graduates. She's also the co-host of Health Coach Radio, the podcast by health coaches, for health coaches. Erin lives outside of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on a hobby farm in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome!

    • Welcome from Mark Sisson and Erin Power

    • Course Overview

    • Downloading Files Within the Course

    • Meet Your Faculty and Staff
  • 2

    Legal and Support

    • Important: Legal Matters

    • Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

    • Support
  • 3

    Announcements

    • Introduction

    • Announcements

    • Upcoming Webinars
  • 4

    Educational Resources

    • Introduction

    • Ebooks

    • Audiobooks

    • Archived Webinars

    • Peer and Faculty Support & Connection via Facebook
  • 5

    Why Primal?

    • Introduction Video

    • Why PHCI?

    • Why Ancestral Health?
  • 6

    Chapter 1 - Yes, You Really Can Reprogram Your Genes

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Genes 101

    • Gene Expression, Epigenetics, and Genetic Adaptation

    • Chronic/Systemic Inflammation

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 1 Curriculum - Audio

    • Familial Genes - Audio Supplement

    • Genetic Diversity - Audio Supplement

    • Changing Habits - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 1 Exam
  • 7

    Chapter 2 - The Clues to Optimal Gene Expression Are Found in Evolution

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • The Primal Laws

    • Evolutionary Health

    • Primal Humans; Modern Humans; and Aging

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 2 Curriculum - Audio

    • Primal Blueprint Laws - Audio Supplement

    • Neanderthal - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 2 Exam
  • 8

    Chapter 3 - Your Body Prefers Burning Fat Over Carbohydrates

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • The Standard American Diet

    • Metabolic Flexibility

    • Fuel Partitioning

    • Glucose

    • Fat

    • Ketones

    • Recommended Macronutrient Intake Levels

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 3 Curriculum - Audio

    • High Carb Consumption - Audio Supplement

    • Dietary Ketosis - Audio Supplement

    • Quality Over Quantity - Audio Supplement

    • Macronutrient Calculations - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 3 Exam
  • 9

    Chapter 4 - 80 Percent of Your Body Composition Is Determined by How You Eat

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Energy Balance Determines Body Composition

    • Hormones

    • Enzymes

    • Gut Health

    • Intermittent Fasting

    • The Carbohydrate Curve

    • The "Other Twenty Percent"

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 4 Curriculum - Audio

    • Calories In, Calories Out - Audio Supplement

    • Hormone Optimization - Audio Supplement

    • Insulin Sensitivity - Audio Supplement

    • Alcohol - Audio Supplement

    • Intermittent Fasting - Audio Supplement

    • Fasting and Exercise - Audio Supplement

    • Carb Refueling - Audio Supplement

    • Diet Is the Gateway - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 4 Exam
  • 10

    Chapter 5 - Grains Are Totally Unnecessary

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Antinutrients

    • Predominant Dietary Sources of Antinutrients

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 5 Curriculum - Audio

    • Viewing Health Matters in Isolation - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 5 Exam
  • 11

    Chapter 6 - Fat and Cholesterol Are Not Your Enemy

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • The Lipid Hypothesis

    • Heart Disease

    • Blood Testing

    • Statins

    • The Fat, Cholesterol, and Heart Disease Myth

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 6 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chronic Stress - Audio Supplement

    • Opposing Beliefs - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 6 Exam
  • 12

    Chapter 7 - Fitness is Built on a Foundation of Frequent, Low-Intensity Movement

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Dangers of Sedentary Modern Life

    • Fitness Mythbusting: Chronic Cardio, Caloric Compensation, and Metabolic Rate

    • Aerobic Exercise

    • Heart Rate Zones

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 7 Curriculum - Audio

    • Sedentary Patterns - Audio Supplement

    • Exercise Mentality - Audio Supplement

    • Chronic Cardio - Audio Supplement

    • HRV Monitoring - Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 7 Exam
  • 13

    Chapter 8 - Maximum Fitness Gains Can Be Made in Minimal Time

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Functional Fitness

    • High-Intensity Fitness

    • Nutritional Considerations for Exercise

    • Exercise and Longevity

    • Play

    • Recovery

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 8 Curriculum - Audio

    • Resistance Training - Core Curriculum Audio Supplement

    • Focus on Quality - Core Curriculum Audio Supplement

    • Fasting and Exercise - Core Curriculum Audio Supplement

    • Chapter 8 Exam
  • 14

    Chapter 9 - Eliminate SAD Foods

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Pantry Purge Priorities

    • Fats and Oils

    • Sweets

    • Grains

    • Legumes

    • Hyper-processed Foods

    • Condiments

    • Beverages

    • Dairy Products

    • Fish and Seafood

    • Meat

    • Potatoes

    • Conducting Your Pantry Purge

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 9 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 9 Exam
  • 15

    Chapter 10 - Choose (The Best) Primal Foods

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Kitchen Restock

    • Shopping for Produce

    • Herbs and Spices

    • Meat and Poultry

    • Seafood

    • Eggs

    • Nuts, Seeds, and Derivative Butters

    • Healthy Fats and Oils

    • Beverages

    • Dairy

    • Dark Chocolate

    • Alcohol

    • Supplements

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 10 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 10 Exam
  • 16

    Chapter 11 - Shop, Cook, and Dine Primally

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Practical Considerations for Eating Primally

    • Strategies for Buying Food

    • Strategies for Cooking, and Eating (and Drinking) at Home

    • Strategies for Dining Out

    • Cultivating a Successful Approach

    • Chapter Summary

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 11 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 11 Exam
  • 17

    Chapter 12 - Exercise Primally: Move, Lift, and Sprint!

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Primal Fitness

    • Move Frequently

    • Lift Heavy Things

    • Sprint

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 12 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 12 Exam
  • 18

    Chapter 13 - Primal Lifestyle

    • Introduction Video

    • Chapter Overview

    • Quick Facts

    • Diet

    • Exercise

    • Work

    • Sleep

    • Social Connections

    • Play

    • Nature

    • Sunlight

    • Slow Life Down

    • Chapter Summary and References

    • Coaching Your Clients

    • Chapter 13 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 13 Exam
  • 19

    Chapter 14: Programming Primal Health

    • Chapter Overview

    • Coaching Formats

    • Recommendation: Begin with One-on-One Coaching

    • CASE STUDY: Beginning with One-on-One, then Scaling to Group Coaching

    • Use Short-Duration Challenges to Leverage Your Individual Program

    • CASE STUDY: Using a Short-Duration Challenge to Convert One-on-One Clients

    • The 12-Week Primal Health Coaching Program Flow

    • On-Boarding Your New One-on-One Client

    • Intake

    • After Intake: Session One

    • Bi-Weekly Education Sessions

    • Weekly Check-In

    • Coaching Conversations

    • Additional Coaching Tools

    • Tracking Progress: Successes and Struggles

    • Common Client Concerns

    • Get Ready to Graduate Your Client

    • Program Completion

    • DEMO: A 12-Week Primal Health Coaching Relationship

    • PROGRAMMING SUPPORT MATERIALS: The 12-Week Primal Health Coaching Program

    • PROGRAMMING SUPPORT MATERIALS: 21-Day Primal Challenge

    • Chapter 14 Curriculum - Audio

    • Chapter 14 Exam
  • 20

    FINAL EXAM

    • Primal Health and Nutrition Final Exam

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