A Ketogenic Approach to Cancer with Adriana Vernon

Have you ever considered how nutrition—specifically a ketogenic diet—can play a role in cancer treatment? In this powerful and inspiring episode, Dianne sits down with NTI graduate, Adriana Vernon, to discuss her personal journey through a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in 2020. Adriana shares how she embraced both conventional and holistic treatment paths, working alongside her oncologist and a naturopathic doctor to integrate a ketogenic approach to cancer and fasting protocols into her care. Learn how she used a high-fat, low-carb diet and strategic fasting around chemotherapy to support her healing. Now a nutrition therapist, Adriana is passionate about sharing her knowledge and helping others who are going through the same thing.

About Adriana:

Adriana Vernon, a 60-year-old Colorado native, holds two degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder—one in International Relations and another in Advertising. In 2020, she faced a life-changing challenge when she was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer. After completing her treatment in April 2021, Adriana turned her experience into a source of inspiration for others. She became a certified Terrain Advocate through the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health, where she learned how to support cancer patients with nutrition and lifestyle guidance during their treatment journeys.

To deepen her knowledge, Adriana enrolled in the Nutrition Therapy Master Program at the Nutrition Therapy Institute and recently graduated. She is now working toward her certification with the Oncology Nutrition Institute, which she plans to complete by mid-2025.

Adriana has been married for 34 years and is the proud mom of two grown sons, ages 29 and 30. Drawing from her personal experiences, she is dedicated to empowering others through holistic health, helping them navigate their own challenges using nutrition as the foundation. She believes food IS medicine.

Connect with Adriana:

Source Nutrition, LLC

Dianne and Adriana discuss the ketogenic approach to cancer:

02:00 – Adriana talks about being diagnosed with breast cancer
05:35 – Adriana seeks out a naturopathic doctor
10:03 – Integrating holistic and conventional treatment
12:14 – Fasting and the ketogenic diet
14:24 – Dealing with the physical and mental challenges
16:22 – Adriana meets with a registered dietitian at the hospital
21:56 – Why the ketogenic diet is so beneficial for cancer
27:42 – Adriana wants to help others with the same situation and discovers NTI
30:12 – Adriana is continuing her education at the Oncology nutrition institute
32:00 – Advice for others with a similar diagnosis

NTI’s PodTalk is available on all major podcast platforms! Find us by searching “NTI PodTalk” in your favorite podcast platform or following any of the links below.

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Hear from more of our graduates:

Exploring Wellness with Jenna Olcott

Sustainable Living: How to Be Garbage Free with Meg Olson

Are you ready to start your journey as a Nutrition Therapist Master?

Graduates from NTI are prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to generate maximum impact on day one after graduation. Our curriculum is diverse and rigorous, covering the topics needed to help understand how nutrition plays a role in health challenges. You can reach our admissions team at 303-284-8361 or ad********@*******ol.com. We look forward to helping you make a positive impact in the world and achieve your goals!

This discussion is not intended to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy, nor in any way imply that Nutrition Therapists who graduate from NTI are qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy. The scope of practice for graduates of NTI is to deliver therapeutic nutrition guidance, which helps support their natural biology to achieve optimal function in whatever wellness path they are on.