Nutritional therapy in San Diego, built on your data, not the latest diet
You’ve probably tried the plan everyone was talking about. Maybe it worked for a month, maybe it never fit your life. Nutritional therapy starts somewhere different: your history, your labs, your schedule and what you actually like to eat.
At Saffron & Sage, nutritional therapy is led by practitioners who work in the same clinic as our doctors, acupuncturists and clinical herbalists. Your plan can draw on your lab results and fit around the rest of your care.
Already have recent bloodwork? Upload it for a free educational overview →
- Plans informed by your labs
- Naturopathic doctor and nutritionist on the team
- Clinical herbalists in house
- HSA and FSA welcome
Why people in San Diego book nutritional therapy
These are the reasons we hear most from people across San Diego, from Little Italy and Downtown to Mission Hills, Hillcrest and North Park. Your practitioner will ask what is going on and build a plan around it.
Digestion that never feels settled
Bloating, discomfort or irregularity that shows up after meals you thought were healthy.
Foods for a calmer gut →
Energy that dips through the day
Mid-afternoon crashes, cravings and reaching for caffeine or sugar to get through.
The 3 PM problem →
Hormone and cycle changes
Perimenopause, cycle shifts or changes in mood and sleep that you want to support through food.
Nutrition and hormonal balance →
Weight goals that keep stalling
You’ve done the diets. You want an approach that fits your body and your life.
Stop chasing diets →
Guessing at supplements
A cabinet of bottles and no clear idea which ones you actually need.
Testing before supplements →
Training and performance
Fueling for workouts, races and recovery, without guesswork.
Nutrition for athletes →
Food and mood
Noticing that what you eat affects how you feel, focus and sleep.
Nutrition and the mind →
Eating well on a packed calendar
Business travel, client dinners and long days. You want a plan that survives a real week.
What is nutritional therapy?
Nutritional therapy is a personalized, whole-food approach to eating and lifestyle, built around your history, your lab results and how your body responds, rather than a one-size-fits-all diet.
Your practitioner looks at what you eat now, how you digest it, how you sleep, how you move and what your labs show. Then they build a plan that fits your life: practical changes to meals, timing and ingredients, and supplement suggestions only when your data supports them. Our clinical herbalists can add custom herbal formulas and flower essences when they fit your plan.
We don’t make promises about results. Food is personal, and bodies respond differently. What we do promise is a plan designed for you, explained clearly, and adjusted as you go based on how you feel and what follow-up testing shows.
How nutritional therapy fits into integrative care here
At Saffron & Sage, nutrition isn’t a handout you take home and forget. If you are a member, your nutrition plan sits inside your Holistic Health Plan, alongside any diagnostic testing, acupuncture or other care, so everything points in the same direction.
Many members begin with an Integrative Physical and lab work, then use nutritional therapy to put what they learned into practice. Others come for nutrition support on its own. Either way, you leave with clear next steps, not a lecture.
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- A two-week log that makes your first visit count
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What a nutrition plan here actually looks like
No meal replacement shakes, no banned food lists taped to the fridge. Your practitioner starts with what you already eat and builds from there, with changes you can keep up during a busy week.
Plans are practical: what to shop for, what to cook when you have 20 minutes, what to order at a restaurant and how to handle travel. If your labs point to something specific, your plan explains why a change matters in plain language.
What your plan can include
Depending on your goals, your plan may cover:
- Meal ideas and a simple weekly structure
- Timing and portions that fit your schedule
- Supplement suggestions based on your labs
- Custom herbal formulas from our clinical herbalists
- Follow-up sessions to adjust as you go
Your first nutritional therapy appointment, step by step
- Before you arrive. Complete your intake forms. If you can, keep a simple food log for three days and bring any recent lab results.
- Intake. Your practitioner asks about your health history, digestion, energy, sleep, medications, supplements and goals.
- Your plan. Together you set priorities and build a plan with practical changes. Testing may be suggested if more data would help.
- After. You leave with written next steps. Herbal formulas or supplements are suggested only when they fit your plan.
- How often. Many people meet every few weeks at first, then less often as the plan becomes habit. You decide.
Meet our San Diego nutrition team
Nutritional therapy is led by practitioners who work alongside our medical team, acupuncturists and clinical herbalists, so your nutrition plan can connect to the rest of your care.
Dr. Alexander Aponte-Davila
Naturopathic doctor and nutritionist who works closely with labs, gut and hormone health.
Dr. Nazanin Ghetmiri
Naturopathic doctor with a focus on gut, endocrine and women’s health.
How much does nutritional therapy cost? Two ways to start
Your first visit is where the relationship starts. A first appointment runs much like any other: a short intake, your session, and a few minutes at the end to talk about what comes next. If you add a consultation, your practitioner takes a fuller history and reviews your labs, if you have them. Pick the way in that suits you.
First visit and consultation
Your first appointment and a full consultation together, for half the usual price.
Book your first visitNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Your first appointment
Start with a single first appointment, then decide what comes next.
Book my first appointmentNew patients. Through October 31, 2026.
Then, as a member
Monthly credits you can use for nutritional therapy and the rest of your plan. Nutritional therapy uses two medical credits, and botanical medicine uses one. Ask us about membership on your discovery call.
Use pre-tax dollars
HSA and FSA dollars can often be used for nutrition care, especially when a provider recommends it. Check eligibility with your plan administrator. We're direct pay and don't bill insurance. How HSA, FSA and LSA work here Get our free HSA and FSA guide
Have your most recent labs? Upload them here for a free overview.
Upload a recent lab report and get a plain-language overview of what each marker measures. Bring it to your first nutrition session so your practitioner can start from real data.
Upload my lab reportFree. Takes about a minute. Your file is processed in real time and is not stored. Educational only, not medical advice or a diagnosis.
- UploadA recent lab report, as a PDF or a photo.
- ReadA plain-language overview of what each marker measures.
- Talk it throughWith our team on a free discovery call, if you would like.
Nutritional therapy near Little Italy, San Diego
Saffron & Sage is on State Street, just north of Little Italy, a short drive from Downtown, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, Point Loma and North Park. Many members come in before or after work.
Saffron & Sage
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 933-2340 · Get directions
Hours: Monday and Thursday 8 to 2, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 to 8.
Nutritional therapy FAQs
How much does nutritional therapy cost in San Diego at Saffron & Sage?
New patients can book a first visit and consultation together for $300, normally $600, or a first appointment for $250, normally $300. After that, members use monthly credits. A nutritional therapy session uses two medical credits. HSA and FSA dollars can often be used.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?
Registered dietitians hold a specific credential and often work in hospitals. At Saffron & Sage, nutritional therapy is delivered by practitioners with naturopathic and nutrition training who work alongside our medical team, with a whole-person, food-first approach.
Do I need lab work first?
No, but it helps. Many people start with an Integrative Physical and lab work so their plan is based on real data. If you already have recent labs, bring them.
Will I have to follow a strict diet?
No. Plans start with what you already eat and focus on changes you can keep. If a specific change is suggested, your practitioner will explain why.
How often should I see a nutritionist?
Many people meet every few weeks at first, then less often as new habits settle in. Your practitioner will suggest a schedule, and you decide.
Can nutritional therapy help with weight loss?
Many people book nutritional therapy with weight goals in mind. We don’t promise a number on the scale. We build a realistic plan around your body, labs and schedule, and adjust it as you go.
Will you recommend supplements?
Only when your history or labs support it. Micronutrient testing can show what is worth taking and what isn’t, so you’re not guessing.
What is botanical medicine?
Botanical medicine uses plants and plant-based preparations. Our clinical herbalists can create custom herbal formulas and flower essences for you. Always tell us about any medications you take, because some herbs interact with them.
Is nutritional therapy safe during pregnancy?
Yes, with care. Our prenatal nutrition support is coordinated with your OB or midwife, and herbs are only suggested when they are appropriate for pregnancy.
Is nutritional therapy covered by insurance or HSA?
We’re a direct pay clinic and don’t bill insurance. HSA and FSA dollars can often be used for nutrition care, especially when a provider recommends it. Check eligibility with your plan administrator.
Can I do nutritional therapy if I have a medical condition?
Often, yes, alongside care from your doctor. Tell us about your diagnosis and medications at intake. Nutritional therapy supports your medical care and doesn’t replace it.
What should I bring to my first session?
Recent lab results, a list of medications and supplements, and a rough idea of what you eat on a normal day. A three-day food log is helpful but not required.
Can I combine nutritional therapy with acupuncture or other care?
Yes. Many members pair nutrition with acupuncture, diagnostic testing or bodywork, and your care team can see the whole plan.
Do I need to be a member?
No. You can start with a first visit or a free discovery call, then decide whether membership makes sense for you.
Where are you located?
2555 State St, San Diego, CA 92101, just north of Little Italy.
Ready when you are
Book your first visit and consultation for $300, normally $600. Not sure yet? Request a free discovery call. Our team will listen to what's going on and help you pick the right nutritional therapy session and practitioner. No cost, no pressure.
Or call (619) 933-2340
All medical services are provided by Kasawa Medical APC dba Saffron & Sage MD. Nutritional therapy and botanical medicine support your overall care and don’t replace medical treatment. Please tell us at intake about any medical conditions, pregnancy, medications and allergies, since some herbs and supplements interact with medications. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.
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