Nina Khodakovskaya: My mission is to help people reach a new level of life and energy

Nina Khodakovskaya is a nutritionist, dietary consultant, lecturer, and founder of the online health school Nina School.

In an interview with VITAGURU, Nina Khodakovskaya shared how she got into nutrition, debunked myths about diets and proper eating habits, and also revealed her personal wellness rules.

Nina, tell us about yourself. How did you find your calling?

I became interested in nutrition and healthy eating when I was planning a pregnancy. I wanted to approach it as consciously as possible—prepare my body and address all vitamin deficiencies. When I got my bloodwork done, the results weren’t ideal. I turned to doctors, but didn’t get the answers I needed. So I started researching everything I could on my own, discovered the field of nutrition, and began studying it to prepare myself for childbirth and deliver a healthy baby. That’s how I got into nutrition.

To begin my journey and become a qualified specialist, I enrolled in the international school of integrative preventive and anti-aging medicine PreventAge. Once I felt confident in my knowledge, I started consulting and helping people—which I’ve now been doing for a year and a half. Before nutrition, I graduated from Dnipro National University with a degree in Enterprise Economics.

What are the most common myths about healthy eating you see among your clients?

The biggest misconception is that diets work.

There are so many diets, and they’re very popular—but any diet is harmful. It puts enormous stress on the body and leads to nothing good.

Most diets reduce caloric intake, usually by cutting protein—and that leads to brittle nails and sagging skin. Yes, you might lose weight, but your appearance often worsens as a result.

When it comes to healthy eating, extremes should always be avoided.

How can a proper nutrition system help preserve youth and strengthen health?

To support health and youth, you need a balanced diet that meets your needs for fats, proteins, and complex carbs. And you need to follow it consistently—without going to extremes. That’s the most important thing.

What are the key principles of healthy eating? Where should someone start?

The first step is reducing sugar intake—in any form. Stop adding sugar to tea and coffee. Then cut out sweets and desserts as much as possible. This is a crucial step because sugar really harms our well-being and contributes to many diseases down the road.

Next, if you’ve tackled the sugar issue, eliminate so-called “junk food”—processed foods, canned goods, sausages, anything rich in omega-6 trans fats. These are inflammatory fats and extremely harmful to the body.

These may seem like simple, well-known tips: don’t eat junk food or sugar. But there’s a big difference between knowing and actually doing it.

Should we impose strict food restrictions on ourselves?

I’m personally against any diets or strict limitations—they lead to negative effects on the body. It’s better to adopt a proper eating style: a balanced diet that respects your food preferences and taste habits, and follow it consistently.

It’s important to understand that diets, as a system of rigid restrictions, create serious nutrient deficiencies that can lead to health issues later on.

Detox programs are very popular now. How can someone safely cleanse and reset their body?

First, I want to clarify: detox is not a few days of juice or fasting.

Real detox is a comprehensive, long-term approach. It involves transitioning to proper nutrition, doing lymphatic drainage, and massage. After these lifestyle changes, you can begin taking specific nutraceuticals—like liver cleanses, anti-parasitic protocols, or general gastrointestinal cleanses. That’s when you’ll get the real, gentle effect. Because if you binge one day and fast the next, it’s a shock to your body—not a benefit.

What’s beneficial is what’s done gradually and sustainably.

There’s also emotional detox—like taking breaks from gadgets for a while.

How do you recommend people start building healthy habits?

They say a habit forms in 21 days. But don’t try to change everything at once. Start with one small habit, solidify it, then after 21 days—or at least two weeks—add the next one. It takes time, but that’s how good habits take root.

I use this principle in my consultations too. I introduce nutraceuticals gradually so the body can adjust. That way, it’s not a shock or a stress.

**Tell us about your project—your online health school, Nina School.**

My main health project is the course “Personal Nutritionology”—an educational program. It includes 40 lessons and runs for several months.

It’s designed for those who want to become practicing nutritionists as well as people who simply want to improve their health, digestion, nervous system, and learn how to take vitamins properly so they’re absorbed and effective. The course focuses on holistic body health and well-being.

What does a holistic and conscious lifestyle mean to you?

To me, conscious living is all about balance. Balance between work—which I devote a lot of time to because it’s meaningful and exciting for me—and my personal life, like raising my daughter, who’s about to turn two. Only when I’m in balance can I truly enjoy life.

Of course, like anyone, I sometimes get “off track” in one area or another, but I always try to realign and maintain that balance.

Share your personal wellness rules.

My personal wellness rules include regular health check-ups, taking vitamins to maintain the level of energy I want, and following a proper, balanced diet that provides all essential nutrients—fats, proteins, and carbs. These are the principles I always try to follow.

What goals are you currently working toward? Any plans for the future?

I usually prefer to share results rather than goals—but I’ll give you a sneak peek: in the coming year, I hope to launch some projects aimed at helping even more people become healthy. After all, my main mission as a specialist is to help people reach a new level of life and energy.

Photos by Katerina Kondratyeva
Interview by Katerina Tugusheva