An interview with HPN's founder- Cliff Harvey

Post by Emily White

Cliff Harvey knows that the best things in life should be deliciously simple. An advocate for the LCHF way of life the Auckland-based clinical nutritionist and business owner behind Holistic Performance Nutrition™ found his nutritional niche back in the 90s, when he started to research lower-carb nutrition. 
Today, HPN™ has become the leading certificate in NZ based on low-carb high-fat nutrition. Cliff keeps things basic with a focus on natural, whole and unprocessed food. The nutrition guru has completely changed the game, particularly the way people see fat. Once criticised by academics for his views, he is now a leader in the field. 

Read the full story below. 

---



• First things first! Where did your interest in nutrition and health, and specifically LCHF come from? 

The interest in nutrition and health originally came from…Rugby! I was told by the coaches of my 1st XV rugby team at high school that if I didn’t put on some weight I wouldn’t make the team…but if I did, I’d captain it. 

I’m a red-blooded Kiwi bloke, so I launched into lots of self-directed study in nutrition and strength training, and lo and behold the following year, after putting on about 10kg of muscle I captained the side. 

This led me to develop a fascination for the function of the human body, and especially drew me towards the nutrition sciences. 

I went on to initially study fitness training at AUT. While at AUT I was struck by a massive ‘disconnect’ in what we were being taught. One the one hand we were taught that Carbohydrate is almost solely used as a fuel in the body, and yet in nutrition class we were taught that we should prescribe at least 65% of someone’s calories from carbohydrate! I asked the inevitable question: “Wouldn’t lower carbohydrate be appropriate for sedentary people?” to which the reply was “Go and see the Dean!” To cut a long story short I was kicked out of nutrition class for asking inconvenient questions and this led me to begin to research lower-carb nutrition and to start formulating the method of ‘Carb-Appropriate’ nutrition that we now teach at HPN. 

Remember that this was back in the 1990s and there was practically no-one doing low-carb nutrition here, and it’s fair to say that people thought I was crazy!

• What training and education do you have?

I took a fairly circuitous route in education over the years! I liked to dabble in the alternative as well as having a sound basis in science and traditional education

• Diploma in Fitness Training
• Diploma in Naturopathy
• Certificate in Homeobotanical Therapies
• Psych-K (beginner and advanced)
• Reiki (Master Level)
• Currently completing Masters Degree in Philosophy (Nutrition) 

• What does a LCHF way of eating mean for you? 

I tend to think of LCHF as one of the various tools that we can use as nutritionists. I certainly think that most people had it all wrong over the last 4 decades or so and that we needed to drastically revise how we viewed the macros (protein, carbs and fats) but it’s fair to say that there is quite a spectrum of carb intake that is appropriate for people. That’s why I created the idea of ‘Carb-Appropriate’ – to recognise that what could be best for one, is not necessarily so for others and that above all else we need to firstly focus on natural, whole and unprocessed food. 

The field of LCHF is fascinating for me though, and it’s an area that I love researching, teaching others about, and it’s really exciting to see that while I was once criticised by academics for my views, I’m now sought out as a leader in the field. 

• How did you get started creating your passion into a business?

I’ve always been in business. When I was still at school I started printing T-shirts and selling them (I think I sold 3!) and then when I left school, started my first business while still studying at Uni. That first business (which had supplement stores and nutritional consultants) was quite successful and really things just went from there. After selling that business I went on to start what eventually became Katoa Health – my publishing and consultancy business and HPN, along with being a co-founder of the NuZest company. It’s all passion and purpose when I look at these businesses. In a nutshell I get excited by an idea and simply jump in and give it a go! My challenge is always to try to stay focused on one or two things and not get side tracked!

• How would you describe your philosophy about being fit and healthy?

Keep it simple. 

People over complicate everything. Geez – I certainly do at times…But the thing that enables me to have consistency is to try to cut back to the essentials. Like with nutrition: If man made it, eat less of it. If it’s natural, whole and unprocessed it’s probably pretty darn good for you. Likewise for training – I typically stick to the basics: squats, deadlifts, overhead presses and pull ups. Sure – I do a bunch of other stuff but those concepts and lifts are the ‘core’ to which I can always go back.

• What does your typical workday consist of? How many hours do you work each week on average? Does your job allow for a good work/life balance?

I think overall I manage to keep some balance, but I can tend to work too much – mainly because I’m excitable and I love what I do. 
As I write this I’m sitting at my home, on the beach, having a great day of writing interspersed with swimming, lying in the sun and playing with my dog. 

But a typical day would be:
Wake up – do some brain training with Peak and Spanish study with DuoLingo (apps on my phone)
Then a bit of stretching and meditation followed by writing (I write every morning) for whatever my current project is. 
I typically drink too much coffee in the morning and then hit the gym around mid-morning for a break and to clear the head!
Afternoons are for research, writing, or whatever else is on the project board for my various businesses. 

• What is your response to people who say a LCHF way of eating can be detrimental to health, in particular increasing stress in the body? 

I think it’s a myopic viewpoint to say this. There can be people for whom an extreme LCHF diet can be detrimental / stressful, but it can also be that a low-carb, ketogenic diet can be stress-moderating due to the beneficial effects of ketosis on reducing stress-driven gluconeogenesis.

In reality there is no ONE solution for everybody, and the research in this area is lacking. That’s why it is important for people who want to know more about LCHF to get advice from people who are qualified, are current with the research and who have a history of use and clinical prescription of these interventions. Nothing beats years (decades!) of experiences with self and with clients to round out your knowledge on a topic. 

• Tell us about HPN. Why did you originally create it? 

I started HPN for several reasons. Many of the students that I was teaching as a lecturer and guest lecturer at colleges and Universities were telling me that they felt they didn’t understand anywhere near enough about LCHF nutrition (because it’s not taught!) or about how to actually be in practice. So I started HPN to help people to understand how to use and apply LCHF and Carb-Appropriate nutrition and also to provide for mentoring, support and additional information and tools to help people in practice. 

Since starting HPN we have continued to evolve and grow and I’m now joined by proven experts in the field, all helping to support budding and existing practitioners and those who simply want to know more about holistic nutrition and LCHF. 

• What is your favourite part of your job? What are some of the drawbacks?

My favourite parts are: Giving talks and writing books. Quite simply I love when I get feedback, or I can see directly, that I have helped someone to understand a concept that helps them to live a healthier, happier life. 

The drawbacks are really only that there is a significant demand on time when you’re looking to build something special, and this can drain energy and leave you at risk of burnout. That’s why always keeping a perspective on the greater picture of health and happiness (not just on getting things done) is crucial. 

• What advice would you offer to an aspiring nutritionist/ health coach?

My biggest advice would be to KEEP LEARNING. You only know what you know…and you don’t know what you don’t! To remain effective we need to stay current, stay active (of mind, body and spirit) and keep on striving to learn, grow and evolve as practitioners, and as people!

• What do you do to keep active?

I really feel that for me strength is crucial. As you may know I was a competitive strength athlete for several years and keeping that ‘base’ of strength is critical for me to feel well. I usually hit the gym at least twice a week for the heavy stuff, and on other days walk the dog, do yoga and I also do a lot of callisthenic work (handstand pushups, pistols, pullups etc.) at home. 

• What’s your typical meal for…

First thing upon waking: Water with a squeeze of lemon

Morning: Either nothing (always coffee!) or a green smoothie

Lunch: A massive salad with some type of meat or a vegetarian protein source (nuts/seeds/sprouted lentils or mung-beans)

Dinner: Same as lunch

Snacks or sweets: I don’t snack but as a treat I have dark chocolate (90%), or as a very occasional treat I have a weak spot for cookies and milk!

Favourite beverage: Full-fat milk!

• Do you have any daily tips and strategies you recommend your clients implement to keep them living at a lean, fit and healthy body composition?

1. Meditate: Mindfulness is an underrated strategy for helping you to make the best choices that help you to get and stay lean
2. Make too much dinner so that you have lunch for the following day, thus avoiding the temptation to buy a crappy lunch at the local!
3. Have a green, low-carb, protein smoothie for breakfast: This can help to pre-load a lot of nutrients into your day, and provides a simple, effective meal so that you’re not tempted to have a typical western (high-carb) breakfast. 

Learn more about studying nutrition with hpn