Karen Bishop, RDN, LD, Holistic Nutritionist

As a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist & Fitness Specialist, with over twenty-three years of experience, Karen Bishop, RDN, LD specializes in helping patients prevent & reverse chronic disease, lose weight, reach their fitness goals, balance hormones, as well as address cellular/genetic aging through functional medicine nutrition (which targets the biochemical roots of health issues), exercise prescription & stress management...all with a goal of helping them to make healthy lifestyle changes successfully.  She works with men and women, seasoned athletes and "weekend warriors," children, teens, infants and the elderly. Her rich and varied clinical background & experience allows her to expertly guide patients along a path to better health, whether they are being treated by a medical team for chronic health issues (such as diabetes, kidney disease or congestive heart failure) or are in good health and are seeking the specialized knowledge and wisdom needed to profoundly improve their energy, libido and look younger!

Her educational background encompasses both the area of human nutrition and exercise science. Karen is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist, as well as a Fitness Specialist. To become a registered dietitian she completed a bachelor's degree and a didactic program (coursework) in dietetics, which is accredited by The Accreditation Council For Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. She did her didactic program in dietetics at Samford University then completed a nine month Dietetic Internship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in the Nutrition Sciences program, with an emphasis on clinical nutrition. The internship included rotations at Children's Hospital (including neonatal, teen & cystic fibrosis patients), UAB Hospital (inborn errors of metabolism, gastrointestinal, oncology, burns/trauma, cardiovascular, spinal injuries, dialysis/renal, and outpatient care), Cook Springs Nursing Home, Alacare Home Health, The Jefferson County Health Department  as well as an elective rotation in public health (under the direction of Chris Reinhold, MS, RD) and maternal complications. She then sat for and passed the CDR registration exam for dietitians. As a registered dietitian/nutritionist and licensed dietitian/nutritionist clinicians must complete continuing education units and pay registration and licensing fees in accordance with CDR and the Alabama State Board of Examiners For Nutrition and Dietetics Practice.

Karen's first degree ( a baccalaureate) was in the area of exercise science as a Fitness Specialist, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her faculty advisor was Gary R. Hunter, PhD, nationally-known researcher in exercise physiology, and the use of progressive resistance training for women to affect body composition. She completed two internships while in undergraduate school -- one at the Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at Baptist Medical Center Princeton in Birmingham, Alabama (under the direction of Claudia Wilkie, RN) and one at The City of Birmingham Fitness & Training Center in Birmingham, Alabama (directed by Coach Jim Hilyer, PhD and Coordinated by James N. Gibbs, MS).  

As past coordinator of The SMART Wellness Program & nutritionist for Alabama Ear Nose & Throat Associates (1999 – 2004), where she worked with Dr. Robert J. Sciacca, she focused much of her work in allergy, asthma, fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivity, eczema/dermatitis, adrenal exhaustion & immune dysfunction. She maintained an appointment as a Professor of Holistic Nutrition at Clayton College of Natural Health in the Department of Adjunct Faculty from 1999 to 2010 where she authored courses for the Holistic Nutrition curriculum and interacted with students. In 2004 Karen returned to private practice to concentrate her work on anti-aging, hormonal balance, emotional health & women’s health issues, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, renal disease, weight loss, sports nutrition, cellular and skin aging & helping patients reverse chronic disease. Thus, Beautiful & Healthy Transformations in Birmingham, Alabama was born, with a strong emphasis on the issues for which many women seek solutions.

Karen has presented nearly one hundred lectures, including speaking engagements at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, & Montevallo, Samford University,  Tuscaloosa Dietetic Association, Virginia College, Wallace State Community College, The Alabama Chiropractic Association, the City of Birmingham Fitness & Training Center (Birmingham Police Cadets), The Women’s Network, The Hoover Rotary Club & The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (Ladies Executive Roundtable). She enjoys speaking on vegetarianism and metabolic barriers to weight loss at Blue Boy Herbs Healing Center (Carriere, Mississippi) and addressing the patients and families of patients recovering from prostate cancer at Urology Centers of Alabama in Homewood, Alabama. She has been a regular speaker at the Endorphin Pain Clinic at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital & has provided continuing education credits for nurses & chiropractors. 

Karen resides in the countryside of Pinson, a suburb near Birmingham. She enjoys walking, hiking, yoga, international cooking, spending time with her human friends and her feline friends Magic, Roguey and Pheonix. 

CURRENT VOLUNTEER WORK: Karen is a volunteer associated with The Vedic Care Charitable Trust. In addition, through her private practice she offers free nutritional counseling to disabled US veterans. If you know of a disabled veteran who would like to benefit from functional medicine nutritional counseling he or she only needs to phone, fax, e-mail or text proof of disability and we will schedule an appointment for the veteran. Unlimited care is available by phone or in-office and there are no hidden cost for nutritional guidance.

AS  YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS BELOW, KAREN LOVES CATS! The first photo on the left is Karen and her cat Fiona, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago...and second from the right  is a photo of her enjoying sweet moments with her beloved fur baby, Chanel, who crossed in 2019. Karen is very passionate about helping pet owners provide quality nutritional supplements to help maintain and  improve their pets' health. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

On June 3, 2020 our beloved Jamie Angeles passed away.  Just a few weeks before he left this Earth he wrote in a Facebook post:

"Most call me friend, confident, stylist, or simply “love” (happens a lot). I practice the Magick of beauty, transformation, self-esteem, self-worth, and empowerment. I AM the guy who will never offer judgements, only advice and support. I like to believe in and look for the Magick in everyday life, and I hope that even if you don’t believe in Magick, that I can help you believe in yourself. It’s not what you believe, it’s THAT you believe, Our beliefs shape our lives and the world around us. So believe in the Beauty of Life, and have the courage to believe in yourself. All I have to give is Magick, Art, and Love, and I offer it freely. I am grateful for my friends, my family, my Angels. Blessed Be. I love you all!"

ALL OF US ("JAMIE'S ANGELS'), ARE COMMITTED TO SHARING as much as possible of the genius in skin care. antiaging and beauty that Jamie taught us. We took careful notes and as our hearts begin to heal from this deep loss, we will be sharing more and more with you via a sister website. 

In the interim, read on to learn more about this great man with which I had the privilege to work with and love as my best friend and teacher.

ABOUT JAMIE

Jamie was an amazing man--so massively intelligent. (He had an IQ of 189 and was a member of Mensa.) He was offered a scholarship to Harvard and Mississippi State. He chose Mississippi State to be nearer to his family.  At Mississippi State he earned a degree in anthropology and botany. He developed a deep love of chemistry and biology, which led Jamie to pursue a career in skin care and makeup artistry. After completing his degree in cosmetology and salon management from Virginia College in Birmingham, Alabama Jamie worked as a master stylist at Blue Orchid Salon, DNL Hair Studio and JC Penney, before opening Angeles Beauty Arts. He was a makeup artist and beauty consultant for Elizabeth Arden for twenty-five years and counter manager at Laura Mercier cosmetics where he helped thousands of women begin to see their inner beauty translated into outer sparkle. His passion for helping people feel more confident in the skin they are in quickly earned him the title "Everyone's Favorite Stylist."  

Jamie was an accomplished artist in many mediums. He enjoyed creating works of art and experiences. He loved people and wanted to help them smile at themselves in the mirror again.   

He will be missed greatly...his kindness, his love, his laugh, his energy, his skill as a wonderful listener...his intuition and unmatched talent as an artist.  One longtime friend and colleague said, "Some people are born special, some have creativity, some have brains, some a great heart...Jamie had all of them." 

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN DEAR FRIEND...WE LOVE YOU...AND ARE COMMITTED TO SHARING THE WISDOM THAT YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD...TO MAKE LIVES BETTER...TO HELP PEOPLE LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SMILE...AND COME TO LOVE THEMSELVES!