TrueNorth Health Center

What TrueNorth Health Center does

TrueNorth Health Center is a privately held, founder-controlled residential health facility headquartered at 1551 Pacific Ave, Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 1984 by Drs. Alan Goldhamer and Jennifer Marano, it operates the world's largest medically supervised water-only fasting facility, currently running 70 employees and contractors serving up to 75 patients at a single campus. Its clinical methodology is a proprietary protocol combining medically supervised water-only fasting with an SOS-free (no added salt, oil, or sugar) exclusively whole-plant-food diet, supported by peer-reviewed studies in JMPT (2001) and JACM (2002), a six-title book catalog, and outcome data on more than 25,000 supervised fasts and 7,000+ reported chronic-disease recoveries. Diagnostic workup uses history, physical examination, and non-invasive tools including blood/urine evaluations and EKG.

The company's revenue model is diversified across five streams: a recurring residential health program (the core service, billed per stay at the Santa Rosa campus), remote health coaching subscriptions (delivered globally), direct-to-consumer e-commerce (books, supplements, personal care, packaged foods, and water distillers — with all store proceeds routed to the TrueNorth Health Foundation), professional doctor training programs (IAHP-recognized fasting certification at no charge plus a one-year naturopathic/chiropractic residency with a $2,500/month stipend), and affiliate commissions on partner brands (Saatva, CoreChair, AquaNui, Eminence Organics, Well Your World, First Seed Foods, LeafSide). Distribution is omnichannel: on-site (Santa Rosa), remote, e-commerce (U.S. shipping only), and practitioner referral via the training pipeline. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer for end patients and community-led (practitioner training and credentialing) for the B2B-adjacent channel.

Distinctive operational assets include a wholly-owned streaming subsidiary (TrueNorth Health TV / TNH TV), a 501(c)-aligned nonprofit affiliate (TrueNorth Health Foundation, led by Dr. Goldhamer) that conducts research and education, and an internal research infrastructure comprising a structured Fasting Literature Database with condition/outcome tagging plus a Case Report Pipeline aligned with CARE guidelines. Customers are individual patients (the primary segment for the residential program and store) and, secondarily, healthcare professionals who train at the facility and serve as future referral sources. The center has no outside equity or debt funding and is privately held, with copyright dated 2026 indicating ongoing operations.

Name

TrueNorth Health Center

Legal name

TrueNorth Health Center

Website

https://healthpromoting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TrueNorth Health Center is a privately held, founder-led residential facility in Santa Rosa, California operating the world's largest medically supervised water-only fasting program for patients with chronic health conditions. It pairs an SOS-free whole-plant-food diet protocol with retail, remote coaching, and a practitioner-training channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrative Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (6211), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Primary Care Practices (HLAFAGAA)

Keywords

• Medically supervised fasting
• Water-only fasting programs
• Residential health programs
• Plant-based nutrition therapy
• Integrative healthcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Residential Health Program: Medically supervised water-only fasting services provided at the residential facility in Sonoma County, California. Patients receive accommodation, meals, monitoring, and comprehensive health education during their stay.
2. Remote Health Coaching: Ongoing health coaching services for patients after they complete the residential program or for those seeking guidance without residential stay.
3. E-commerce Product Sales: Sale of books, supplements, personal care products, packaged foods, and wellness tools through the TrueNorth Health Store. All proceeds support the research and educational mission of the TrueNorth Health Foundation.
4. Doctor Training Programs: Training programs for doctors including fasting certification (no fees charged, room and board provided), residency programs (residents receive $2,500/month stipend), and elective rotations.
5. Affiliate Referrals: Commission-based revenue through affiliate relationships with prepared food companies (Well Your World, First Seed Foods, LeafSide) and wellness product brands (Saatva, CoreChair, AquaNui, Eminence Organics).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TrueNorth Health Center operates the world's largest medically supervised water-only fasting facility in Santa Rosa, California, offering a residential health program that combines medically supervised fasting with an exclusive whole-plant-food diet free of added salt, oil, and sugar (SOS-free). The center also provides remote health coaching, doctor training and certification programs, and an e-commerce store selling books, supplements, personal care, packaged foods, and wellness tools, with all proceeds supporting the TrueNorth Health Foundation's research mission.

Product overview

TrueNorth Health Center is a health services company offering medically supervised water-only fasting and health education as its core products. The company operates a residential health facility in Sonoma County, California, serving up to 75 patients with a staff of 70. The product portfolio includes: (1) Core clinical services — On-Site Fasting, Remote Health Coaching, and On-Site Services; (2) Health-related books including Can Fasting Save Your Life?, The Pleasure Trap, The Health Promoting Cookbook, Bravo!, Bravo Express!, and Straight Up Food Cookbook, sold individually or in bundles; (3) TrueNorth Health Store offering supplements, Eminence Organic Skincare, personal care products, and packaged foods; (4) Health-supporting tools including mattresses, ergonomic chairs, and water distillers; (5) Training programs for doctors including Fasting Certification, Residencies, and Elective Rotations; (6) Affiliate prepared food partnerships. The company also conducts clinical research through its TrueNorth Health Foundation affiliate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On-Site Medically Supervised Fasting Program
• Remote Health Coaching

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 patients have completed supervised fasts under Dr. Goldhamer's guidance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AquaNui / Pure WaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrueNorth Health Center has a direct affiliation with AquaNui/Pure Water manufacturer to offer water distillers through their store. Customers receive a 5% discount using TrueNorth's discount code (461127). The AquaNui products feature patent-pending technology with modular design and are made in the USA from 100% American stainless steel.
• SaatvaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate partnership offering Saatva luxury handcrafted mattresses, bedding and furniture. TrueNorth friends receive $100 off their order plus any applicable site sales through TrueNorth's affiliate link.
• CoreChairminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate partnership for CoreChair ergonomic active sitting chairs designed to reduce back pain and promote optimal sitting posture. TrueNorth customers receive 10% discount using coupon code 'truenorth' at checkout.
• Eminence OrganicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrueNorth offers Eminence Organics luxury skincare products through an affiliate link. Each purchase through the referral link supports the TrueNorth Health Foundation. Products include facial treatments, cleansers, moisturizers, and SPF products.
• Well Your WorldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrueNorth is a proud affiliate of Well Your World products - whole plant-food sauces, dressings, and mixes. All products are SOS-free. Available for pick up at the front desk or through affiliate link.
• First Seed FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate offering SOS-free meal delivery - plant-based Indian food made without oil, butter, or ghee. 100% plant based vegan, gluten-free. Enter code 'TrueNorth' at checkout for $10 off first purchase.
• LeafSideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate offering easy, delicious, affordable, portable, 100% whole plant-food meals - just add water. Orders placed through TrueNorth referral link support the center.
• TrueNorth Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit affiliate dedicated to scientific research and education in medically supervised water-only fasting and exclusively whole-plant-food diet. Provides training opportunities in the form of medical residencies and clinical research internships. Dr. Alan Goldhamer serves as president of the board of directors. All store proceeds support the Foundation's research and educational mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pritikin Longevity Center: Residential health program focused on diet, exercise, and lifestyle change for chronic disease management. Comparable as a medically supervised residential lifestyle-medicine destination serving chronic-condition patients.
• Canyon Ranch: Established destination wellness resort offering integrative health, nutrition, and preventive medicine programs at scale. Comparable as a higher-end residential wellness destination, though broader and less fasting-specific than TrueNorth.
• TrueHealthMD / Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine: Major academic functional medicine program applying nutrition and lifestyle interventions to chronic disease. Comparable in targeting chronic conditions via lifestyle/diet, though delivered in an outpatient, conventional-hospital setting rather than residential fasting.

Regional players

• Cal-a-Vie Health Spa: California-based luxury wellness retreat offering fitness, nutrition, and spa programs. Comparable as a domestic residential wellness destination, though more spa-oriented and less clinical than TrueNorth.

Direct peers

• Hippocrates Health Institute: Long-running residential wellness institute offering supervised fasting, plant-based nutrition, and lifestyle programs. Directly comparable to TrueNorth as a residential fasting/wellness destination serving similar chronic-condition and wellness-seeking clientele.
• Maharishi Ayurveda Hospitals: Integrative medical centers offering Ayurvedic treatments, Panchakarma (including fasting-style detox), and plant-based dietary protocols. Comparable as a residential alternative-medicine clinic with detoxification protocols.
• Optimum Health Institute: Residential holistic health program offering supervised fasting, whole-food plant-based diet, and mind-body practices. Directly comparable residential fasting and plant-based education experience to TrueNorth.
• Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center: Residential center in Patagonia, Arizona providing live-food nutrition, detoxification, and rejuvenation programs. Comparable as an alternative-medicine residential destination with lifestyle and dietary intervention focus.
• Buchinger Wilhelmi: Family-owned German clinic specializing in medically supervised therapeutic fasting combined with integrative medicine. Closest international peer to TrueNorth's residential medically-supervised water-only fasting model.

Emerging players

• Wellness FX / Function Health: Functional/preventive medicine platforms offering lab-based diagnostics and lifestyle intervention programs. Comparable as an emerging channel addressing chronic conditions through nutrition and lifestyle, though primarily digital rather than residential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=MAZeWlIpT_c
• Facebookfacebook.com/truenorthhealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/truenorth-health-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/truenorthhealthfoundation
• Xx.com/healthpromoting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TrueNorth Health Center