As we celebrate Registered Dietitian Day and National Nutrition Month, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my own journey full of twists and turns and trials and tribulations as an RDN and the path that led me to embrace the principles of functional medicineGrowing up, I was overweight and was often body-shamed and bullied in school. While my family emphasized fresh home-cooked meals daily, food was often over-consumed and we were overfed and pushed to finish all our meals. I also had a sweet tooth and could wipe out an entire container of sweets in one sitting without thinking twice about it. When I was in high school, I contracted jaundice and lost a lot of weight as I couldn’t eat food that I loved for many months. The bullying stopped and I felt good in my body for the first time in my life! At that point, I promised myself that I would find a way to never gain my weight back ever again. This was the first time I was drawn towards this career and I knew it existed as my favorite aunt was a dietitian(no internet back then!!)! I knew from the age of 14 that this was going to be my career path! I also witnessed extreme poverty and malnourished children who suffered from nutritional deficiencies like rickets (severe deficiency of Vitamin D), Marasmus (Severe deficiency of all macronutrients), and Kwashiorkor (Protein Malnutrition) all resulting in growth retardation in slums of India. I realized how important nutrition is- excess of both sides (undereating and overeating) leads to problems! I earned my Bachelor’s and 1st Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bangalore University in southern India. I came to the US at the age of 22 and pursued my Master’s Degree and supervised internship at Wayne State University in Detroit.
My initial training focused on the fundamentals of food and nutrition science – the bedrock of our profession. I was passionate about helping people build healthier relationships with food and improve their well-being. Yet, over time, I found myself encountering clients with complex, chronic conditions where standard dietary advice alone seemed insufficient.
This realization sparked a thirst for deeper understanding. I began to look beyond immediate symptoms to uncover the root causes of imbalances. Functional medicine offered a new way of looking at health; a framework that prioritized the interconnectedness of bodily systems and the importance of personalized interventions. I quit my well-settled job with great benefits as a Senior Dietitian of 8 years at Michigan Medicine to start my private practice in 2012 with a strong focus on Functional Medicine.
The road hasn’t ever been easy. Embracing this paradigm shift required additional education and a willingness to venture outside the conventional boundaries of dietetics. At times, there were doubts and uncertainties. Yet, the profound impact I’ve witnessed in my own health (I have a chronic autoimmune condition called Hashimoto that very few know about) and my clients fueled my ongoing determination.
Amidst the triumphs, there are tribulations unique to the field of nutrition. One of the most pressing challenges is the proliferation of internet influencers and self-proclaimed ‘nutritionists’ or health coaches lacking formal education or scientific background. Their dissemination of opinionated, false, or over-generalized advice not only undermines the credibility of registered dietitians but also jeopardizes the health and financial well-being of people.
Another battle I frequently encounter is the perception that nutrition advice should be “cheap” or free simply because it’s readily available online or anyone can give you advice including your friends, relatives, fitness enthusiasts, personal trainers, chiropractors and the list goes on. This undermines the expertise and personalized care that dietitians provide to their clients, tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
Lastly, the perception that all encounters with health care providers in a medical setting should be covered by health insurance plans. While I’m able to accept a couple of medical insurance plans, functional medicine services largely remain as a “fee for service ” simply because insurance companies do not reimburse for preventive or corrective nutrition services but that shouldn’t hinder patients from seeking out RD services! Spending money on RDN services should not be considered an expense but an investment in your lifespan and health span! I hope this mindset changes for the better in the future as more RDN’s including me are making their presence known and voices heard on social media!
Today, I’m so grateful to combine my RD foundation with functional medicine principles. This holistic approach empowered me to address the individual needs of thousands of my clients over the last 20-plus years and help them achieve lasting results. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in this evolving field. |
