This is a space for me to talk all about the topics that have dominated my life for the past decade: nutrition, health, and fitness. Read on to learn more about how I got interested in nutrition, what my goals are for this blog, and what kind of content you can look forward to!
How I Became Interested in Nutrition, Health, Wellness, Fitness, and Everything in Between
At the age of 12, I saw a video that changed my life. It was an exposé on how animals on factory farms are raised and often inhumanely slaughtered. As you can imagine, the directors did not hold back on the blood and gore. I still vividly remember seeing pigs hanging upside down squealing in pain, chickens with bodies too large to be supported by their own legs, and cows with eyes that made you feel like you were staring into a well of despair. That was the impetus for me to become a vegetarian.
I was the only non-meat-eater in my household, but my mother was kind enough to support my newfound dietary choice and she learned how to make vegetarian dishes just for me. I am one of five children, so her putting a separate pot on the stove all for what could have been a phase was a huge sacrifice in my eyes, and I am forever grateful for her support.
Throughout my undergraduate studies, I remained a vegetarian. To be honest though, I was a terrible one. My only criterion for deciding what to eat was that it had to be meatless. Consequently, many of my lunches and dinners consisted of pizza, french fries and veggie burgers, and soft serve ice cream. Yep. I really didn’t know any better. Like many young women, I figured that once I didn’t gain weight, I would be fine.
I was a general biology major, and it wasn’t until I took a nutrition class as an elective that I came to the stunning realization that although Oreo's are vegan, they should not be a part of one’s daily diet. I started to read more about the role of diet in all major chronic illnesses, and I became hooked on the idea of helping to prevent some small portion of those diagnoses. I decided to change my major to nutrition, and from that point on I have been obsessed with learning more about the interplay of diet and disease.
After completing my bachelor's degree at Cornell University, I followed the path to a Master’s in Health Sciences with a Concentration in Nutrition degree from the University of Puerto Rico (sí, hablo español). Then, I completed my training to to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) at Loma Linda University. I wrapped up a PhD in Nutrition at the same university in 2021, and my research was primarily focused on deciphering the complex relationships between functional foods and cognitive function throughout the lifespan.
Why I Decided to Start Blogging
The main reason that I decided to start this blog was because I am now at a point in my life where I feel like I have had so many wonderful opportunities to gain a great deal of knowledge and insight into the world of health and wellness, that I am now duty-bound to share that knowledge and help people in the process. I believe that as human beings, we are nothing without the connections that we make with other people. Learning is great, but making a positive impact should be the end goal.
Another main driver for me is the desire to provide accurate, evidence-based information regarding nutrition and dispel the myths and misinformation that abound both on and off the internet. The nature of this field makes it so that any and everyone can declare themselves a “nutritionist.” This is because “dietitian” is a protected term, while “nutritionist” is not. Social media platforms are overflowing with people who are eager to sell weight loss pills, fit teas, and protein powders while claiming to have the secret to curing whatever health condition you are struggling with. While I believe that some of these people have good intentions and genuinely want to help, the fact of the matter is that only Registered Dietitians are trained in Medical Nutrition Therapy, or MNT.
According to eatright.org, the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, MNT is defined as:
“Nutritional diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services for the purpose of disease management which are furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional…" (source Medicare MNT legislation, 2000).
When it comes to diet, no other health professional has the expertise that RDs do. To become a dietitian, one must take prerequisite courses in inorganic/organic chemistry, biochemistry, general biology, microbiology, and anatomy. Then, we are trained in all aspects of nutrition, ranging from nutrition biochemistry to the social and cultural aspects of eating. We take courses on disease etiology, pathology, reversal, and management, and study which foods and nutrients need to be emphasized for a given disease/condition. We also take courses on counseling and motivational interviewing, which allows us to translate and transmit nutrition information in a way that actually benefits patients and clients. As a PhD, I have had the privilege of going even more in depth with my understanding of nutrition by taking courses in nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, environmental nutrition, and so many more.
Thanks to my unique background, I am able to serve as a resource for accurate, nuanced information that covers not only clinical nutrition, but also emerging nutrition research.
What You Can Expect From Me
On this blog, I will be sharing what I’ve learned as well as tips and ideas for how to incorporate healthy habits into your life. I do my best to practice what I preach in order to show that eating well is possible for anyone.
I will share photos and recipes of what I actually eat, “cheat” days included. I will also discuss mindset and mindful eating, because no matter how much information we get, we cannot change our behaviors until we change our minds first.
I will also share my fitness journey, since nutrition and fitness easily go hand in hand. Nourishing your body with good food and moving your body are both forms of self-love, after all.
Thanks for stopping by!
Nice post! Looking forward to seeing more of what you have to share :)