Food is the foundation of health. The right choices help all our body systems thrive and affect everything from our mental health to how regular we are. On the flip side, poor nutrition also influences our day-to-day (ask anyone who’s ever skipped a meal) and directly affects our risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Prevention Medical Review Board Member Laura Iu, R.D., a certified intuitive eating counselor, spends her days helping clients understand all that and more. Here, she shares some wisdom about sustainable healthy eating as a powerful tool.
How did you land in the nutrition field?
I was premed, on the path to becoming a doctor, and I minored in nutrition. It was in those nutrition classes that I learned about how the foods you eat can contribute to depression and anxiety and how certain ones can help prevent conditions like heart disease. I had lost my mom to depression and my dad to a heart attack, so in that moment everything made sense to me. Plus, I love food! All that contributed to my personal philosophy about nutrition and the importance of living a life of abundance, one that’s focused on adding instead of taking away.
Why would someone want to seek out a registered dietitian?
Social media makes it seem as if anyone who eats or cooks relatively healthfully can be an expert on nutrition. But registered dietitians have extensive training, are encouraged to pursue continuing education, and are expected to stay up-to-date on the latest nutrition science. Plus, we’re required to adhere to standards and regulations to ensure that you get safe, reliable advice. We are also the health care providers with the most knowledge: Medical professionals such as internists barely receive nutrition training. We’re better equipped to offer individualized advice, whether you are managing a medical condition or you simply want to understand what type of healthy eating style you’ll be able to stick with.
What’s one wellness trend you’re happy to see making the rounds?
I like that more and more people talk about how weight is not synonymous with overall health, because it’s really so true. I’m a Health at Every Size and intuitive eating counselor, so I help people heal their relationships with food and body image. I’ve seen how this approach to nutrition—learning to enjoy nourishing meals and snacks per your personal body cues—can support that “weight doesn’t equate to health” notion and help us feel good in the bodies we’re already in.
What’s a nutrition niche you’re interested in exploring?
I’m passionate about delving more deeply into women’s health, particularly as it relates to hormonal imbalance, bone health, and mental health. As someone with endometriosis, I feel a personal connection, and I’ve experienced firsthand the way hormones, nutrition, and health are intertwined.