Episode 236: Can Functional Nutrition & Body Neutrality Coexist?
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
For the last podcast of the year, we’re bringing you an unscripted conversation between two friends and colleagues.
Erin and Michelle are two nutritionists who exist in the gray area - the messy middle - of nutrition and wellness. They both live and practice in the space that requires nuance, context, critical thinking, compassion…and conversation.
Today’s episode is a convo between two wellness professionals who work with people to help them feel better, who don’t swear allegiance to any ONE dietary paradigm or methodology, and whose primary focus is to advocate for the needs of their clients. Because it’s their clients who suffer when they try to adhere to the dichotomous “THIS OR THAT” food, nutrition, diet & health rules that run rampant in the wellness space.
Michelle Shapiro is an Integrative Functional Registered Dietitian from NYC with 8+ years of experience serving over 1000 clients to reverse their anxiety, heal longstanding gut issues and approach weight loss lovingly and in a body neutral way. Michelle, in her work, aims to bridge the gap for clients between functional nutrition and body positivity. And that’s exactly what we’re chatting about in today’s show.
In this episode:
What’s the difference between the “diet industry” and “diet culture”? [6:31]
Erin’s 6 minute rant to summarize what she has seen in nutrition over the past decade plus [8:34]
Michelle’s weight loss story [13:22]
Physiological drivers of anxiety & panic attacks [16:28]
The role of self-betrayal in our health [18:12]
Autonomy of thought - the most powerful healing tool you have? [21:48]
The entry point to listening to yourself [23:10]
Intersection between functional nutrition and body neutrality: can they coexist? [29:15]
What’s a consent-based approach to nutrition? [31:09]
Hear why Michelle and Erin get fired up about “conventional medicine disguised as functional medicine” [32:36]
Integration between the physical and the psychological - and why this at the heart of functional medicine [35:42]
Okay I left diet culture…now what?! [38:47]
How pushing through discomfort can mute your body’s signals (and what The Biggest Loser can teach us) [42:07]
When ancient practices become trends - and the problems that can arise [46:50]
The 3Cs that MUST be brought into nutrition [54:50]
Take-away summary of our discussion [55:43]
The one question to ask yourself with all material you read and every interaction with a practitioner [1:00:48]
Resources mentioned:
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Carb Compatibility Project™ (Available for free within the Funk’tional Nutrition Collective)
Body Intentions Breakthrough (Available for free within the Funk’tional Nutrition Collective)
The 2016 Biggest Loser study that Michelle referenced
Connect with Michelle
Kion Aminos (Get 20% off monthly orders and 10% off one time orders)
Ned Natural Remedies (get 15% off your order with code FUNK)
Organifi supplement powder (Save 20% on your order with code FUNK)
LMNT Electrolyte Replenishing powder (Use code FUNK get a free sample pack with any purchase)
Learn more about Functional Nutrition
Related episodes:
205: The Shoulds and Shames Behind Weight Loss Goals
198: Protocols, Elimination Diets & the Pursuit of Wellness with Jessica Flanigan
