05/12/2026
This morning I had the incredible honor of presenting Nutrition Pearls for the Primary Care Provider to the Family Medicine department at Corewell Health, a new presentation I worked hard to develop over the past couple of weeks. One of my favorite things about creating a new talk is how much you learn in the process, and this one was no exception. 🌿
The virtual room was full of engaged, curious physicians and providers who asked thoughtful questions and leaned in on the nuance, from the exciting updates in the new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines, to the controversial changes, to practical counseling strategies they can use in every office visit.
One of the most impactful updates in the new guidelines? For the first time ever, there is an explicit recommendation to avoid ultra-processed foods, a landmark change that aligns with a growing body of research linking them to adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
As a naturopathic physician, nutrition is at the heart of what I do. The evidence is clear: “If diet were a drug, it would be the most prescribed medication in medicine.” And yet the average physician spends just 3 minutes on nutrition counseling per visit. That gap is exactly why moments like today matter so much.
I’m deeply grateful for the training I received in naturopathic medicine that gave me this foundation, and even more grateful for the opportunity to share it with colleagues who are on the front lines of managing hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer every day.
This is what integrative, patient-centered care looks like in practice: naturopathic and conventional providers learning from each other, building bridges, and ultimately giving patients better tools to heal. 💙
Thank you to the Corewell Health Family Medicine team for the invitation. I left inspired.
