Riana Giusti, Certified Nutritionist, lives, practices & teaches the power of food as medicine in her role at Starkel Nutrition (www.StarkelNutrition.com). In this show, she shares with us insights from years of experience which have included directing brain-health focused teaching-kitchen counseling for patients with cognitive and neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s dementia, cognitive impairment), health coaching for a Seattle-based wellness company translating comprehensive blood, genetic, hormone, and gut microbiome data into personalized nutrition plans, work as a personal and professional chef throughout Seattle kitchens and in her current role seeing patients for nutritional consults and managing the Metabolic Reset Program, known as ‘relief from chronic dieting’ (www.metreset.com).

This is such a practical and down-to-Earth show. She starts with a discussion of how she decides what to eat, which is a balance between her knowledge of the science and chemistry of food as balanced by love and intuition rooted in mindful eating practices & training. She shares her experiences with school gardens that lowered incidence of behavioral issues and violence in participating children. She deftly declines to recommend any one particular diet other than to target inflammation, noting so wisely that the best diet is the one is realistic, sustainable and beloved by the mind and the cells. She also doesn’t shy away from specifics! She dives into details about the ketogenic diet (currently getting certified), blood sugar stabilization, the brain need for healthy fats and intermittent fasting.  We end with the topic of her master’s thesis: chocolate! The mineral content can be remarkable and what is the difference between cocoa and cacao.

Riana Giusti’s way with food is really a treat to behold and she shares her sweet spirit  with us in this week’s show, motivating and empowering her clients to not only lead a self-fulfilling healthy lifestyle, but also to achieve a relationship with their bodies and food that is nourishing, flexible, peaceful, sustainable, and balanced.