Food as Medicine
AN INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINE WOHL,
FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION AND WOMEN’S HEALTH EXPERT,
INSPIRING MOTHER, AND LOVELY FRIEND OF MINE
1. WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON IN YOUR PRACTICE?
I practice a food as medicine, personalized nutrition approach to women’s health – using food to help improve symptoms, address health concerns and conditions, and optimize wellness.
Food is the foundation of our health, but it’s also very layered and complex for women. And while on one hand it’s amazing that we now have access to so much information regarding health and wellness, it can also be overwhelming and difficult to navigate what’s actually right for us. All of these factors come into play so that we’re focusing on nutrition in a deep, meaningful way.
2. WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN THIS FIELD OF WORK?
I used to say that I “got lucky” working in a field that I’m truly passionate about both personally and professionally. Studying nutrition was a natural extension of my lifestyle and interests at the time – I knew I wanted to be in healthcare and learning the science behind nutrition (which felt elusive at the time) was fascinating. What was much harder though was finding the area within the nutrition field that I felt aligned with.
Years in pediatric practice and continual searching led me to integrative and functional nutrition – that’s where the magic happened for me. I never imagined having my own practice, but it’s come to be the place where I can work deeply and make the biggest difference for the women and families that see me. So this field of work found me…and I found it.
3. WHAT RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE PEOPLE YOU GUIDE IN YOUR PRACTICE?
Women often see me when they’re seeking a real food approach to symptoms they’re experiencing. Related to this, I see improvements in digestion, hormone imbalances, autoimmune conditions, skin, energy, and mental health symptoms. What happens as an equally powerful byproduct is what really drives me these days – when the women I work with report having better relationship with food, understand food and their body on a personal level, feel joy with eating again, and can show up in their life with more presence, more vibrancy, and feeling good.
4. HOW DOES YOUR PRACTICE RELATE TO THE PRECONCEPTION AND POSTPARTUM EXPERIENCE?
To say I love preconception and postpartum nutrition is an understatement! It’s where my heart is – even before kids were a thought of my own. The nutrition field is so often synonymous with restriction – but that’s an incredibly limiting belief, and often a major driver of health issues (it’s more common that we’re not eating enough!) Food is meant to nourish our bodies on every level, from our cells to each system in the body and even the bacteria that live within us.
Nutrition through the entire pregnancy experience is the perfect example of that – nourishing the health of mom and baby from the time you are thinking about having a baby, to well into postpartum (and beyond.) Eating well supports fertility, reduces miscarriage and pregnancy complications, and supports postpartum healing…to name a few. So many women finally feel free to let go of the perfection mentality they’ve had around food and view it from that nourishing perspective – it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of and help guide them through.
5. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WOMEN STRUGGLING TO CONCEIVE AS IT RELATES TO FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION/MEDICINE?
First, I want to acknowledge that fertility challenges are complex and multifaceted. I certainly don’t want to give the notion that any way of eating is the magic wand for any one person – I’ve seen enough women who’ve been made to feel like they failed by the wellness world (in more ways than one) – and that’s the furthest thing from the truth. That said, it’s not something to overlook either. Eating for fertility and conception is an extremely important way to support your hormones and the systems in your body that are responsible for making a baby. We also know from studies that many women go into pregnancy deficient in the nutrients that provide this support. Start by focusing on eating a wide variety of nutrient dense, whole foods with a balance of healthy protein, fats, and carbohydrates and reduce highly processed foods and sugar – make sure you are eating enough and not over-restricting.
6. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND/OR ANXIETY AS IT RELATES TO FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION/MEDICINE?
Being in a baby phase of life with lots of friends and family members in it too, I’m incredibly grateful that postpartum depression and anxiety is being talked about more – though there’s still so much work to be done in supporting maternal mental health. First and foremost, know that you are the best mom for your baby and I hope you feel empowered to employ whatever resource you need to care for yourself – often it’s not one thing, but many that are needed. Nutrition is one such resource in the toolkit of many tools.
My biggest piece of advice isn’t an eating plan or specific nutrient – it’s choosing and using your support person – your partner, a family member, a friend. We aren’t meant to mother alone, but it can feel very lonely at times, especially when experiencing depression or anxiety. Caring for yourself, including with food, often becomes overwhelming and last on the list – even if you intend for it to be a priority (trust me, I get it.) So make sure you are someone’s first priority – give them a smoothie recipe, a cookbook, go-to snacks, a grocery list…anything that empowers them to support you. It’s helpful to do this while you’re pregnant to help limit overwhelm later, but it’s never too late. Blood sugar dysregulation is a huge component here so doing this will also naturally help create balance by ensuring you’re still getting those nutrient dense foods.
7. HOW CAN PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE?
Email: hello@katherinewohl.com
Instagram: @katherinewohl
Website: Coming soon from the lovely Emma Peugh 😊
