What is an Integrative Registered Dietitian?

I refer to myself as an Integrative Registered Dietitian, so I get asked quite a bit about what that means. Let's first examine the word, Integrative, the root word being integrate.

in·te·grate   /ˈɪntɪˌgreɪt/ Show Spelled [in-ti-greyt] Show IPA verb, -grat·ed, -grat·ing.



verb (used with object)


1. to bring together or incorporate (parts) into a whole.


2. to make up, combine, or complete to produce a whole or a larger unit, as parts do.


3. to unite or combine.


4. to give or cause to give equal opportunity and consideration to (a racial, religious, or ethnic group or a member of such a group): to integrate minority groups in the school system.


5. to combine (educational facilities, classes, and the like, previously segregated by race) into one unified system; desegregate.


For me, being Integrative means being open to other belief systems and being willing to learn about them as well as weave them into one's original knowledge base. As a western-trained dietitian, I love to learn about Eastern and Indiginous healing systems and integrate them into my recommendations as well as how I work with my clients and patients. Being Integrative not only means being holistic, but also culturally competent. Additionally, I love to learn about Western Functional Medicine, which is a more holistic and preventive way of practicing Western medicine and which places a high value on diet and lifestyle.  Being an Integrative practitioner also means that one is supporting unity of body, mind and spirit and recognizes that this is the ultimate balance that we should encourage our patients to achieve. The Integraive practioner, therefore, is also continually working on achieving and maintaining this balance for him or herself, in order to be able to guide others along this path. The Integrative practioner is both a traveller and a guide along the path to optimal health.


I have long been learning on my own about Eastern healing systems such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine. I have been a patient of both, but more so Chinese Medicine. I try my best to consider not only a person's nutritional status and the quality of their diet, as my Western training would have me do, but also their individual constitution and what foods and combinations of foods will balance their constitution. For example, Eastern and Indigenous healing philosophies consider the thermal nature (hot, cold or more neutral) of the body and all conditions as well as foods. The seasons' thermal natures also come into play with a person's consitution and is a factor in what foods and types of exercise and stress management is best at the time. What I love about this is that what is best is always changing and flowing,which necessitates that we become in-tune with our body and its rhythms. I am not an Ayurvedic Practitioner or a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, nor do I plan to be. I used to struggle with feeling as though I needed to be one or the other in addition to my Western nutrition training. Now I realize that I, and any Dietitian or Nutritionist who has an interest in either or both systems of food therapy, can work collaboratively with Eastern Practitioners to bring about the best outcomes. An Integrative Dietitian or Nutritionist who at least has knowledge of the thermal nature of foods, seasons and conditions, can rely on the Eastern Practitioner to do the diagnostic work and to decide what treatments, herbs and foods are actually needed to balance the patient's consitution. And just as a Dietitian or Nutritionist does in the Western model, we can provide further, more in-depth dietary counseling and planning that will educate the patient on how to implement the food therapy recommendations in a way that fits with their individual lifestyle and preferences. An Integrative Dietitian/ Nutritionist can provide recommendations which are balanced in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, etc., thermal nature and more, which ideally will fit both Western and an Eastern practioners recommendations. The Integrative Dietitian/Nutritionist can essentially serve as a philosophical translator not only between Eastern and Western Practitioners working with the same patient, but also between Pratcitioners and Patients. We already do this in the Western model. Many times, I find myself explaining Western Practitioners' rationale for treatiment recommendations to patients and their families. That's part of being on a health care team, whether Integrative or not.

One person who is really inpriring me and encouraging me these days to pursue more knowledge about Chinese Food Therapy, as well as to collaborate with Doctors of Oriental Medicine, is Dr.Shellie Rosen of Bodyvolve LLC. Find out more about Bodyvolve.

Many times, my patients and clients don't even notice when I am weaving Eastern, Indigenous and Functional philosophies into my recommendations. Sometimes I don't even notice when I am doing it! But that, to me, means that I am integrating philosphies quite seamlessly, which is certainly positive and is an important part of being an Integrative practitioner.