Yumlish: Diabetes and Multicultural Nutrition

Guest:  Julianne Lally Show Notes: Type 1 diabetes doesn’t start with symptoms, it starts silently. In this episode, early screening expert Julianne Lally reveals how autoantibody testing can detect risk years before diagnosis and why that window matters. Learn how early detection can reduce complications, what families should know about screening access, and how new innovations are working to mak...

Guest:  Lauren Anton Show Notes: Recovery after breast cancer isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and nutritional, too. Listen to the first-hand experience of registered dietitian and breast cancer survivor, Lauren Anton as she explores what healing really looks like after treatment, why nourishment can feel complicated, and how survivors can begin rebuilding trust with their bodies. Tune in for e...

Guest:  Denee Bex Show Notes: Indigenous foodways aren’t trends, they’re heart-healthy blueprints. This episode maps how traditional ingredients, cooking methods, and land stewardship support cardiovascular health today, with practical ideas for reconnecting even when access is limited. Guest Bio: Denee Bex is a Registered Dietitian & CDCES from the Diné (Navajo) Nation and is the owner of Tum...

Guest:  Rebecca Blake Show Notes: Registered dietitian Rebecca Blake unpacks what diet culture really is, how it quietly shapes the way we see food and our bodies, and why weight and BMI don’t define health. This conversation explores how social media and cultural ideals can push us toward restriction and body criticism without us realizing it. You’ll learn how to spot subtle red flags in nutritio...

Guest:  Elisa Irvolino Show Notes: This episode explores how you can improve your health without giving up the cultural foods you love. Our guest, Elisa Irvolino, shares practical strategies, like smarter oil swaps, portioning rice and flatbreads, and using fresh herbs, citrus, and simple cooking methods, to lower sodium, sugar, and saturated fat while keeping traditional flavors intact. Listeners...

Guest: Christina Badaracco, MPH, RDN, LDN Show Notes: Food policy isn’t abstract, it shapes what food costs, what’s marketed, and what ends up on our plates. In this episode, we break down the biggest policies influencing America’s diet (from subsidies to school meals), how policy can either fuel or prevent chronic disease, and why sustainability belongs in the conversation. Stay to the end for a...

Guest:  Fareeha Jay, BSC, MSC, RD - Diabetes Specialist Show Notes: South Asian food is rich, comforting, and deeply cultural—and it can absolutely support better health. In this episode, award-winning dietitian and diabetes specialist Fareeha Jay shares how to make simple, realistic upgrades to traditional meals without losing taste or tradition. From rebalancing carb-heavy plates to boosting veg...

Guest:  Dr. Sherita Golden Show Notes: Diabetes and heart disease don’t impact every community the same and the reasons go far beyond personal choices. In this episode, we break down the structural barriers, environmental realities, and healthcare blind spots that drive unequal outcomes, especially in underserved and rural communities. You’ll also learn why mental health must be treated as part of...

Diabetes care doesn’t happen only in the clinic—it happens where people live, shop, and eat. This episode explores why food access, community support, and real-world resources matter just as much as medical care. We unpack how food insecurity and the digital divide affect diabetes management, where food-as-medicine programs can make a real difference, and how GLP-1 medications fit without replacin...

Guest:  Dr. Thomas E. Van Dyke, DDS, PhD Show Notes: Your mouth does far more than help you chew; it may be quietly shaping your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. In this episode, we explore the powerful (and often overlooked) connection between gum health and whole-body health. You’ll learn how everyday habits like brushing, flossing, smoking, and diet choices can influe...

Kidney-friendly eating doesn’t have to mean bland, boring, or restrictive. This episode breaks down how thoughtful cooking techniques and simple ingredient shifts can protect kidney health without sacrificing flavor or enjoyment. You’ll learn how to reframe dietary limits into creative opportunities, build satisfying plant-forward meals, and plan in ways that actually make life easier—especially a...

Managing heart failure isn’t just about medications. It’s about the everyday food choices that can either ease the strain on your heart or quietly make symptoms worse. In this episode, we break down why sodium has such a powerful impact on heart failure, how it drives fluid retention and shortness of breath, and why even small changes can lead to noticeable relief within days. You’ll learn how to...

Kidney disease often develops quietly and is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. In this episode, we explore why kidney damage is so easy to miss, how early testing can change outcomes, and what actually helps protect kidney health. You’ll hear practical, hopeful guidance on food, lifestyle, and everyday choices, plus how to support your kidneys without giving up the flavors and tra...

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Hormachea, MS, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM, a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist whose work spans national guideline committees, tribal community health, and clinical practice. Sarah breaks down how medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for type 1 diabetes has transformed—moving away from rigid, prescriptive diet rules and toward individualized, culturally inclusive car...

In this episode, dietitian and author Maya Feller explores how culturally inclusive and anti-bias nutrition can transform patient care. She shares how her personal journey and early clinical experiences shaped her approach to honoring food traditions while supporting health. Maya breaks down why standard diet advice often clashes with cultural foods, how structural inequities, not individual choic...

In this episode, we speak with Franco López III, a U.S. Army veteran and clinical dietitian whose own health journey after deployment led him to specialize in diabetes education and metabolic health. Franco shares how his experiences pushed him to take control of his health—and eventually help hundreds of veterans do the same. Drawing from his military experience and years of clinical practice, Fr...

What does it really take to balance weight and diabetes—not just for today, but across every stage of life? From the unique challenges kids and teens face, to how puberty, pregnancy, and even menopause can shift the body’s needs, this episode dives into it all. Our guest, Dr. Allison Childress, registered dietitian and associate professor of practice in nutritional sciences at Texas Tech Universit...

We welcome back Kelly Schmidt, a functional dietitian, strength coach, and TEDx speaker who has thrived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years. Kelly shares her deeply personal journey that inspired her to create The GRACE Method, a holistic framework for better health and blood sugar balance. Listeners will learn how gut health, routines, adrenal (stress) management, clean living, and exercise fo...

Mallory Page, registered dietitian, dives into the world of intuitive eating and how it can help listeners break free from diet culture. She shares how tuning into your body’s natural cues can lead to a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food. Mallory Page, RD, is the founder of Live Unrestricted™, a nutrition counseling company that has helped over 500 women break free from disordered rel...

In this episode, dietitian Rachael shares her journey into the field and how she integrates Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size® into her practice. We explore the difference between weight-inclusive and weight-centric care, especially in managing conditions like diabetes, PCOS, and IBS. Rachael also discusses the hidden costs of chronic dieting, how to break free from diet culture, and pract...

In this episode Rachel Muzzy will break down the ins and outs of how people are disconnected with their bodies.  Discussing how she approaches the root cause of gut issues so symptoms can be healed for good and some practical steps you can use to tune back into the body's hunger, satisfaction, and digestive cues. Rachel is a functional dietitian specializing in gut health and GI issues such as IBS...

In this episode, we sit down with Elaine Magee , a registered dietitian who is also known as “The Recipe Doctor.” She shares tips on how to make healthy eating more approachable, clears up common misconceptions about carbs, and explains how food synergy can play a powerful role in managing blood sugar. From low-carb foods to strategies when eating out, Elaine offers practical advice for anyone loo...

In this episode, Shireen Abdullah speaks with Katya Galbis, a registered dietitian and plant-based nutrition educator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Originally from Mexico, Katya shares her journey into plant-based nutrition, which began with her father's activism and evolved into a mission to make plant-based living accessible and culturally relevant for Spanish-speaki...

In this episode of the Yumlish podcast, Shireen Abdullah speaks with Dr. Anshu Chaturvedi—a renal clinical dietitian with over 12 years of experience—and discusses how personalized nutrition can transform chronic disease management. Sharing both professional insights and personal experience with IBS, she explains how intermittent fasting and thoughtful meal sequencing can improve metabolic health...

In this episode, Shireen speaks with Isabella Ferrari, a registered dietitian specializing in oncology nutrition at Doherty Nutrition. Isabella shares her journey from Venezuela to clinical practice in Dallas, where she found a deep connection working with cancer patients. The episode explores the essential role of nutrition in supporting treatment, preventing weight loss, and improving quality of...