Spotlight: MS, Clinical Nutritionist Erin Parekh

Erin Parekh, a seasoned expert in clinical and functional nutrition, shares insights from her decade-long journey of overcoming personal health challenges and transforming them into a thriving career. Erin's experience in navigating disordered eating, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances has fueled her passion for helping women achieve their best health through personalized nutrition plans. She discusses her approach to making complex nutritional science accessible, debunks common diet myths perpetuated by social media, and emphasizes the importance of clean skincare and its connection to overall wellness. Whether you're curious about integrating functional medicine into your routine or seeking advice on balancing health goals with a busy lifestyle, Erin’s expertise offers valuable guidance for those looking to feel their best from the inside out.

Erin, can you share a bit about your background in clinical and functional nutrition? What inspired you to pursue this field?

Of course! It started over 10 years ago when I was on a healing journey myself – overcoming disordered eating, anxiety, GI upset, and hormonal imbalances. After being overlooked and dismissed by traditional medicine, I became a sponge for all things nutrition & wellness and quickly realized this is what was going to truly help me feel my best and back in my body again. But then I couldn’t stop learning – so I became a certified health coach, starting my own practice to help other women just like me.  And then a few years later, followed it up with a master’s degree in clinical nutrition as well as advanced functional medicine training.

How do you help women break down the complex science of nutrition into manageable and understandable pieces?

This is the secret sauce, isn’t it? We can know all the science and have all the data, but if we don’t understand how to integrate it into our daily lives it’s useless. I think the key is starting with the basics and applying them to your “day in the life” – take blood sugar balance for example. It can be nuanced, but if we take the science and apply it to your daily flow, we can break it down into understandable pieces so you can take action. Let’s say you constantly feel ravenous around 4pm and always end up cramming a handful of pretzels into your mouth as soon as you get home from picking the kids up from school. But when we look at your day, we see you only had two eggs for breakfast and didn’t have time to eat lunch so you munched on some carrots, hummus, and a protein bar throughout the rest of the day. Of course you’re going to be starving and feel out of control at 4pm – because you didn’t eat enough earlier in the day to keep your blood sugar levels stable and fuel your busy day. We take those daily life moments and then learn the science behind them. 

What are some common misconceptions about nutrition that you frequently encounter, especially those perpetuated by social media?

Oh gosh, where to start! I have to say I can’t stand the whole macro counting trend. I do think having an idea of how much protein you’re eating a day matters (most women should aim for 80-100 grams), but I don’t think you need to count it gram for gram day in, day out. Also, not everything you eat needs to be “high protein” – it’s fine to eat a regular cookie. I’m also not a fan of sharing “What I Eat in a Day” posts. While they can provide meal inspiration, I think they do more damage through comparison traps. Everyone’s needs are different and we shouldn’t strive to eat like this fitness coach or that influencer. Our nutrient needs ebb and flow. You need to do the inner work and figure out what works best for you. 

Can you explain how specialized lab testing for hormone health, metabolism, and GI issues plays a role in your approach to nutrition?

When I have clients come to me and they’ve “tried everything” or we work together for a few months and nothing is moving the needle – it’s time to get curious and dig deeper. This is when functional testing comes into play. Looking at their nutrient status, how efficiently they burn food for energy, their gut microbiome composition, inflammation markers, cortisol curve, sex hormone levels, and how well they detoxify – let’s me create a customized diet, lifestyle, and supplement protocol that’s going to be so much more effective in a shorter period of time because we can target exactly what they need to get the results they’re after. 

What strategies do you use to make personal health goals feel more attainable and less overwhelming for your clients?

Start small. And start with the basics. I always make sure my clients are doing the basics first – that means hydrating, eating enough earlier in the day, hitting their protein targets, moving outside in the sunshine, and into bed by 10pm. We have a private chat platform where I check in with my clients regularly too to help support them with their goals. If we’re doing functional medicine testing and it turns out we need to integrate a more indepth protocol – we’ll introduce it in stages to make it manageable without the overwhelm. 

As a business owner and a mom, how do you balance your professional and personal life? How does this experience influence your coaching style?

It’s a juggle for sure! I try to compartmentalize as much of it as I can. When I’m in mom mode, that’s my focus. And when I’m in nutritionist boss-mode, that’s my focus. But it does get gray from time to time and I have to roll with it, which in the end makes me a better coach to my clients because I get it. I get why they struggle with taking care of themselves, because it’s hard! But it is possible. One thing I always try to do is get up early for “me time” before my daughter wakes up and then schedule another 20-30 minutes in the afternoon before picking her up from school to transition my mind with a walk around the block.

How do you incorporate your love for food and cooking into your nutrition coaching?

I’m a firm believer that we have to cook at home with real, whole nutrient-dense food in order to have optimal health. But I also know it’s a struggle for many of my clients – mostly due to time constraints, a lack of inspiration for what to make, and/or feeling like they have to be a short order cook. Which is why I love sharing how I personally handle all of this by either doing a cooking demo on a client call, sharing in my Instagram stories, or on my weekly Substack newsletter. 

Can you share a favorite healthy recipe that’s both nourishing and delicious? This Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet is a favorite.

https://www.erinparekh.com/recipes/turkey-sweet-potato-skillet 

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey as a nutrition expert and coach? Obviously seeing my clients get results is amazing – from better digestion, to regular menstrual cycles, to getting pregnant (!), to feeling like they're finally back in their body again with energy to spare. But one of the coolest, most rewarding things is to have never worked with a woman before and then getting a message from her that she’s been following you for years and has reached xyz goal because of your content.

Where do you see the future of nutrition coaching headed, especially with the growing influence of social media?

There’s just so much noise and bad advice out there. But I think people are starting to see through it, craving more authenticity and advice from nutritionists who actually have the letters and degrees to back them up. It’s one of the reasons I’ve shifted some of my content over to Substack from Instagram actually. It allows for a deeper conversation and connection.

What are your long-term goals for your business and how do you plan to achieve them?

To keep doing what I’m doing! But more of it, helping more women, with even more intention. I really want to grow my Substack this year so that’s a big focus. And, I’m launching my first ever course + 8-week group program Effortless Nutrition in September (a few weeks away!). I’m also putting it out there that I’ll get a book deal in the next few years – with nourishing recipes, a bit of science, and lifestyle habits to help women thrive while “doing it all”.

What are your favorite LINNÉ products and why?

I’ve always loved exfoliating. I remember growing up my mom had the St. Ives apricot scrub. Whenever I was in her shower, I’d steal some and pretend I was having a spa day – now, that product’s been replaced by the SCRUB Exfoliating Face Mask. It’s my absolute favorite. I also love the PROTECT Barrier Cream – living in Florida it’s a must. 

Why is it important to use clean skincare products?

We were talking about functional testing earlier, and one of the most common blocks I see for women is in their detoxification pathways. Our bodies can only handle a certain amount of toxins. We’re exposed both endogenously from things like cellular & hormonal waste and exogenously from things like plastic water bottles, the air we breathe, and what we put on our skin. The skin is our largest organ and absorbs literally everything we put on it – it only makes sense to use clean skincare products as a simple way to remove one source of toxin exposure. 

What is the link between skincare and nutrition?

Glowing skin really does start from within. Our skin is a barometer for what’s happening on the inside. If you have sallow, dull skin or get constant breakouts – a cream or serum will help superficially, but you have to tackle your nutrition for lasting results.